On Friday 26^th February, I will be joining an informal online event offering networking and business opportunities. This is being hosted by my local North Wiltshire MP, Danny Kruger, and three other women who own and run businesses locally.

I would love you to join us for our discussion and there will be the opportunity to ask questions and network with likeminded people. The event takes place at 4pm this Friday via zoom. You can register for the event here. I look forward to seeing you there!

In order to have the best possible birth for you and your baby, the birth you have planned and the image you have in your heart and mind, you need to be sure that the choices you make in advance in order to achieve this are based on evidence and research.  It can be difficult to know where to turn to for good quality and­­­­­­­­ impartial facts, so we have created clear resource sheets (including induction of labour, breech birth and Group B Strep) to signpost you to all the best articles, websites and books to help you make informed choices about your pregnancy and baby’s birth.  These are fantastic resources for you to turn to for support if you feel stressed or under pressure.  Do use them.  They will make a positive difference to your experience.  We hope you find these useful.  Follow this link to find the subject area relevant to you. If there are any other topics you would find useful, please do contact us.

We are excited to share details of our 2020 Christmas Charity Giveaway!  

Kicks Count Charity 

This Christmas we are highlighting the Kicks Count charity.  The team at Kicks Count do an amazing job of highlighting the importance of monitoring your baby's movements.  Movements are a key sign of a baby's wellbeing and Kicks Count is the UK’s leading awareness campaign. Through education and awareness, they empower mums-to-be with knowledge about movements and give them the confidence to call their Maternity Unit if something doesn’t feel quite right. While Covid-19 continues to bring restrictions, encouraging mums to monitor their baby's movements, trust their instincts and contact their maternity unit if things just don't feel right, is more important than ever.

This week's competition is your chance to win the KGH Complete Birth Bundle! A treat for you or a friend.  The bundle includes:

• Free access to the KGH Online Parents' Course
• The Hypnobirthing Book by Katharine Graves
• KGH Birth Affirmation Cards
• Mandala Colouring Book - For Pregnancy & Birth
• and a KGH Happy Birth Day cotton Bag 

To enter, complete the form below. Good luck!

2021 New Year, New Career!

It's fair to say that 2020 has been a challenge.  Maybe 2021 is the year to make some changes to your own career?

Next year is a perfect time to up-skill in a new career, one which is flexible and can fit easily around your family. We invite you to join our growing team of KGHypnobirthing teachers.  No previous experience needed, just yourself and your enthusiasm to learn.

Would you like the chance to win a place on a Virtual Parents Course with Katharine?

As part of our 2020 KGH Advent Calendar, we are giving away a place on a Virtual Parents Course.

To enter, all you need to do is enter your Name, Email address, Phone number and Postal Address (so we can post out the Course Materials to you.)

The Jeremy Vine show on Radio Two yesterday highlighted the problem of women being pressurised into agreeing to a vaginal examination before their partners are allowed to be with them in hospital when they give birth.  This is not acceptable and we need to look very seriously at how our maternity services are functioning at the moment.  We know that birth workers are fully committed and caring, but is the system working effectively for women?  

You can listen to the show here.  The maternity discussion starts at 35.30 onwards.

Below are some extracts from an email I received this week from one of the mums I taught recently. It really highlights the awful situation woman are being put under right now:

I was delighted to hear that Sky News presenter, Sarah-Jane Mee and her partner Ben Richardson have welcomed a beautiful baby girl! I had the privilege of teaching KGHypnobirthing to Sarah-Jane and Ben.

We had planned to do this in their home, but when the Covid-19 pandemic meant she had to self-isolate at home, we caught up virtually via Zoom to teach her KGHypnobirthing! They remained wonderfully calm throughout her pregnancy and has been planning a homebirth with an independent midwife.  

At KGHypnobirthing we have been taking so many calls from worried pregnant women who are having to attend their antenatal visits without their partner and whose partner will only be allowed into the hospital for a short time when they give birth.  We have tools to relieve stress and build confidence, but that’s not the same as having the person you love by your side at this very special time.

I have come up with a solution.  Not as good as actually having your partner there, but an excellent and creative substitute – virtual antenatal appointments! 

This year, more than any other year, we want to acknowledge the amazing work of our midwives on International Day of the Midwife 2020.

In every KGHypnobirthing parents’ course, I stress to parents how fortunate they are to live in a country that has a strong, autonomous midwifery profession.  Because of our midwives we as a country are in the forefront of normality.