Scroll down for experiences and testimonials from some of the mums, dads and birth companions to whom I've had the privilege of teaching hypnobirthing. Have a browse to get a sense of how they have taken what they've learned and used it to make their experiences as positive as possible - irrespective of the 'type' of birth.
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"I can’t thank you enough for giving me the foundations of hypno birthing. I loved coming to class but actually putting it all into action during birth was epic. I didn’t just give birth I hypno-birthed. My birth was all of the things I could have imagined and more - it was raw, messy, long, exhilarating, empowering and so much more! ….

I had the most wonderful time in labour. I’m not saying it was easy but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.


I tell everyone about hypnobirthing and how amazing it is. I can’t wait to have my third child so that I get to do it all over again.


Thank you Karen for all your knowledge and support"
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Becky
Group Course
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"Elki Dakota was born today at 16.53, in the bath tub with my silver back gorilla catching him. We were just about to leave to the hospital and my water broke in the toilet. Then Elki was ready to come out immediately, so I managed to get in the bath to receive him. The ambulance and midwifes arrived 5 min after. He’s healthy and super chill weighing 2.9kg. I just wanted to send you all the love and huge thanks, couldn’t have done it without you!
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We were both so blissed out and amazed with our experience. I could not have asked for a more perfect birth. I really am so grateful for the tools I learnt through hypnobirthing and I am now enjoying every moment."
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Matilda
Private Course
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"Thierry and I would like to send a big thank you for being such a special part of both our very positive birthing experiences. Your input really enabled me to have total faith in nature and eliminate any kind of fear. I feel lucky to have such positive memories that will stay with me of birthing.
Birth is just amazing isn’t it!"
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Lily
Refresher Course
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"Thank you so much Karen for the course I felt so prepared and positive going into the birth, it made a massive difference. And I didn’t feel frightened or freaked out at any point during labour. I felt in my own world and just concentrated on what I needed to do. Lloyd was amazing and very calm and encouraging, stroked my arms and was just there, which was what I needed. We also had really great midwifes who were also very calm and encouraging and at no point said we might need to go to hospital and really stayed with our wishes. I am so pleased to have been able to have the home birth I wanted and for Anwyn to have the relatively easy entry into this world."
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Tammy
Group Course
"It was a privilege to take your amazing hypnobirthing course. Those Friday mornings were an education in so many things: in our mid 40s we both learned possibly for the first time how our bodies worked and what they were capable of . . . Apart from the miracle of Greta herself and Amanda's incredible strength and the way she hypnobirthed, the way she breathed our baby out, the single most important thing that happened during that last week was what I had learned with you - the being empowered, the crucial role we play as birth partners, to ask the questions, to push back on protocol (unless there is an emergency and baby or mamma are in dater), to protect the space and the mother. I cannot thank you enough Karen . . . I did my job and made it safe for Amanda and Greta to do theirs. It truly made the world of difference. We got our peaceful, natural birth, our drug-free baby, mamma and baby's oxytocin and bond, the natural suckling reflex. We didn't get it in the way we thought we would or hoped we would but in truth it was more wonderful than we had planned . . .Thank you Karen. For what we learned from you, not just about birth but about ourselves. You show a different way and I wish every woman on earth could Hypnobirthing with you."
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Harriet, mum & birth partner
Private Course
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"I would recommend your course to anyone. There was zero stress at home whilst Jen was in the early stages and active labour, it was actually a very pleasant morning."
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Sam, dad & birth partner
Private Course
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Hypnobirthing took me from being terrified of the idea of giving birth to feeling like I had confidence and control over how I handled both my labours. This came from a position of knowledge, understanding the process of birth, and also from a lot of practise of the techniques with my partner. From his perspective he was pretty sceptical before we attended the classes, but now feels so proud of what we achieved, other as a little team. It helped give him such a clear and important role in the whole process. We still talk and reminisce about it! 

Although I wasn't actually convinced all the practice would hold true when labour was in full swing, it did, and it was a really special, shared experience for both of us.
I can honestly say that I was not in pain, instead I felt relaxed and secure - it felt good. I could feel the contractions alright. And they weren't always comfortable, but nothing like the 'writhing in agony' you see on telly, they were definitely manageable. And I definitely don't have high pain threshold, normally!

The midwife kept commenting on how lovely and calm it was, and how it was bedlam outside in the delivery suite. We could sometimes hear a woman or two screaming in pain, and if felt so different from we what were doing, me bounding on the birthing ball, or kneeling and leaning against a chair while James did his stuff. The time passed like this in a lovely haze.

