#birth #calmrelaxed #comfortablebirth #goodbirth #hypnobirthing #pregnant #thewisehippo

Teaching Class 4 of #thewisehippo last week we talked about light touch birth massage, the 'Shaking of the Apples', as advocated by the fab doula Tamara Cianfini, pressure on the sacrum & various other supportive techniques that birth partners can use to comfort & care for labouring Mama's. And then I happened on this page via Pinterest - the Amsterdam Double Hip Squeeze. Not nearly as dodgy as it sounds! Grab a cuppa, take 5 to read through, then send to your birth partner.

So. I read this amazing blog at the beginning of this year, and told all and sundry about it. Then I got involved in all sorts of other bits and pieces and somehow managed to lose the link. This evening, as I prepare for tomorrow nights #thewisehippo session I've happened upon it again. Hooray! And what a find it is! I'll start with a caveat, which is that every woman experiences her labour uniquely and in her own way - which is as it should be, and as pretty much every event

One day I'll learn how to sync The Good Birth Practice Facebook page with the website, so that when I post there it'll appear here on my blog too. But in the meantime, you'll just have to put up with sporadic linked postings! BUT! That's not what I'm here to say. I'm here to celebrate Dads. I'm currently teaching two Sevenoaks couples #thewisehippo, and both Dads are super clued up, enthusiastic, supportive and open-minded. I know they'll both make fantastic, confident & calm

Teaching Class 2 of #thewisehippo this evening we talked alot about anchoring our senses to positive emotions, so can be #calmandrelaxed as you birth your baby. And what can possibly be more sensory than birthing your baby? Here are some way's you can use your senses positively as you labour - click here to see the full infographic For more information about birth preparation & hypnobirthing classes in Sevenoaks, click here #birth #calmrelaxed #hypnobirthing #hypnobirthingcla

Well, according to the US edition of Cosmopolitan, it's more like meditation than hypnosis. Although this American article reflects their more hospital-based-consultant-led approach to birth, it's interesting to read the experiences of 3 real women. I particularly like where they talk about pain - and how hypnobirthing helps women be realistic about what to expect and how to interpret the signals our body sends us as we labour. You can read the full article, by Heather Wood R

Are you pregnant? Want to find out more about birth preparation & hypnobirthing classes in Sevenoaks? Come along to the next Relax, Breathe & Birth session at Alice's Tea Shop in Sevenoaks. At our October workshop we talked about 'Good Birth' and what that actually means. We laughed about the crazy horror stories people tell pregnant women about birth (and about how you'd never try to freak out a marathon runner like that), and we investigated the wonder that is oxytocin - wh

Have you heard about The Hip Club? It's our (closed) Facebook group, where mums-to-be, instructors and Wise Hippo mummies post questions, share resources & chat about all things birth & baby. It's a lovely, friendly group, and open to anyone who's taking any element of The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme, from Relax, Breathe & Birth pregnancy relaxation workshop to the full 10 hours of hypnobirthing/birth preparation Let me know if you'd like to join and I'll invite you in to

What a fantastic thought to have as you labour - you're not alone! Together, you and 300,000 other women are undertaking the most powerful, transformative act known to mankind. You're bringing another human into the world. Meditate on that, labouring women, and know you are strong! For more information about positive birth, birth preparation, hypnobirthing and The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme, come along to the next Relax, Breathe & Birth session at Alice's Tea Shop on Tuesd

Relax, Breathe & Birth This two hour ante-natal workshop is an opportunity to find out how perfectly prepared your body is to birth your baby, and learn relaxation techniques you can use during the rest of your pregnancy and birth. It's also a great introduction to The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme (the cost of the workshop is deducted from your course fee when you book). Next session is on Tuesday 21st October from 730-10pm at Alice's Tea Shop, Sevenoaks You can find out mor