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Michelle Pearson – Stroud Valleys Hypnobirthing

Hello! My name is Michelle and I am have been teaching Hypnobirthing since 2006. In 2022 I started teaching in beautiful Stroud, Gloucestershire after 15 years teaching in Hackney, East London.  I have supported hundreds of couples to have a more positive and enjoyable birth experience.  Please see some of my testimonials below and find out more at https://stroudvalleyshypnobirthing.co.uk/

Location

My name is Michelle Pearson, I am based in Stroud, Gloucestershire and became a fully qualified Hypnobirthing Practitioner in 2006,  training originally with the American Mongan Method and then updated my training with the more UK based KGHypnobirthing.  I have helped hundreds of couples achieve a calm, comfortable and gentle birth for themselves and their babies in East London and have now been teaching in the Stroud Valleys since 2022.

I became interested in birth after having my own two children, Ella and George who are now very much grown-ups! My first pregnancy was thrilling, I loved being pregnant and feeling all the amazing changes taking place in my body. Ella’s birth was at home, eight hours long and although a good experience, compared to many, it was intense from the start and I didn’t really have the understanding or the tools to support myself and so it took a long time to recover physically and emotionally. Leading up to my second birth I felt more fearful – would I be able to do it again?  It was another home birth but this time much quicker and with my body’s previous birthing experience, I was able to let go and feel the power of my body. I felt exhilarated and so proud of myself after George’s birth.

At that time, I began to realise how fearful we as women can become as we get closer to giving birth. I wanted to find a way of helping more women feel empowered and confident in their body’s natural ability. I began to dream of working in the birthing world and to be able to help women, their partners and babies have a more positive experience at this life changing time. (my Grandmother was a midwife in India – perhaps it’s in my genes!)

One day, whilst working in my job as a Production Manager on a women’s magazine, a chance conversation with a colleague and friend, led me to find out about Hypnobirthing. It’s philosophy and common sense approach reflected my own instinctive feelings of how birth could be and soon after I found myself training to become a Hypnobirthing Practitioner. Since then I have helped hundreds of couples have calm, confident, positive birth experiences.

I am committed to continuously updating my skills by attending birth workshops, courses and lectures.  I have also trained with Michel Odent known for his role in promoting natural birth and water birth.  I completed my Doula training with ‘Developing Doulas’ in 2013 and became a recognised Birth Doula with Doula UK. However, I am not currently work as a Doula. I hold a Practitioner Diploma in Integrative Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy and a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Hypnosis and NLP.

Paloma – 1st baby

Going to Michelle’s hypnobirthing was the single best thing we’ve done in preparation for our birth. I cannot recommend these sessions highly enough. I’d done lots of reading about hypnobirthing and thought perhaps I’d ‘got it all’ already… but nothing compares to the nurturing, supportive, joyful space Michelle facilitates. After working with her- I feel transformed! I can honestly say I have no fear and feel excited and relaxed about going into labour! Michelle takes you on a life affirming journey of wholeheartedly respecting and trusting your body, connecting ever more deeply to the new soul inside you, and provides a tool kit for you and your birth partner to take on the birth process come what may with a sense of empowerment and confidence. These sessions were the highlight of our week, and we left every session elated, glowing, and increasingly ready for the adventure of parenthood. I will never forget Michelle’s kindness, wisdom, and humour and the positive impact it has had on our new family.

Becky – 1st baby
Michelle gave us the tools to feel empowered as we navigated our birthing journey. Whilst we didn’t end up with plan A, the knowledge that we gained from Michelle’s hypnobirthing course meant we had a really positive experience. When comparing hypnobirthing preparation stories with others, attending an in-person course with a reputable instructor such as Michelle definitely prepares one well. So if it’s within financial reach, then I’d say it could be the best money you spend. We also slept very well during pregnancy thanks to the relaxations and still call on them now, think we will forever more! Thanks so so much Michelle!
Liam – 1st baby

Life changing. Thank you Michelle, you are an incredible teacher and holder of space. I came into this pretty sceptical about hypnosis, I’d had a useless experience in the past, but I was open to learning…

I can’t believe how much I learnt. If only I’d been hypnotized/ taken through a guided meditation at school. Maybe I’d have actually learnt something there. The homework tasks we were set have brought my wife and I closer and closer together and given us tons of tools to help prepare. We can’t wait for labour and the birthing process to begin.

I was sceptical, and now I’m a total convert. I think i might still be happily hypnotized whilst writing this… long may it continue. On a serious note, birthing partners will feel totally empowered by this course and given practical tasks to perform to help your partner prepare in the best possible way. I was kinda googling and guess what i could do to help before this course came along. Everyone preparing to have a baby should do this course.

Also, final thing, honestly… the setting! The views! Perfect!

Tessa – 1st baby

I am so glad that we chose Michelle for our Hypnobirthing course.  Michelle made us feel so welcome and at ease, and I loved how she didn’t focus just on the mothers but emphasised the importance of the role of the birth partners too. The sessions became the highlight of our week, and we learnt a lot about the physiology of labour and the relaxation techniques which would help us. Thank you so much Michelle!

