If I'm completely honest, hypnobirthing has a bit of an image problem… and I sometimes wish there was a different name for it. For some people, the word immediately brings to mind candles, calming music and women breathing serenely through labour feeling completely in control and trusting their bodies.

For others, it just sounds a bit "hippy" and they automatically think, "Nope, definitely not for me."

And yet, as a practising midwife, I can tell you that many of the women I see having calm, confident and positive birth experiences are using hypnobirthing techniques — whether they realise it or not.

So what is hypnobirthing really?

Will I be hypnotised or out of control?

Let's start with the biggest misconception.

You won't be asleep. You won't be unconscious.

You won't be under anyone else's control. Nobody is going to swing a watch in front of your face or make you cluck like a chicken.

It combines understanding how labour works, understanding your body better, breathing techniques, relaxation, visualisation, mindset preparation and practical coping strategies.

At its heart, hypnobirthing is about reducing fear and replacing that with understanding and confidence.

Why does fear matter in labour?

One of the things I teach families in my antenatal classes is that birth isn't just a physical process.

It's hormonal too.

When we feel safe, supported and relaxed, our bodies produce hormones that help labour progress. When we feel frightened, stressed or overwhelmed, our bodies can release adrenaline and other stress hormones. This doesn't mean labour suddenly stops and it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. But understanding this relationship between the mind and body can be incredibly powerful.

For many women, simply understanding what their body is doing during labour can reduce anxiety enormously.

Understanding your body changes Everything

One of the things I love most about teaching hypnobirthing is that it helps women understand what their body is actually doing during labour, Because really, at what point in life do we properly learn any of this? Other than a few biology lessons at school (which let's be honest, most of us have forgotten), when do we ever learn how birth actually works?

How does a baby really fit through a bony pelvis and get born?

What are contractions actually doing?

Why do hormones matter so much?

How does your body know what to do?

It's kind of incredible when you stop and think about it. But equally when something feels this unknown, it can feel frightening.

I often find that women carry worries and fears that aren't necessarily always based on anything they've been told directly, but simply because birth feels like this huge, mysterious event that nobody has ever properly explained. Historically, birth wasn't something that happened behind closed hospital doors. Women grew up surrounded by other women, hearing birth stories, supporting sisters, cousins and friends and often witnessing birth long before they experienced it themselves. Birth sat at the heart of communities and was seen as a normal part of life and a significant rite of passage into motherhood.

Today, many of us arrive at labour having never seen a birth before, never held a newborn and with very little understanding of what our bodies are actually doing.

When we understand what is happening, why contractions feel the way they do, how hormones influence labour and how our environment can affect birth, things often start to feel much less overwhelming. Knowledge doesn't remove every challenge, and it certainly doesn't guarantee a particular type of birth, but it can make birth feel far less mysterious, far less intimidating and far less scary.

So is Hypnobirthing just breathing?

No. Breathing techniques are part of hypnobirthing, but they're only a small piece of the puzzle.

Good hypnobirthing should also help you understand:

How labour and birth work
The role hormones play in labour and how they influence birth
Why contractions happen
How to create a calm birth environment (and why this helps)
Ways to stay relaxed and focused
How your birth partner can support you
How to navigate decisions and unexpected twists in the road, confidently
How to stay calm when things don't go exactly as expected
How to feel informed and involved in your care

Because birth doesn't always follow a script. As a midwife, I know that. Sometimes labour starts naturally, sometimes induction becomes part of the story. Some women choose an epidural. Some require an assisted birth. Some have a caesarean birth.

Hypnobirthing isn't about avoiding interventions at all cost or striving for some ideal version of the "perfect" birth.

Birth can be unpredictable. Things change. Plans change. Babies sometimes have their own ideas too. So really, hypnobirthing is about understanding your options, feeling confident in your decisions and knowing how to adapt when things don't go quite as expected. It's about giving yourself the best possible experience with the circumstances you find yourself in on that day. What that looks like will be completely different from one woman to the next — and that's absolutely okay.

Does Hypnobirthing actually work?

This depends on what you mean by "work".

If by work, you mean "will it guarantee the exact birth I want?" then no. Nothing can do that and if someone is promising you this - be very cautious. Birth can be unpredictable and there are always things outside of our control.

