Birth Isn't One Size Fits All. So Why Should Your Antenatal Education Be?

Why I Ditched Group Hypnobirthing - And Why I Think Private Is Worth It!

And no, it's not because I don't like teaching groups - I actually love the teaching part! But... after almost 13 years of teaching Hypnobirthing in Cornwall, and having taught both group and private courses side by side for many years, I've made a very deliberate decision to focus solely on private, bespoke courses.

Business strategists might think I'm crazy because getting 6 couples to invest in my course and only having to teach it once makes a lot of financial sense! But despite this, I've made the decision that I only offer private, bespoke Hypnobirthing courses now. Because honestly? I think it's a better investment for most couples.

Here's why…

Firstly, the course is about YOU!

Your pregnancy. Your previous experiences. Your worries. Your choices. Your hopes for birth. We can focus on your birth and what matters to you. You're not sitting through conversations about someone else's circumstances that may not be relevant to you. Instead, the time is yours to explore the things that are important to you, ask questions and really get into the detail of your own situation.

To give you an example, one of the last group courses I ran included:

• A couple expecting twins

• A couple planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) who were carrying a lot of trauma from their first birth

• A couple who had conceived through IVF

• A couple navigating gestational diabetes

• And a couple who were your basic 'low risk' pregnancy with no other factors

  
  

Three of these couples were first-time parents and two were preparing for a subsequent birth. Every single couple had their own individual circumstances, questions, concerns and things they needed to understand. And this is where the difference between a group course and a private course really becomes apparent.

Group courses can absolutely be useful. The core antenatal education is there, the couples I have taught have been happy with what they learned and the opportunity to learn alongside other expectant parents can be lovely. (Although, if I'm honest, they're not always as conducive to making friends as you might think! Which is often as reason people choose a group setting) But by their very nature, group courses need to be more general. When you're teaching several couples at once, you have to balance the needs of everyone in the room. There simply isn't the same time or space to stop and explore one couple's particular circumstances in depth. With a private course, we don't have that limitation. Which leads me to my next point...

A private course means you can ask the REAL questions.

Sometimes the questions people want to ask are the questions they don't necessarily feel comfortable asking in front of a room full of strangers. Private sessions give you the space to ask the nitty gritty stuff. No judgement. No embarrassment. No worrying about what anyone else thinks. Just honest conversations around you and your specific needs.

And that's what I love about private courses - IT'S COMPLETELY BESPOKE

There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to birth. So I adapt the course around your individual circumstances.

First baby?

Previous difficult birth?

Planning a VBAC?

Twins?

Home birth?

Over 35?

Gestational diabetes?

Planned caesarean?

Induction?

Something else entirely?

We can spend more time on the things that are actually relevant to you.

One thing that sets me apart from other Hypnobirthing courses: YOU GET MY EXPERIENCE - NOT JUST A COURSE

I've been teaching Hypnobirthing in Cornwall for almost 13 years, I'm a Doula and I've supported over 100 clients, so I've seen birth in Cornwall from pretty much all angles. From freebirths to planned caesareans. That experience means I can answer questions, talk through different scenarios and bring real-world birth experience into your education.

My course isn't simply me reading from a manual or following a structure that was set out by a training provider on a weekend online Zoom course. (No shade, because we all have to start somewhere!) But when you're investing your hard-earned money in your antenatal education, I think it's useful to know that we aren't all the same when it comes to our course content, experience and knowledge.

When it's just us, THERE'S TIME TO GO DEEPER!

I want you to understand birth, not just learn a few breathing techniques and listen to some relaxation tracks. We cover your physiology, hormones, mindset, birth environment, positions, comfort measures, interventions, choices, your rights, birth planning, birth partners and so much more. And yes, you got all of this in a group course too. But because it's private, we can slow down, explore things properly and go off on the useful tangents that often come from YOUR questions.

YOU GET A SAFE SPACE THAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU

I worked hard to create a space where everyone felt comfortable and safe in my groups. However, the honest truth is that nothing compares to having the course taught in your own home, or in my specially designed, intermate therapy pod. It's more personal. It's your space. And there isn't a room full of other people listening while you talk about your pregnancy, your worries or your birth.

And this point is huge. Birth can bring up some BIG conversations.

Fear.

Previous experiences.

Anxiety.

Expectations.

Family opinions.

Hospital experiences.

Things you've heard from friends.

A private course gives us the time and space to talk about those things properly. And as a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in birth, anxiety, confidence and birth trauma, that's an important part of how I work.

Remember - YOU'RE NOT JUST PREPARING FOR LABOUR

Hypnobirthing isn't simply about having a particular type of birth. It's about understanding your options, knowing your rights, understanding what's happening to your body, developing practical tools and feeling confident making decisions throughout your pregnancy and birth. My aim is for you to finish the course thinking:

"I understand this. I know MY options. I know what matters to ME. And I know how I want to approach MY birth."

That's why I choose private. Not because group courses can't be valuable. But because after years of teaching both, this is the way I believe I can give my clients the most. And that's what I want to offer.

Private.

Bespoke.

In-depth.

Real.

