Hi Maureen!

Dale's Story

Finally, here’s my testimonial as promised. After waiting so long to become a mum, it was really important to me that I could approach childbirth without fear and anxiety. The hypnobirthing techniques you taught us really relaxed and calmed me in the last trimester and prepared me mentally and emotionally for a positive experience. What I would say is that you really have to put the time and effort in (almost 2 hours a day) but it’s all worth it. Hyponbirthing gave me the confidence to decide to have a water birth at home. The course also helped Andy to prepare for his role in the birth and I couldn’t have wished for a more supportive, loving and patient birth partner, so thank you so much for that!

The latent phase of my labour was prolonged due to carrying such a big baby (more on that later) who was slightly posterior in position, which meant that she took a long time to turn and descend. Hypnobirthing kept me composed and focused during this time (42 hours!) and gave me the strength to dig deep and carry on, when ordinarily we might have given up and gone to hospital and ended up on a downward spiral of medical intervention. Surges were coming strongly and then tailing off and stalling and it seemed ages before we were given the good news by the midwife that I was 5cm dilated and could finally get into the pool. Once in the water, I really felt like the hard part was over as the buoyancy of the water really helped with movement and the heat made me feel so much more comfortable. It was easy to bring the breathing and relaxation techniques into practice and I eased through the active stage (12 hours), going deeper and deeper within, having no need for any pain relief at all. When it was time to bear down, I breathed my baby down, guided by my midwife who encouraged me with descriptions of how much of the baby’s head she could see. Our gorgeous baby daughter, Darcy Willow, arrived serenely, weighing 10lb 4 and a half – all to the amazement of the watching midwives. Andy was fantastic and remained strong for me throughout, but when he gazed into his daughter’s eyes for the first time, he was overcome with emotion. As for me, I just couldn’t believe that after such a long labour, I had managed to find the strength to carry on and that I got to have her at home. I am so grateful to you for being such an excellent teacher and I know that hypnobirthing enabled us to have such a positive and ecstatic experience which we will forever cherish. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Andrew's Story

My attitude towards ‘Hypnobirthing’ when Dale first mentioned it was probably the same as most men; I thought it was a pretentious fad which must have started in London, practiced by people with too much time and money on their hands.

It is very difficult for a man to watch his partner go through pregnancy because you feel like there is nothing that you can do to help. I found it very frustrating! I tried my best to support Dale where I could and this included joining in fully with Hypnobirthing. I felt this would give our baby the best possible chance of being birthed in the calmest and safest way possible. I also thought that it would help make the birth as pleasant as possible.

After the event, I would sum up Hypnobirthing in 3 words – Education, Education, Education! Hypnobirthing teaches you all you need to know to enable you to go give birth with confidence whilst remaining flexible to adapt to the situation as it changes. Apart from our prolonged labour, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed watching my baby girl being born.

And as for you Maureen, you’re the perfect teacher and I genuinely feel privileged to have been taught by you. Thank you so much for helping me, help Dale, bring Darcy Willow into this world in a calm, safe environment in a birthing pool in my dining room – no nurses, ho hospitals and no medicine. Au Natural – I love it!!!

Andrew

Hi Maureen,

We just wanted to share our birth story with you and any mums-to-be considering hypnobirthing. We had a beautiful, calm and relaxed home birth without any complications just as planned. I even went into labour on my due date just as I’d visualised, I am now truly amazed at the power of the mind!  Colin and i enjoyed our time with you very very much, your support and expertise are second to none and i would highly recommend your sessions to any expectant mums...i would say though that you have to practise as much as you can leading up to the birth as it definitely pays off! Such a positive experience for all 3 of us.

Keep up the good work Maureen!

Lots of love Nicola, Colin and Marley xxx

Hi Maureen,

Eventually the feedback you asked for-as baby Amelia is asleep! We arrived at the Ormskirk hospital at 1am Sunday morning and had baby Amelia, 7lb 3oz at 10.30am through midwife led care. The surges were not strong and we only went in because Emma started to bleed (which they said was probably a show, waters did not break until giving birth) on arrival Emma was examined and was 5cm dilated-which the consultant could not believe. Emma used the birthing ball and pool but eventually it got a bit cold and opted out. Emma delivered baby Amelia with some gas and air towards the end and even after my fears of stitches and needle phobia for delivery of the 3rd stage-did not feel any of this! Baby Amelia was born in a calm environment and Emma used her breathing and relaxation techniques throughout. Many thanks to you Maureen for all your wonderful tips and guidance, the classes were both small and intimate and we felt we could ask you anything!-the midwives were impressed by our knowledge and attitude towards our birth-even down to Emma being so relaxed and putting her makeup on before the arrival of baby Amelia!!!

Love Emma and Lee

Hi Maureen

Had a great birthing experience and Pete was an amazing birth partner. Listened to Rainbow relaxation and did visualisation and affirmations during my labour. I have no doubt that Hypnobirthing and your support helped me to acheive the birth that I wanted. It was truly an amazing experience and I look back on my labour with nostalgia! Harry is great and I feel really well. Many thanks for all of your help and I shall be recommending hypnobirhting to everyone I know!

