Birth Friendly Client Testimonials
“Dear Sarah,
You have changed my life. I never thought that the birth could be this good. We learnt so much from your classes and tell everyone we know to come to you. My birth with Maisie was unbelievable after so much pain last time, it was a piece of cake. It was so nice learning from somebody who spoke from experience too. Thank you so much again”
Sharon, 2nd baby, 4hr homebirth, no pain relief, no tears.
“Hi Sarah,
Thank you so much for all your help. The birth really was fantastic, and I don't think it would have gone so well without all the preparation”. During the changeover of shift in hospital I could hear them saying "and she's done all this on just gas and air?" They kept telling me how well I'd done but I really wouldn't say *I* did anything except learn about hypnosis-my body just took over.”
Kate, First baby born June 2006.
14 hr labour, using only entonox (gas and air), natural vaginal delivery, no tears or stitches
“I am so glad of all the preparation as I had no excessive bleeding, no after pains or tears”
Sam, First baby born July 2006.
12hr labour using only entonox at the very end, natural vaginal delivery, no tears or stitches, 2hr hospital discharge.
“I am so grateful to you for all your help. The main thing that kept me calm was my HypnoBirthing recording - it really came into its own. My hospital notes record whole labour (from start of 1st stage to end of 3rd stage) as 50 minutes, I'm still amazed by it all and can't quite believe she's arrived. I couldn't have had a better labour experience after all that. I really firmly believe that all the work I've put in, planning the birth paid off.”
Jenny, 3rd baby born July 2006, breech baby turned naturally with hypnosis. Natural vaginal delivery after a 50minute labour with no pain relief at all (after epidurals with both previous children)
“Hi Sarah,
I had a beautiful baby boy 4 days early on 18th September. We called Him Oliver and he weighed 7lb 2oz. The HypnoBirthing was excellent. We decided in the end I would have him at home so Keith ordered a birth pool and managed to blow it up just in time. When the midwife arrived I was 5 cm dilated and Oliver was born within 3 hours of her arriving. When we did the script on the course and you said to decide how long labour would be I said 3 hours so it all seems a bit spooky he arrived so quickly.
The midwives couldn't believe how well I did and how quickly he arrived. Keith said he shot out like a torpedo!! He could see a bulge and I turned round in the pool and next thing he was born within about 2 minutes. I didn't feel any pain when he was born it actually felt quite nice, and I remember picturing the rose opening up. I did have gas and air but for about the last hour but that was more because it felt more awkward wanting to push than painful. I really can't rave enough about the HypnoBirthing we are both convinced it worked and all the midwives are taking an interest in it!! Lucky I decided to have Oliver at home as there were 25 births at Southend Hospital on the day he was born so they were a bit manic there!!
Also I didn't have any cuts or tears, nothing, and was up and about straight a way and on the phone to people within hours, they couldn't believe it. I now can't believe that Oliver is 5 weeks old tomorrow. He is so good, we were out and about with him when he was 3 days old. Also being a waterbirth baby he loves having a bath and seems a very happy contented baby.
Thanks for the excellent course, I will definitely be using HypnoBirthing for the next baby!!”
Sarah, first baby, born at home after a 3hr labour, gas and air for the last hour, no tears and one happy mum!
"Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to let you know that we had our baby boy. The birth
was at home and took around 7 hours, no pain relief.
We wanted to say thanks - the course really helped, mainly the breathing, the relaxing and “going with it” attitude and also having seen all those videos of births, we knew everything that was
happening was totally normal”.
Lisa, 2nd baby, 7hr homebirth with no pain relief.
"Hi Sarah,
Our baby boy arrived! It was amazing and exactly how I wanted it. I was very quiet and kind of in a trance for most of it, I didn't tear or need any stitches at all and he came out very calm and peaceful as I lifted him out of the water, he was a great colour and fed straight away, the midwives again left us to be together in the pool for ages after he was born. They were all really great.
All in all - it was my absolute perfect birth! I was so amazed and pleased that it all went so well, especially when we came so close to not having it! My husband was wonderful and is proclaiming the wonders of HypnoBirthing to everyone he meets - I don't think he can really believe I was that calm and quiet throughout the whole thing.. even the midwife said she couldn't tell when I was having a contraction so could I please signal to her to time the monitoring - so it was all perfect."
Helen, First baby born January 2007. Waterbirth with no pain relief. 9 hour labour.
"Hi Sarah,
Hope you're well. I just wanted to let you know that our baby boy was born at home on 19th January. The birth went so well and thanks to the HypnoBirthing and Homeopathy I didn't need any other relief methods. The labour was 9.5 hours long. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience and thank you for all of your advice and help during the preparations, it really was invaluable”.
Deborah, First baby, born at home in January 2007. No pain relief, 9.5hr labour.
"Dear Sarah,
Before I commence the lengthy summary of the events I will just say that the HypnoBirthing was simply amazing and more effective than I could have ever imagined. The midwives were stunned and the consultant totally disbelieving! Probably not the first time you have heard this. By the time I reached recovery I was famous, ‘oh you’re the HypnoBirthing lady’.
