Hypnobirthing in Dorset - an interview with Dr Michelle Irving

We are very proud at Calm Births to have a teacher as experienced in the birth world as Dr Michelle Irving. She is a Mum of 2, an experienced practising Midwife with a PhD in Midwifery, and lectures at Bournemouth University. Michelle offers one to one or group Calm Births hypnobirthing courses in and around Poole, Dorset. I recently caught up with Michelle to chat about her journey to hypnobirthing:

All of our teachers have different journeys that bring them to hypnobirthing, what was yours?

My journey into hypnobirthing started as a midwife working with women who were using hypnobirthing and having incredible births, they were transformed and empowered and therefore equipped to be effective parents.

What's your favourite thing about being a hypnobirthing teacher?

I love being able to teach women/couples and help them become empowered - teaching about how their bodies work, what they can do to achieve calm and understand the process of birth, birth hormones and biomechanics and the birth environment.

How do you think Covid has affected pregnant people?

I think for many people the pandemic has made them feel vulnerable and isolated. I have spoken to people who felt somewhat abandoned by the maternity services and anxious about not having their partners present for scans, appointments or early labour. People tell me they are cautious about face to face contact, but also miss real world interactions.

What would your top tips be for preparing for birth for parents to be?

Join a childbirth education/hypnobirthing class

Fix your fears

Achieve and maintain health through nutrition, activity and mindfulness

Make informed decisions about your care - know about the medical interventions, their pros, cons and alternatives

Find your support

Stay active and relaxed in labour

Use water and massage

Those are great tips! What would your top tips for preparing for parenthood be?

Keep it simple - eat, sleep, relax, repeat

Plan a babymoon - stay home and rest and recuperate with your baby

Keep your baby close

Ask for support

Thank you so much Michelle, and how can people find out more about you and your courses?

I have a website www.bestbirths.co.uk where people can find out more about me as well as being on Instagram and Facebook.

You can also find Michelle’s profile on our ‘Find your teacher’ page.

Can I do hypnobirthing on my own?

This is a really commonly asked question - it may be that you have a serving partner in the military who will be away for the birth; you are going it alone and don’t plan to have a birth partner with you, or that you don’t feel that your birth partner is on board with hypnobirthing.

If you know that your birth partner is going to be away, or if you are planning to solo parent, it is still so valuable to have a birth partner with you on the day - this could be a friend, a sister, a Mum - just a friendly face to hold your hand.

I have taught lots of people over the years who, for varying reasons, have chosen to have such a birth partner and have brought them along to the classes with them so that they can understand the hypnobirthing techniques to support the birthing person.

However, if this is not an option for you, or your birth partner is not on board with learning the techniques then please don’t despair! Yes it is beneficial to have someone present who can support you in the techniques, but it is also possible to do it alone.

The idea behind hypnobirthing is that you train your mind to reach that deep state of relaxation (more about that here) in order that you can float through labour and whatever is happening on the day without feeling frightened, anxious or out of control. Yes having a birth partner helps this, as they will learn how to help you reach that state easily and quickly, but it is also possible, with lots of practice and guidance from your teacher, to learn how to get there yourself during labour.

Our teachers all develop beautifully supportive relationships with their clients, and are there for them all the way through until they can meet your baby afterwards! To find yours just click here.

Why pregnant people should NOT eat pineapple.

Ok, so that’s a bit of a sensationalist headline isn’t it?! But when you’re pregnant you are constantly bombarded with these messages of ‘you MUST do this’ or ‘whatever you do, DON’T do that!’ which can feel somewhat overwhelming and scary - who do you listen to?

This is why our course is carefully created from accurate, evidence based information, accredited by the Royal College of Midwives. But enough of that - what about the pineapple?

So there are many old wives tales about what you should and shouldn’t eat in pregnancy, and pineapple is often one that comes up.

It’s usually cited as something you should eat to help you go into labour, when I ask my clients which methods they have heard of for naturally inducing labour, pineapple, curry and sex are always top of the list.

Pineapple is thought to contain an enzyme called bromelain, which is known to stimulate the prostaglandins in the body which in turn soften the cervix. It is difficult to find any hard evidence on this, but it is widely believed that the bromelain is contained in the core of the pineapple, which needs to be fresh as the bromelain is lost in the canning process.

It is also widely believed that the levels of bromelain are low, meaning that you would need to eat approximately 7 fresh pineapple cores in order for it to work its magic!

So, it’s not looking great for pineapple to be a natural induction tool. However, what we ALSO know, is that in the last trimester of pregnancy, the bowel slows down a lot due to those pesky hormones - this can often lead to constipation and the awful haemorrhoids (piles) and so in fact eating lots of fresh fruit is really helpful for that.

In conclusion, if you really feel like eating 7 fresh pineapple cores there may just be a chance that it might soften your cervix a little, but it’s not going to do enough to warrant the awful indigestion and diarrhoea that will be involved in the process!

