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Confident Childbirth Course Q&A

Will my birth be pain-free?

Labour does mean work and pain can be a part of the experience. Consider this: giving birth is a natural, quick and reasonably gentle process... Pain is managable - our bodies know how to do this! Although there are no guarantees for a pain-free experience for you, if you learn and follow the techniques, you can expect to have a very comfortable or at least manageable birth.

Does my birth partner have to attend?

It's up to you... Consider that your birth partner has a very important role in both the ante-natal preparation and during the birth, as well as after... and you can bring your birth partner along at no extra cost. However, most of the techniques can easily be learnt and practised alone, so if you do not have a birth partner or they cannot attend the class, this is not a problem.

I have given birth before - should I attend?

Absolutely! Even if your previous birth was manageable, it is not uncommon to still have some worries or fears - particularly as you know what to expect. Alternatively, if your previous experience has left you concerned or was traumatic in any way, it is important to go through the process of letting go. This is because many people base their expectations of future situations on their previous experiences, and it is important to enter into childbirth in a positive state of mind.

What is self-hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of focussed attention which allows us to alter the way we experience the world. Have you ever been so absorbed in a book or film that the hours seemed to fly by in a moment? Or been in a boring meeting where every minute seemed like an hour? Or been so lost in thought driving to work that you don't remember the last few miles? This is everyday hypnosis, which many people take for granted.

Self-hypnosis is when we deliberately choose to focus our attention to change our experience. For childbirth, we usually choose to experience deep relaxation, similar to that achieved using meditation or yoga, and to utilise the power of your imagination to alter your awareness of labour pain.

People often fear that hypnosis will make them lose control, surrender their will, or say and do something stupid - myths created by stage hypnotists to enhance their acts and egos. In fact, the opposite is true - hypnosis is a natural everyday state of focussed attention which a person creates for themselves, and over which they have total control.

This is why a person will not say or do anything they would not normally do, why it is not possible to get 'stuck' in hypnosis, and why many people are surprised just how aware of their surroundings they are during hypnosis - it just feels so natural. Because it is.

Do I still need to attend my antenatal class?

Confident Childbirth antenatal courses is focused specifically on the mental and emotional aspects of pre-birth preparation and pain management in childbirth and will compliment other antenatal classes.

It does not, however, cover areas such as when to attend the hospital, stages and signs of labour or what to expect postnatally, so should not be seen as a replacement for traditional antenatal classes such as NCT and NHS Parentcraft.