He is such a calm baby and I am putting this down to the calm and thoroughly enjoyable labour. I am so delighted that I got to experience that stage at least.
Oh, I have to confess my coccyx was rather sore, probably from standing up for 5 days so at 7.5cm before the Oxyctocin drip I did ask for a couple of paracetamol. Apparently this was highly amusing to my husband, my mother and the midwife!
I am exceptionally grateful to you Sarah for teaching us this wonderfully successful technique and look forward to having the opportunity to use it again in the future. In the mean time I will simply practice with it at the dentist!"
Jen, 1st baby – planned homebirth resulting in a hospital transfer for an emergency Caesarean section due to baby’s positioning.
"Hi Sarah,
The birth went very well. Clara's membrane's released early on the 24th October without any other labour signs. We went into hospital and were told to stay there until the birth, whenever that might be. The doctors were keen to induce on the 25th so we set about trying to get things moving more naturally: in the end the sideways walk up/ down stairs did the trick.
We had a fairly nice delivery room and Clara's surges started in the
evening of the 24th. At that point we were using the HypnoBirthing CD so Clara could relax. Because of twins we had little choice over an
epidural so that was taken around midnight. Clara then used the HypnoBirthing techniques from then until 7.30 am, when the midwife 'woke' Clara up so our first twin could be delivered. Our little boy arrived at 7.44 and our little girl at 08:31. Our son was head down but our daughter was breech, however both were delivered naturally without any issues (no tearing even).
The birth was a very positive experience and the HypnoBirthing techniques I believe made all the difference because Clara had all her energy for the final delivery. We had quite an audience for our daughter’s birth because she was breech!
Thanks for all your help: the course really helped us."
Richard, first time dad to twins! One born vaginally in a breech position.
“Dear Sarah,
Hope all is well with you. Just to let you know that Billy and I had our baby girl. She is an extremely chilled out baby. We bonded with her instantly and I think that this is due to us being in control of the birth, remaining calm and bonding with her when she was in the womb.
We had a home labour as planned but I was transferred to hospital at the last minute due to a mistake! Basically I went very quickly from transition to wanting to birth the baby and the midwife seemed to panic. She mistook my heartbeat for the baby's, when in fact the baby was fine. It was ok though as I gave birth as soon as I arrived and they dealt with the mess!
I was able to keep calm and remained in control throughout the whole thing, thanks to HypnoBirthing. The midwife was in awe of how relaxed and in control I was throughout. Billy also did a brilliant job. So basically thank you for everything and teaching me to experience birth and labour in this way. I was able to face it without fear and although it was a huge challenge, I ended up being in awe of what my body was doing. It was so powerful!
I will continue to use HypnoBirthing for each pregnancy!
By the way, I was introduced to HypnoBirthing by my sister who used it successfully with the birth of her first baby. She recently gave birth to her second child and hadn't practiced HypnoBirthing. She swears that the difference in each birth was astounding. With the first baby she didn't need any pain relief. With the second she was screaming for a caesarian. So there you go!
Thanks again from two happy parents and a new mum who has recovered
extremely quickly and has no tears!!”
Jo, 1st baby – planned homebirth with hospital transfer, no pain relief.
“Hi Sarah,
Just a brief message from me at the Rosie hospital, Cambridge to say that our baby turned up a month early weighing 6lb 12, in true HypnoBirthing style.
I had her here and not home as planned as I came in for some monitoring when I thought I had an upset stomach to find I was actually in labour and 8cm dilated! Our baby was here 3 hrs later!
A huge thank you for your fab course, see you soon. Guess I should cancel
that pool!”
Callie, 1st baby – accidental hospital birth due to mum not realizing she was in labour!
“Hi Sarah
Just to let you know I had a baby girl, the early hours of Monday morning.
Labour started at about 1am, I got in the pool and delivered at 03.40 - perfect delivery of a beautiful 9lb 13oz little girl. Such an amazing experience and such a contrast to last time!
Many thanks for all your help; I do truly believe that the Hypnosis made a very big difference.”
Trisha, 2nd baby – home waterbirth after a 2.5hr labour, no pain relief.
“My little girl arrived at 4:45am on Thursday weighing 7lb13 after a 6hr 23min labour
(2nd stage was a mere 13mins, 28mins physiological 3rd stage), in a birthing pool in my dining room.
As usual my baby and I were awkward, she turned in the last couple of hours and decided to go the difficult route of face up, (back labour). The first faces she saw (through the water, before mine) were my mum and sister (who had arrived just 30mins before), my birth partner and my amazing midwife.
A big thank you to all those involved in making the birth so wonderful. I
can honestly say that the combination of HypnoBirthing, Reflexology,
Homeopathy, the pool and my FANTASTIC midwife made it a pleasant experience
and pretty painless.”
Caroline, 1st baby – home waterbirth, 6.5hr labour, no pain relief.