Annie Pete and Harry xx

Hi Maureen Just to let you know about our birthing experience:  4 Hours Active Labour, beautiful water birth

Hypnobirthing has been fantastic in so many ways, before I started with you I would get anxiety attacks just thinking of having a natural labour in fact I remember once saying that wanted an arranged c-section as I could not bear the thought of it!  After those sessions with you and practising relaxation plus reading the book (and having Xavi as the most wonderfully supportive partner I could ask for) I felt so calm and looked forward to giving birth.  When my waters broke at 2am that night I immediately went into my birthing body...I felt really calm and relaxed, the hospital asked me to go in to check that my waters had actually broken and all the time I felt really at ease and so ready. The staff at Arrowe Park were fantastic and read my birthing plan and really worked with us to ahieve our desired birthing enviroment as best as they could.  Once they confirmed my waters had broken I stayed within my birthing body, using the breathing techniques as well as I could (they worked really well), sitting on the birthing ball the whole time until well...I can't remember the point that I lost the plot at the end...you were there by then! I feel really lucky to have had such a great birthing experience, I keep telling everyone when they ask me..."sorry but I have no horror story to tell" - that's what they all expect and are shocked when I tell them how well it went for me.  Thank you so much for all you help and support.

Diane and Xavi

Hi Maureen  4 Hours Active Labour, beautiful water birth at Home.

Just to let you know that Minnie Grace arrived safely on Wednesday 13th January at 7.33pm weighing 6lbs 7ozs. She is absolutely beautiful and we are very proud. My surges went from  20 minutes, to 10 minutes and then to every 5 minutes. I still felt comfortable and calm. I called the on-duty midwife. Not long after  I started to feel really strong surges, I asksed Dawn my midwife to check me as I wanted to know what was happening.  My cervix was paper thin and I was 2cm dilated this was at 16.45pm. I then remember walking down the stairs after going to the loo and thinking something is moving really fast. I got downstairs the pool was full and everything ready and then my waters broke. My surges got even stronger. The CD was on in the background. By 17.15 I really wanted to get into the pool I had a feeling that things wouldn't be too much longer. I spoke to Dawn who told me what the guidance said, that usually you should wait until you are at least 4cm or the surges could become less strong. I insisted that I was getting into the pool, which I did. I got into a relatively comfortable squatting position facing Jason and had pillows to support my head. I remember you saying that when you are about to have the baby you wake up because of the adrenalin. The surges were strong and lasting longer, probably about 2 minutes apart. In between surges Jason said that I just went really floppy and looked like I was asleep.  I think I was giving the midwives (who arrived later to take over as they were on-call) a running commentary of what was happening because I don't think they thought I was as advanced as I was. I remember telling them that I could feel the baby's head and that I really felt a strong urge to push / breath down. I was advised not to just in case I made the cervix swollen and the baby wasn't as far down as I thought. Anyway, I knew the baby was coming I could feel her head and I breathed right down into every surge. I could feel a stinging sensation and by 19.10 the head was visible, then at 19.33, Minnie was born. Jason received her and because the cord was so short, it was left to pulsate and was then clamped and cut by Jason so that I could have skin to skin. I was a bit sore but felt really proud of myself and Jason. The midwives were amazed, one of them Fiona had only been there an hour before the baby arrived and she commented that she wished she had know me before as she would have known what I was doing. All in all it has been a really positive experience, I really listened to my body and knew what was happening and where I was up to. So Minnie arrived 5 days early and within 3 hours. How great is that? Thank you for all of your guidance and support.

Medina and Jason

Hi Maureen

I just wanted to let you know that our baby boy has arrived. He was a vbac breech home birth!

It was lovely and i couldn’t of done it with out hypnobirthing so thank you very much for helping us.
Jennie and James x

A Special Circumstances Positive Birth Story:

Hi Maureen

Last Saturday morning, 17th July, at 6:21am little Millie Fitzgibbon was born, weighing 7lb 11oz, after a 5 and a half hour labour.

I ended up having to be induced at 38 weeks due to a diagnosis of cholestasis.  The 1st pessary did nothing, so 6 hours later I was given a 2nd, and about 4 hrs after that I was 2cm dilated. That was when my waters were broken and when the 'real' surges kicked in! It was from that point that my labour was considered to have officially started, 12:50am. As I said, the surges were really intense from then on, as is the case with artificially induced labour,  but I truly remained in my birthing body and breathed through every one. Darren was absolutely brilliant support, saying and doing all the right things and encouraging me every step of the way. The midwife too, who only joined us from the birth breathing phase onwards was great and didn't once offer any pain relief, as per our birth plan. With every surge I just kept reminding myself that we were getting closer to meeting Millie, and after 5 hrs n 40 odd minutes our little princess was born. Darren is insisting that I tell you all how in awe of me he is, as I wouldn't entertain the idea of any drugs, and did not scream once!!! The midwife, Linda, was also very complimentary and told all her colleagues how well I'd done, and I must say I was pretty chuffed when tons of midwives were raving about me! So all in all, I had a brilliant birthing experience and I am very proud of myself, of the vital part Darren played, and mostly of the fabulous little baby that our world now revolves around.

Lots of love and best wishes,

Laura, Darren and Millie xxx

Click here to read more testimonials