Birth Right Hypnobirthing

23/04/2026

I've just launched my new website for Birth Right Hypnobirthing — and I'd love you to take a look!

I started teaching KGHypnobirthing in 2011 because of my own experience. I was a primary school teacher, I was terrified of giving birth, and I dragged my poor husband to a class after seeing a hypnobirthing in a video.

We came out completely different people.

If you're pregnant and feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or like birth is something that's just going to happen to you — I get it.

That's exactly where I was!

My next group course starts on 6 May in Pembrokeshire — four weekly sessions, small group.

Come and have a look: www.birthright-hypnobirthing.co.uk

Any questions, just drop me a message. 🌿

You've done the research. You've read the books, joined the groups, highlighted the studies. You know more about birth than most people ever will. And yet, at 9pm when the house goes quiet and you let yourself think about it — the fear is still there. That fear isn't a failing. It isn't ignorance....

13/04/2026

Have you been told you're a 'geriatric mum' and your options are limited in pregnancy and birth? Sometimes those recommendations aren't specific to you. .. sometimes the evidence to support those recommendations is limited. . . .you don't know what you don't know. . . .so take control. Do some reading, do a course, get a teacher. . . ask lots of questions.

Is the recommendation of induction for advanced maternal age truly based on sound evidence?

Or is it illogical when you break down and really look at the issues?

What do older women need to know about the evidence in this area?

We hear from more and more women who are told that they need induction of labour because they are older.

This issue also arose when the NICE guideline on induction of labour was revised in 2021.

The recommendation to offer earlier induction to older women was not included in the final guideline.

But we know it’s still being offered.

As I wrote when the guideline was published:

“One of the most controversial aspects of the draft [NICE] guideline was the proposed recommendation that earlier induction be offered to certain groups of women, including older women, larger women and women who conceived via IVF or ARTs.

It is clear that some groups of women/babies have a slightly higher chance of stillbirth compared to other groups.

But data on this are often crude, the absolute risk may not be that high and we often have no trial evidence to show whether or not induction of labour would make a difference.” (Wickham 2021).

I’ve written more about induction for advanced maternal age in two of my books.

Those are Inducing Labour: making informed decisions and In Your Own Time: how western medicine controls that start of labour and why this needs to stop.

I also have a blog post on induction for advanced maternal age.

Find it at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-for-advanced-maternal-age/

I hope you’ll find it useful.

If you do, you can support my work by buying my books and recommending them to others.

And by the way, there’s one thing we don’t say often enough to older women who get pregnant:

Congratulations 🥰💕😍🎉

04/04/2026

A fantastic article published this month by the incredibly knowledgeable and respected midwife, Maureen Collins. Think hypnobirthing is all airy fairy? Think again!

Hypnobirthing More than Parent Education Authors Maureen Collins MSc, BA(Hons), RM, RN Midwifery Consultant Hypnobirthing Teacher/Trainer, UK Author DOI: https://doi.org/10.47363/JWHMR/2026(5)135 Keywords: Hypnobirthing Abstract Hypnobirthing is a combination of hypnotherapy techniques and birth pre...

27/03/2026

25/03/2026

One of the biggest myths about hypnobirthing is this:

“If you’re doing hypnobirthing, you’re not allowed pain relief.”

Let me be very clear.

That is absolute nonsense.

Hypnobirthing is about helping parents feel comfortable, however their birth unfolds.

Comfort might look like:

Breathing and relaxation techniques

Movement and positioning

Water

Gas and air

Opiates

An epidural

All of these are options.
All of them come with benefits and risks.
And none of them mean you’ve “failed”.

Comfort is personal.

Part of hypnobirthing is exploring:

What comfort means to you

Your beliefs around pain

The language you use about birth

How to make informed decisions if plans change

Your birth doesn’t have to look a certain way to be positive.

It just needs to feel right for you.

And feeling comfortable is deeply linked to something else…

✨ Communication

15/03/2026

Happy mother's day to all the mums, mums-to-be and mums in waiting! ###

13/03/2026

Let's bust a HUGE myth about hypnobirthing today.
The Stereotype
People think hypnobirthing means:

🕯️ Candles and whale sounds
🤫 Total silence
🧘‍♀️ Sitting cross-legged doing "ohmmm"
😌 Serene smile while breathing through contractions

The Reality
Some hypnobirths look like that. Many DON'T. And that's totally fine.
What We Actually Mean by "Calm"
INNER calm.
Not "what it looks like to everyone else" calm.
Inner Calm Comes From:

Knowing you're making the right choices for YOU
Feeling confident in your body
Being in control of your experience

What Inner Calm Looks Like in Practice
When you've got that deep inner calm, you can listen to what YOUR body needs.
And your body might tell you to:

🦁 ROAR like a lioness
💃 Dance through every surge
🔊 Make loud, powerful sounds
🏃‍♀️ Move however feels right..or yes, breathe quietly if that's your jam

There's No "Right Way" to Birth
Loud? Valid.
Quiet? Valid.
Somewhere in between? Also valid.
The goal isn't to look calm to everyone else. The goal is to FEEL calm inside so you can trust your body and do your thing.
Your Birth, Your Volume Control 🔊
Some people use hypnobirthing and look zen AF to outsiders. Cool for them!
But that's not the measuring stick.
Your success = Staying connected to YOUR body, however that looks.

24/02/2026

The 7 C's of Hypnobirthing #3: CONFIDENCE

You know you have choices. But do you have the confidence to find out what they are and actually choose?

The Three Types of Confidence:

1. Confidence in Your Body

Your body took TWO CELLS and built an entire human. Without you consciously directing which bit becomes a toenail or a nostril.
Your body doesn't get to labour and suddenly go "Oh sh**, what now?" It's got this.

2. Confidence to Ask Questions

Talking to people in white coats makes our brain go: "Don't be rude! Don't look stupid!"

Reality check: You didn't train as a midwife or doctor. Asking questions isn't rude - it's smart.

3. Confidence in Your Caregivers

Studies prove it: When you have caregivers who actually get you, who listen, who know you - outcomes are better.

You deserve someone who supports YOUR vision and helps you achieve what YOU want.

When you've got all three? You can be calm. (More on that next time!)

💙

Want to learn more and prepare for the best birth? There is still a space on my March course, and a couple on my April one. Book one now!