Hypnobirthing, Antenatal Classes and Birth Pools in Cornwall...

Birth is a unique process for each woman, and memories last a lifetime... A great birth is where you are confident, prepared and enabled to make evidence based choices, no matter how you have your baby.

My name is Alice Kirby. I've been working in the childbirth field for ten years, and have helped hundreds of families prepare for birth with hypnobirthing. More about me


What is hypnobirthing?

The term 'hypnobirthing' is generic and refers to any methods of using self-hypnosis to prepare for childbirth.

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind that we use every day, e.g. when daydreaming and when drifting in and out of sleep. Hypnotherapy is a simple, gentle technique that is powerfully effective. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focus, utilised to bring about positive change. Hypnotherapy offers positive suggestions to the subconscious part of your mind. This, in turn, affects the way you think, feel and behave.

Preparing for birth with hypnosis, known as 'hypnobirthing', was first introduced by obstetrician Dr Grantly Dick-Read in 1933. He found that conscious and/or subconscious fear causes us to be tense, which increases pain. The more relaxed and positive you are about birth, the more your body is enabled to give birth efficiently and more comfortably, as nature intended.

No hypnobirthing approach can guarantee a 'pain free' birth, but if practiced regularly, the techniques certainly help make the sensations manageable. Research indicates that mums who have used hypnotherapy for birth experience the following benefits. Try my free hypnobirthing audio online to see what you think!


  ♥ Increased confidence about giving birth
  ♥ Reduced labour length
  ♥ Reduced uptake of medical pain relief
  ♥ Reduced rates of medical interventions
  ♥ Higher baby APGAR scores
  ♥ Quicker postnatal recovery
  ♥ Reduced postnatal depression
  ♥ Greater satisfaction with labour