There are lots of other natural methods that we can use to safely help bring on labour, they are discussed in the Calm Births book here, or discussed on a course with any of our teachers.

How does hypnobirthing work?

It’s the question that many ask, and it’s a good one, and here I will try to answer it! The very short answer is that Hypnobirthing (the way Calm Births teach it) is a full antenatal preparation course which includes hypnotherapy techniques to ensure that both birthing person and partner feel fully prepared, informed and excited about their baby’s arrival, and that the birth experience feels positive and calm no matter what happens on the day.

Essentially we know that if a person is anxious, fearful or worried about their birth experience, it has a profound physiological effect on the process - whether that is for a vaginal birth or a C-Section. So through a variety of different ways, we work with you to alleviate those anxious or fearful thoughts, to allow the process to be smooth and positive. This is done through a combination of personalised support from the teacher, home learning and the Calm Births syllabus.

So to look at that in a little more detail we can break it down into 3 sections: The Physical, The Practical and The Relaxation techniques.

The Physical

Being pregnant, being in labour and giving birth are all miraculous, amazing things that the body does for us, or sometimes that healthcare professionals help us to do in the instances where we need clinical help. All of these are huge physical undertakings and so much is happening to the body that it can feel frightening and overwhelming.

Therefore our aim in hypnobirthing (specifically in Calm Births classes) is to give you all the information you need to know about what is happening to the body at every step of the way. This means that you will feel fully informed, in control and prepared about what is going to happen and there will be no surprises along the way. This reduction in fear or anxiety about the process makes a fundamental difference to how the body responds during the process itself.

With us you will also learn physical tips such as how to help the baby into the optimum position, how to avoid perineal damage during birth, or how to prepare for a planned C-Section if that is your journey.

The Practical

In much the same vein as The Physical, we know that the more you know about the process, the more prepared and calm you’ll feel, in turn affecting the actual birth.

And so we prepare you practically for birth, including what to pack in your hospital bag, how to get your body into labour, how to know when it’s labour, when to call the Midwife and what happens after you’ve had the baby.

The Relaxation Techniques

This is where the ‘hypno’ bit comes in - and it’s really nothing scary or ‘woo’ - it’s simply learning a really good way to relax whenever you want it. The scientific explanation of this is that you will train your brain to reach the Theta level whenever you want it to - the Theta is where our brain is at when we are just dozing in front of the TV, or engrossed in a film or book, or absorbed in a daydream. We are completely aware all of the time, but just feel really happily relaxed. Now wouldn’t it be great if you could feel that way whenever you wanted?! That’s what we teach you! So that leading up to the birth you will spend lots of time learning this and practising it (which is giving the baby some seriously calming times, which is why hypno babies are generally very chilled!) - then when you’re in labour you can just take yourself away to that lovely place whenever you want to, by yourself and sometimes with the help of your birthing partner.

There is so much more to it, but in a nutshell, that’s what hypnobirthing is! If you feel like it might be something for you, please do reach out, we’d love to help you x

Why should I join a Hypnobirthing group?

When you’re expecting a baby it can be a pretty scary time, the more you find out the more you realise you need to find out and so it continues until you’re in a cold sweat of panic. You can attend the classes and learn the hypnobirthing, you can work with your partner to achieve a positive mindset for birth - I’ve totally got you for that. But what about when that baby is in your arms?….

What about when the dust has settled and it’s just you at home with this baby, when you take your first solo expedition to the shops with the baby, or want to try a new baby group. It can feel really overwhelming and sometimes it’s easier to just shut yourself away with the baby.

This is why hypnobirthing groups are amazing. Of course we’re just throwing random groups of people together so, let’s be realistic, you’re not always going to gel with your group and that’s just human nature. But often you will, and like my groups pictured here sometimes it really does work.

Something really magical happens when you gel with your antenatal group, you make friends and you go through a life changing event together which binds you in such a special way. You have a group you can Whatsapp at 3am because you’re feeding the baby and wondering if anyone else is, or you really want to try this new baby yoga class but want to go with someone else, or you just want a cup of coffee with someone who’s going through the same thing as you.

I made my antenatal class friends over 10 years ago and we are all still very good friends, I count myself very very lucky to have made such amazing friendships. We have been through lots together, including the early days of leaky boobs, second and third pregnancies, the juggle of returning to work. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing group of Mums, we all learnt together what we were doing (well, it’s an ongoing process!!)

So when I designed the Calm Births course I tried to make really sure that it encouraged new friendships, the classes are informal and light hearted, with lots of group activities and breaks so that you can get to know each other (in a non-cheesy, cringey way!!) . I know a lot of people go for the traditional antenatal classes because ‘that’s where you make friends’ - but we’re proving that you can do that with hypnobirthing too. There is a choice!

Become a Hypnobirthing Teacher!