I feel really glad to have enjoyed such a positive birthing experience, much more than I could have hoped. It's hard to put into words, but we are both agreed it was one of the most special and intimate experiences of our lives, and that's a lovely things to treasure as we enjoy getting to know our son."
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Gill
Group Course
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"Thank you once again for your wonderful teaching, coaching and support. We now have 2 hypnobabies thanks to you! This birth was so so different to my first but once again no drugs or gas and air and Hypnobirthing guided us through. So grateful to hypnobirthing again."
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Hannah
Group Course
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"Sharing birth stories with other women, I am so unbelievable grateful for the safe birth we had at home . .. I still recommend Hypnobirthing to every pregnant mum I know."
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Sara
Group Course
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"Everything you taught us helped so much and I can't imagine how things would have gone without such brilliant tools for breathing, visualising, relaxing and staying confident and calm. The midwives were just lovely and very supportive of our birth plan. . . Thanks again for everything Karen - you really helped to give us the confidence to birth him the way we wanted to. The breathing has also come in handy this week to cope with the ups, downs and sleep deprivation."
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Anna
Group Course
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"There were moments that I felt totally high and blissed out and the pushing part felt amazing"
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Katie
Group Course
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"This is my first baby and my husband’s second. We decided to take the Hynobirthing course with Karen after a friend recommended the course. It is the best preparation we could have done. Without the training we’d received through Karen about the hypnobirthing principles, we would not have had the courage to challenge the protocols of the hospital and continue to ask the right questions about the reasons for induction being recommended . . . Thanks Karen! You've been a wonderful support over the last weeks and months. I know it wasn't a natural birth in the end but it was definitely a hypno birth. There were two occasions when I lost my focus and felt I couldn't do it anymore and they hurt. Once on way to hospital and then being wheeled to operating theatre. I am proud of myself and all the decisions we made. There was a reason he couldn't come out so we listened to the docs. Thanks again.
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Roisin
Group Course
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"[Our baby boy] was born at 4am, at home and he is absolutely gorgeus! It was a completely natural birth (no pain relief, nor stitches!), I practised hypnobirthing as much as I could and he was born in the pool. Oscar and myself received him and I can say this was the most empowering experience in my life."
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Elena
Group Course
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"I'd like to thank you for your help and guidance and sharing your knowledge with us for an easy birth. I am keep advertising hypnobirthing to everyone. Giving birth with this technique really makes it so easy. Or it did in my case.
As my first language is not English I was a bit worried that it wouldn't work as well as it does for other women, but to reassure everyone it doesn't matter at all, it's as effective as it is for English mums.
My partner was a bit sceptical at the beginning but in the end he was the biggest hypnobirthing supporter. Even recommended it to his colleagues.
When they saw me at the delivery suite they said (according to my hubby, as I didn't hear a word around me) I didn't look like I was in advanced labour as I was too calm, so they sent me somewhere else to wait until it's time. When we got there I was examined and sent straight back to the first place because my cervix was fully open. Here I was examined again and the midwife told us that she can feel the head.
The midwives were amazed as sometimes they could only tell I had a surge from the monitor but not when they were looking at me.
I am so happy that we had done the course it really does work! Benjamin is also a very calm baby eats a lot and sleeps well."
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Timi
Group Course
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"He was breathed into the world beautifully in 6 hours. Thank you thank you thank you . . . I'm still in such a euphoric state.. I enjoyed every minute. Thank YOU so much Xxx"
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Katy
Group Course
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"I gave birth to a huge baby boy on Friday 19th. He was 12 days 'late' but I managed to avoid any induction and got fully dilated without any pain or discomfort. I didn't even realise I was dilating… I only felt a few tightenings.
It was only as my waters broke and on entering hospital to find out I was fully dilated did I start to feel any discomfort.
I did not seem to use the hypnobirthing techniques in a very conscious way which I was surprised about. I also couldn't stand the thought of chris touching me … I thought he'd have to be light touch massaging me all 'over the place'. But I was just very focussed on staying loose and relaxed and breathing through all the surges. I had the rainbow relaxation and positive affirmations going the whole time.
It got quite challenging when I was trying to breath him down…. not surprising he was 9lb 13 !!!???!!!
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In total it took 6 hours. So, I'm delighted.
He's a very chilled out baby and we are very happy."
