Hypnobirthing & Antenatal Classes in the North East & Online
Relaxed, informal and engaging classes to help you feel confident for birth
This isn’t where you wanted to be, is it?
You announced your pregnancy, expecting excitement and warm congratulations. But instead, you’ve been met with a flood of warnings and horror stories. Everyone seems to have a “just wait until…” tale that’s chipped away at your joy.
Maybe your first antenatal appointment left you more confused than reassured. What should be an exciting time has been overshadowed by doubts, worries, and a creeping sense of anxiety.
You might have even heard about hypnobirthing but aren’t really sure if it’s for you or even what it actually is.
I get it. I’ve been there too – carrying the weight of all the unsolicited advice and feeling uncertain about what’s ahead. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to navigate this alone.
There is so much information to take in during pregnancy you probably feel like burying your head when it comes to birth. You might have even muttered the words ‘I’ll just see how it goes’ when asked what your birth plans are..
Why plan for birth, when it might not go to plan..right?
But let me tell you why this doesn’t work out..
Let’s imagine you have your ideal plan written out, you go into labour and things take a different direction. But wait.. what are your options now?
Trust me, as someone who has been in this exact situation, it’s scary.
So whilst you can’t necessarily predict what will happen during birth, you CAN prepare for the unexpected by empowering yourself with the information and skills you need to cope in whatever direction your birth takes.
My hypnobirthing and antenatal classes are designed to make sure you feel fully prepared and confident as you head into birth and parenthood.
You’ll get all the essential antenatal info you need, plus practical tools and skills to help you have a positive birth experience – no matter how it all unfolds.
I offer group and private sessions, with both online and in-person options available. You can see all of the options below.
Why Am I The Best Person To Support You?
Hi, I’m Holly, the Mam behind Birth Then Baby. I know just how crucial solid antenatal education is – I learned that the hard way after not preparing for my first birth!
My first pregnancy was far from smooth, and it taught me how essential preparation, education, and mental wellbeing are. That’s why I created my courses – to help you navigate the ups and downs, build confidence, and feel empowered as you approach birth, no matter how it unfolds.
I’ve also seen firsthand how life-changing hypnobirthing and therapeutic techniques can be. My second birth was an unmedicated home birth, and these methods completely transformed my experience.
Unlike other hypnobirthing teachers, I’m not here to tell you how to give birth – that’s your choice. Whether you’re planning a home birth, hospital birth, caesarean, or anything in between, I’m passionate about giving you the tools and support to feel confident in your decisions.
Let’s make your birth story one of strength and positivity.
Birth Then Baby Hypnobirthing & Antenatal Classes
Here you can choose from a group or private course, available either online or in person, to suit what works best for you.
FAQs
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Hypnobirthing teaches deep relaxation, breathing techniques, and mental strategies to help you stay calm, confident, and in control during labor. It’s not about controlling the birth, but preparing your mind and body to respond positively to whatever happens.
By reducing fear and tension, you can manage pain more effectively, make informed decisions, and feel empowered – whether you're having a home birth, hospital birth, or planned cesarean. Relaxation is key, as it helps your body release natural pain relievers, ease muscle tension, and stay in sync with birth’s natural rhythm, which can make labour smoother. I
It also promotes clearer thinking and better decision-making, keeping you calm and in control.
By learning to relax deeply, you’re not just managing discomfort better but also setting yourself up for a more positive and empowered birth experience.
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Probably my most asked question!
My Hypnobirthing and Antenatal classes use a mix of Hypnobirthing methods, with therapeutic techniques I use within my work as a mental health therapist.
You can expect to learn:
Breathing Techniques: Designed to help you feel calm, comfortable and birth your baby
Visualisations: Designed to help you ‘escape’ stress, by helping your mind focus and creating a sense of relaxation during labour. Visualisations can also help make the pushing stage of labour more straightforward.
Positive Birth Affirmations: Their main job is to hype you up during pregnancy and birth, to help you feel confident, in control and focused during childbirth.
Creating Anchors: These are sensory cues that trigger feelings of relaxation
Birth Partner and Self-Hypnosis Scripts: Designed to be used throughout pregnancy and birth, these scripts can help ground your mind and feel calm and collected throughout your labour
Massage Techniques: To help you feel as comfortable as possible during pregnancy, labour and birth
Hypnobirthing Audios: Designed to help you release fears, physical tension and create a positive mindset around childbirth
Understanding and Managing Worries: I will use therapeutic techniques used within my therapy work to help you understand any worries you have about pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period and how you can learn to manage these worries.
