Hypnobirthing Testimonials

So, Diana, it seems despite my scepticism I had a fantastic experience using hypnobirthing. I was sitting in a chair chatting, and then 'zoning-out' when a contraction came.  The strong instinct was to hold my breath and 'fight' or tense up against the contraction, but I knew from the classes that I had to resist this urge, and breathe through the contraction to allow my body to work most efficiently.
Juliette Wallace’s  first baby

I can't thank you enough for not only an enjoyable course when helped alleviate my fears of giving birth but also I’ve now become one of those positive stories no one tells you about....and if you'd have told me that when I started the course that my baby girl (not boy as I was convinced) would come on my due date (and not massively overdue as expected) in 2 hours (oh I’d never have thought possible) and with no pain relief at all (bloody hell) I would have told you it wasn't possible.
Nichola, Matthew & Isla Docherty (first baby)

A huge thank you for all of your support and advice, both David and I felt that signing up for the hypno birthing was one of the best investments we made in preparation for Libby's arrival, I was extremely anxious about the prospect of giving birth and I know that the techniques you taught us kept me calm and made the experience of birthing Libby the most memorable and 
fantastic day of my life.

The techniques you taught us helped me throughout my pregnancy as well as labour, I had high blood pressure and used the Rainbow Relaxation & affirmations daily and before my hospital appointments,, within a few weeks my blood pressure was normal & I was able to go longer in between hospital visits and relax into my pregnancy more.

2 days before my due date I had mild aches in my back and irregular lower abdominal cramps, this continued for several days before regular contractions started, once these pains were coming every 5 mins and lasting 90 seconds we decided it was time to go to hospital.

When we arrived at the hospital we were put into a labour suite and put on a monitor to measure the baby's heartbeat (because of my high bp throughout pregnancy), at this stage I hadn't been examined because I don't think the midwives thought I was in established labour because I was so relaxed. David kept me focused on my breathing by doing the rainbow relaxation exercise. 4 hours after arriving I buzzed the midwife to say I needed to go to the loo and that the pains were getting a bit more intense, I was then examined for the first time and the midwife was so shocked that I was at least 8cm's dilated. When the midwife examined me my waters broke and then 
things really started moving and within the hour I was fully dilated and was told I could start pushing and Libby was born an hour later, I was so surprised when she popped out, I was getting ready for my next push!!! Once the contractions were coming regularly Libby was born after only 6 1/2 hours.

I was really dreading the prospect of giving birth and would never have thought that I would actually enjoy the experience, in fact only hours after the birth we were talking about when we would have our next addition and I never thought I would be considering that so soon! The slow breathing and imaging the balloon inflating is what really helped me to focus along with 
David's encouragement. What really surprised me is that the contractions were no where near as painful as I imagined they would be, for me it was the same crampy feeling you get during your period. I remember you saying that it wouldn't be painful but it would be hard work and that is exactly how I would describe it.

Libby is an absolute delight, she is so calm and contented, such a smiley little girl and has slept through the night from 6 weeks and I feel this was because the birth was so relaxed and easy. I can't thank you enough for everything that you have done for us. I am so excited by hypno-birthing and I evangelise to everyone I know who is pregnant or thinking of having a 
baby.
thanks again!
love Ailish, David and Libby (their first child)xx

Having just had my second child I wanted to write to you and rave about my wonderful birthing experience I had with Hypnobirthing. After a long and traumatic first birth with my daughter I really was determined to have a different experience second time round and with the support of my midwives I requested a Homebirth and researched Hypnobirthing.

I had heard of Hypnobirthing and had been treated for my phobia of needles with hypnosis before so I knew it could work. I went along to the course along with my cynical husband who I am pleased to say after the fifth session was converted. We did lots of exercises using different types of hypnosis and breathing exercises and I religiously listened to my cds - it was my way of chilling out!

My due date came and went and two days later it all kicked off. Still in denial I got up at 1am and managed to do some ironing and watch a dvd. By 5.30am contractions were getting stronger and at 7am it was all systems go and my husband was desperately trying to pump up the birthing pool inbetween phoning the midwife etc.

At 9.04am our gorgeous baby boy Oscar was born. The labour was hard work and I had a couple of moments were I needed encouragement and guidance but due to my relaxed state, my body just took over and did its job naturally.

I can honestly say having a natural labour was the best thing I have done and Hypnobirthing played a huge part in me being able to achieve my perfect birth. I would encourage anyone to do the course especially if like me you are anxious and not confident especially in a hospital environment. 

Oscar is now 6 1/2 months old and an absolute dream, I truly believe because of our birthing experience he is content, calm and a happy baby. He is adored by his older sister and has just fitted into our lifestyle perfectly.  

My advice to anyone wanting the natural experience is try Hypnobirthing, what you learn is invaluable, be open-minded and believe in your bodies own ability and you can experience a truly wonderful birth just how nature had intended. 

Kind regards
Rachel Fernandes

The following account is by Ali Whittiker

With only seven days to go until my Expected Due Date of 2nd April, my husband and I found ourselves on the doorstep of Diana's home for the first of three sessions of hypnotherapy ahead of the birth of our second son, William. This is our story....

Our first son Freddie was born ten days late on 23rd July 2007. Freddie was in the OP position and as a result my labour was a protracted and painful affair. I spent the first 15 hours at home but went into hospital when I couldn't cope with the pain any longer, only to be told I was 0.5cm dilated. I was given two shots of pethidine which saw me through to 5cm and an epidural thereafter. I sustained a nasty tear during delivery and had to be sutured.

Having always considered myself to be a strong woman with a high pain threshold I felt quite miffed and almost embarrassed by the whole experience. It was certainly not the delivery I had expected and hoped for.