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Rachel
Bespoke Sessions
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"It went exactly as we planned. Thank you for all your help, hypnobirthing is amazing! . . . a huge thank you as you enabled us to have such an amazing birth which helped us to have such a lovely start to family life and getting to know our lovely little boy"
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Anna
Group Course
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""Delivery was via Csaer post 30 hr natural labour . . . we were very calm throughout & we maintained the hypno calm throughout. I breathed through surges etc....I could not ask for more:0) thank you for your guidance in our course. Being informed parents enabled us to maintain calm throughout the wait & the labour . . . The whole experience was exhilarating & incredible. I would not change any of it."
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Jenny
Private Course
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"Nye's birth was pretty perfect but this time round there was a marked difference because the midwives knew all about hypnobirthing. The breathing techniques you taught me are so effective that there weren't many outward signs of me being in labour but the midwives knew that and adjusted their approach accordingly. They told me later that they expected my labour to be quick and didn't intervene at all because they could see I was 'in the zone'.
Mark and I are both so grateful to you for teaching us how to have absolutely lovely births. I have recovered super quickly - I was taking a shower and walking around within a couple of hours - and feel so lucky when I hear about most non hypnobirthing stories. We've learned how to assert our needs and wants, work with my body and deal calmly with whatever is thrown at us. Hypnobirthing benefits don't stop at the birth!"
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Amelia
Refresher Sessions
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"The labour started slow with mild contractions but as soon as I got to hospital I was 6cm dilated got in the pool and then almost immediately had a sense to push. I had no pain relief and used all the breathing techniques throughout. But when I needed to push i couldn't control my bodies natural pushing muscles and out he came. It was exactly the birth I had pictured. In the water, no pain relief, much quicker than Bertie,no stitches and was home quickly afterwards.
I'll send you a better birth story once things are settled but again I need to say thank you so much for teaching me hypnobirthing. I've had 2 wonderful births and it is all thanks to you and the hypnobirthing practice... I feel so fortunate to have learnt it!"
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Katy
Refresher Session
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"I can't tell you how much the hypno birthing helped me . . . The midwife said she had never seen a calmer labouring woman. That's all down to you. The hugest thanks in the world."
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Lee
Group Course
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“Looking back, I would say that hypnobirthing played such a large part in the birth experience for Kieran and I. We used visualisations constantly and the breathing really worked with controlling the surge intensity. So much so that I rejected gas and air, as I felt my surge breathing worked better.”
Kieran and I can't thank you enough for your kindness and support. I think hypnobirthing played a massive part in our pregnancy and birth. It helps you to remain calm and focused at a time of utter endurance."
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Lydia
Group Course
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"Since her birth, when I’ve told people it was a 54 hour labour, home birth with no pain relief, their jaws drop open. Without hypnobirthing techniques, there is no way I could have done it. It gave me tools to draw on, confidence to decline interventions when we felt that was appropriate, an incredibly involved birth partner and, most importantly, the capacity to enter a zone that I didn’t really know existed in me. I am extremely thankful for this."
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Jenny
Group Course
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"The Hypnobirthing worked so well even in the face of numerous threatened interventions - Jake was an incredible birth companion keeping the doctors at bay along with our very supportive midwife. I didn't even have gas and air or paracetamol and midwife said it was one of the calmest labours she'd been part of.
Thanks again for everything! Hypnobirthing rocks!!!"
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Camilla
Group Course
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"Karen teaches Hypnobirthing in such a kind and amazing way. Her course turned my Fear-Tension-Pain thinking into a positive affirmation of confidence over my body. I felt prepared whatever the outcome.
Looking back I know that my baby's birth wasn't the option I would have chosen but it was the hand that nature dealt me and Hypnobirthing helped me through it and out the other side. For me I always knew there was a chance of another C-Section but the Hypnobirthing training enabled me to stay in that quiet place within us all where you really feel the strength of your spirit. I truely felt that I was calm enough to deal with anything and for me that was the success of Hypnobirthing."
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Rachael
Group Course
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"A BIG thank you for an amazing hypnobirthing course. It kept me and Esme calm when dealing with things not going to plan during the birth and we had a brilliant pregnancy – all down to hypnobirthing."
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Sarah
Group Course
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"At one point I actually thought to myself "wow, I'm breathing this baby out and I'm loving every second of it"... I never thought I'd say that a few months ago! I was very much in my own world with my eyes closed, I had one hand on my belly and one hand on my baby's head whilst he gently made his way into the world. The midwife then put him into my hands and I lifted him onto my chest
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We just wanted to say a huge, huge thank you for everything you taught us and the knowledge you imparted on us. Before the labour we had a few rough nights in hospital but I was able to stay very calm and relaxed using all the HB techniques. And although we had an induced labour as opposed to a natural one we were so well informed we knew that all the steps that were taken were the right ones medically and we were able to accept the decisions made without fear.
