Abdominal Birth Course

Hypnobirthing and mindfulness are about removing the fear of the unknown as well as being present in the moment so you can navigate any situation. Birth is birth, and every birth deserves to be positive, personalised, and special.

Understanding birth is important for caesarean section births too because it’s hugely beneficial to support the natural hormones your body needs when giving birth. The key hormone here being oxytocin, which is important in bonding, breastfeeding and recovery. This teamed with making sure your birth feels personalised can make for an incredibly beautiful and positive birth experience.

That’s why as a member of The Mindful Birth Group I’m proud to offer a specially dedicated abdominal birth course.

What you will learn: 

  • What happens during a planned abdominal birth
  • Specific breathing technique to help you to relax during pregnancy and the birth (and beyond!)
  • Visualisation techniques to help you to relax throughout the process
  • Controlling the controllables- what is in your control and when you need to trust the process
  • A very gentle and highly effective massage technique which will stimulate the production of the body’s natural pain relieving hormones- still very important for planned abdominal births
  • What happens in spontaneous labour – just in case!
  • How to write your birth preferences & share them with your medical care providers
  • Your birth partners important role and how they can support you throughout the birth and beyond
  • Recovering from an abdominal birth – practical and emotional things to prepare and think about

 

After booking your Mindful Birth course, you automatically gain access to the one-of-a-kind support package worth at least £850* which includes:

 During pregnancy:

  • Weekly pregnancy yoga (live on Zoom & recorded for your convenience)
  • Monthly relaxation sessions (live on Zoom)
  • Online community to meet others on a similar path (moderated & closed) hosted on Circle
  • WhatsApp support with your teacher right up until your baby is born
  • Ask the Midwife online group

 The Course:

  • 6 hours (private) or 8 hours (group) live birth preparation teaching
  • 1.5 hours live via Zoom postnatal preparation

 During postnatal recovery:

  • 1 hour postnatal doula session (on Zoom)
  • Educational videos on baby care including breast and bottle feeding
  • Weekly parent & baby yoga (live on Zoom & recorded for your convenience)
  • Online community to meet others on a similar path (moderated & closed) hosted on Circle

We recommend signing up to the package from 12 weeks of pregnancy, so you can gain the full benefit of mind and body support from early on.

You can read more about the course and support package here

 

The package costs are:

Group course option (9.5 hours total live learning time)

  • £330 for the Zoom course option (currently all abdominal group courses are online via Zoom)

SEE GROUP COURSE DATES AND BOOK

 

Private course options (7.5 hours of total live learning time)

  • £430 over Zoom
  • £484 in-person
  • A private course can be completed in 1 x 6 hours, 2 x 3 hours, or 3 x 2 hours.
  • In-person would be at your home, and no more than a 30 minute travel distance from postcode SM4 6RB, UK. Please contact Rachel should you live further away, as this may still be possible.
  • Online via Zoom video call – accessible from anywhere in the world

Ready to book a private course or have some questions? Please contact me by email rachel@barefootbirthing.com or using the contact form.

If you're undecided about preparing for a natural or abdominal birth then I'd recommend doing our physiological birth course, as this covers all you need to know, including planning for an abdominal birth.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • When’s a good time to do the course?
    A good time to start the course is anytime between 20 and 30 weeks, but you can do the course at any time right up to your baby’s birth, it really is never too late! Hypnobirthing and mindfulness become more powerful with regular practice, so starting sooner rather than later can really help.
  • I’m planning a natural birth but have been advised I may have to have a Caesarean Section, which course should I do?
    We recommend the physiological course, as this will provide you with all that you need to prepare for a physiological birth but also includes what happens during an abdominal birth (caesarean section) so you will learn about both types of birth.
  • Could I do a private course with a pregnant friend?
    Yes, absolutely! Should you have a pregnant friend/relative who also wants to do the course I can come to one of your homes (or do the course online via Zoom) and run a private course at a discount.
  • What if I pay for a course and my baby arrives before the course has started/finished?
    If your baby is born prior to starting the course you will receive a full refund.
  • Can my partner or someone else attend with me?
    Most definitely, partners are encouraged to attend! The cost of the course is for a pregnant mum/person and one birth partner, whoever that may be for you. If you have a second birth partner (relative, friend or doula) then please get in touch so we can discuss accommodating your birth team.
  • Can I attend a course on my own?
    Yes, we welcome all pregnant mums and birthing people.
  • Do you offer a short or condensed course?
    ​Yes. There is the Hypnobirthing Essentials Short Course. This is for those who perhaps did a hypnobirthing course for a previous birth and want a refresher, are much later on in their pregnancy and short on time, or perhaps have done another antenatal course but feel something is missing.
  • I want to do a group course but I can’t make the dates?
    ​Please do get in touch and if there is enough interest additional group course dates/venues may be possible.
  • I’m not sure Hypnobirthing is for me but I would like to know more.
    We run Free monthly Hypnobirthing Tasters Sessions which last around 45 minutes and are a great introduction to Hypnobirthing and what you’ll learn in the course.
  • I want an epidural, can I still use Hypnobirthing?
    Most definitely. Hypnobirthing really is for all birth preferences and situations. Hypnobirthing is about understanding your body and learning how different choices, including pain relief, have pros and considerations so you can use or avoid them in the best way possible for you.
  • Do you provide Doula services?
    Formally, not yet no. However, Rachel is doing her Doula Training in November and will be offering Postnatal (and possible Birth) Doula services from January 2022. Please do get in touch if you are interested in hiring Rachel as a Doula. ​
  • Do I need to do another Antenatal course as well?
    No you don’t need to if you didn’t want to, the course provides everything you need to know about preparing for birth. However, some parents either choose to enhance a standard antenatal course with a hypnobirthing course and find the cross-overs areas a really great recap, and some parents find hypnobirthing later on in their pregnancy and so end up doing two courses – again finding they complement each other.
  • ​I was hoping to do a Hypnobirthing course but I can’t afford the classes.
    Please do get in touch as we don’t believe that your birth preparation should be restricted by money. We can offer payments plan, services swap, or pay-what-you-can options should this mean you are then able to do the course.
  • Can we meet you before committing to the course?
    ​This may be possible yes, and would depend on how close you are to SM4 6RB, or happy to meet over Zoom. There is also the Free monthly Hypnobirthing Tasters Sessions which last around 45 minutes and are a great chance to meet Rachel and get a feel for if she’s the right fit for you.

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