A New Year, A Fresh Breath — And Why Birth Education Matters More Than Ever

A new year always feels like a pause. A moment to take stock, reset, and ask: what really matters right now? So if we haven’t met yet — or if it’s been a while — this feels like the perfect time to properly reintroduce myself and the work I do.

I’m Terri, the founder of Cornwall Hypnobirthing & Doula Service. I’ve been teaching antenatal education and hypnobirthing for over 12 years, supporting women and families to approach birth with confidence, knowledge, and a deep sense of autonomy. I’m also a Birth Doula of 9 years and a Clinical Hypnotherapist, specialising in birth trauma, anxiety, stress and confidence.

Birth is my life’s work — and it always comes back to one simple belief: Women and birthing people deserve to feel informed, respected, and powerful in their births.

 

A Quick Look Back — And a Big Milestone Ahead

Over the years, I’ve supported 93 families as their Doula, and I already have 6 Doula clients booked for this year, bringing me to 99. That means that in 2026, I’ll be celebrating my 100th Doula client — something I feel incredibly proud of.

Each one of those births has reinforced the same truth: when people are supported, informed, and believed in, birth can be a positive experience no matter what path it takes.

 

The Reality of Maternity Care Right Now

It would be impossible to write a New Year post without acknowledging what’s been dominating the news. Midwifery services across the UK are overstretched, understaffed, and exhausted. Midwives are leaving the profession in heart-breaking numbers. Those who remain are doing their absolute best in a system that is stretched far beyond safe limits.

This is not a criticism of midwives — far from it.It’s a reflection of a system under pressure, where time is limited, continuity is rare, and personalised care is often impossible.

And when systems are under strain, women are the ones who feel it most:

• rushed appointments

• limited discussions around options

• inconsistent information

• fear-based conversations

• lack of informed consent

• feeling unheard or coerced

This is exactly why antenatal education has never been more important.

Not because birth is dangerous — but because knowledge protects you when systems are struggling.

 

Why I Do What I Do

I don’t teach hypnobirthing because I think birth should be quiet, candlelit and perfect. I teach it because knowledge, preparation and confidence change outcomes — emotionally, psychologically, and often physically too. I don’t believe women and birthing people need “fixing.” I believe they need information, support, and space to trust themselves.

And that belief runs through every service I offer.

 

How I Support Families

🌿 Hypnobirthing Courses

I teach independent hypnobirthing, not a one-size-fits-all manual. My courses are full antenatal education — covering physiology of birth, mindset, comfort measures, partner support, navigating the maternity system, informed decision-making, and advocacy.

They’re factual, grounded, and real.No fluff. No fear. Just proper education.

Courses are available privately or in groups, and adapt constantly based on current evidence, local maternity services, and my real-life doula experience.

🌿 Birth Doula Support

As a Doula, I provide continuous emotional, practical and informational support through pregnancy, birth and early postpartum.

I support home births, birth centre births, hospital births, inductions and caesareans. I help families feel steady, confident, and held — especially when plans change or things feel overwhelming.

A Doula doesn’t replace your midwife.

A Doula fills the gaps the system simply can’t.

🌿 Doula in My Pocket (Virtual Support)

For those who want doula support in a more accessible way, I offer Doula in My Pocket — virtual support with unlimited WhatsApp messaging (Mon–Fri, 9–4) and on-call support during labour and birth.

It’s reassurance, guidance, advocacy tips and calm — right when you need it.

🌿 Power Hours & Birth Planning Sessions

Sometimes you don’t need a full course — you need focused, personalised support, right now, around your questions, your circumstances, and your birth.

That’s where my Power Hours and Birth Planning Sessions come in.

These are 1:1, one-hour antenatal sessions, completely tailored to you.No generic content. No set agenda. We focus on exactly what you need support with.

Birth Planning Sessions go deeper into helping you create a clear, confident, well-written birth plan — one that reflects your values, supports informed consent, and helps your care providers understand how best to support you.

