Danielle Kennedy – Cheshire Midwives

I am now 31 weeks pregnant and I took part in Danielle’s hypnobirthing course in January. It was on in the evening, one day a week (which worked brilliantly around my hectic work schedule) and was also at Danielle’s house, which made me feel more comfortable and at ease.

I was unsure what to expect from the classes with it being my first pregnancy but I am so pleased I went! There were only 3 couples in the group so it was intimate and relaxed from the get go. I also ended up swapping contact details with the others at the end of the course (but there was no pressure to!) so it’s nice to be able to share stories and experiences with people due around the same time.

Danielle balanced the sessions perfectly. We went through bits of hypnobirthing in every session, but it wasn’t at all what i expected. I had the idea that it would be all deep breathing, serious and a bit hippy! But that wasn’t the case at all. Danielle did some scripts with us to help focus the mind and empower the body. The breathing techniques were extremely helpful and Danielle clearly explained the physiology of how breathing works in labour. This gave me great knowledge and preparation for what to expect and what to do when the time comes.

Lots of information and facts followed over the next sessions. Basic things were covered, such as what is/isn’t normal, what to do to get more comfy, who to contact if any questions or issues (I was pleased about this as I hadn’t really received any information from my midwife) and any queries we had were answered too. Then we went into more detail about the stages of labour, pain relief, intervention, and what to expect in hospital (take notes down – there is a lot to remember and I’ve reread my notes a few times already for clarity!) We went through birth plans and what to take with you to hospital when the time comes (and again, there were things I wouldn’t have thought of!) The things I learnt here were invaluable and I’m pleased to say I’m now feeling calm and excited to bring our baby into the world.

We finally briefly covered what happens after your baby is born. This was great too, as no one really mentions this! So we learnt about vitamin K, skin to skin, cutting the cord, and the Golden Hour. And also the normal things to expect from a newborn, such as the mucus they can excrete.

All in all, the knowledge and understanding I have gained of pregnancy and labour is indispensable. Even if you have completely different ideas/wishes to others on the course, it is irrelevant. There was no right or wrong. Danielle made us feel as parents should – that you know from instinct what is important for you and your baby. She involved partners, gave them encouragement and confidence, and made them so much a vital part of it all which is so important. I would highly recommend this course with Danielle and hope that all parents to be get the same feeling of contentment and confidence that we have gotten from it. My partner enjoyed it just as equally as me, he knows what to do and how to be there to help and support me which also fills me with confidence. Thanks Danielle, we look forward to sharing our birth story with you.

Bryony-anne Hamdy  recommends Cheshire Midwives.

25 January at 23:14 ·   

Firstly I just want to say thank you to you Danielle for everything you did in the run up to the arrival of my daughter. From the very first meeting you put my mind at ease, and as a new mum I was worried about everything. Everything!! 

You were always willing to take a call and always answered my calls. You never once made me feel like I was asking a stupid question and your approach was so reassuring that I never felt shy to ask. 

The meetings we had to discuss my birth plan, you explained everything in detail and helped me understand what choices were available to me, you didnt sway my decision at all to one direction or another about each step of my plan. 

Once I has decided I wanted a home water birth you discussed everything involving it and introduced me to Hypnobirthing. This was completely new concept to both me and my partner, and I’ll be honest, in the beginning I was very suspicious that childbirth could be done and controlled by nothing but my own mind!! 

You advised me to research and provided details about classes being held, which my husband and I both took… and I’m so so grateful for the Information because there was so much I didnt know still about the in depth process, even after asking a billion questions and witnessing my nieces birth! 

After our hypnobirthing class I felt completely convinced and decide this was my plan. Hypnobirthing water birth at home became my dream goal for the calm serene birth. 

You helped me make it possible. To follow my plan to the letter. You gave me confidence to know i was in control of this process. My decision, my body, my birth plan. I never once during my pregnancy and birth felt out of control or violated in any way. You let me be the guide for what I wanted and when. 

I still remember clearly when you walked into my bathroom and i was in the middle of a contraction, using the counting method, counting down from 60 to 0 which you taught me and the controlled breathing helped me so much. I remember the feeling of panic and telling you “I cant do this, I need drugs!” You were calm and told me “remember your breathing” and like a super hero I took back control of the pain. The breathing methods only, I would never have believed it possible! 