Despite everything I would hand on heart say Harley had a beautiful birth and I truly would of done it again the next day!"
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Chloe
Group Course
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"Just a small note to say a very HUGE THANK YOU for all the inspiring teaching, support and laughs during our course with you! It was utterly priceless. I will endeavor to write you our birth story but for the moment the overview is that the Drs wanted to induce me so I went and had reflexology/acupuncture with Jo. The next day for my sweep I was 1cm and had a soft central cervix! I went in and out of early labour for a few days and used the techniques and visualistion lots. My waters broke and I went straight to 3 in 10 but with some sort of nerve entrapment (we think Jess was tristed on my back slightly) . . . stayed at home for 6 hours with this before going to hospital and finding I was 6cm! Horray for hypnobirthing! I ended up needing an epidural for my back but had enough sensation to use the techniuqes to “breath” Jess out!!!! Perfect & happy experience! That is until my placenta decided not to come out! I was in complete bliss from the moment I felt his little head about to come out of me . . . what an incredible life affirming moment! We had nearly 2 hourse of skin to skin before I had to go back to theatre for manual removal of the placenta – which turned out to be huge! At this point I was exhausted and emotional but David was my rock and just kept the plinky plonky music and lavender room spray going! The deepening exercise had been brilliant to calm myself when I was getting upset my milk was delayed due to going to theatre – even adapting the visualization of the milk coming down helped! Jess is a calm and content baby and we’re in disbelief of how much we love him – it’s terrifying! Thank you again"
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Anusha
Group Course
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"it was the birth I was hoping for - at home, in the pool, straightforward and swift. I felt so at ease and confident the whole way through after knowing that the baby was in the right position. I think that knowing this got things moving....
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We both want to thank you for the refresher that you gave us. It really helped me to focus my practice around the breathing techniques and I felt prepared by the time I went into labour.
Tilly is absolutely gorgeous - our only struggle is waking her to feed.
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Thanks again Karen - you've really helped to make both of our birth experiences two of the most incredible days of our lives. I can't rave about hypnobirthing enough and it was just fascinating hearing your insights into birth & parenting."
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Anna
Group Course
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"We just wanted to let you know that our beautiful baby boy was born last Friday evening at home (a bit earlier than expected!)..... we wanted to let you know that the birth was just amazing - everything we'd hoped for, and more....calm, gentle, in water, totally natural....and the midwife said it was the most amazing birth she's been at....we were so lucky to have her - she really embraced our hypnobirthing wishes and she was simply wonderful.
Thank you so much karen..from the bottom of my heart....you've been in my thoughts since he arrived...
He's amazing....we're loving being in our baby bubble..."
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Lily
Private Course
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"a huge thank you for all you help and support, we cannot recommend yourself and Hypnobirthing highly enough to people. The whole experience has changed our lives and needless to say Peggy is of course a calm and happy hypnobaby!"
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Hannah
Group Course
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"There were 5 couples from our NCT group & we all had very close due dates . . . I was the only first time birther who had the perfect birth that I wanted! The midwife who came round today said that it was really nice to hear a positive labour story for once and said that there is a growing belief amongst the midwives in hypnobirthing due to this. She also said that Sophia looks like one of the healthiest babies she has seen, in terms of her colour, weight & alertness, which is all testament to the preparation. We are soo very happy that we have got off to a good start with the labour that we wanted. Thank you for all of your support."
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Lucy
Group Course
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"Just to say a massive thanks for your refresher sessions. And for the course the first time round... Your words of encouragement and guidance have made all the difference especially when I started to wobble....The calmness stayed with me from the first time. I got my vbac! Nearly at home. But meconium in my waters right at the end so had to transfer in. Born 45 after arriving. Started to freak out a bit at hospital and Paul did the count down technique. Worked!"
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Roisin
Refresher Session
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"Andrew and I were proactive with every obstacle we encountered, and we navigated each step calmly and rationally. We did everything we could - sometimes medical intervention is necessary, and I feel secure knowing I made the right decisions along the way. In a strange way, I feel empowered, because I know that had I not remained calm throughout, perhaps the outcome would have been different. The best thing is that I have a beautiful baby boy who is feeding well, and who I know received lots of good endorphins - both throughout my pregnancy and throughout a birth that could have otherwise been much more stressful!"
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Marie
Private Course
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"Thanks to Hypnobirthing we had learned all the tools we needed to get us through whatever was thrown at us. Knowing all we did about what was happening to my body, and how natural it all is, knowing how to stay relaxed using breathing and visualisation, meant we could face anything!