Antenatal education, designed around YOU. Whether you're planning a home birth in Cornwall, to use Truro or Penrice Birth Centre, to birth at Treliske Hospital or somewhere else entirely in Cornwall - I've got you!

Private courses are available throughout the year, including 2027. If you'd like to find out more, email me at info@cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk or fill in the contact form on my website.

"Having our voices heard and our wishes honoured during a gentle c-section gave me a deep sense of ownership and peace about the experience."

"Some birth stories don’t follow the path we imagine, but that doesn’t make them any less powerful. In fact, sometimes it’s within the unexpected, the complex, and the deeply emotional circumstances that we see just how strong, informed and resilient people truly are - Paula’s story is one of those!

From the very beginning, Paula and her partner Dan approached pregnancy and birth with intention. They educated themselves, explored their options, and made decisions that felt right for them; not just once, but again and again as their circumstances changed. And when life took an unimaginable turn with a breast cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, they continued to meet each decision with courage, clarity and deep thought. There is real strength in that. Not just in the big moments, but in the quiet, steady determination to stay connected to what matters most.

And Paula… what an absolute force. Navigating surgery, treatment decisions, and the emotional weight of it all whilst growing and preparing to meet her baby, and still showing up to birth with openness, presence and trust in herself. A true birth warrior in every sense of the word.

It was an honour to walk alongside this wonderful family. To support them in shaping a birth experience that felt calm, considered and aligned, even when it looked very different to what they had first imagined! Their story is such an important reminder that birth isn’t defined by how it looks on paper, but by how you feel within it. Informed. Heard. Supported. Safe. And this birth story captures that beautifully.

"For many years, I have envisioned giving birth at home. I followed Terri on social media in the hope that one day I would be able to work with her to help make my dream home birth a reality. When I fell pregnant, I was classed as low risk so my midwife was fully supportive of my decision to opt for a home birth. We started antenatal classes with Terri and practised the hypnobirthing techniques we were taught in preparation for a physiological birth.

What’s that saying? ‘Man plans. God laughs’. At 24 weeks pregnant, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent surgery whilst pregnant and I was told, to give myself the best chance of long-term survival, that I needed to start chemotherapy during pregnancy. This treatment would be paused to allow me to give birth and then started up again once I was approximately 3 weeks postpartum. My baby needed to be born within a small window of time. Unless he decided to bring himself into the world slightly early and within that window, I had two options: induction or elective c-section.

After much consideration, we decided to book in an elective c-section. After months of uncertainty and worry, I still wanted to do everything in my power to have a calm, gentle and positive birth experience. During our antenatal education, we had been taken through the induction process and a section was the option that we felt most comfortable with. It gave me a feeling of control and certainty. We knew when our son would be born and how. My c-section was booked. My pregnancy had a deadline. We held onto the hope that I would go into labour naturally and still have the physiological birth that we imagined. Once I entered that safe delivery window, we tried to naturally induce labour but our baby boy had no desire to be born just yet.

At 39+4, my husband, Terri and I arrived at hospital at 7.30am. I was lucky to be first on the list so we were all taken straight to the recovery room to wait. Everybody we met, the obstetric

consultants, the midwives and the anaesthetists were incredibly kind and caring. I was nervous but ready to meet our baby boy. Around 9am, I was taken to the larger of two theatres. Both Dan and Terri were there, dressed in scrubs, and our playlist of music was played in the background.

The most difficult part of the experience was having the spinal block inserted. It felt as though it was taking a long time and although local anaesthetic was used, I could still feel pain in my lower back. I remember saying that it hurt but I was met with questioning. Pain or pressure? Terri advocated for me and after some more local anaesthesia was given, it became comfortable.

Once the anaesthesia began to work, things moved quickly. I was laid down and a drape was put up across my chest. I couldn’t stop shaking and I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I held Dan’s hand so tightly. Terri reminded me to use the hypnobirthing breathing techniques and I began to feel calmer and more present. I remember being able to feel a lot of pressure and pulling. I kept my eyes closed and focused on my breathing.

The birth plan that we had written with Terri was followed closely. So, as requested, the drape was lowered as our son was born for us to watch him emerge. He was delivered slowly, allowing the incision to squeeze him. Terri filmed our baby being born - it is incredible to have that moment captured. He was immediately placed onto my chest for skin-to-skin contact and the cord was not cut until it had turned white. Feeling the weight of my baby on my chest and seeing him for the first time was pure bliss. I didn’t notice anything happening below the drape from that moment onwards. It was magical. Our baby boy spent the first 24 hours of his life doing skin-to-skin contact with myself or my husband. He was only removed momentarily for routine checks that couldn’t be done with him on our chests.

I hadn’t realised the number of choices you still get to make with a planned c-section. Those small choices mattered more than I expected. The gentle elements, like having our choice of music playing, choosing who was with me and being able to meet my baby immediately. Those moments helped align my birth to my values and allowed me to stay connected to the birth emotionally, even in a very clinical setting.

We’re grateful that we had a positive experience despite our birth not being ‘Plan A’. Looking back, I realise that the mode of birth mattered far less than how we were treated within it. Having our voices heard and our wishes honoured during a gentle c-section gave me a deep sense of ownership and peace about the experience."