I couldn't even entertain the thought of a second child until Freddie was 2 and even then I was hesitant but I was desperate for Freddie to have a sibling and didn't want the age gap to be too great.

We fell pregnant with our second son in June 2009. Although I was delighted that we had managed to conceive so quickly, I was nowhere near as excited at the prospect of a second child as I had been when I found out I was pregnant with Freddie.

Memories of Freddie's birth hung over me like a black cloud. I wouldn't allow myself to think about the birth and managed to push it to the back of my mind for a good 7 months. When I was 34 weeks pregnant my beloved Mum passed away. She had battled breast and bone cancer valiantly for 14 years ..... The next few weeks passed in a blur of funeral arrangements and desperate sadness.

I remembered all the help and support my Mum had provided when Freddie was born. Now not only was I dreading the birth but I was also terrified at the prospect of being without my Mum this time around.

I was seeing a consultant for my antenatal care. With only 10 days to go until my EDD I vented my fears and anxieties to him. I said I wished I had done a course in hypnotherapy or investigated visualisation / relaxation techniques for labour but assumed I had left it too late. My consultant said he knew of a lady who worked at the Verulam Clinic who may be able to provide some one on one coaching over the coming week and he agreed to put me in touch with Diana.  I spoke to Diana the following morning and we arranged three private sessions over the following week.

I had never really given hypnotherapy much thought prior to this experience. My scepticism was outweighed by my desperation to try anything at this eleventh hour that might quell my fears. My main concern was that I would go into a complete state of panic the moment I felt my first contraction. I was also terrified that the anaesthetist would be too busy to give me the epidural I was intent on.

My husband Ken came along for the initial session. Together with Diana we discussed my labour experience with Freddie and the reasons I had left it so late to do anything to actively prepare for a different experience second time around.  Diana started by reading us several testimonials from other ladies who she had worked with in the past; all of whom extolled the virtues of hypnotherapy. It was upon hearing the testimonials of a couple of ladies who, like me, had resorted to hypnotherapy after a traumatic first labour and who testified to a completely different experience second time around that my scepticism started to lift. Diana's prior 16 years experience as a midwife came to the fore as she explained the physiology of the uterus and the science behind contractions. After two hours of chatting, Ken had to leave us to get back to the office and we agreed he would come and collect me an hour later, during which time Diana introduced me to my first experience of hypnosis. Using a combination of breathing and visualisation I achieved a state of total relaxation, unlike anything I'd ever felt before. Diana describes self hypnosis as an absorption in inner experience; despite being perfectly aware of my surroundings, my mind was completely blank and I felt overwhelmingly calm, confident and at peace. When Ken came to collect me I was euphoric and raved about the experience I'd had to the extent that he was, and continues to be to this day, totally gutted to have missed out!

During our second session, Diana and I talked again for two hours. After everything that had happened with my Mum it was so lovely to talk openly to someone without upsetting my sister or father by vocalising my sadness and concerns to them. A sucker for punishment, the week before I saw Diana I'd sat through two episodes of the Channel 4 documentary series "One Born Every Minute". Scenes of women bent double in agony, cursing through their labours only served to re-enforce my worst fears so Diana ordered me not to watch another episode and instead we sat down to watch a DVD in which the women used hypnotherapy based techniques with great effect to give birth in a most serene and calm environment: the antithesis of my experience but one I was desperate to overwrite mine with. The final hour of the session was spent eradicating the negative birth experience I'd had with Freddie. Diana asked me to imagine the negative images I had embedded in my memory as the pages of a book which I tore up one by one and threw into a rubbish bin. Once again I left the session feeling on a high - empowered and daring to believe that my experience could be different second time around. 

At our third and final session Diana conducted a "rehearsal" during which we visualised my impending labour as a magical and positive experience, over which I had complete control. Once the hypnosis was over Diana asked me how it had affected me and when I told her that I had felt mild contractions she added that after 37 weeks pregnant hypnosis has been known to induce labour! Those same mild contractions continued for a couple of hours after the appointment but wore off later that afternoon. They returned the next day but again, lasted only a couple of hours before easing off. I suddenly realised that neither dummy run had fazed me or caused me to panic. Quite the opposite in fact, with the contractions I felt excited and happy that my baby's birth was imminent.

On April 2nd gentle contractions started at 18.00. I was thoroughly relaxed and pottered about downstairs. At 20.00 I ran a warm bath and sat with my sister chatting about her day at work. Anna had spent the day with me at home whilst I was labouring with Freddie and couldn't believe how calm I was this time around. By 23.00 the contractions were coming on a regular basis and were gaining in intensity so I put on my iPod and started listening to the self hypnosis CDs that Diana had lent me. At 01.00 we arrived at the hospital. I was still plugged into my iPod and felt serenely calm. The midwife examined me and announced I was 5cm dilated - music to my ears! My waters broke at 03:00 and labour started in earnest thereafter and William was born at 05.09. No epidural and no stitches required!

Whilst I didn't manage to attain the seemingly out of body experience the ladies on the DVD had managed in the latter stages, I did feel confident, empowered and thoroughly in control throughout. My community midwife happened to be at the hospital while I was in labour in the hospital so had popped into our room just before I delivered Freddie. I was hardly aware she was there at the time but on a later visit to my home, she remarked that she'd never seen someone so serene and focused at such a late stage of labour - what a difference three sessions of hypnotherapy can make! 

The inspiration of my Mum's memory, an excellent midwife and most importantly Diana's expertise combined to afford me the most wonderful labour I could ever have dreamed of.

William is a very calm and contented little soul. A dream baby; he sleeps and feeds well and manages to wind himself most of the time!

Now, while by no means a foregone conclusion, the prospect of a third baby is now an option, the door is not shut and I'll be hot-footing it back to Diana if it does happen.....