It has been one of the longstanding bedrocks of the HypnoBirthing philosophy that a woman's due date is not an accurate predictor of when her baby is due. Furthermore, that, in the absence of any need for medical intervention to chemically induce labour, that mum's patience and nature's own timeframe is the best determinent of a baby's birthing date.

Indeed, each woman's gestational period can differ by up to 37 days according to the first study of its kind to accurately measure the length of women's pregnancies.

This appears to be contrary to the one-size-fits-all approach to chemically inducing labour at 42 weeks or before currently used by the NHS.

Use of the HypnoBirthing relaxation and super-effective natural induction techniques, including those that soften and ripen the cervix ready for labour to start when mum's body and her baby are ready, are a highly effective way to maximise the likelihood of achieving a gentle,natural start to labour and birth. Thus, minimising the need for chemical induction at the standard 42 weeks which, if the cervix isn't ready for labour to start at the point it is implemented, may result in a highly intense and often very uncomfortable experience for mum and baby.  

To read a related article recently published in the Daily Mail click on the following link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2385740/Nine-month-pregnancy-It-vary-37-days-How-just-20-women-birth-date.html

The press has been buzzing with growing speculation and persistent rumours, in the likes of OK magazine, the Daily Mail, BBC Radio 1 and Loraine Kelly's morning show that Kate, Duchess of Cambridge is believed to be practising hypnobirthing techniques in preparation for the birth of her and Prince William's first baby.  As a result of increasing media interest I was asked to demystify hypnobirthing and its positive effects in a press interview for the Healthy Living section of the Sheffield Star newspaper.  The interview forms the basis of a double-page spread written and edited by journalist Richard Blackledge which was published today, 15th July 2013. 

I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience to make more women aware of how HypnoBirthing- the Mongan Method, works simply and effectively to support women, birth partners and babies to have a much better pregnancy, labour, birth & introduction to parenting.

Here's the article and I hope you enjoy reading it. If you do, please share this blog post and the following link with all your friends and acquaintences on your Facebook pages, Twitter, email, or phone text  etc  and lets help support UK women & babies in getting the kind of birth they truly deserve; natural, calm, gentle, confident and more comfortable.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/healthy-living-clare-takes-mystery-out-of-hypnobirthing-1-5855027

The press have widely reported that Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William are using the HypnoBirthing method to bring their first baby, and heir to the throne calmly and comfortably into the world.

As a teacher of this amazing programme and as someone who has successfully used HypnoBirthing myself, it is uplifting to hear that HypnoBirthing may well be their chosen birth method. It is particularly exciting - and no surprise to those of us who have personal experience of its effects -  that, given that the Royal couple have direct access to the best care options and medical advice available, that this natural, gentle approach to labour and birth is believed to be their preference.

With HypnoBirthing, severe pain does not have to accompany labour if breathing is taught correctly. You can also learn to release all of the fears and anxieties you may have, and if you have had a traumatic pregancy and birth previously accept that in all probablility it is unlikely to happen again. HypnoBirthing can help you to enjoy the pregnancy and experience the joy of giving birth.

The following are examples of recent press reports on the Duchess and HypnoBirthing:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2333008/The-women-say-theyve-proved-giving-birth-doesnt-hurt-No-gas-air-epidurals--just-positive-thinking-Dont-mock-Theyre-deadly-serious.html

http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/403171/Is-the-Duchess-of-Cambridge-planning-to-have-a-hypnobirth

I would like to share with you an uplifting birth story of one of the couples I recently taught the HypnoBirthing programme to. When this lady first contacted me, she hada  profound phobia of hospitals - so extreme was this phobia that twice when needing to attend hospital as a child, she had suffered cardiac arrest as a direct result of her fear. Pregnant with her first baby, she was determined to experience a gentle, natural birth in the comfort of her own home. I began teaching her the course but after class 1 her waters broke at 35.5 weeks. She also developed a rare liver condition called cholastasis which had to be monitored carefully due to the risk to the baby and mum. After only 3 days the decision was made to induce her due to special circumstrances arsiing from the cholastasis.  I taught as much of the programme as I could to her and her birth partner prior to the induction, focussing on the breathing and instant and deep relaxation techniques and information about the physiology of birth and what to do when. In her wisdom, she had read the HypnoBirthing handbook between class 1 and 2 and completely immersed herself in its teachings.

Of course, due to the special circumstances, the opportunity to birth at home was no longer available. This courageous lady was induced by pessary and practised the HypnoBirthing techniques in her hospital room, supported fully by her partner who helped her focus on positioning, relaxation, breathing and the need to keep hydrated. She described the experience as so calm and relaxed it "felt spritual" as she gently gave birth to a baby boy, named Heath. Her experiences were so positive that she is over-the-moon with her decision to do the HypnoBirthing course. The midwives were so impressed that one of them has since completed the course herself to prepare for her first baby's birth in January 2013.

This is a wonderful example of how learning how to release your fears and trusting your instincts and body's ability to birth, aided by the easily-learned HypnoBirthing tecniques- how all can result in a magical birth experience even for those mums who are acutlely afraid of birth, for whatever reason.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to share the programme withy this lady and help her transform her baby's birth, even where medical intervention was necessary into such a memorable, beautiful event.

For those ladies who discover HypnoBirthing late in pregnancy (35 weeks plus) and think it is too late to gain from its benefits, I want to completely reassure you... Provided you complete the classes before you give birth, you will still be in a position to experience the calm, gentle and much more comfortable birth that is associated with having a HypnoBirth. 

I recently taught HypnoBirthing to a mum who had a low lying placenta when she signed up for the programme.  This is fairly common during pregnancy and the good news is that placentas can easily move out of the way, leaving the entrance of the cervix clear and a natural birth possible. 

Welcome to the world, baby George Quinn Durdy!

Parents Helen and James tell me they are over the moon following George's safe arrival.  George was born at Doncaster Hospital last Monday using the HypnoBirthing techniques which apparently worked "brilliantly".  Helen was able to have a water birth too which made the whole event even more special.  George is settling peacefully into life at home with mummy and daddy and pet doggy, Bruno.

Further testiment to the fact that HB works and is a wonderful start to life for our babies and a calm, uplifting way to strat motherhood for mums!

When I was deciding to enrol in the HypnoBirthing Programme, and whenever I speak to a prospective customer, one of the decisions to be made is usually whether to book onto  private or group classes. From experience, I can honestly say that it really is a matter of personal preference and both ways offer great benefits.  As a practitioner, I love teaching both groups at a great venue or individual couples in their own home.  Private courses are more intimate, involving one-on-one coaching and support.  I have been so touched by the warm welcome I have received from the couples I have delivered HypnoBirthing classes to in the comfort of their own homes.  It is a joy to witness their confidence and sense of inner calm grow over the duration of the course.

Group sessions have their own wonderful advantages- that great sense of camaraderie, mutual support and sharing of ideas, views and experiences.  All this and the possibility of forming friendships that last long beyond the length of the course.  I love the way that confidence in birth grows with each class and in a group setting, you can really feel the transformation in the room- a very positive boost for everyone present.

I offer both group and private classes on an ongoing basis - simply contact me for an informal chat to discuss class start dates and times. I aim to be as flexible as possible to work around other demands on your time.  Weekends, evenings and daytime courses are all possible.

I look forward to our chat