Doula support is for all births, all choices, and all people. And the same is true for hypnobirthing. It’s time we move away from the idea that this work is only about plink plonky music, fairy lights, home births and a “perfect” plan. Paula’s story is such a powerful reminder that support, preparation and informed choice matter in every birth - including planned caesareans.

As a Doula, I support families across the full spectrum of birth. From free births to elective c-sections, and everything in between. My role is to stand beside you, help you navigate your options, advocate when needed, and make sure you feel listened to, respected and fully supported - whatever path your birth takes. Because this isn’t about one “type” of birth. It’s about how you feel within it.

If you’re pregnant and want to feel informed, confident and supported as you prepare for your baby’s birth, I’d love to walk alongside you. Get in touch to find out more about working together. Visit www.cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk for find out or or email me on info@cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk

The Cornwall Hypnobirthing Online Shop Is Now Open!

It's here! After many months of carefully creating digital resources, they are finally all in one place and ready to purchase on my online shop! There are many reasons why I wanted to create these resources but the main driver being, one of the things I’ve learned after more than a decade of teaching antenatal education and supporting families as a Doula is this: Information changes everything and knowledge is power!

When people understand how birth works, when they know their options, and when they feel supported to ask questions and make decisions, their whole experience of pregnancy and birth shifts. Fear softens, confidence grows and suddenly things feel much more manageable. But I also know that not everyone can attend a full antenatal course. Life is busy, budgets are maybe small, and sometimes people just want to learn in their own time, at their own pace. There is also sooo much information out there - it can feel confusing, overwhelming and sometimes contradictory. So that’s exactly why I’ve created the Cornwall Hypnobirthing online shop.

What You’ll Find Inside the Shop

I’ve drawn on my experience of over 12 years of working in the birth world and created a range of practical and useful resources covering pregnancy tools, birth preparation, Hypnobirthing skills and the early weeks after your baby arrives.

Accessible Antenatal Education, Wherever You Are!

The shop is filled with carefully created digital resources, workbooks and MP3s designed to give you practical, evidence-based information and supportive mindset tools during pregnancy. These are the same kinds of conversations, tools and knowledge I share with the families I work with - just packaged into resources you can download and use at home. You can dip in and out whenever it suits you, revisit things as often as you like, and work through them at your own pace. Because I'm a big believer that birth preparation shouldn’t feel rushed or overwhelming.

Hypnobirthing Essentials Workbook

If you want to understand how birth works and feel calmer and more confident about labour, the Hypnobirthing Essentials Workbook is a great place to start. It's based on my popular 5* independent Hypnobirthing course which I teach. It breaks down key hypnobirthing principles in a clear, practical way and gives you tools to help shift fear into confidence.

There are also more specialised workbooks, including:

• A Caesarean Birth Workbook

• A Mindful Moments in Pregnancy guide

• A Fourth Trimester Guide

• A Rebozo Uses Guide

Each one focuses on a specific area of pregnancy or birth so you can explore topics in more depth.

Practical Pregnancy & Birth Guides

Pregnancy often brings a lot of questions and sometimes the system itself can feel difficult to navigate. That’s why I’ve also created guides such as:

• Navigating the Maternity System

• Birth Environment Checklist

• Birth Plan Guide (Including templates)

• What to Pack for Labour

These resources are designed to help you understand your options, communicate your preferences clearly, and feel more confident in the choices you make. Which in turn all work towards a positive birth experience.

Hypnobirthing & Relaxation MP3s

Mindset plays a powerful role in birth preparation. Inside the shop you’ll also find a range of guided relaxation and hypnosis tracks, including:

• Affirmations for Pregnancy and Birth

• Hypnosis for Pregnancy and Birth

• Prenatal Bonding

• Releasing Tension in the Body

• Confidence for Birth

These can be listened to regularly during pregnancy to help build calm, confidence and connection with your baby.

Designed to Be Affordable and Accessible

One of the biggest reasons I created this shop is because I believe everyone deserves access to good antenatal education, that’s why many of the resources are priced at just a few pounds, and there are even some free downloads available too. (Obviously I would love to work with as many of you as possible, but if private one-to-one time with me is definitely out of your budget then these resources are the next best thing! Side note, I also offer payment plans and skills swaps where appropriate - it's always worth reaching out!)

You don’t have to do everything at once. You can simply choose the resources that feel most helpful for you.

Preparation Changes How Birth Feels

When people prepare well for birth, something really powerful happens. They move from feeling like birth is something that might happen to them - to feeling like they are active participants in the process. They ask questions, they understand their choices, they feel calmer and more confident. And that shift alone can change everything.

Take a Look Around the Shop

If you’re pregnant, planning for birth, or simply wanting to feel more informed and prepared, I’d love you to explore the shop and see what resonates with you. Whether it’s a workbook, a relaxation track, or a simple checklist that makes life a little easier - these resources are here to support you on your journey.

You can browse the full shop here: www.cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk/shop

And if you’re not sure where to start, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to point you in the right direction. email me at info@cornwallhypnobirthing.co.uk