Relax for Birth

Relax for Birth provides Hypnobirthing sessions for pregnant couples, both one-to-one and group sessions in Surrey and Hampshire. The focus being, to promote relaxation during pregnancy and childbirth.

The practice of Hypnobirthing, which is as much a philosophy as a set of techniques, gives women the tools and the confidence to return to the art of birthing naturally. 

Women are able to call on their own natural birthing instincts, and experience a level of relaxation and calm, which allows them to have a much more comfortable, enjoyable and natural birthing experience.

Hypnobirthing teaches women through easy-to-learn self-hypnosis techniques to enter deep states of relaxation during pregnancy and birth, resulting in shorter, more comfortable, easier labours, with less need for intervention or pain relief.

Hypnosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon, and is a little like daydreaming. Any time we redirect or narrow our focus, such as when engrossed in a good book, or watching the flickering flame of a fire, we could be said to be in a state of hypnosis. When in hypnosis you are always fully in control, and aware of what is happening to yourself and around you.

A birthing mother who redirects her focus to her internal world – her birthing body – is able to then call upon her own natural birthing instincts. This, coupled with specialised breathing techniques taught in class, allow the two functioning birthing muscles in operation during the first stage of labour to work as nature intended – with, rather than against each other. Mothers often say they experience just pressure and tightening sensations.

During the second stage of labour, a Hypnobirthing mother will often follow her body’s lead into different birthing positions that work well for her, and by letting go, enables her to allow the natural expulsive reflex to gently nudge the baby down. Such mothers are taught to breathe their baby down, not the hard, forced pushing that midwives are used to seeing, and sometimes directing. The results are that mothers are less likely to feel exhausted, and also less likely to tear or suffer pelvic floor damage.  

Hypnobirthing is a shared experience for the couple and the baby. Fathers have a huge role to play in the birth experience, guiding the mother into deep states of relaxation, and protecting the birthing environment. This is in stark contrast to the usual experience of sitting helpless on the sidelines. As a result, fathers feel closer to the mother and baby, resulting in better bonding.

In a Hypnobirthing class, a mother will learn self-hypnosis/deep relaxation and breathing techniques, birth positions, the basic physiology of birth and much more.

Put simply, Hypnobirthing offers women a better birthing experience.  As a result, many mothers find birth empowering and life-changing – something that carries over into their new role as a mother, and often instils a greater confidence in other areas of their life too.