“I started with a few twinges on the Tuesday which progressed and became more insistent late Wednesday afternoon. I managed to take the dogs for a very short walk at 5pm before calling my husband to see how far away he was from home. When he arrived home I was very calm and we talked and had tea as normal despite the contractions being quite regular. Around 8pm we decided to call the midwife and spoke to Harlow. Paul called and spoke to them and I also spoke to them briefly about what was going on. In all this time I felt very calm and even managed to ring my cleaner to leave a message with her Mother to tell her not to come in on the Thursday.
The midwife arrived about 9pm and examined me at which time I was 4cm dilated. The whole atmosphere in the house was very relaxed and I managed to continue breathing and also moving about. A student midwife also came to the house. I had a bath and also rested. I didn't know what the time was as I was focused on what I was doing. I listened to the CD of relaxing music continuously. Later on the midwife asked me if she could do another examination at which point my waters broke. I was still only 4cm dilated and the baby's head was still high. I was then asked if I could walk up and down the stairs, which I did along with sitting on my birthing ball and having another bath. Through out this I remained calm and breathing.
At about 4am I was examined again and still no further dilation or the baby's head any lower. At this point with mine and Paul's agreement an ambulance was called. I arrived at Rosie 5am where I was hooked up to various monitors to see what was happening with baby. At 8am the baby's heartbeat had dropped and it became apparent that a caesarean may have to be an option. The staff examined me again - there were a large number of people in and out at this point but I was very internalised so not really fully aware, at this point we made the decision to go for a caesarean. Apparently the baby's head was not tucked in so even if I had stayed at home she wouldn't have been born there.
I really think the HypnoBirthing helped me to keep calm throughout the experience and even when I lost a bit of control allowed me to remain calm and decisive. I was able to make the decisions that I wanted even under pressure. I have also found it a useful technique to concentrate on the breathing and focus in other situations for example when I had a wisdom tooth under local anaesthetic. It also gave me the confidence to make the decision to opt for a home birth, even though that didn't work out. I am not disappointed about this either as I know that to do twelve hours at home with no pain relief is a feat in itself and whatever I had done at home she wouldn't have arrived there.
Thank you for your course which I would thoroughly recommend, even for sceptical husbands.”
Emma, 1st baby – planned homebirth with hospital transfer resulting in an emergency Caesarean section due to baby’s positioning.
"Thank you so much for what you taught us on the course - we're still really pleased we did it, as it helped in the weeks leading up to the birth and I'll definitely be practising again for the next one. Actually, for someone who's always been very squeamish, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!"
Nicky, 1st baby, December 2007, from Cambridge
Birth with special circumstances (induction of labour) due to meconium being present in the waters.
"Hi Sarah,
Hope you are well.
The birth was great. I started having regular surges at 5pm - about every 7 minutes. My sister in law came and picked up our daughter at 7pm and I was still just walking about making cups of tea and seeing to her. They left at about 8pm. The midwife arrived at 8.30. I was by then doing rainbow relaxation. After about another 5 surges I asked when I was able to get in the pool and she said whenever I wanted. I knew if I did not get in then I may not be able to at a later stage as things were becoming really intense. I got in the pool about 9pm - things really picked up and surges were almost on top of each other. Had to really focus on CD and breathing. Started making really strange high pitched noises when breathing and thought to myself if I get a few more surges like these I am going to have to have some kind of pain relief. With that I called out she’s here!! 5 or 10 minutes later her head arrived into the water still in her sac. I breathed her out quite slowly, but what relief once I felt she was out completely!!! My husband actually helped her come into the world and the midwives were just fabulous. Our baby girl is so chilled out, sleeps lots and is so alert when she is awake. Happy baby and her sister just loves her. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year."
Judy, 2nd baby, December 2007, from Stansted, Essex.
Home waterbirth, 5hr labour, with no pain relief.
"Sarah,
Just a quick message (finally got on to my lap top after a hectic few days).
On my due date our baby boy was born weighing in at 8lb 11oz.
Surges started at around midday, following all of our hypnobirthing practice, we had a pain free, natural birth at home. It was a fantastic, wonderful experience thanks to you and the hypnobirthing training. We will be writing up our full birth story soon enough. Thanks again."
Natalie, 1st baby, November 2007, from Linton, Cambs.
Homebirth with no pain relief needed.
"Dear Sarah,
We are happy to let you know that our daughter was born 4 days before her EDD. She weighed in at 8lb5 and everything went according to plan. She was born at home, in the pool, and I didn\'t use any pain relief. The HypnoBirthing course really paid off - I relaxed and pretty much slept through all the contractions during the first stage of labour, and although I felt the urge to push all throughout the second stage, I still tried to use my breathing to help out and relaxed in between surges.
I will write a more detailed account in a few days\' time and will send a couple if piccies as well. Thanks so much for your help in getting us there!"
Amy, 1st baby, December 2007, From Saffron Walden, Essex.
Homebirth with no pain relief needed.