"I Look Back and Can't Believe How Calm I Stayed"
"Hello! I just wanted to let you know that our little boy arrived safely on Tuesday morning at 6.41, 8lb5 and he is absolutely thriving and so unbelievably chilled! I was induced on Sunday with a 24hr pessary and they thought I may need further pessaries but they examined me the next day and I was dilated enough for them to break my waters! They took me down to delivery and broke them at around 11pm and the contractions intensified almost immediately! At this point I thought I would need an epidural but had diamorphe and just rolled on my birthing ball calmly with a good playlist on and by 2.30am I was fully dilated! I ended up needing the ventouse suction but I look back now and can’t believe how calm I stayed throughout the whole thing, no panic, no tears, no shouting just breathing and focusing! And I think all that may be what’s contributing to “A’s” complete relaxation! He is an absolute dream and I do put it all down to you!! Thank you so much for everything! I must admit I didn’t practice as much as I should have done but everything we discussed stayed with me! Xxx” - Francis
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Hello!
My name is Emily Sheppard, I am a KGHypnobirthing accredited teacher who has been teaching hypnobirthing for nearly 10 years. A mentored birth and postnatal Doula trained with Developing Doulas and a breastfeeding peer supporter with NCT.
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I am the mother of three wonderful sons. My two oldest, were born quickly and calmly at home using a birth pool and hypnobirthing as pain relief (I honestly didn't feel I needed anything further. I did ask for gas & air both times during transition (more about that on the course) though it was forgotten about 5 mins later and I knew I could do it) and I was looking forward to our third being born in the same way. Unfortunately, he had other plans, I went in with reduced movements at 36weeks in Sept 2021 and he was here less than 2 hours later after an emergency C-section under general anaesthetic. Needless to say it took me a while to come to terms with it though hypnobirthing helped me to stay calm throughout the whole process and made such a difference to the experience and recovery.
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I came to hypnobirthing on a parents course while pregnant with my first. I always knew I wanted a home birth and I was fairly confident about giving birth, but I had heard a few “horror” stories and so I wanted to ensure I fully prepared myself so I knew what to expect.
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Everything in the course made perfect sense and I loved taking the time out each day to relax knowing that it was going to help me achieve the calm, comfortable birth I wished for. And it worked!!!
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The course also opened my eyes as to how society in general perceived birth and to how the ‘system’ worked in the maternity care services and I was saddened by the facts that women often feel nervous or even scared about labour/birth when it should be one of the most exciting times of a womans life and that some women/birthing people do have a very negative experience of childbirth and this just didn’t sit well with me.
We all know that birth can deviate from our “ideal” but whichever path a birth takes, whether it be completely natural, an induced labour, instrumental birth or a C-section, it can be and should be a very positive experience, where the birthing person feels in control, is given all of the information and options and is supported in all her/their decisions.
These thoughts and feelings are what gave me the incentive to want to do more. To be able to inform and educate women and birthing families so they can empower themselves to achieve a birth experience that they will treasure for the rest of their lives is the reason why I love doing what I do and I am so privileged to be a part of their journey!
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I qualified as a teacher and began teaching Hypnobirthing in 2017 and I qualified as a mentored birth and post natal doula with Developing Doulas in 2021. I also qualified as a breastfeeding peer supporter in July 2022.
I offer KG Hypnobirthing and doula support services in North Lancashire, South Cumbria and North Yorkshire as well as further afield online via Zoom. I also volunteer for NCT as a breastfeeding peer supporter, running my local group as well as voluntarily running a local parent and toddler playgroup.
