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

Want to feel prepared 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 feel a mix of emotions – excitement, nervousness, stress, even anxiety. The good news is that preparing for the birth can ease your fears and build your confidence. Choosing the right childbirth course for you (and your partner) is key: it should give you practical knowledge about the physiology of birth, and tell you 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’re planning a vaginal birth, caesarean birth, waterbirth, home birth or something else, make sure your chosen course supports your wishes and preferences. How you 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 baby, your course should cover everything you need to know about your options and what to expect. If you’ve given birth before, you may prefer a refresher course – and you may also want to prepare older siblings for the arrival of their little brother or sister. Learning about childbirth can ease anxiety and help you make informed choices, but the wrong type of course can increase anxiety, so choose your course and its 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.

Can partners come along too, or is the course for birthing parents only? Which format would 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’d like to prepare at your own pace, my fully self-paced online childbirth preparation course includes hypnobirthing, mp3s and much, much more! You can read more about the BRAIN acronym in The BRAIN Acronym for Childbirth.

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, the UK maternity system is under huge strain. Induction, caesarean and assisted birth rates are rising – and so is the number of parents experiencing birth trauma.

What is birth trauma (postnatal PTSD)?

There are four main symptoms:

  • Avoidance: avoiding anything or anyone that reminds you of the trauma – for example, other parents with babies, or going to (or past) the place where you gave birth.
  • Re-experiencing: reliving the traumatic event through nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive memories that make you feel panicky or distressed.
  • Hypervigilance: feeling constantly on alert, jumpy and irritable, or worried that something bad will happen to your baby.
  • Low mood: feeling low and unhappy, or guilty and blaming yourself for your birth experience. You may also find it hard to remember parts of the birth.

Not everyone who has a traumatic experience develops PTSD, but it is a common response to trauma. It’s involuntary – you can’t help it, and it can’t be cured by “snapping out of it” or “focusing on the positive”.

Perhaps you’re reading this because your birth trauma is stopping you (and/or your partner) from trying for another baby? Or because people keep telling you to “snap out of it”? Or maybe you can’t sleep, or feel you can’t bond with your baby, because of your birth experience?

You are not alone. Your birth trauma is real. Research shows that around 4–5% of people who give birth develop PTSD – and fathers and partners can develop PTSD after witnessing a traumatic birth, too.

How can you get help with birth trauma?

The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) explains where and how to get help, including their peer support and how to access psychological support. You could talk to professionals such as:

  • your GP
  • your midwife
  • your health visitor
  • a counsellor

Or to people you trust, such as:

There may be families near you who have also experienced birth trauma and would be happy to share their experiences – the BTA can help you find local volunteers and peers.

Another wonderfully supportive option is Sheryl, the Healing Birth Doula, who offers online learning including her Birth Empowerment course.

Pregnant again after birth trauma?

If you’re pregnant again after a traumatic birth, here are some ideas to help you enjoy your pregnancy and start looking forward to meeting your baby.

There’s no quick fix, but there are plenty of options – and it’s important to talk to someone. A trauma-informed doula or hypnobirthing practitioner can work with you on what happened last time, help you find closure, and then help you plan for this new birth. A practitioner trained in the rewind technique (a gentle therapy for processing traumatic memories) may also help you heal.

In short:

  • work through your previous birth (for example, with the rewind technique)
  • acknowledge that it is in the past
  • find closure for your previous birth
  • acknowledge that this is a completely new baby and a 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 birth experience are shown in the image below. You may also find my post Pregnant again helpful.

Steps towards an empowered birth experience after birth trauma

My online course to help you prepare for your baby’s birth

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