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I will be grateful to you forever and ever for helping Geoff and I bring Lola to us in the safest, most magical way possible. Hypnobirthing – and you! – gave me the confidence to understand and trust myself and my body. It meant Geoff and I shared hours and hours of special, positive bonding with our unborn baby, helping us feel in control and unafraid, and get to know her so well before she’d even arrived.
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Now I’m a mother I feel a stronger woman than I have ever felt, so proud of the little person Geoff and I have created. Lola is such a content and sweet little thing and I feel sure that her calmness must at least in part come from the fact she arrived with us so gently. In the last few weeks she has started coo-ing and chatting and singing to us. Now three months old, she is proving that she is that little communicator you said she was when we did the breech hypnosis. I am just bursting with pride for her and gratitude for you. Thank you Karen!
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I've been telling all my friends about hypnobirthing and am determined to do what I can to convince other women they don't have to be afraid of birth so would love to feel our story might encourage other people to choose hypnobirthing."
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Sarah
Group Course
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"For me it was all about understanding the unknown and feeling in control. The relaxation techniques enabled me to really enjoy my pregnancy and create a bond with our unborn child. The hypnobirthing sessions we attended helped me with much more than I could have imagined when we first started. My outlook has changed and by giving myself a little bit of time and space to think, I no longer internalise my fears and anxieties, it’s helped me trust in myself and listen to my mind and body, something I will continue to do. Thank you Karen"
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Katherine
Group Course
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"I really want to thank you so much for what you did for us before and after the birth of our beautiful daughter Ava. Your knowledge, guidance and kindness really helped us through the birth and coming to see you afterwards to help with a severe case of the 'baby blues' I really can't ever thank you enough…
Our little hypnobaby is so chilled out, eating and sleeping so well. She was so alert from the beginning and I know that's because of the hypnobirthing practice. I know Chris would say that he was sceptical of hypnobirthing, but even he would now say how amazing it was and that it really helped us have a relaxed and natural birth."
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Kate
Group Course
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"I had an AMAZING hypnobirth and needed no pain relief at all! It was all so calm and relaxing I think the midwives were struggling to stay awake!
The breathing was just so amazing I can't get over how well it worked... Thank you so much Karen I feel so blessed to have had the birth I had hoped for!!! You were a brilliant teacher :-) I will be preaching about hypnobirthing to everyone!
I am really happy with the way the birth went and truly believe that the hypnobirthing got me through it all painlessly and peacefully. I felt on a different level, it is true that you can get yourself into such a deep relaxation that makes the whole thing really manageable! The warm water in the birthing pool was also amazing pain relief and I can't wait to do it again! I think the best thing is to trust your body- it knows what it is doing and don’t be afraid, it is such an exciting time- you are about to meet your baby!
I also want to thank you so much for the course I don’t know how my birth would have gone if I hadn’t done the hypnobirthing but it was amazing and perfect and I can’t wait to do it all over again. I don’t know how you do it but it is magic!!
I look forward to seeing you again on my next pregnancy for a refresher course!"
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Katy
Group Course
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"I was really quite anxious about induction, but ended up having a really positive experience, the water birth I'd hoped for, midwives who were supportive of our birth plan as well as still being fully able to draw on all aspects of my Hypnobirthing preparation. Thank you so much and we're both so glad we did the course with you
Hypnobirthing has been very helpful in our experience. I found that I needed movement, deep birth breaths and low and loud tribal noises to see me through each surges. Matt was amazing at coaching me through, making sure my breathing was calm and deep,and if ever I slightly lost my way with my breathing, he very quickly got me back on track. Fear was definitely out of the equation. I wouldn't describe the experience as painful either. Just extreme intensity and power.
Matt says that he found the Hypnobirthing extremely helpful too as it helped keep him calm and focussed on supporting me throughout the day. In fact he actually said that my breathing made him feel so relaxed, he may have fallen asleep in between contractions."
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Tonwen
Group Course
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"Our beautiful homebirth was a very natural and spiritual experience as a family with candlelight, birth pool and specialist homebirth helpers and friends. Our "little firework" was born on Guy Fawkes (5th November) and a day after Diwali. Thanks in part to hypnobirthing, a very quick and painless 3 hour labour for mum!"
