1st baby, (labour ward/ physiological birth)

“WOW! I can’t recommend both Gemma and her course enough!!!…As a Dad I was also equipped with various tools and techniques to help throughout labor and I used of all them to great affect.”

Alistair’s perspective:

My fiance and I recently attended Gemma’s Natal-Hypnotherapy course in the lead up to the birth of our first child and WOW! I can’t recommend both Gemma and her course enough!!! The two-day course was split over two weekends, allowing time in between to reflect and practice the hypnotherapy. The course not only helped my fiance (and me) to become more confident about birth, it allowed us to become and to fully appreciate and enjoy what is such a beautiful moment in life. As a Dad I was also equipped with various tools and techniques to help throughout labor and I used of all them to great affect (at least I think I did). We arrived to the hospital with my fiance 8cm dilated and gave birth to our beautiful daughter ‘Rumi’ an hour and a half later, all natural. Rumi was breathed into this world. Thank you Gemma for all your support and guidance

Ilaria’s perspective:

This is my first baby and I wanted it to be as natural and non medicalised as possible.  I heard more negative than positive birth stories and started to feel a bit anxious, until I met my fiance friends who told me about Gemma and the natal hynpotherapy workshop they attended.  They had such wonderful positive birth stories, and their partners especially raved about it, so we attended the course and we never looked back!

“I can honestly say it was such an amazing experience. I totally went into a my natal hynpotherapy zone…Gemma is so passionate about the natal hynpotherapy it comes across in her workshop, any fears you had just disappeared and made you confident you could handle anything that labour throws at you!”

I was 9 days overdue when I went into labour.  My mucus plug came away in the morning and a rush of excitement came over me but went about my day as normal.  I went out and met a friend for coffee, then my fiance took me for a walk off road up a huge hill all the while I having a lot of tightenings. By the evening we watched a movie and I went to bed to try get some rest.  I woke up with the tightenings getting a little more intense so we woke and just chatted and laughed and created a beautiful environment in our flat with candles and listening to our natal hynpotherapy tracks, our own baobab tree.  We went for another walk around 2am and then I had a lovely relaxing bath.  When I got out the bath my waters broke and we headed off to the hospital.  I was so calm relaxed and really enjoying the contractions thinking that every contraction I was one step closer to meeting my baby.  I welcomed each contraction feeling in control and empowered.

When we got to the hospital I was 8cm dilated, there was a slight panic from the midwife as she recorded the baby’s heartbeat at 60bpm.  I had to be transferred to the the labour ward for constant monitoring.  Even when there could be a real adrenaline blip, the hypnotherapy kept me calm, I felt totally in control and knew intuitively that she was fine.  We had our baby girl an hour and half later, all natural with no pain relief.

“Even when there could be a real adrenaline blip, the hypnotherapy kept me calm, I felt totally in control and knew intuitively that she was fine.”

I can honestly say it was such an amazing experience.  I totally went into a my natal hynpotherapy zone.  I listened to the birthing music the whole way through, I repeated 1,2,3 relax which instantly softened my whole body, repeated my positive affirmations and I honestly felt like I breathed my baby out into this world.   Not forgetting my fiance who was amazing and so tuned in throughout the whole process.  He took control throughout keeping intervention to a minimum, creating our safe baobab tree, joining in my 1,2,3 relax and repeating positive mantras with me.

I can’t recommend Gemma highly enough.  Gemma is so passionate about the natal hynpotherapy it comes across in her workshop, any fears you had just disappeared and made you confident you could handle anything that labour throws at you!  I have already told all my pregnant friends about the workshop and can’t thank Gem enough for all her help and support, she is a special one!