New class location for London

We're really pleased to announce that we've found a great new location in which to hold our central London HypnoBirthing classes.

Its easy to get to as well, being in the Union Jack club just opposite Waterloo Station. The ease of getting there by public transport is obvious, and there's an NCP near by as well so driving in at the weekend (when we hold most of our central London HypnoBirthing classes) is not out of the questions.

The rooms are lovely too, so it should be a nice central location for couples embarking on the journey of parenthood!

Have a look at the site for details of our courses there - its on the Hypnobirthing
London page, and remember there are also courses at Triyoga Primrose Hill, or in Teddington (near Kingston Bridge) for those who prefer to remain out of town!

Looking forward to seeing you all there,
Katharine

News of my new HypnoBirthing Grandchild!

I'm very excited about the progress of my second grandson Nicholas Peter Graves who was born to my daughter in law Trudy and my son Arthur on October 30th. I will be able to visit them again on Monday and see how the little darling is getting on after teaching the Teddington course on Sunday, and obviously looking forward to seeing how much he's grown in the week since I was him last.

Trudy gave birth to Nicholas after a 6 hour labour (she arrived in the hospital fully dilated and gave birth to him half an hour later - and that was her first baby!). Actually that reminds me about the mother who complained that her labour was too short and she felt she didn't have time to get into it - maybe hypnobirthing works a little bit too well for some mums!

Anyway Arthur, Trudy and Nicholas will be off for a trip to Australia in a few weeks, not bad for an 8 week old. He will also get to visit his Australian Grandfather (Trudy's dad) Peter Crawford in Brisbane which will doubtless make both of their days.

I must post a photo of little Nicholas soon for all you other broody mums and grandmums!

Pete, Rose & Orla Faye Byrne's birth

A lovely and really informative Hyponobirthing Story

This is the story about Rose and Peter's daughter Orla Faye being born after a HypnoBirthing course. It gives lots of really interesting information and is published in full on Rose's Blog. A really good account for anyone considering hypnobirthing!

Love, Katharine


Pete, Rose & Orla Faye Byrne's space: "Rose's (Hypno)birth story This was going to be the summary (but I have gone on a bit and so it is a pretty detailed full account (Hypno)birth story now) – some of it is not for the faint-hearted but it is mainly pretty positive :

SHOW: Monday 6th Aug = my due date = had a show when in Asda. Had a couple of further shows between then and Friday 10th Aug.

WATERS: Friday 10th Aug at 7pm (ish) = Waters broke as a long trickle when I was at home in the middle of sending a text message. My waters continued to trickle out of me (lovely image I know ) until Orla arrived. I rang the hospital to tell them that my waters had broken and they said that if I had not gone into labour by the next morning then I should go in to the hospital to check for infection at 9am the next morning."

Read the rest on Rose's Blog.

Worth Travelling For

Our HypnoBirthing course in Bath last weekend was an unusually long distance affair.

One couple had travelled from Brighton on the grounds that they commuted to London all week and didn't want to do it again at the weekend, and another came from Essex on the recommendation of a mother who had done the course with us last year.

It is so rewarding when people come from personal recommendations of mothers who have used HypnoBirthing and know how good it is, and when people are prepared to come so far to do their HypnoBirthing class!

Steffi's HypnoBirthing account

Steffi's HypnoBirthing account: "Katharine, we wanted to send you a very special, huge thank you to you for everything you have done for us, taught us, and assisted us with. We would have never done it this way without your HypnoBirthing class. It gave us the confidence to go through the breech birth naturally, without any epidural (just a bit of gas and air), no tearing, no cutting, no stress for the baby. "

HypnoBirthing courses - Simona's kind words about her childbirth experience

HypnoBirthing courses - Simona's kind words about her childbirth experience:

"Kind words from Simona about her HypnoBirthing experience....

You truly empowered me with your words, wisdom and example. What I learnt enabled me to decide for myself, trust my instincts, and feel that baby and I were the absolute protagonists of our birthing. And if before giving birth I was already thinking about my next pregnancy, now is not jus a thought, it’s a plan!

I want to do it again!!! Coz I know now what it is like."

How does HypnoBirthing work?

How does HypnoBirthing work?:

"HypnoBirthing is a tried and tested method that lets you discover the joy and magic of birth, and is much more than just self-hypnosis or hypnotherapy. The method has been developed from the work of the British obstetrician, Grantly Dick-Read, the pioneer of natural childbirth.

It is deeply relaxing and effective, and allows your mind and your body to work in harmony, the way nature intended.

The Advantages of using HypnoBirthing during childbirth Eliminates the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome before, during and after birthing Allows relaxation, and side-effect free pain relief during labour Eliminates or greatly reduces the need for chemical painkillers Shortens the first stage of labour by several hours Eliminates fatigue during labour, leaving the mother fresh, awake and with energy for actual birthing More rapid postnatal recovery Returns birthing to the beautiful, peaceful experience nature intended Creates a more integral role for the birthing companion

On our Course you will learn:

Relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques to eliminate the fear and tension that cause long labour and pain, replacing them with confidence, calm, and comfort

Other techniques to produce a shorter, more comfortable labour

The creation and control of the body’s own natural anaesthesia

The source of the myth that pain must accompany normal birthing

Why women in other cultures have birthings almost entirely free of discomfort

How the mother’s body is designed to work in neuro-muscular harmony with nature throughout labour Practice in deep relaxation during and between uterine surges

The importance of prenatal and perinatal bonding

What is Hypnosis? Hypnosis is a naturally induced state of relaxed concentration �"

The HypnoBirthing Centre

This is a blog about the HypnoBirthing Centre, a place where Katharine Graves teaches HypnoBirthing to mothers and new parents, to help them go through child birth more easily, more in control of their own process, more naturally, and with better management of pain during the process.

We'll post a few stories here about Katharie and her work, as well as some feedback from some of the couples who complete the courses.

The HypnoBirthing Centre is not strictly a place, as it happens to be wherever Katharine is running her HypnoBirthing Courses at any one time. At present her courses are being held at: Central London in Covent Garden, North West London (Primrose Hill), Teddington (Middlesex), very near Kingston Bridge, Bath, near Bristol, Salisbury, and from her home in Wiltshire, between Marlborough, Hungerford and Andover.

The HypnoBirthing centre can also being courses to your home. They cost a little more but the convenience of having Katharine teach you the process at your own place is naturally very pleasant.

Katharine Graves is a qualified hypnotherapy practitioner, doula, and mother of four, so this really is a specialist subject for her! Please enjoy our blog, feel free to post comments, and do get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about a course.