Hypnobirthing (Blackheath)

[CarolineTF]

I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and starting to think about the big event. Increasingly becoming interested in hypnobirthing. Can anyone recommend a good practitioner who does local classes - Blackheath/Greenwich ideally.

Thanks for any input/personal experience.

I learned hypnosis techniques (not hypnobirthing, which is a specific brand) from an independent midwife called Jennie Mearns. She was at the time based at a birthing centre in Cheshire:
www.holisticbirthingcentre.co.uk/our-midwifery-team/

She's since moved to the Tooting Birthing Centre:

www.birthcentre.com/meet_the_midwives.htm

She came to our house to teach us, but the birthing centre also ran courses on-site. I didn't engage her for midwifery care as our local NHS midwives are v good and I have v fast labours so needed someone who could get to me very very quickly!

Jennie is lovely and has the calmness, empathy and confidence that one wants during pregnancy. It was very helpful to have her come to the house as my DH probably wouldn't have come to a class. We also got to chat about pregnancy and labour generally, which was very helpful.

I found the techniques invaluable, and had a wonderful labour. It's important (and very relaxing) to listen to the CDs regularly. My DH always knew when I'd listened to them as I was lovely and relaxed and calm. I can't recommend her highly enough.

Good luck

I work at a clinic Marble Arch, if that's any use.

Can't help I'm afraid as I'm in the Cambs/Essex/Herts area (though used to live in Eltham!).

Just make sure your practitioner is listed on here: www.hypnobirthing.co.uk. Ask lots of questions, it's REALLY important you get on with your practitioner, ask how s/he came to HypnoBirthing (often the HypnoBirthing mums are the most popular practitioners), how long s/hes been doing it, how many parents s/he has taught and what his/her knowledge/relationship is like with the local hospital/midwives....

good luck!

www.hypnobirthing-london.co.uk/courses.htm

I've not used her myself but I know a few women who did - Judith Flood, whose website is the one MamaLazarou has just listed. She's based in Blackheath, she's a midwife. The course is pretty expensive though - £300...

Not hypnobirthing, but breathing/relaxation techniques - Bernadette King runs a birth preparation class for the rather cheaper fee of £30. She's a yoga teacher - I've been to her yoga classes and found them very useful. www.peacefulpractice.co.uk/mum-and-baby.htm#prep . Obviously a completely different thing - depends how much you want hypnobirthing versus how much you want relaxation techniques (I looked into it and figured breathing/relaxation suited me more than the hypno side, but everyone's different). Plus of course how much cash you want to stump up and what other courses you're doing, if any (e.g. NCT)!

Thanks all for comments so far.... I have tried the yoga stuff and haven't really found anyone who links it well to the actual moment of birth, so have decided to look for something else. Hynobirthing seems to make sense to me from what I have read so far - but then everyone is different.

Hi Caroline, if you're already attending yoga then you could always get one of the homestudy courses such as Natal Hypnotherapy or GentleBirth. The clases are quite expensive but it's definitely doable at home if you're motivated.

Tracy

Caroline
Look it up on the websites suggested by others on here. I live in Eltham but when I did my hypnobirhting course last time round with DS1 I was in Hertfordshire so can't pass on details. I will say that I thought it was totally worth it (I think we paid about £200 - £250) for one to one sessions at our house - can't remember how many we had at least 6. I had a wonderful birth (as wonderful as they can be) it really gave me confidence in my body to be able to do it and took away any fears I had which I think was one of the most important factors. I am expecting DC2 in 10 weeks and will re-read the book that my instructor gave me last time as a refresher.
Good Luck - I can't recommend it highly enough!

I know this is an old post, but in case someone else has the same question, check out ZenBirth www.zenbirth.co.uk for hypnobirthing classes in Greenwich, Blacheath, and across South East London and Kent.