‘In late December, my husband James and I attended – with a considerable degree of scepticism – your Hypnobirthing course in Belgravia. We had absolutely no idea what to expect and were worried it would be a bit hippie for our liking. In fact, it changed our lives forever and I wanted to say a huge thank you for the epiphany you inspired in us.
On Sunday, March 2nd we welcomed to the world little Tomos, who arrived at 7:04pm weighing 8lb 1oz. Tom is heavenly and we are, predictably, crazy in love. But much more significantly – just a few months ago, I was one of those ridiculously well-educated but utterly-clueless-about-birth 21st-century, 30-something professional women who assumed I would march into hospital demanding an epidural and every single drug going. In fact, Tom was born with nothing more than a few sips of water and lucozade and the bath/birth pool to get us through a fairly arduous 16 hour of back labour with literally no respite between surges… No drugs or gas & air, no interventions, no stitches, no perineal tearing.. Just a lot of breathing, TOTAL faith in my body’s ancient wisdom and the perfect system that is already in place, and the spirit of you and Grantly Dick-Read guiding us through!
Of course I realise how lucky I was to go into labour spontaneously, four days after his ‘due’ date, and not have the pressure of the NHS induction clock bearing down on me – but I’m convinced that my utter faith & conviction that baby knows best and that nature would take the right course played a huge part in that too. I also did an NCT course to meet some local mothers, and of six young, healthy women, I was the ONLY one not to be induced or have a C-section. That must count for something!
You were absolutely instructive in making the impossible possible and inspiring me to go and read Grantly Dick-Read in the original as well as discover many other sources of enlightenment and positive thinking about birth as a miraculous natural non-medical event. So thank you from James, Tom and me, from the bottom of my heart. The positive changes in mental outlook you encouraged in me, and the way you taught us about things like the parasympathetic nervous system and so much more, are invaluable life lessons I will take forward far beyond the birth and parenthood.
I’ve already recommended you to many of my expectant friends, who recently came to your course, and there are more of my friends coming to one of your courses in April. I’ll always spread the word about the wonder of Hypnobirthing in general and you in particular.
THANK YOU.’ – Clemency