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Jharna
Group Course
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"Mum and baby did fantastic, home birth worked a dream, the hypno birthing had a key part, especially in being more informed and empowered, the pool worked perfectly and the home atmosphere was amazing and owned by us. What a day, what a wonderful wife and what a beautiful new daughter"
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Vikas, Birth Partner & Dad
Group Course
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"We went into the operating theatre with an air of excitement, not fear. We strongly believe hypnobirthing helped us engage in this ready-for-anything attitude - hypnobirthing techniques kept us focused and strong, and as a result the moment we saw our son we were overcome with bewildered happiness and love - it's a special moment Sam and I shall never forget and had we been panicking and scared, we might not have been given that wonderful memory . . . Sam is so immensely proud of me and talks to everyone about what a wonderful, unforgettable experience we had thanks to hypnobirthing … Thank you for all that you did Karen - and should we decide to have more children in future, we know hypnobirthing will undoubtedly be the cornerstone of my pregnancy and preparation!
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Bonnie
Group Course
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"Karen baby girl born to us this morning at 11am weighing 9lb2oz!!! We had a perfect birth , hypnobirthing wins!! I kept being amazed throughout."
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Nor
Bespoke Course
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"I felt totally calm throughout. Josh said I looked like I was on drugs, which I guess was all those amazing hormones at work!"
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Beth
Group Course
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"“Looking back now on our time with you we're both so glad and it proved the hynobirthing approach had a really positive effect on Amelias birth experience. i think what we really got from it were good tools to help us along, and the belief that it can also be an incredibly beautiful experience, instead of the image we're fed through cultural conditioning about giving birth. I don't say it from an idealistic point of view, because I know all births are different, some tougher and longer than others. But it gave us the confidence to choose having him at home, where we knew we could control some of our own variables. We were totally willing to go to hospital of course should we need to, but thought why not at least try to have him at home.”
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Mark, dad and birth companion
Private Course
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"We had our lovely, beautiful son this morning at 1am, at home, without even a sniff of pain relief, after a very short labour. Mark was amazing, really amazing, and guided me through everything you taught us. I just can't thank you enough.”
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Amelia
Private Course
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"Your course was fantastic, I learnt so much and I felt actively involved from the moment we started attending. Laura and I are very much a team in everything we do and your course gave me a role and understanding to help Laura and our baby on the great day."
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Barry, dad and birth companion
Group Course
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"Just to let you know our beautiful baby girl arrived at 9.50am weighing 8lb 9oz on her actual due date. The hypnobirthing was fantastic, I didn't hold my breath once, no screams, no tears … I managed to birth our gorgeous girl without any assistance and at 8lb 9oz for our first baby they say was quite an achievement:-) Just want to say thank you so much for all the information and support, it really helped keep me remain calm and in control when everything didn't run as smoothly as we had liked (Brighton was short staffed and had no room for me and I was in a waiting room at 5cm, no-one around to let me use the free birthing pool) but you was so right, it was the most amazing and magical experience we have ever had x"
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Jeanine
Group Course
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"Karen, I can't thank you enough for everything you've enabled me to do! You've taken me from being terrified of giving birth outside the medical model, to being able to give birth confident in my body's abilities to cope! Hypnobirthing officially rocks, as do you!"
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Dom
Group Course
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"Your classes helped so much with the entire birth preparation and on the actual ‘two’ days . . . what you taught us also helps daily with the hard bits of being a parent. Thank you for everything . . . Hypnobirthing really helped me connect with my baby and relax into the new role of being a mother that begins when you find out your pregnant. It allowed me to stop and really go inside myself to learn what i needed to do in order to prepare myself for this extremely new challenge. i truely believe if i had not done this course, i would have been a very anxious pregnant lady and a very manic, unconnected mother. instead i thoruoghly enjoyed the pregnancy journey and embraced all the changes that happend to my body and am a calm mother of a really relaxed and happy baby.
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Sally
Group Course
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"The course was amazing. We were empowered to take the world by calm battling modern medical technology on its own turf with the cavalry of knowledge about our labour and birth. We also had the arsenal of ... questions should medical staff undermine our natural birthing plans.
HypnoBirthing played a vital role in that partnership of care by preparing us mentally and physically, instilling the need to remain calm and relaxed, prepared to face whichever turn our birthing may take.
We had made the right choice as informed, reasoning parents. I’m sure that trend will continue as we share our lives with love for the most beautiful, amazing person that modern medical technology working alongside nature has helped us create."
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Chris, dad and birth companion
Group Course
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"I feel really grateful to have had such a wonderful birthing experience. My son is very chilled and very happy! I feel this is partly because I was so relaxed and calm by using HB methods of relaxation. Thank you Karen and thank you HB for giving me such a beautiful experience."
