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Google Rating
5.0
Based on 46 reviews
Barefoot Birthing - Hypnobirthing & Mindful Birth Preparation Classes
5.0
Sharanya
We took an antenatal+hypnobirthing course with Rachel, and it was truly the best decision we made with regards to my pregnancy. Rachel was kind, warm, reassuring, discerning, funny and patient, always making room for endless questions and providing emotional and practical support and resources when things got tricky, both in person and online. My birth partner and I both feel so empowered after having worked with her, and since getting to know her, we have felt calmer and happier about my upcoming birth. Rachel is incredibly knowledgeable and what I appreciate most about her is how generous she is with her attention. She makes the time and effort to get to know you as a future parent and to listen to your needs, and shares her wisdom without an agenda—the best kind of teacher. I would really recommend that birthing folks sign up to a class with her! She will transform your relationship to birth as an experience, and you will emerge confident and ready. X
Kate Tang
After an incredibly tough first postpartum during Covid I was determined to ensure I had help for my second baby and I was fortunate enough to have been recommended Rachel. She is a wonderfully warm and caring person who I felt relaxed and at ease with instantly, as did my baby. Rachel was quick to help settle and soothe my baby whenever she stirred. I also appreciated Rachel’s flexibility with what was required for each visit, adapting to our family needs. I would recommend Rachel for anyone who is looking for postpartum support.
Rebecca Hamilton
Rachel was my saviour in the early days. That few hours a week when I knew I could rebalance, sleep and get the house in order - it did wonders for my mind and newborn experience.
Francesca Ellis
I consulted Rachel when pregnant with my third baby, and I really recommend her to anyone who's pregnant. Rachel helped me feel more confident about my decisions when giving birth. She opened my eyes to what was available, information that I didn't know before. I decided induction was the best option for me and my baby, and thanks to Rachel I was confident about how the process should be carried out. This helped me feel that it was MY birth in the hospital, not something the midwives and doctors were doing that I had to fit into. Rachel explained all the doctors statistics and information, what it meant to me as an individual, making it all far less scary. This all helped to provide a much greater sense of ease and to feel more in control. I really appreciated Rachel's support before, during and after what was definitely my most positive experience of birth, all thanks to her.
Lauren Cunliffe
My Husband and I did a private Hypnobirthing course with Rachel for our first baby.I cannot put into words how highly I recommend Rachel, you won't find someone more kind and caring, My birthing story would have been very different were it not for Rachel.She is so talented at what she does and delivers the whole course with passion and outstanding knowledge, If Rachel teaches you you are VERY lucky!!
Indira Sabitova
Highly recommend a hypnobirth session with Rachel. Rachel has shared with my husband and I lots of invaluable information about the birth, provided us with very useful techniques for asking relevant questions and really encouraged us to make an informed choice when it comes to brith whether it is a vaginal or abdominal birth. I don’t think I would have such a positive birth experience if I have not taken this hypnobirth session. Rachel is just a very nice person who made us feel so calm and relaxed during the entire session.
Sam Plackett
Frankie Earnshaw
Rachel is Amazing! Such a knowledgeable and thoughtful person. Her advice has been invaluable! I was really struggling with breastfeeding and Rachel had some really useful tips. I put into action straight away and half an hour later my daughter was latched on! She’s a genuinely lovely person to talk to and is very understanding. I can’t thank her enough and would definitely recommend! X
Stephanie Cunningham
We hired Rachel to do a hypnobirthing refresher and a post natal doula.We had used hypnobirthing in our first birth and had found it very useful so wanted a refresher. She came to our house and tailored it to our previous experience which was fab. She was clear and let us discuss particular areas of interest in more detail. She also shared lots of resources and gave us some gorgeous oils that we used in the birth. Having her on hand on WhatsApp was also fab, especially when we ended up in hospital with a haemorrhage on Christmas Day. We messaged her for some support & just knowing we had someone in our corner (even virtually) made such a difference & contributed to a positive birth against the odds.After the birth we saw Rachel as postnatal doula & honestly she provided an oasis of calm in the middle of my week. I'm chronically bad at asking for help & having people in my house, so hiring a doula was out of my comfort zone. But, after an extremely challenging postnatal period with my 1st child, a doula seemed like a good idea.Rachel made the whole house feel calm from the moment she arrived. She would do whatever I needed without judgement; cook us meals, fold washing, hold the baby, arrange baby's clothes, take the baby for a walk - all without asking "mental load" type questions (where things are, how we want things done etc) I find decision fatigue one of the hardest parts of parenting, so to have someone come in and quietly and confidently get on with daily tasks without asking a million questions (like perhaps family would!) meant so much to me. She was always warm & empathetic and I trusted her from the moment we met.Most weeks I had a very long bath and an episode of Greys Anatomy - which honestly to begin with felt like such an indulgence and I felt quite guilty. But a few weeks I realised how much better my postnatal experience was this time & the penny dropped. You have to look after yourself before things start to go downhill, not when you've hit the bottom. A lot of mums are left asking "but who looks after me" & for me that person was Rachel. 2 hours to myself every week allowed me to breathe and be in a good place to deal with rough nights or tandem toddler / newborn meltdowns!I wish every new mum would have a doula & as many as possible could have Rachel!