These sessions are powerful because they put you back at the centre of your care. They’re practical, empowering, and often described as a “lightbulb moment” for families who leave feeling calmer, clearer and far more confident.

🌿 Hypnotherapy & Birth Trauma Support

As a Clinical Hypnotherapist, I work with pregnancy anxiety, fear of birth, tokophobia, previous trauma, stress and confidence.

Birth trauma is real — and it deserves proper, compassionate support.Healing is possible, and you don’t have to carry it alone.

 

🌿 Online Shop & Digital Resources

NEW FOR 2026 - I’ve created a growing library of instant-download resources — workbooks, guides, MP3s and tools designed to make antenatal education more accessible and affordable.

They’re ideal if you want to learn in your own time, deepen your understanding, or supplement your care with solid, evidence-based information.

Watch this space for the launch date (eek!)

Looking Ahead

This year, my intention is simple: to continue supporting women to feel educated, powerful, and centred in their choices, even in a system that often makes that hard.

Birth isn’t something to fear.

But it is something worth preparing for.

And investing in antenatal education isn’t indulgent — it’s protective.

If this is your year to meet your baby, I’d be honoured to support you along the way.

Here’s to informed choices.

Here’s to strong women.

Here’s to calmer, safer, more respectful births — one family at a time.

For more information on my services please visit www.cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk and take a look around.

When Should You Start a Hypnobirthing Course?

What's a good time to start a Hypnobirthing Antenatal Education course...

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “When’s the best time to do a Hypnobirthing course?”

The short answer? It’s never too early — and it’s definitely not too late.

Hypnobirthing is all about giving you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to feel calm, in control, and ready for birth. Those benefits aren’t reserved for one magic window of pregnancy — they can support you at any stage. But there are some ideal timings, depending on your circumstances.

So let’s break it down…

The sweet spot: Around 20–30 weeks pregnant

If I had to choose, I’d say this is a brilliant time to start. You’re far enough along to be thinking about birth and making plans, but early enough that you’ve got months to practise your breathing techniques, relaxation, positive mindset work and really get to grips with all the knowledge you've gained on the course.

You can take your time, revisit the content, and really let those tools become second nature. And because Hypnobirthing is as much about the birth partner as the birthing person, they’ve also got time to get involved, learn their role, and feel prepared.

Starting earlier: First trimester or early second trimester

Some people love starting early — and I get it. If you’re feeling anxious about pregnancy or birth, or you just want to feel prepared from the get-go, Hypnobirthing can be a game-changer in reducing fear and building confidence.

The bonus of starting early is that you can use the relaxation tools to support you throughout your pregnancy — not just for birth. Many people tell me it helps with sleep, stress, and staying connected to their baby. Learning antenatal education early also helps you to build that confidence and positive anticipation, and actually enjoy your pregnancy journey; rather than spending the majority of your pregnancy overwhelmed, fearful or in full blown denial of the fact that baby's gotta come out your vagina!

Starting later: Third trimester and beyond

Maybe you’ve only just heard of Hypnobirthing. Maybe life’s been busy, or maybe you didn’t think you needed it until now.

Here’s the truth — even if you’re just weeks away from meeting your baby, there’s still so much you can gain from a course. You can learn quick, effective tools for relaxation, ways to work with your body, and strategies to advocate for yourself — all of which can have a big impact on your birth experience.

While you’ll have less time to practise, I’ve seen plenty of people take a course at 36+ weeks and go on to have incredible, positive births.

Why timing matters (but not as much as you think)

The beauty of Hypnobirthing is that it's useful, quality antenatal education whenever you start. Yes, starting earlier gives you more time to practise, but what really matters is the quality of what you learn and how you use it.

It’s not about ticking boxes — it’s about feeling informed, confident, and supported.

My recommendation?

If you can, aim to start between 20–30 weeks. That gives you a nice balance of time to absorb the information, practise the techniques, and make any birth choices that feel right for you.

