Yes is the simple answer to this.

I used hypnobirthing through all 4 of my births (including the miscarriage) and I highly advocate the use of it making my experiences so positive and calm.

To begin with, I used YouTube to start researching into it then I did a course with The Positive Birth Company in my first pregnancy and the tools from that stayed with me throughout all my experiences.

The best things I found most useful were:

• Breathe in for 4 – out for more.
• Lavender oil.
• Visualising.
• Positive affirmations.
• Dark room with fairy lights.
• Own music playlist.

Birth is a crazy phenomenon for women. It feels like you’re so close to death yet you’re bringing in new life into the world. 

I have been lucky that all 3 of my full term births were natural, with 2 being water births. By the 3rd experience I did start to treat birth like a sport in wanting to beat the time I did it with my 2nd (which I did by ONE whole minute!)

However, there is no right or wrong way to birth – the key is to make it out the other side alive with your baby. And to be honest, it is completely out of our control when a birth will happen. A baby comes when they’re meant to and sometimes that can be earlier than expected just as much as later. It’s an unpredictable minefield. 

The best advice I can give about birth is to go with your own flow. Trust your gut! If something does not feel right then say so – nothing is too dramatic or stupid. If the pain is unbearable – ask for help. 

I will share my birth stories on separate posts for those that are interested. Also, I’ll share the hypnobirthing methods I used across my births for anyone who wants some advice on that too.