However, if by work, you mean "can it help me feel calmer, more confident and better prepared for labour and birth?" then absolutely. Can it help you feel more relaxed? Can it help you cope with contractions? Can it help reduce fear and stop you feeling overwhelmed by what's happening? Yes, it absolutely can.

As a midwife, one of the biggest differences I see is that women who have prepared often arrive understanding what is happening in their bodies. They are less likely to be frightened by every sensation, more likely to work with their labour rather than against it, and often feel more confident and in control throughout the experience.

Some women even tell me they enjoyed parts of labour, which probably sounds completely bonkers if you're reading this whilst pregnant! But it really is possible

For me, that's where the real value of hypnobirthing lies.

Will Hypnobirthing make birth pain-free?

Probably not. And I think it's really important to be honest about this. Again, if someone is saying they can guarantee you a pain-free birth, I’d be very careful about accepting their offering

Labour is hard work and contractions can be intense. Hypnobirthing doesn't magically remove every sensation.

What it can do is give you practical tools to cope with labour more effectively and by reducing fear, you will relax more which in turn is going to help natural physiology.

Many women find that contractions feel more manageable when they feel calm, safe and supported. Others find they still want pain relief and that's completely okay too.

Hypnobirthing isn't about proving how much pain you can tolerate. It's about having a toolkit to support you whatever choices you make.

Can you use Hypnobirthing if you want pain relief, an Epidural or Caesarean?

Absolutely. This is another myth I hear all the time.

Many women use hypnobirthing alongside gas and air, pain relief, epidurals, inductions and caesarean births. The skills don't suddenly become irrelevant because you choose pain relief or need surgery. In fact, understanding what is happening and why its happening, feeling informed about your options and having tools that help you stay calm and focused throughout the experience — whatever that experience looks like for you, is incredibly valuable.

Using breathing and relaxation techniques in theatre, to feel calmer and more relaxed

Do I need to practice Hypnobirthing?

Yes. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that the practice is one of the most important parts.

Not because hypnobirthing is difficult, but because labour isn't the ideal time to be trying something new. The breathing techniques, relaxation exercises and mindset tools work best when they feel familiar. When you've practised them repeatedly during pregnancy, your mind and body are much more likely to recognise them and use them naturally during labour.

Think of it a bit like preparing for a marathon. You wouldn't read a book about running the night before and expect to feel ready. The confidence comes from practising, building familiarity and knowing what works for you.

The good news is that this doesn't need to take hours every day.

In my classes, we talk about realistic hypnobirthing practice that fits around work, family life and everything else that comes with preparing for a baby. Small amounts of regular practice are so valuable and really can make all the difference. The families who get the most from hypnobirthing are usually not the ones who do it perfectly. They're the ones who consistently spend a little time becoming familiar with the tools before labour begins.

What I love about Hypnobirthing as a Midwife

For me, the best thing about hypnobirthing isn't the breathing techniques.

It's confidence.

I love seeing women walk into labour understanding what is happening in their bodies.

I love seeing confident, supportive birth partners knowing what they can do to help.

I love seeing families feel able to ask questions, understand their options and make decisions that feel right for them.

Because ultimately, a positive birth isn't just about achieving a particular type of birth. It's about how you felt during the journey.

Feeling respected.

Feeling informed and involved.

Feeling heard and seen.

Feeling supported.

And always feeling proud of yourself and your incredible body.

Looking For Midwife Hypnobirthing Classes In Exmouth, Exeter or East Devon?

At The Coastal Birth Club, I weave hypnobirthing throughout my antenatal education programmes and provide everything you need in my hypnobirthing and biomechanics tool kit to take home and continue your hypnobirthing journey.

As a practising midwife, I combine evidence-based birth preparation, hypnobirthing, biomechanics, active birth techniques and practical newborn knowledge to help families feel genuinely prepared for birth and early parenthood.

Families join me from Exmouth, Exeter, Lympstone, Topsham, Budleigh Salterton, Woodbury and across East Devon.

If you're curious about hypnobirthing but not sure whether it's for you, I'd encourage you to keep an open mind. For me, it's really about going back to basics. Taking the time to prepare, investing in yourself, understanding what's happening inside your body and feeling genuinely supported.

Because whilst hypnobirthing itself is a relatively modern approach and term, the idea that women benefit from knowledge, experience, preparation and support during pregnancy is as old as birth itself.

View upcoming course dates here →

What Is Hypnobirthing Really? A Midwife's Honest View