HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method to give it its full title, is a complete birth education programme, that teaches simple but specific self hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques for a better birth. It was developed by Marie Mongan in the USA and has helped countless couples to enjoy the birthing of their babies.

HypnoBirthing® is much more than just self hypnosis or hypnotherapy for childbirth.

• With HypnoBirthing®, you'll discover that severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labour
• You'll learn how to release the fears and anxieties you may currently have about giving birth, and how to overcome previous traumatic births
• HypnoBirthing® lets you discover and experience the joy and magic of birth - rather than the horrific ordeal everyone else seems hell-bent on telling you about

Most importantly, you'll learn how to put yourself back in control of your birth - rather than blindly turning your birthing experience over to your doctor or midwife.

HypnoBirthing® doesn't mean you'll be in a trance or a sleep. Rather, you'll be able to chat, and be and in good spirits - totally relaxed, but fully in control. You'll always be aware of what is happening to you, and around you.

HypnoBirthing® doesn't require any particular belief system, or prior experience. Some of our mums (and especially their husbands!) have been very sceptical at first - until they experience it for themselves.

In fact, the more sceptical they are to start with, the more evangelical they are when they discover the power of HypnoBirthing®.

Just imagine welcoming each surge! Feeling peaceful... relaxing... and even smiling as your baby comes closer to you!

In short, HypnoBirthing® allows you to experience birth in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear and tension that prevents the birthing muscles of your body from functioning as Nature intended them to.

Here are some of the things you'll learn that are not covered in most antenatal classes.

• Breathing techniques that actually help the birth (and it's not the panting that most people think they have to do. Think about it - why would anyone want to hyperventilate during labour?)
• How to massively reduce the need for any medication at all
• How to reduce your risk of needing an episiotomy during birth with a stunningly simple massage technique
• How to be confident and informed when dealing with the medical staff - when to question, what to ask...and when it's time to let them take charge
• How to release any fears you might have about childbirth...regardless of where they come from
• How to bring about your own easy start of labour with these simple, natural techniques, if you go beyond your "estimated due date"
• Most importantly, you'll know how to relax and stay calm and in control - regardless of what's happening around you

HypnoBirthing® is designed as a structured but informal class format that teaches about the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of birth. You'll learn why your body does what it does, as well as how.

Plus, as well as the classes themselves, you'll receive a professionally produced 196-page text book "HypnoBirthing®: A Celebration of Life", an affirmations and relaxation CD set, and numerous weekly handouts, all included in the price.

More benefits

Additional benefits that have been reported by mums include:

• Considerably shorter labour and birthing
• Signficantly fewer surgical births
• High number of comfortable, natural births with no technological assistance
• A high rate of success in assisting breech-presented babies to turn into appropriate birthing position with the use of posture and hypnosis (in a study done at the University of Vermont of 100 women at 37 to 40 weeks, there was an 81% success rate with hypnosis)
• Highly energized mums in good spirits following births that are calm and gentle
• You'll learn the techniques once for this birth, but then you can then use them again and again, no matter how many children you have
• HypnoBirthing® techniques work very effectively with home births, water births, hospital births, birthing centres...whatever. It's your choice what kind of birth to have - HypnoBirthing® helps them all.
• You can use the techniques to help calm and relax yourself any time you feel stressed out... (we've had many couples tell us this alone has been invaluable!)

What you'll learn through HypnoBirthing® is how you can confidently approach a safe, easier and more comfortable natural birth.

We can't promise you a 'perfect' birth - no one can - but we can promise you a much, much more comfortable and relaxed birth than you would have had otherwise.

Yes. We find that babies born using HypnoBirthing® tend to be calmer, feed better, sleep better and experience less trauma, because they are gently and calmly breathed into the world at their own pace.

Scientific research has also shown that the babies usually have higher Apgar Scores as well (a measure of how well your baby is doing immediately after the birth, and then five minutes later).

Finally - something useful for the dad to do!

Instead of your husband or partner being a helpless onlooker, they become a central part of the birthing process, helping you to stay calm and focussed on the techniques you've been taught.

As a result, the fathers feel proud to have been able to help, and to be an active part of the birth.

Imagine how close that makes them feel to you and the baby!