a. marjan
If you want do anything to get ready for birthing and beyond I highly recommend Rachel. I hesitate in the beginning, not sure if it was worth or not. It was the best decision I have ever made!I had private hypnobirthing sessions at the comfort of my home. It can be hard to talk about your fears, expectations etc. with a stranger in the beginning. But Rachel became quickly a trustworthy person with her calm and friendly attitude she made me feel very safe and secure. The hypnobirthing session were very informative and prepared me so well for my pregnancy and birthing.I always looked forward every time Rachel would come. She was always there if I needed her or her advise. She respected our choices and advocated for our needs and wants. It was so good to have her on our side and give us guidance and help even after birth. It can be all very overwhelming to make the right decision for you and your family and after talking to Rachel I felt always so embraced and heard. It made me stronger to listen to my body and trust my intuitions.The Hypnobirthing course comes as a package of the mindful birth group and has great features. I loved my weekly pregnancy yoga and currently doing mummy and baby yoga postpartum which is included as well. They have a hub and you can ask for advise and connect with other mummies. They have amazing resources throughout your journey of pregnancy and postpartum.FYI we had a wonderful unmedicated birth and I laboured in the comfort of my own home. I could not ask for a better birth experience and I know we would not have this outcome without Rachel's help and support.
Richard Akiboye
An unbelievable doula. We were initially looking for a hypnobirthing course to help during pregnancy and labour for our first child. As we got to know Rachel, it became clear that not only was she extensively knowledgeable about hypnobirthing, pregnancy and managing pain, but also had the perfect calm and reassuring personality to provide direct support during pregnancy and labour. We pretty much immediately asked her to be our doula. Both my partner (the pregnant one) and I (the medical one) were keen to have a home birth in a calm familiar environment, rather than the impersonal and clinical hospital setting.Hypnobirthing course:Rachel came to our house for one on one sessions with myself and my partner for the course, and brought lots of resources for us to go through, both as a couple and for my partner solo. Rachel also brought some lovely small touches, like aromatherapy oils and affirmation flash cards. Rachel was always on hand to offer advice and set up a WhatsApp group for us so we could ask questions, which she answered promptly. She was instrumental in instilling the right frame of mind for us, to not be afraid of labour and to embrace it as the positive natural process it is, as well as providing all the science and resources to help keep calm. However, where Rachel really came into her own was as our doula.Doula services:I am positive that our son would not have been born without Rachel being our Doula. We had two pre-labour sessions with her (in addition to our prior hypnobirthing course). Rachel was on call for us from 38 weeks onwards. For labour itself Rachel came soon after we called her, giving us exactly what we needed (for us, this was just sitting quietly and calmly in a corner and putting cold compresses on my partners neck, topping up the birthing pool water constantly, bringing my partner things to eat and drink so I could be in the water with her all the time, etc.). Rachel also did amazing little things like monitoring the time between contractions on an app of hers so she knew how labour was progressing.As the waves became more intense Rachel actually gave my partner a very useful analogy of the pushing like a cafetière plunger and maintaining pressure to help baby come out. I believe this tiny adjustment which Rachel coached is exactly what my partner needed to help things progress smoothly, and almost immediately afterwards our son was born.After birth, Rachel called the midwife for us and protected our space so we could enjoy the magical moment as a new family. Rachel also did the practicals afterwards like clearing up all of the birthing pool (removing the water, cleaning the pool, packing it away completely, etc), and clearing up our house. By the time Rachel left our house, it was 6am and she had been there taking care of us for 16 hours.It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why Rachel was so good - it's easy to give a good review to a nice person, and Rachel is lovely. However, I think what truly set her apart is that Rachel expertly read the room and gave us *exactly* what we needed. Her experience in pregnancy, birth, labour and expert communication allowed us to be on the same page at all times and we never needed to explain or clarify anything with her. She just knew. When you are unable to say what you mean, or if you don't quite know, you need an expert in someone who understands you to translate it for you, and then give you what you need. Rachel did this amazingly well. And I believe Rachel would do the same for anyone.Put simply, Rachel is an outstanding Doula, not because of the extensive experience, knowledge, science and facts she can give on pregnancy, labour, and birth; but because she protects, empowers, listens and most importantly, cares, genuinely cares, about your journey help to ensure that you get the pregnancy, labour and birth that you want. I would unreservedly recommend her to anyone having a child in the future. Except for when my partner is pregnant again when Rachel will unfortunately be busy being a Doula for us again.
