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the specialists in pregnancy & birth hypnosis

BirthSense Antenatal Course

The BirthSense Antenatal course was developed by BirthSense for those who want to explore the real possiblilty of safe, comfortable, normal birth, outside a programme with structured techniques.

The course was developed by a doula and birth hypnotherapist, and based on the philosophy and teachings of world-famous obstetrician, Dr Michel Odent. Unlike many antenatal classes, the course does not focus on prescribed breathing techniques, positioning or standard stages of labour; instead, its aim is teach women how they can fully return to their natural birth instincts without "planning" their births, and how this often leads to the safest, least interventionist way of giving birth.

Since the 1950s, Michel Odent worked to ensure over 16,000 women at his maternity unit in France were given the right environment and conditions to birth in their own, unassisted and unmedicated way. The result? Not the interventions and horror stories that one might expect, but an astonishingly low c-section rate of 6%, and one of the lowest neonatal moratality rates in the world. Not only that, but episiotomies and forceps deliveries were unheard of.

The course will discuss the importance of attitude, environment and psychological state in detail, and you will learn exactly what will help you have a smoother, easier, safer labour and why. 

Hypnosis can provided in order to release fear and negative conditioning in order to approach birth in a more relaxed manner, and to help you maintain that manner, but it is by no means compulsory to the programme. However, the psychological factors that lead to easier, more comfortable birth will be discussed in detail 

Private courses can be tailored to your specific circumstances, so whether you have no birth partner or need to do the course within a particular time-scale, we will be able to match your requirements.

Course content can be varied depending on your particular requirement and the kind of birth you are planning, but a standard course will include the following:

  • how the body works during normal birth
  • "Oxytocin / Adrenaline Antagonism": the role of hormones in birth and how you can make the most of them to facilitate an easier, more comfortable birth
  • the importance of the birth environment and how to use it to your advantage. Includes information on both home and hospital births
  • in-depth information on your birth options and choices
  • Information on your local birth facility
  • hypnotherapy to reduce fear or anxiety prior to birth, and to promote calm and relaxation during birth (optional and only if needed)
  • breastfeeding
  • early days parenting

Please contact us for more information or to book a course.