Relax for Birth

Relax for Birth offers Hypnobirthing sessions and is based in Farnborough in Hampshire.  The service covers Surrey and Hampshire.
Wendy is a Registered Midwife, NHS Public Health Manager and a trained Hypnobirthing Practitioner who now runs   Relax for Birth with her husband Paul.

Wendy's story:

I qualified in Midwifery from Liverpool John Moore's University in 1997.  
Working at the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust in Reading as a full time Midwife for 5 years, I then diversified and trained as a Sexual Health Adviser.  I worked as a Sexual Health Adviser for  7 years before taking up a role as a Public Health Manager in the NHS specialising in young people and sexual health.
Over the last 10 years I have kept up my Midwifery skills through occasional Bank work.
In 2009 myself and Paul fell pregnant with our first child together, Paul already having two teenage daughters.  Even as a midwife and a 'google happy' pregnant mum to be I had never heard of Hypnobirthing! 

Towards the end of my pregnancy a friend loaned me a couple of CDs for relaxation.  As soon as I started my maternity leave I would lie down at least twice a day and listen to the CDs, I would usually fall to sleep whilst listening to it, therefore thinking I couldn't have taken in the positive statements and relaxations on the CD.  
We had a home birth with a birthing pool planned as my intention had always been for as natural a birth as possible.  Our baby was due in November and only 4 days after the due date I gave birth to our son Charlie using only the pool for pain relief and the occasional puff of gas and air! 
In all honesty it was the most empowering, wonderful and intuitive experience of my life, I felt completely in control at all times and was overjoyed to see the relaxed and supportive look on Paul's face as we welcomed our son into the world.  
To this day we often talk about the experience we had and without doubt I know that the relaxations and positive affirmations along with a fantastically supportive husband were the basis for such an amazing birthing experience.
Charlie was a very laidback baby from the outset and the months that followed only emphasised this.  Breastfeeding established with great ease and the relationship that developed for myself and Paul with Charlie is one that I know we owe to our calm, comfortable and empowering birth experience.
My own experience with childbirth undoubabtly reignited my passion for caring for women, partners, families and babies during this life changing experience.  It has been the birth of Charlie and my recent work as a Midwife that has fueled my desire to become involved in Hypnobirthing.

In 2011 Wendy took the long desired step to become a fully qualified Hypnobirthing teacher. She trained with the inspiring Katharine Graves of the Hypnobirthing Centre, who was taught by Marie Mongan and Michelle LeClaire O'Neill, the founders of Hypnobirthing. The course that Katharine teaches has been adapted and is tailored more specifically towards British Parents.

Having completed the necessary studying and assessment Wendy is now a member of theHypnobirthing Association and earned a Diploma in Hypnobirthing.