Are you a Midwife, former Midwife or experienced Doula? Or perhaps you are simply passionate about normal birth and empowering women? Are you looking for a way to make a living from teaching families how to achieve positive, calm births and see them get amazing results? 

Then join our team!!! 

I am so excited to share my Calm Births Course with new instructors, I have been teaching Hypnobirthing full time since leaving my role as a Midwife in the NHS in 2014. I have taught hundreds of families and have been utterly overwhelmed by the consistent positive births that are being achieved by them.  The Calm Births Course is a combination of essential practical tips and techniques for positive birth and Hypnotherapy techniques - think NCT meets Hypnobirthing and you'll have an idea.

If you would like to share this message and teach this practical, no nonsense course to families in your area and make a GOOD living from doing so then I will provide you with:

*Face to face training*

*Course Materials*

*Help & guidance in setting up and running your own business*

*Support designing & setting up your own website*

*A family of like-minded teachers like you*

*Regular meet-ups to help & support each other *

The great news is that you can earn £3k + per month teaching something that you love. YOU decide when you teach. YOU decide where you teach. YOU decide how you teach. YOU are your own boss, with the Calm Births family here to support you. 

Your course will include: 

An introduction to Hypnotherapy

Hypnobirthing origins and how it works

The Calm Births Course content

How to teach Hypnobirthing

An introduction on how to set up and market your business

You will leave your course with everything you need to feel like a Mum boss who can run her own Hypnobirthing business and be part of something amazing, changing the lives of families all around you. 

The investment for your training course is:

Midwives / Doulas / NCT Teachers : 3 day course from 9.30am to 1.30pm, £899

Existing Hypnobirthing Teachers: 1 day course from 9.30am to 1.30pm, £499

If you are new to birth education, an extra online course will be required before the full 3 day training - the cost in total will be £1350.

If you would like to find out more or bagsy yourself a place on a teacher training course have a look here for more info, or please email: hannah@calmbirths.uk.

I can't WAIT to work with you! 

xx

But I have a Toddler - how can I find time to do Hypnobirthing??!

So you have a two year old, you're pregnant with your second, and it's really, REALLY tiring. Remember the first time around when you could just nap when you needed to and maternity leave meant vegging on the sofa eating Haribo, watching daytime TV? Not so much the second time round and it's really bloody hard right? And then there's me telling you that you need to find time to relax? And you think 'really lady?!!'. 

Calm Births Hypnobirthing

I know lovely, I've been there too - when I was pregnant with my third baby, I was dealing with a 3 year old and a 2 year old and, quite frankly, it sucked a lot of the time. I was just permanently knackered and they were just permanently crazy. It was relentless. I literally forgot I was pregnant for a lot of the first two trimesters - one memorable occasion a lady at a toddler group asked me when I was due, and I actually asked her 'when's what due?' She must've thought I was batsh*t crazy as five seconds later I remembered I was pregnant and told her when I was due.  BUT. I knew that I had to do something, I knew that I had to make time for this poor little baby who hadn't asked to be the third down in the pecking order. I knew how important it was to create space, time and love just for him or her.

And so this is how I know that it can be done - you just have to be a bit more flexible with it. In my continuing experience a lot of the relaxation techniques are actually massively beneficial for parenting too. When the children are going crazy and you're feeling the stress rise up, you have the tools and techniques to make you feel calm - and by practising this you are giving your baby some chill time and love too. Win-Win!!! 

When pregnant with second (or subsequent) baby you often just need to fall into bed at 8pm, but there's nothing stopping you falling into bed plugged in to your Relaxation audio, and falling asleep to the positive self hypnosis tracks. 

I KNOW it's difficult, but I also know that it is so worth it and you and this little baby will benefit so much from you just squeezing in any relaxation practice that you can each day. You deserve it, and this little one does too. 

There are some really interesting studies around how what we do during pregnancy shapes who are babies become. There's a wonderful TED talk here, where a scientist explains several studies that have been undertaken which have determined that our babies whole brain structure is altered according to our behaviours during pregnancy! For example how we eat determines how their metabolism is formed, if they perceive that they are coming into a world of scarcity because Mummy isn't eating much, then their body will form so that they store calories when they eat to keep them going for longer. Amazing right?

I tell you this not to terrify you, but to remind you of how important it is to care for yourself, and to just take any minutes you can to sit quietly with your bump and relax each day.  Many of the relaxation and breathing techniques we learn in Hypnobirthing can be done whilst sitting with a toddler who's playing. Your toddler will just think you're Supermum being all calm and chilled - and I can pretty much guarantee you'll notice a change in their behaviour too. 

In practical terms, a Hypnobirthing course is 5 sessions - so this means either finding a babysitter for 5 two hour slots, or having the classes privately in your home after your other child or children are in bed. It is achievable, and it is definitely worth it, I promise you!