These are just the ‘main’ Hypnobirthing techniques used, but you will learn so many different ways to help you feel more confident as you approach labour.
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There are no rules as to when you should start a hypnobirthing course. It is totally down to personal preference.
I’ve had some clients who felt more anxious about pregnancy/birth, therefore started soon after their 12 week scan. And I’ve also had clients start within their last month of pregnancy.
There are are some things to practice in the run up to birth, so starting hypnobirthing earlier can give you more time to do this.
Generally speaking, most clients attend a class between 20-35 weeks pregnant. But I welcome clients at all stages of pregnancy!
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NCT (National Childbirth Trust) antenatal classes tend to focus more on teaching information on pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood. This might include topics such as the stages of labour, feeding options, safe sleep recommendations etc. Whilst is is important to understand all of this information, it does not necessarily prepare you to deal with the emotional and physical challenges of labour and birth. Simply ‘knowing’ about birth, does not prepare you for a positive experience. You can understand more about what I mean by this here.
My Hypnobirthing & Antenatal Classes cover not only the ‘stuff you need to know’ about birth and the postpartum period (such as stages of labour, how the body works during birth, pain relief options etc). But I also teach the techniques and skills you need to help you prepare for a more positive birth and postpartum experience. As far as I’m aware, this isn’t included in an NCT/Other antenatal classes.
Some of my clients have also participated in other antenatal classes and it doesn't necessarily have to be seen as a 'hypnobirthing vs NCT' situation! They have shared that while the antenatal information I offer covers similar content to other courses, overall, I provide a deeper understanding, leading to increased confidence in decision-making and managing unexpected situations during childbirth.
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Yes, you can absolutely use hypnobirthing techniques even if you're being induced or having a planned caesarean
In fact, my hypnobirthing classes cover what to expect during an induction, assisted or caesarean birth, so you can feel prepared and empowered no matter how your birth goes.
Hypnobirthing isn't limited to natural, unmedicated births—it can be beneficial for all types of childbirth experiences.
The hypnobirthing and therapeutic techniques taught in my classes can help you stay calm, manage discomfort, and maintain a positive mindset during induction, c-section, or however birth plays out.
My previous clients found that hypnobirthing helped them feel more empowered, confident, and in control, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their birth.
My courses teach you how to adapt the techniques to suit your unique birthing journey and preferences.
Feeling unsure whether Hypnobirthing is for you?
I totally understand - I was exactly the same when I first heard about it. In fact I think I scrunched up my nose when it was recommended to me through a family member. I thought ‘hmm I’m not sure I’m quite into all that’. Little did I know ‘all that’ is basically a lot of what I teach as a mental health therapist within the NHS!
Does Hypnobirthing actually work?
You might be wondering whether you really need a hypnobirthing and antenatal course? As an expectant Mum, I definitely had my doubts about whether the techniques could truly alleviate the intensity of childbirth.. It might help to watch one of these videos of Hypnobirthing methods being used:
Positive Natural Birth Vlog | Raw & Real Hypnobirth by Fit with Britt
Birth of Luxe by Brittany Pride
Is Hypnobirthing just made up nonsense?
As much as my partner might argue that I talk a load of gobbledygook at times, Hypnobirthing is very much a real practice. In fact, it has been recognised within the NHS and by the Royal College of Midwives.
Let’s see what the science says:
Statistics from the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust showed that hypnobirthing women (vs. non- hypnobirthing women) had:
higher rates of ‘vaginal birth’ (84% vs 64%)
lower rates of cesarean (8% vs 25%)
lower rates of assisted delivery (8% vs 11%)
REF: Angela Lycett, Parent Education Midwife, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, as shared at Turning the Tide, Choosing to Offer Hypnobirthing as a Service at The Royal College of Medicine, 2012.
The Royal College of Midwives have also recognised the importance of using Hypnobirthing and published guidance for midwives to support parents using Hypnobirthing methods. They reported that “hypnobirthing can diminish or completely eliminate the ‘fear-tension-pain’ syndrome”.
REF: Royal College of Midwives – How to Support Hypnobirthing, 2014.
And not only can Hypnobirthing help with the physical aspects of birth, but it can improve your confidence for birth too - just like my clients below..