Photo Credit: @headygrimm captured by
@kalinorton
Wooop wooop - you’re pregnant! Congratulations!
Time to get thinking about how to decorate the nursery, test out buggies, pick a cot…
STOP!!!
It’s all a waste of your precious time!
Let me break it to you gently: your baby will most likely sleep in your room for at least the first 6 months, possibly even the first 3 years and most probably in your bed (yup - it’s called co-sleeping - check it out); your baby will hate the buggy and will want to be held and carried for at least the first 6 weeks. Top tips: i) Research the ‘Fourth Trimester’ and ii) Ignore Piers Morgan - he's a dick - and get in touch with Mel @Wrapahug and learn how to ‘wear’ your baby.
It breaks my heart to see so many expectant parents focusing on all of the pointless material shit and neglecting the *stuff* that truly matters - like err… you and your baby: your pregnancy, labour, birth and actually *being* parents.
I know, I know… it’s big SCARY *stuff*. Perhaps that’s why it seems easier to focus your mind on travel systems and baby bath seats and all the other crap that you’ve been tricked into thinking you MUST HAVE. You don’t - trust me. You can have ours that we never used!
Taking care of yourself during this enormously precious time in your life is super important. You are growing a human being! This is MIND-BLOWING *stuff*! This is not the type of *stuff* you want to block out with distractions.
Oh, hang on. I get it…You’re scared aren’t you? You’re avoiding the BIG *stuff* because you’re scared? Am I right? Come on, be honest: you’ve seen One Born? Bar one, maybe two genuinely lovely births, the producers of that goddam show make birth look absolutely terrifying! The bright lights, the medical equipment, the scrubs, the panic, the constant meddling with vaginas, the interventions, the beds, the screaming and constant talk of pain: horror story, after horror story, after horror story… I get it.
Now breathe…
What if I let you in on a little secret… what if I told you that birth doesn’t have to be like all those horror stories….? Say WHAT?!
Yup! Birth doesn’t have to be like all those horror stories.
What if I told you that there was…. ANOTHER WAY?
A way of thinking about, taking about and preparing for birth and parenthood which puts YOU in control; which educates you and supports you to feel calm, relaxed, comfortable and safe as you prepare to give birth to your baby and become parents?
You may have started thinking about NCT classes. They’re the best ones, right? Sure, the classes will give you a grounding in how to prepare for birth and the early days after and you’ll probably make some awesome new friends, but have you considered the alternatives?
Have you ever heard of ‘hypno-birthing’, for example?
Hypno-what?!
That would be: hypno-birthing.
And before you ask - no, you will not be made to flap around the room, clucking like a chicken, or be fooled into eating an onion thinking it’s an apple. Contrary to those ridiculous images of stage hypnosis, when you practice hypno-birthing, you will always remain completely IN control. Think of it more as self-hypnosis.
Let’s dig a little deeper and talk about hypno-therapy for a moment, which you may be more familiar with. Paul McKenna has written a whole pile of best selling books where he teaches people to use self-hypnosis techniques to stop smoking, lose weight, get over a fear of flying, etc. This type of therapy is essentially the use of words; words used in a more positive and focused way to help you LET GO of old feelings and beliefs which NO LONGER SERVE YOU.
Thinking about it in this context, hypno-birthing works, in part, by helping you to let go of any fears or doubts you may have around giving birth, be that to do with representations of birth you’ve seen on the telly, your body’s ability to actually give birth or a fear relating to a past experience, for example.
I work with clients anytime after their 20 weeks scan. The way I see it: the more practice you put in, the better, as all the best birth reports say: “We practised - a lot!” This means, that by the time your labour begins, all of ‘the things’ will simply come naturally to you, as the hard work has already been done.
In truth, most women and their partners, join me between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy, but I've taught women at 36, 37, 38 and even 40 weeks, who have all benefited enormously from their practice. Whilst there is absolutely no rush what-so-ever, I’ll just ask you this: what are you waiting for?
I am totally dedicated to helping pregnant women, just like you, to overcome your fears and anxieties around giving birth. I will EDUCATE and EMPOWER you to have the SAFEST, CALMEST, most RELAXED and POSITIVE birthing experience possible for YOU and YOUR baby.
This is so important to me because I want you to know that birth doesn't have to be like all those horror stories.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
Disclaimer: hypnobirthing is not a magic wand. You have to be 100% committed for it to be successful. That really is the key: if you create the right mindset and put in the work then you WILL get the results.
Need some proof? Check out my testimonials!
Now, are you ready?
I’m currently taking private client bookings for 2019 - email me to arrange a free 15 minute consultation - but if you want in-on-the-action before then, head over here to book your place on the HypnoYoga mat!
Hypno-Yoga is my unique 4-week antenatal programme, designed and taught in collaboration with the fab-u-lous @Handeluluyoga, focusing on deep relaxation and the powerful connection between mind and body. Our next round begins on Saturday 10th November 2018. *This is not my full hypno-course, but it will give you a bloody good grounding and I’d be very happy to arrange a group or private top up session to cover the rest.
As ever, hit me up with any Qs.
Helen x
Helen Wright, Founder of BirthWright, lives in Wapping, East London, with her partner and their two young children. In her life BC (Before Children), Helen was a primary school Assistant Headteacher, specialising in the Early Years. However, since becoming a mum, she is now a massive advocate for positive birth and is on a mission to help as many families as she can, to have the right births, indeed the best births, for them and their babies. Helen is an IPEN Certified Placenta Remedies Specialist and the London-based IPEN Trainer, a Positive Birth Coach, KG Hypnobirthing Teacher, creative genius behind BirthWright Affirmation Cards, a breastfeeding peer supporter and cohost of a monthly meet up and support group for parents in East London.
Head over to Facebook to join her group: The Pregnancy, Birth and Parenthood Village and follow her adventures over on Instagram.
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