Frequently asked
Your questions, answered
The questions I’m asked most, from when to start to how far I’ll travel. If yours isn’t here, send it over — no question is too small.
Getting started
Where to begin, and whether this is for you.
When should we start?
Ideally between 25 and 28 weeks. It’s not too close to the birth, so it isn’t overwhelming, and it gives you time to practise so the breathing and the calm are second nature by the time labour starts.
Do I still need to go to NHS antenatal classes?
You’re very welcome to do both. NHS classes cover what you need to know about your local care. My birth prep goes deeper into the physiology of labour, how you can help your body, and all of your options.
What does my birth partner actually do?
They have an active role. They help create a calm birth space, suggest positions, use massage and pressure points, say the mantras you’ve practised, and ask questions for you when you’re deep in labour. It’s a team effort.
Is it suitable if I’m planning a caesarean?
Yes, and I’d say it’s well worth doing. We can spend the time on what your caesarean will actually be like, step by step, the choices you still have in theatre and afterwards, and how your birth partner can support you there.
The breathing and the relaxation are every bit as useful on the morning of a planned caesarean, and the feeding and first-weeks preparation matters just the same.
Hypnobirthing
What it is, what it isn’t, and the questions people ask before they book.
Is hypnobirthing a bit woo?
It’s a fair question, and I’m asked it a lot. There’s no swinging watch, nobody puts you in a trance, and you don’t hand over control of anything.
It’s breathing, deep relaxation and understanding what your body is doing in labour, taught by a midwife from current clinical guidelines. The relaxation is the same focused calm you’ve felt before: reading a good book, or driving a familiar road and arriving without quite remembering the journey.
What if my birth doesn’t go to plan?
Labour often takes turns and changes of plan. Hypnobirthing helps you stay calm and present in that moment, so you can make decisions with clarity. People I’ve cared for have told me that even when their birth didn’t go smoothly, it still felt empowering and positive.
What if I need an epidural or a caesarean?
Then that’s your birth, and it isn’t a failure. I teach every option in birth as a tool in the same toolbox, and the medical ones are in there too.
An epidural, an induction, an assisted birth or a caesarean can be exactly the right choice at the time. Knowing about them beforehand is what lets you ask the right questions and make the decision with clarity. The breathing and the relaxation come with you into all of it.
Does it still work if I fall asleep during the relaxations?
Yes. Some people’s minds wander and they think it isn’t working; others fall fast asleep. Your conscious mind doesn’t need to take it all in for it to reach your subconscious, a bit like a song on the radio you can’t get out of your head all day.
Do I have to call them surges?
No. Call them whatever feels right to you: surges, contractions, waves, or nothing at all.
I tend to say surges because for a lot of people the word contraction arrives with a good deal of fear already attached to it, and the language in the room makes a difference to how you feel. It’s your birth and your vocabulary, though, and I’ll follow yours.
Practical
Where I teach, how far I travel and how online sessions work.
Do you travel to me?
Yes. I teach in person across Somerset & Devon, and I regularly travel to Taunton, Wellington, Tiverton, Exeter, Cullompton, Bridgwater.
If you’re a little further out, ask me anyway — I’d rather find a way than turn you away.
Does it work as well online?
It really does. Your sofa, your snacks, toilet breaks whenever you need them, and lying down for the relaxations, which work even better that way. I’ve taught hypnobirthing online since 2020.
Booking
Prices, booking and what happens if plans change.
What does it cost?
Prices depend on which format suits you and where you are, so I’d rather work it out with you than put a number on a page that might not fit.
Send me a message with roughly when you’re due and what you need, and I’ll come straight back to you. Courses are priced per couple, so your birth partner is included rather than an extra.
How do I book?
Send me a message with roughly when you’re due, and whether you’d like a group, the two of you on your own, or online. I’ll come back with dates that work.
If you’d rather talk it through first, say so in your message. No question is too small.
What if I have to cancel?
Babies and life don’t always stick to the plan. If something changes, message me as early as you can and we’ll sort it out between us. I’d always rather move a session than lose it.
Can’t see your question?
Ask me directly. I teach in person across Somerset & Devon and online anywhere in the UK, and I’d rather answer a question now than have you wondering about it.
Still deciding?
Let’s work out what you need
Tell me roughly when you’re due and what’s on your mind, and I’ll point you at the right thing.
Or email me at hello@babystepstobirth.co.uk