Iona – 1st Baby

Just finished my hypnobirthing course with Michelle, and so glad I signed up to it! Feeling way more reassured & confident with the birth, with Michelle’s guidance. Really appreciate her patience, calm demeanour and her ability to explain things clearly. Enjoyed our sessions, was informative and loved all the relaxation exercises. Covered quite a lot, yet it felt easily digestible. Recommend this course with Michelle!

Greeshma – 1st baby

Initially both my husband and I were doubtful about the effectiveness of this form of childbirth. After reading the literature and watching various video clips we began to open up to the concept.

I met Michelle when I was expecting my first baby. She attended my home regularly for one on one Hypnobirthing classes. In very little time Michelle managed to help me connect with my unborn baby and help me understand my body and it’s changes during childbirth. She helped to relax me and prepare me for the wonderfully natural process of bringing a baby into the world with minimal fuss and strain.

So when I felt my first surge, I knew what to do. I went on for almost 12 hours in peace whilst practicing the techniques Michelle had taught me. I didn’t even tell my husband that I was in labour until much later.

When the time came for me to attend the birthing unit, my midwife was surprised at my composure and control. I was left to practice my learned techniques. With the support of my husband and midwives I delivered my baby relatively comfortably and naturally a few hours later.

I would highly recommend Michelle to anyone who is interested in engaging with the hypnobirthing technique.

Caspar & Jenny – 2nd baby

Thank you so much for the HypnoBirthing sessions, we had an extraordinarily good birth experience, everything just happened as we had planned and visualised (even the birth pool at Homerton was available!). We couldn’t have done it without you, your exercises kept Jenny in a relaxed state throughout, and she didn’t need any pain relief!

As for myself I felt much more involved this time round and used the breathing exercises to keep calm too. I also felt much more informed and understood what was going on.

I don’t think Jen would describe it as pain-free, but look at the expression on her face just half an hour after the baby was born!! I think you will agree she looks pretty relaxed…and the baby has been very calm so far.

Elena – 2nd baby

After a traumatic first birth experience, a friend recommended Michelle and Hypnobirthing for our second pregnancy.

I am so pleased that we did it! Thanks to Michelle and her course, our son’s arrival was an incredibly positive experience. I felt calm and in control all throughout the labour and birth and had the confidence to just let my body get on with doing its job without trying to second guess or panic about things. I am sure that having a drug-free birth enabled immediate and intense bonding with our baby.

The whole ethos of positivity that surrounded our son’s birth was carried over into our early days as parents, and we would not hesitate to recommend the course to anyone. In fact, I look forward to drawing on our Hypnobirthing experience with our next baby due in a few weeks’ time!

Fiona & Daiman – 2nd baby

I was well into my second pregnancy when I heard about Michelle. I had a traumatic emergency c-section with my first child and was desperate not to repeat the experience. Having a natural birth after a c-section is known as a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarian) and I had met another VBAC mother who recommended Michelle and Hypnobirthing.

Michelle was the best thing that could have happened to us. She encouraged us to visualise the birth as a joyful, natural process, and to help me to release my fears about a medicalised birth.

When my son was 10 days past due-date, Michelle gave us both the strength to resist the doctor’s pressure to have a c-section. Obi was born naturally two days later.

Thanks to the visualisation and breathing practice, I had no need for any intervention or drugs. I felt no pressure to ‘do’ the birth in any other way than the way my body and the baby wanted it.

Michelle also really helped my husband, too. His role as my supporter and advocate took all the external stresses out of my consciousness. In the hospital, he made sure the lights were dimmed, asked everyone to speak in low voices and ensured that all medical discussions about my ‘condition’ were held outside the room, so I could focus on relaxing and feeling what my body and our son was doing.

I have recommended Michelle to all of my friends who are pregnant, and everyone who has done her HypnoBirthing course is completely evangelical about her!

Reena & Anton – 3rd baby

One of my friends recommended I speak to Michelle after having two quite traumatic births. Personally I felt every time I went into hospital to have a baby things went wrong but I knew that I was capable of having a drug free birth. So when I got pregnant for the third time I felt I needed help with my confidence and management of the dreaded people at the hospital.

Michelle helped me and my husband to relax and really understand how birth is actually meant to be. She took us through the physiological understanding of birth and relaxation techniques to get you from labour to birth. She was kind and always understanding especially when me and my hubby would burst into hysterics.

Ultimately she gave me the techniques and confidence to have an amazing drug free birth. And my husband had the coaching needed to be a great birth partner.

 

PLEASE SEE MY WEBSITE FOR AN UP TO DATE LIST OF SCHEDULED GROUP COURSES

https://stroudvalleyshypnobirthing.co.uk

Group classes are taught in groups of up to 3 couples at my home in Selsley, Stroud. My group courses usually run on Weekday evenings @ 7pm. I also teach private classes in the comfort of your own home.

Group rate: £175 per couple

Private rate: £295

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