Elizabeth Gibson
We met Rachel through a hypnobirthing course with the Mindful Birthing Group and we knew after just one session that we wanted to hire her as our Doula. Rachel embodied everything we were looking for in the support for the birth of our son -always calm, compassionate, positive, empathetic and supportive from the start, and a champion for our decisions about how we wanted to birth - at home, in our own environment, as naturally as possible.Rachel made herself available to us 24/7 after 38 weeks, and she was always quick to answer any of our questions and provide constant reassurance - she consistently checked in with us to find out how things were going and to find out how we were feeling in the lead up to my due date. Her support in the last days of pregnancy really helped calm any anxieties or nerves about my upcoming labour (including those of going over my due date), and she always had resources and knowledge to hand if we did have any particular questions. She was integral in shifting my mindset about birth from one portrayed in Hollywood movies to that of a natural, peaceful and empowering experience.We ended up having a home birth, as we planned. During labour itself, Rachel was completely invaluable, so much so that I genuinely believe that we could not have birthed in our ideal environment without her. She provided us with immense support both practically, emotionally and mentally - she ensured the birthing pool was topped up and kept to a perfect temperature, she made sure I was well hydrated and provided snacks to keep my energy levels up, she timed and monitored contractions without any intervention, she suggested movements and positions to help labour progress when things had slowed down, made cold compresses throughout the night to keep me comfortable, and she physically supported me throughout labour.Beyond this, and what really stood out, was Rachel's continual positive attitude and emotional support - she regularly checked in with me to see how I was doing, provided positive affirmations throughout to remind me that I was capable of birthing in the way I wanted, she reminded me to utilise my breathing techniques, particularly during the pushing phase, to relax my face and jaw, calmed me in my moments of anxiety and provided useful visualisations. It was these measures that really enhanced my birthing experience and enabled me to birth in the way I wanted.Most notably, Rachel's indispensable help relieved me and my partner of the practicalities surrounding birth, meaning we could work through each contraction as they came and be in the momement together. I truly believe this mentality, which was fostered and protected by Rachel, enabled us to really focus on birthing our son in the most positive way possible and in the way we planned and hoped for.Even after our son had arrived and Rachel had been supporting us for over 14 hours, she gave us the space and time to enjoy our first moments together as a family of three, a moment which will live with me forever. Her work didn't stop here however - she once again made herself indispensible by chaperoning the midwives, sustaining the calm atmosphere, and taking care of the practicals such as sorting out the birthing pool, helping me get dressed, cleaning up, and getting us ready to go into hospital.Our son was born in the back-to-back position after 28 hours of labour, utilising only hypnobirthing techniques - certainly a feat I never thought myself capable of achieving, but from Rachel's initial support and guidance and the environment she sustained throughout labour, she was essential to the strength I was able to draw upon and I know that I could not have made it through my labour without her.Rachel was beyond integral to our birth experience - she knew just what was needed and when - and there are not enough ways we can thank her. We already know that we would love Rachel to be present and support us at the birth of all our future children - we really could not have asked for more in a Doula and we will be indebted to her for life.
Marcus Godbold
We had a fantastic couple of mornings with Rachel coaching us about hypnobirthing. I felt like the role in my partner's pregnancy was very much going to be "the passenger" - both during the pregnancy and the birthing. However, I loved the balanced involvement and responsibility Rachel gave to the guy during our classes. It held me in great stead for the actual birthing day. I felt like I had a pivotal role to play on the day and it really helped me understand the mindset needed to make sure everything went smoothly for my wife. I definitely can say I was so much better equipped and found the whole day absolutely incredible - if I did not take this class, I'm sure I would have been much more of an emotional and anxious wreck! Highly recommended and encouraged for all guys considering taking this. It's also a great lesson in how to have a positive mindset which I have taken on in all walks of life, too. Something which males often take for granted!
Pippa O'Driscoll
Rachel is an incredible teacher ... we joined her for a private hypnobirthing course and she couldn't have been lovelier or more professional in giving a considered and informative overview of the birth process. We went in feeling quite daunted by the mysteries of birth but as each session passed, we felt more confident and prepared and especially enjoyed reframing some of the language around birth to be/feel more positive. Would 100% recommend this course and Rachel to lead it ... we very much look forward to seeing Rachel again for some postnatal doula support!
Lucia Ganan
Just completed hypnobirthing course with Rachel and it really has been an amazing experience. Feeling confident going into the final part of our pregnancy. Can’t recommend highly enough!
Lisa Kelly
As first time parents and feeling particularly anxious we decided to learn more about hypnobirthing.Rachel was warm and friendly and has such a calming nature, immediately we felt at ease. Armed with biscuits and a wealth of knowledge, all of our questions were answered and we walked away with all of the tools needed in preparation.I would highly recommend this course to anyone having a baby, and I’m really grateful for all of the ongoing support we have been provided with.