But if you’re earlier or later — don’t wait. You deserve to feel calm, powerful, and in control, no matter how far along you are.

At Cornwall Hypnobirthing, my courses are tailored to you — rigid script or 'taught from a manual' content here! Whether you join a group or have private sessions, you’ll get practical, evidence-based tools, a deep understanding of your rights and choices, and the confidence to approach your birth without fear.

Ready to get started? Check upcoming group course dates or book your private sessions here: www.cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk

Big Babies, Bold Claims: What the Big Baby Trial Really Tells Us.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “You’re measuring a bit big” at some point in your pregnancy—or maybe your friend or sister has. It’s often followed by murmurs of “just to be safe” inductions or suggestions that “big babies” pose a danger. But how much of that is based on evidence, and how much is fear dressed up as medical advice?

Let’s take a closer look at the Big Baby trial—what it was, what it found (and didn’t find), and why it’s so important to keep body autonomy and instinct front and centre in your birth choices.

What was the Big Baby trial?

The Big Baby trial was a UK-based study looking at whether inducing labour at 38–38+4 weeks would reduce the chance of shoulder dystocia in babies thought to be “big.” The researchers defined “big” as an estimated fetal weight above the 90th centile—often referred to as “macrosomia.”

Now let’s just pause there. That word estimated is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Because even with today’s technology, we’re often wrong about a baby’s size before birth. Scans can be off by up to 15-20%, and many people who were told they were carrying whoppers went on to birth 7lb babies. On the flip side, many “normal-sized” babies are born weighing 10lb+. Our bodies are not spreadsheets.

What did the Big Baby trial find?

The trial’s authors concluded that inducing labour for a suspected big baby slightly reduced the chance of shoulder dystocia—where the baby’s shoulders get stuck during birth. Sounds serious, right?

Here’s the thing: while shoulder dystocia is something care providers need to know how to manage (and they do), most cases resolve quickly and safely, especially in hands that are trained and calm. The trial also didn’t find any significant differences in actual harm to babies or mothers between the induced and non-induced groups.

In other words: inducing labour didn't lead to healthier outcomes—it just slightly reduced the chance of something that’s already rare and usually manageable.

So why does this matter?

Because recommendations based on this trial could lead to thousands of people being encouraged—or pressured—into early induction, based on an estimate of their baby’s size, despite there being no proven benefit to them or their baby.

And this is where we need to pause and take a breath.

Your body is not broken. Your pelvis doesn’t need measuring. Your baby isn't too big for you just because someone typed a number into a scan machine. Your instincts, your intuition, and your understanding of your own body are just as valid—often more so—than the tech and statistics you’re handed.

Let’s talk autonomy

Here’s the truth: you can say no to induction. You can ask questions. You can ask for evidence. You can say, “What are the risks of doing nothing?” You can tune into your instincts and say, “This doesn’t feel right for me.”

That’s not reckless—it’s powerful. It’s informed. It’s what true choice looks like.

At Cornwall Hypnobirthing, I teach tools to help you feel confident making decisions like this—decisions that aren’t made out of fear, but from a place of strength, knowledge, and trust in your own body.

So what’s the takeaway?

If someone mentions the Big Baby trial to you, or tells you that your baby is looking “a bit big,” know this:

• It’s okay to ask questions.

• It’s okay to decline interventions that don’t sit right with you.

• It’s okay to trust your body—because it knows what to do.

Birth isn’t about predictions and panic—it’s about power, choice, and connection. Let’s change the narrative. Let’s give birth back to the birthing person.

And, don't forget if you ever need support navigating conversations like these, I’m here. . Whether it be hypnobirthing courses, antenatal sessions, birth planning sessions and power hours, I’ve got the evidence, the tools, and the passion to help you feel strong and informed every step of the way

Further reading: For a brilliant breakdown of the Big Baby trial by Dr Sara Wickham, visit: https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/bigbaby/