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Rachel
Group Course
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"Thank you so much for making our birth preparation so much fun! It all helped with our successful home birth and our midwives noted how hypnobirthing can work wonders! . . . In a nutshell - Hypnobirthing definately helped me keep calm throughout and the midwives were saying that they were impressed with how I coped and that they always can tell a Hypnobirth mum when they see how well we breath and 'let go' when necessary.
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Time distortion was certainly a real phenomenon - I lost 5 hours at one point which really encouraged me to keep going.
Hypnobirthing also played it's part in keeping the labour progressing well without any delays or latent periods. There was little time between 6cm and 9 and I barely noticed the few exams I had. The midwives were very respectful of my state of mind and were really gentle so as not to disturb me. HB basically makes their job a lot easier so we've done the right thing in preparing ours minds like this.
Thanks for everything Karen - without HB I would never have had the confidence to consider a homebirth and I probably wouldn't have had the positive anticipation and experience of childbirth.
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Sally
Group Course
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"The birth really was a great experience, I couldn't have asked for it to have gone better or quicker! Thank you Karen for all your encouragement; I am so glad I discovered Hypnobirthing.
a woman gave birth in the room down the corridor and was screaming the place down. The midwife came into me and said ‘That one hasn’t done Hypnobirthing’!"
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Ella
Group Course
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"I was very happy to be able to have our baby at home without any pain relief and without HypnoBirthing I would never have considered this. Steve was amazing and feels Hypnobirthing increased his confidence and ability to help me throughout the birth.
I would like to thank Karen from Hypnobabes from the bottom of my heart for making it possible. X"
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Ali
Group Course
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"Thank you once again for taking the time to sort out our heads before we went in to be induced on the Weds - it really really helped. Whilst being induced and during the birth the hypnobirth totally came into its own. We both found it so invaluable. Although I ended up on the drip I managed with air and gas for the rest of the labour and the hypnobirth breathing of course!!"
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Mandi
Group Course
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"Who can know why my labor happened the way it did but what I do know is that using hypnobirthing allowed me to keep calm and focused and when things changed I made a conscious empowered decision … I can honestly say I did what was best for me and my baby and I don't regret a single moment! Olive is a calm and contented baby who is sleeping and feeding well and hardly crys at all!
I truely appreciate all the support and information you gave me. Thank you for being a part of my wonderful experience.
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Kathy
Group Course
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"I really can't recommend Hypnobirthing enough. Neither me nor my husband are particularly alternative and we're both pretty science-based, but it just makes total sense. I had very different birth experiences with my two boys (first one ended with an emergency c-section due to undiagnosed breech, second was a lovely home, water, hypno-birth) but with both the Hypnobirthing was totally invaluable. It's incredibly empowering to remind yourself that your body is 100% designed to birth your baby. My husband and I loved the fact that he had such a big role in the birth. It's easy to think about it being all about the Mother, but having your partner have a really active role is wonderful. I recommend Hypnobirthing to every single person I meet who's expecting a baby - whether or not they're planning a home or hospital birth. It sets up such a positive mindset and really does remove any fear you may have. Both times I was really excited about giving birth."
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Roamy
Private Course
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"Karen, The breathing made me so relaxed and clam throughout the c-section it was truly amazing, Jack’s waters did not break until after he was born, so he was clearly relaxed too! I really believe that the skills I learnt from you made my whole birthing experience so wonderfully special."
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Hayley (mum of twins)
Group Course
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" i can honestly say it was my perfect birth! . . . so far she is so chilled and sleeps brilliantly and is a pleasure!i am so excited about the birth and want to tell any one who wants to know that it really did work for me! mark even said he was amazed at the difference between our two births and he said i was calmer than any of the dvds we watched . . . He was very sceptical about the whole thing before i proved him wrong.The thing i think was so wonderful was that i could describe the process of birth so in depth,i was so in tune with it and so aware of everything yet in my own 'zone'.the toughest part was the drive to the hospital as it was v.hard to stay focused then. The 2 midwives at the hospital were amazing and amazed!!one,my main midwife was infact a student,it was her 16th birth and first hypnobirth,she was so interested in it all and both midwives could not believe how in control i was and were so respectful of everything we had requested.Eva arrived in the water,just as id hoped,4 1/2 hrs after we arrived at the hospital(my waters literally popped at 10.30pm on the sat.eve,i sat very calmly with my surges til 7am,then went to hospital) . . . I and am so grateful to Karen for helping me believe i could have the birth i hoped i could have.(feel all emotional now!)I would love,in the future to speak at your classes to help encourage others to have the experience i did!thankyou,thankyou!!"
