Category: Birth Trauma

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5 Things to look for when choosing your childbirth education

5 things to look for when choosing your childbirth education

You want to be prepared to for the birth of your baby or babies. Here are 5 Things to look for when choosing your childbirth education!

As the birth of your baby approaches, you may have a lot of questions. What does a contraction wave feel like? How will I know when to call the midwife? What kind of breathing techniques can I use? How do I know when it is time to push?

You may also experience a range of emotions such as excitement, nervousness, stress, and even anxiety. The good news are, you can ease your fears and gain confidence in birthing your child when you prepare for the birth of your child. Choosing the right type of childbirth course for you (and your partner) is crucial. Your childbirth preparation course should give you practical knowledge about the physiology of birth as well as where to find practical and emotional support.

5 Things to look for when choosing your childbirth education

1. Does the course agree with your idea on childbirth?

Whether you are you planning for a vaginal birth, caesarean birth, waterbirth, homebirth, etc… you want to ensure that your chosen childbirth education course supports your wishes and preferences. How you choose to give birth is up to you.

Knowing the general philosophy of the birth course you are considering is essential. The techniques that you’ll be learning should be something that you can see yourself doing and something that you believe in. The techniques should support you to achieve the birth you are aiming for.

2. Which topics are covered during the course?

If this is your first birth experience, your childbirth preparation course should cover everything your need to know about your options and what to expect. If you have given birth before, then you may wish to choose a refresher course for you. You may also wish to prepare the older sibling(s) for the birth of their little brother or sister. Learning the about childbirth may lessen your anxiety and help you make informed choices when birthing your baby. Choosing the wrong type of course for you may increase anxieties, so choose your childbirth course and their leader carefully.

3. Who created the course?

Who created the childbirth preparation course? Are they a medical professional or a teacher? Are they an expert in childbirth education? Check their certifications and experience! You want the person and organisation offering your childbirth preparation course to be established and reputable. Ask them to show you proof of their qualification(s).

4. What format is the course in?

Check the format of the course. You may prefer a course which focuses on the birth only, or one that includes practical baby care. If you are interested in hypnobirthing, does the course include hypnobirthing or maybe you prefer a stand-alone hypnobirthing course.

Are partners also coming to the classes or learn anything during the course or is the course for mothers/birthing folks only? Which format do you prefer?

5. Practical things to consider

  • Where and when is the course held? Are the dates, time and venue convenient for you?
  • What is your budget? What are your options at your budget?
  • For an in-person course
    • is there parking available or is it easily accessible via public transport?
    • Is the venue clean and spacious?
    • What are the chair/seating arrangements like? Do you want/need to bring a birthing ball, cushions etc.?
    • Are refreshments included?
    • Accessibility of the venue (where needed)
  • For an online course
    • are you confident in using the platform the course is being offered on?
    • is it a live course or has live elements or is it fully self-paced? – for live elements: are they recorded? If not can you make all the sessions?
    • Is your internet connection reliable?
    • Have you got a pc or laptop to access the course on? This will make your online course a more positive experience.
    • Have I got a comfortable (seating) setup where I can join the online childbirth preparation course?

What type/style of childbirth preparation course you choose is entirely up to you! Use your B.R.A.I.N. acronym when choosing the right course for you:

Brain acronym

What are the benefits, risks (or repercussion), alternatives (for each option)? Trust your gut, your intuition. And think about how you might feel if you do nothing, i.e. you don’t choose a childbirth preparation course?

If you are looking for a childbirth preparation course (1:1) in Nottinghamshire, check out my offers. I also have a fully self-paced online course for just £35. Including hypnobirthing, mp3s and much, much more!

Online Birth Preparation Course only £35!

Please also check out my online course! No videos, just text and images to learn in your own time. Includes hypnobirthing mp3s, scripts, workbook, handouts, infographics and much more! Lots and lots of information at your fingertips! Includes:

  • hypnobirthing mp3s
  • hypnobirthing scripts
  • written information
  • infographics and other imagery
  • printable handouts
  • printable workbook/journal
Enrol now

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Birth Trauma is real!

Your birth trauma is real. Sadly, we live in a country (UK) where the maternity system is broken. Induction, Caesarean birth and assisted birth rates are rising, and so is the number of parents who are experiencing birth trauma.

What is Birth Trauma or postnatal PTSD?

There are four main symptoms:

  • Avoiding anything or anyone that reminds you of the trauma. This could be avoiding other parents with babies, or going to or driving/walking past the place you gave birth.
  • Re-experiencing the traumatic event through nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive memories which make you feel panicky or distressed.
  • Feeling hypervigilant which means that you are constantly alert, jumpy and irritable. You are worried that something bad may happen to your baby.
  • Feeling low and unhappy. Or maybe feeling guilty and blame yourself for your traumatic birth experience. You may also have difficulty remembering parts of your birth experience.

Not everyone who has had a traumatic experience suffers from PTSD. Whenever we experiencing a trauma, PTSD is a common response. It is involuntary, you cannot help it. It cannot be cured by “snapping out of it” or “focusing on the positive”.

Maybe you are reading this because your birth trauma is preventing you (and/or your partner) from trying for another baby? Or are you reading this because some people tell you to “snap out of it”? Or maybe, you cannot sleep or feel you cannot love your baby because of your traumatic birth experience?

You are not alone! Your birth trauma is real. Research shows that about 4-5% of women/parents who give birth develop PTSD. Fathers and partners can develop PTSD as a result of witnessing a traumatic birth, too.

How can you help yourself and others to overcome birth trauma?

Have a look at the Birth Trauma Association (BTA) there are many examples on where and how to get help, including their support group or getting psychological help. Talk to professionals such as

  • Your GP
  • Your midwife
  • Your health visitor
  • A counsellor

Or talk to non-professionals such as

There may be families in your area who have experienced birth trauma, too and are happy to talk to you about your and their experience. The BTA has a forum where you can ask for local volunteers or peers.

Another wonderfully supportive option is Sheryl aka The Healing Birth Doula. If you are lucky enough to be local to her, then you can access her in-person support and learning. However, she also offers online learning including an online course.

Pregnant again after birth trauma?

If you are here because you are pregnant again after experiencing birth trauma, here are some suggestions on how to help you enjoy your pregnancy and start to look forward to the birth of your baby.

Although there is no “quick fix” for you there are plenty of options. It is important that you talk to someone. Maybe a doula or hypnobirthing practitioner would be the most helpful. They can work with you on what happened during your previous birth, help you get closure to be then ready to move on and plan this new birth experience.

To access a practitioners who is trained in the 3-step-rewind technique can also help you heal.

In short,

  • work through previous birth (3-step-rewind technique)
  • acknowledge it is in the past
  • find closure for the previuos birth
  • acknowledge this is a completely new baby and new experience
  • start writing down your birth preferences and what if ideas
  • start to look forward to your new birth experience

Your steps towards an empowered or dream birth experience are shown in the image below.

My online course to help you prepare for the birth of your baby!

Please also check out my online course! No videos, just text and images to learn in your own time. Includes hypnobirthing mp3s, scripts, workbook, handouts, infographics and much more! Lots and lots of information at your fingertips! Includes:

  • hypnobirthing mp3s
  • hypnobirthing scripts
  • written information
  • infographics and other imagery
  • printable handouts
  • printable workbook/journal
Enroll now