Sarah Bridgland
Rachel’s course really helped me to feel better prepared for my birth. Rachel offered tailored, evidence-backed advice that was specific to my questions and situation which I found really valuable, as the world of parenting advice can be really hard to navigate when just relying on books or ready made courses. Following the course Rachel sent me a raft of free resources based on the things we had discussed, including advice on breastfeeding. Rachel is really warm, approachable and professional and clearly dedicated to helping parents have a positive birth and parenting experience. I would highly recommend.
natalie bygraves
Huge thank you for taking the time to prepare me for Willows birth. After having a difficult labour with my first child, your advice and encouragement was so valuable in preparing me for what was an incredibly positive experience in my second birth, Natalie X
Billie Dunne
Rachel gave me the confidence, knowledge and support to prepare and plan for the birth I wanted. I can’t recommend her enough. My birth of our daughter was beautiful, powerful and positive. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without Rachel. My husband was a little sceptical when I mentioned hypno birthing, but he is so pleased we worked with Rachel and learnt so much, especially about how to support me during labour.Thank you Rachel- you are amazing at your job!
Stella Marra
Rachel's one to one classes have been extremely useful as she explained all the techniques to prepare for the birth event. The amount of knowledge and insight she has shared is impressive and I would like to recommend her to anyone who is looking for antenatal or postnatal classes.
Sarah Rae
Rachel has been such a huge support throughout my pregnancy. Her one-on-one session with me and my partner was so useful - talking through all the possibilities, our excitements and any fears, showing us brilliant movement techniques and so much more. I have felt so empowered every time I’ve spoken to Rachel about anything to do with my pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Rachel offers the perfect amount of information, research and advice and I would highly recommend her to anyone.
Risha Patel
We were recommended Rachel from friends who had previously completed her courses and we could not be happier that she was a part of our first pregnancy and birth journey. 100% recommendation from us!The birth of our son was such a positive experience. Very smooth from start to finish. I know we will always look back so fondly on it. That was really a big aim for us, having heard a certain amount of difficulties and concerns from friends. Thanks to Rachel I feel like we were able to achieve this.We felt so much more prepared following the course. It was comprehensive and covered all that it said it would. It allowed my husband and I to discuss the pregnancy in a different way and we both learnt so much about each other’s thoughts on birth from it. The information on birth options and post-natal care was incredibly useful. Put together in the way it was, it helped relax us on the day and enjoy the experience, as did the lovely oil Rachel provided, which stayed firmly with me throughout.We would also have to say that Rachel herself is so approachable and calm that she really does make the course experience what it is. Even following the birth of our son she has checked in with us and been a huge support in our breastfeeding journey.
Jennifer Spragg
We took the Barefoot Birthing hypnobirthing course for our first pregnancy and it proved invaluable. Rachel was a fantastic teacher and coach, and we really enjoyed the course content balance covering the science as well as mindfulness. We felt really in control and went on to have a really positive birth experience and a lot of that was down to the prep we did on this course.
Charlotte Jones
My partner and I attended an online hypnobirthing class in June 2021 with Barefoot Birthing and it was without doubt the best thing we did to prepare for the birth of our baby.We found the course very beneficial and gave us the confidence to make informed choices about all aspects of the birth, including birth plans, pain relief, interventions etc. The breathing and visualisation techniques taught by Rachel helped me to stay relaxed and manage discomfort throughout my labour and enabled my partner to support me throughout.The materials used during the course and those sent to us were very helpful and understanding some of the science and statistics behind birth made us feel more confident in making decisions relating to the birth. We particularly liked using the affirmations and the partner cards!We would absolutely recommend Barefoot Birthing to any expectant parents. Rachel, we cannot thank you enough for your help in bringing our baby into the world!
Elizabeth Herridge
A very positive, friendly and insightful course that benefited both myself and my partner - it was very well managed and an enjoyable class to be a part of. I'd recommend it to any new parent, mums and dads, or birthing partners.
Barefoot Birthing is based in Morden, UK. Courses cover South London and Surrey. Including but not limited to; Morden, Cheam, Worcester Park, Sutton, Carshalton, Wallington, Mitcham, Merton, Wimbledon, South Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, Colliers Wood, Earlsfield, Wandsworth, Tooting, Balham, Clapham Raynes Park, Ewell, Epsom, Banstead, Coulsdon, Purley, Dulwich. I travel up to 30 minutes for private courses, and beyond depending on circumstances.
Typically supporting women registered at the following hospitals: St Helier Hospital, Epsom Hospital, St George’s Hospital, Croydon University Hospital, Kingston Hospital, King’s College Hospital, St Thomas’, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.