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Claire
Group Course
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"she was brilliant.. she did it all without drugs and said it was not painful but it was intense. But the fear had gone ... She did yell out several times at the last stage of labour, but it was not a scream of pain but a very definite primal scream. She remained very focused though and kept breathing that baby down! Hallelujah! It was amazing!!! And to be that close to my granddaughter as her little face emerged was a moment I shall never forget ... “being at the birth of my first grandchild was the most wonderful moment, it was pure magic! Thank you Karen for showing us this far more beneficial and empowering way to give birth.”
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Heulwen, grandma and birth companion
Private Course
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"“We had a wonderful home hypnobirth and are so grateful for all the things we learnt on your course, that we strongly feel enabled us to have the birth we dreamt of”
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Charlie
Group Course
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"I can not beleive what a positive experience we had with the hypno birthing. I still can't quite believe how amazing it was, my hormones have calmed down now and I still feel like this. Just to let you know you helped us achieve the most wonderful experience of our lives."
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Kelly
Group Course
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"I found that Hypnobirthing really helped me to take control of the experience and although I had an epidural after 48 hours I really felt that every decision we made was done so in an informed way with Ali and I smiling and joking our way through the final "push" and leaving Heidi calm and alert and feeding beautifully within 45 minutes. Despite all the twists and turns my labour took I look back on the birth as a very positive experience and one over which I had full control.
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[when i arrived] I had a chat with the midwife all the while using my slow breathing for surges 3-4 minutes apart. After 15 minutes the midwife said " Melita, I am not even going to examine you, there is no way you are in labour - we've been talking for 15 minutes and I've seen no sign of you having any contractions so unless you are really good at this hypnobirthing lark there is no way you are any more dilated than you were first thing today". Because we had driven so far she finally relented at the last minute before we left and examined me only to utter the fateful words, " Well, that goes to how that midwife's don't know everything, you are 5 cm dilated and your waters are bulging, you are not going anywhere!"
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[during labour]... the midwife kept coming into the room and saying "Oh I love it in here, it's all busy and hectic in all the other rooms, everyone is screaming but you two are still smiling - we are so proud of you”
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Karen, I really do thank you and the hypnobirthing programme for all your help in giving is a birthing experience which left us in good spirits and feeling totally in control of the process - I did not even break into a sweat . As someone with a terrible fear of hospitals and "white coat syndrome" I really did think I would go to pieces on the day despite all the training and very nearly called you the week before for some extra coaching - we both look back with such clarity on the whole event and to feel such a tremendous sense of achievement and without hypnobirthing I know this would not have been possible.
I continue to hear awful birth stories from my friends and just smile and tell them how wonderful my experience was - I have been recommending hypnobirthing to all my pregnant friends."
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Melita
Group Course
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"I would never have believed I could have experienced child birth in such stress free and relatively natural way. My previous experience I had been extremely afraid and in labour for 18 hours, resulting in gas and air and an epidural, but otherwise a straight forward birth, which I am sure could have been far quicker and less stressful if I had known hypno birthing techniques and the other knowledge I gained about natural birthing"
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Stacey
Bespoke Course
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"[The midwife] said it had been a pleasure to be involved and that this was what midwifery was all about. I felt on a high all that day … Rosanna remained just as chilled out as she started. Thank you very much Karen!"
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Emma
Group Course
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"My favourite class was the HypnoBirthing as this gave me a significant role to play in the birth of my son. As the birth partner, my main roles were to help induce and maintain an extremely relaxed state in my partner and to protect her and the birth environment from anyone or anything that was involved in the birth . . . I would recommend it to anyone."
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Lee, dad and birth companion
Private Course
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"Without a shadow of a doubt, our HypnoBirthing instructor was incredible. She gave us the knowledge and confidence needed to help us in having a natural home-birth. The course, and Karen, we have recommended already ..."
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Heloise
Group Course
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"I am extremely pleased that I used hypnobirthing for my first child. I believe this enabled me to remain clam even when the special circumstances came to light and I had to go to hospital. I also believe the calm and relaxed birth has helped us deliver a very chilled out little boy ... I found the course enlightening, especially when looking at why fear has become associated to childbirth and how your body and baby work together to enable you to have a calm and relaxed birth. It completely reframed how I viewed labour. By the end of the course I was actually looking forward to my birth"
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Juliet
Bespoke Course
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"Thank you for your help and support. The hypnobirthing visualisation and breathing techniques were invaluable to me during the birthing experience. I felt relaxed, full of energy and able to cope with the lengthy birth. Indeed, the midwives commented that they could not tell when I was experiencing surges."
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Emily
Private Course