Courses of four or five week in person evening antenatal classes for couples, suitable to attend anytime in pregnancy, but probably of most value after 26 weeks. It is a good idea to aim to finish your course by at least week 36, as this gives you time to keep practising the skills in the weeks prior to the birth, and also ensures you finish the course before your due window (weeks 37-42) starts.

What is hypnobirthing?

When many people think about hypnosis, the image that immediately comes to mind is of someone on stage being asked to do something silly, such as cluck like a chicken. Hypnobirthing could not be further from this image.

Far from being “out of control”, hypnobirthing enables the mum to be completely in control - of her feelings, her breathing, her experiences, and her actions. It is really a form of deep relaxation, and by learning the techniques ahead of time, and practising them regularly with her partner before the big day, she will be able to put herself into a state of calm whenever she needs to. This will enable the correct hormones to be produced in her body to facilitate the birth process to work as it is meant to, making it more likely to be a calm, manageable, even pleasant experience.

What does the course include?

Over the four weeks, we will cover:

• what hypnobirthing is

• how and why hypnobirthing works

• the anatomy and physiology of childbirth - helping you to understand what you can do to help labour run as smoothly as possible

• the process of labour, from signs of it starting to holding your baby in your arms

• what can help and hinder successful labour and birth, including the role of hormones, your mind and your nervous system

• relaxation skills and scripts to practice at home between the sessions and before the birth

• why complications in labour may arise, and what you can do to continue to feel in control even if things don’t go exactly as you had expected

• when and why you might be offered interventions such as induction of labour, Caesarean birth, forceps or vacuum extraction, and what happens during those procedures

• considerations about where to give birth, positions to give birth in and the role of the birth partner

• the chance to ask questions, share experiences, get to know other couples due around the same time as you if you are on the group course

• ongoing email and phone support, right up to the time your baby is born. This can be particularly reassuring if things change in your pregnancy after the course has finished, and you want to talk over your new circumstances so that you continue to feel calm and in control of your birth experience

• a copy of Katherine Graves’ The Hypnobirthing Book

• a KG Hypnobirthing MP3

• a full course folder including all the notes accompanying the course

Additional optional session on postnatal life:

If you would like to find out about life with a new baby in the first three months (also known as the fourth trimester): feeding them (however you intend to do that), meeting their emotional and physical needs, responding to their cries, safe sleep practices, and more, then you have the option to join a fifth session at the end of the course. This can be invaluable for first time parents, but isn’t always felt necessary by second time parents, which is why we offer it as a bolt-on session, rather than as part of the course.

What people are saying about KGHypnobirthing:

“The thing about KGHypnobirthing is that it works” - father

“Thanks so much for your valuable class; I had the most amazing birth, probably the best night of my life” - mother

“I have been present at KGHypnobirthing births and seen how in control the women are, and how also the partners are a lot calmer and able to help, and what a difference it really does make to the start of parenthood for them” - midwife

“Your hypobirthing course completely transformed my mindset about pregnancy and labour. As a natural worrier, planner, over-thinker and control freak, hypnobirthing helped me feel in control of my pregnancy and empowered about the birth of my baby.” Annie B, mum to Ollie born May 2023

“We completed Sarah’s hypnobirthing course in the hope of better preparing us for the birth “experience”. Although our birth did not go to “plan” we felt in total control throughout and every decision was made by us with confidence thanks to all we learned with Sarah. I am sure had we not completed her hypnobirthing course we would not have felt as in control / confident during our labour experience.” Lizzie T, mum to Max, born December 2022

“Your hypnobirthing course was the main reason we had the most amazing experience, even with a twist at the end, so got to thank you for so much! I wouldn’t have been able to keep calm without all your help.” Lucy H, mum to baby Felix born May 2020.

“The techniques learned on both your hypnobirthing course and breathing for labour sessions really helped keep me centred and gave me an anchor to return to whenever I started feeling overwhelmed by the speed and intensity of the surges.” Catherine W, mum to Florence, born May 2020.

To read more testimonials from recent class attendees, please click here.

To Book

If you would like to join a group course, please use the Book Now button to secure your place on the course of your choice.

If you would like to book a private course, please contact me on sarah@birthbabybalance.co.uk. Please let me know when your baby is due, which number baby this is (first, second etc) and where you live, and I will get back to you with some suggested dates, and we will go from there.

2024 Course Dates

KGH021, for late April - mid June due dates: Mondays 11th March - 8th April (no session on 1st April - Easter Monday) Each class starts at 18:30 and lasts for about 3 hours. Bookings closed.

Optional bolt-on session to cover feeding and caring for your new baby: Monday 15th April, 18:30 - 21:30

KGH022, for late June - mid August due dates: Thursdays 9th-30th May. Each class starts at 18:30 and lasts for about 3 hours. Spaces available.

Optional bolt-on session to cover feeding and caring for your new baby: Thursday 6th June 18:30 - 21:30

KGH023, for late August - mid October due dates: Thursdays 11th July-1st August. Each class starts at 18:30 and lasts for about 3 hours. Spaces available.

Optional bolt-on session to cover feeding and caring for your new baby: Thursday 8th August 18:30 - 21:30

Investment

Group course:

Four week group antenatal course of the KG Hypnobirthing method, lasting approx. 12 hours: £260.00.

Bolt-on 3 hour session covering postnatal topics: £65.00.

Prices are per couple attending.

Private course:

Four week private antenatal course of the KG Hypnobirthing method, lasting approx. 12 hours: £520.00. If you live outside of West Oxfordshire, there will be an additional travel cost if I am coming to you.

Bolt-on 3 hour session covering the fourth trimester and infant feeding: £130.00

Prices are per couple.

Venue

The Yoga Room, Balance Studios, Bridge Street Mill, Bridge Street, Witney, OX28 1YH.

The private course can be held in either your home or my home.