One of the most common questions I get asked is about when to do hypnobirthing classes.
As a certified Hypnobirthing Practitioner, I believe there is no “one size fits all” approach – it really is a personal preference, and it depends on a few different things, such as:
How are you feeling about your birth?
Are you an anxious person? Does the thought of giving birth trigger anxiety for you? If so, I would suggest booking into a class early in your pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time to be enjoyed and when you understand birth, what your options are and how to manage the intensity of labour, it reduces the anxiety. Plus you will leave the program with lots of mindfulness techniques to practice regularly in the lead up to birth to help rewire the neural pathways in your brain to see birth as a positive and empowering process, not something to be feared.
What is your personality type?
Are you the type of person to dive straight into practicing techniques, listening to the downloads and fully immersing yourself in the new things that you have learnt? If so then starting early will be perfect for you too.
If you are the type of person that will do the hypnobirthing classes and struggle to make the time to practice the techniques and probably won’t actively start practicing until you finish work and get closer to the big day, than I would suggest waiting until closer to 30 weeks pregnant to start the hypnobirthing program.
Are there potential complications coming up in your pregnancy?
Often mums will hold off booking in for a class if they have potential complications in their pregnancy. However, as a hypnobirthing practitioner I truly believe that if there are potential complications than it is better to do the program earlier than later. Regardless of if you have a vaginal birth, induction or a cesarean, this program will give you the skills and confidence to navigate any complications.
When there are potential complications or the need for medical intervention, it is important to come from a place of being fully informed, knowing what your options are and knowing what questions to ask your care provider to make decisions that feel best for you and your baby. This is called ‘informed consent’ and it is a subject I’m passionate about as informed consent is the law but something that isn’t educated well in hospital programs. When women are labelled with a potential complication it can often come down to policy and procedure and not the woman’s personal situation. Just because there is a policy in place, it doesn’t mean that it is right for you and your baby, only you get to choose what you feel most comfortable with and this program will give you the skills to advocate for yourself and your baby.
If your question isn’t here, feel free to email me with any questions you may have.
Now that you have your questions answered, is it time to book your spot in a Hypnobirthing Class? Classes often book out 1 to 2 months in advance so make sure you book ahead.
Head to our Hypnobirthing Classes page to find a date.