The phrase “your body is built for this, it wont give you a baby you cant handle” still sits with me. 

During the labor period you gave me confidence in myself. I was not touched to check my centimetre dilation, you listened to me and my body. The trust you had in my body gave me trust in myself. I was calm, and controlled. My breathing, the counting, understanding the feelings and what was happening to my baby and body. I remember the rocking feeling of her coming down and stretching me. I felt her turn after her head was out and I knew exactly in my mind what was happening. The knowledge of each step took away my fear and gave me control over the birth of my child. 

I remember the instructions you gave about pushing when I felt the urge and not just pushing would help prevent tearing, and again remain in control of my birth. So when i did this and listened to my body, pausing and letting my body stretch (the knowledge of knowing what was happening at each stage again) I welcomed my baby into this world with nothing more than a graze. How I did this with nothing but a little gas and air and mind control, and breathing techniques was down to your guidance and confidence in my own abilities because without you I would not have done it this way at all, and I’m beyond grateful that this method was introduced to me. I have my birth on a video and I honestly cannot believe how quiet and calm the whole thing is! 

I plan to do the exact same way with any other children I have, because I know I can do it, because you taught me how. 

Hypnobirthing is a fantastic method and reading about it sounds amazing, but to have someone who also believes in this method and teaches you “knowledge is power” is an amazing gift that all pregnant women should be introduced to. 

Thank you, Danielle for all of it xx

My wife and I were on Danielles’s most recent hypnobirthing course and it was absolutely brilliant. It was fantastic to have access to Danielle’s enormous wealth of experience and we feel so much more knowledgeable and empowered having done the course. It was great to discover what I can do during the labour as my wife’s birth partner and I now feel as though I can play an active role in the birth, not just sit on the sidelines getting in everyone’s way, which was my perception before doing the course! I highly recommend that all couples that are expecting a baby do this course and can’t thank Danielle enough.

Danielle is brilliant! My husband and I were unsure about hypnobirthing before doing the course but are now complete converts! Danielle is so knowledgeable and friendly but also non-judgemental and has given us so much confidence to make sure our experience and the decisions we make will be right for us. For me, labour is now a part of the journey I can look forward to rather than dread – 

I can’t recommend Danielle and her hypnobirthing course highly enough. I had no idea what to expect before starting the course but I am so glad we did it. Danielle ran the course from her house and there were three couples in the group. The environment was very cosy and relaxed. I picked up a lot of information and feel much more prepared. From not knowing what to expect or, more importantly, what to do when my wife goes into labour, I now feel confident I will be useful when the time comes and will be able to be a calming influence on my wife.

My husband and I took the hypnobirthing course lead by Danielle in January and we are so pleased we did. As someone who was absolutely terrified about the prospect of giving birth I can now say I am much more prepared and confident. 

Hypnobirthing is a great way of teaching you how to stay calm and relaxed.

Danielle is extremely knowledgeable and great at explaining everything. She also makes you feel really relaxed and that no question is stupid and you should always ask. We did the course in a group session with 2 other couples and exchanged numbers at the end and I cannot wait to hear their birth stories.

I would definitely recommend Danielle to any expecting parents

Danielle is fantastic – that’s all you need to know! Seriously, whatever type of birth you’re planning or have had, Danielle is so knowledgable, respectful and warm. She wholeheartedly believes in your having all the info at your disposal to make the right decision for you, and never makes you feel silly for asking questions.

I had two straightforward, uncomplicated hospital births, then considered a home birth for my 3rd. Being “geriatric” by this time, some of the official info surrounding home birth can be scary and off-putting. Danielle talked us (including hubby) through everything, putting risk factors into perspective and never leading us, but simply providing info and reassurance where necessary. 

We had the loveliest home birth and are so grateful. I can wholeheartedly recommend hypnobirthing, as can hubby, who slept blissfully through several hours of my labour, due to my being so calm! Danielle is utterly professional but feels like a friend, and we can’t thank her enough.