Katharine was honoured to appear on BBC Woman's Hour today (7th September), and discussed Hypnobirthing with presenter Jenni Murray, Midwifery professor Soo Downe, and Hypnobirthing mother Michelle Ollie.  You can listen to a recording of that interview below:

Stream the podcast here:

{mp3}womanshour/BBCWomansHour-20160907-HypnobirthingExplained{/mp3}

Jenni: How justified are the claims that hypnobirthing will give you a calm delivery over which you have complete control. Soo Downe is Professor of Midwifery studies at the University of Central Lancashire and joins us from Blackburn, Michelle Ollie used the technique for the birth of her daughter 11 days ago, she is in Ipswich. And the voice you just heard belongs to Katharine Graves, the author of The Hypnobirthing Book.

Jenni: Katharine are you seriously saying a woman can choose the length of her labour, 8 hours, 3 hours or 2. Because if you can surely everyone would go for two.

Katharine: I didn’t say she has complete control because nobody can ever say how labour can pan out, but I am saying that her mental state will very much effect the length of her labour and what you focus on is very often what you get.

Jenni: Michelle, how in control of your labour did you feel using this technique?

Michelle: I felt pretty in control really, I felt more relaxed and was in a really good mental state which allowed me to zone out and focus on what was important. Obviously opening up and birthing my baby as quickly and calmly as possible. So I never thought I am going to do this in 2 hours or 3 hours because mine was a 12 hour labour but the time went so quickly because I was in the zone and I was in control and very relaxed so time was not a big thing on my mind.

It was with great excitment in the office that we were contacted by BBC Woman's Hour last week and were invited to go up to the studios to talk to them about KGHypnobirthing.  There has been a growing awareness in the main stream media recently and this is a real culmination of the hard work that has gone into spreading the word.  Thanks are due to our wonderful PR girl Lotte Daley and our whole team of KG Hypnobirthing teachers who keep the brand name flying and of course all those wonderful mums who share their inspirational hypnobirthing stories. 

Tune in on Wednesday 7th September between 10 and 11am. 

The details of the program can be found here. It will also be available as a podcast that you can stream after the live program.

If you are looking for a local teacher in your area please visit our hypnobirthing teachers directory.

OK! is featuring the lovely actress Paula Lane and her growing family in their latest magazine.  Paula and her husband Tom talk candidly about the recent birth of their daughter Penny and how KG Hypnobirthing made all the difference.

Katharine Graves; "I had the pleasure of teaching KG Hypnobirthing to Paula and her husband Tom Shaw in recent months.  After a traumatic first birth with Arthur they had decided to go to hospital for their second birth.  The course, which is a complete in-depth antenatal course, gave them all the knowledge and confidence they needed.  They practised regularly, opted for a home birth which research shows is usually the safest option, and the results speak for themselves."

In Paula's own words; ”A completely natural water birth.  What an experience.  I cannot thank you enough!”

Congratulations to the lovely Paula Lane and her husband Tom Shaw for the arrival of their second child.  Paula, well known for her role as Kylie Platt on Coronations Street has recently left the ‘street’ to concentrate some precious time with her growing family.

We are looking forward to hearing the full inside swoop on their birth experience but most of all getting a cuddle with the new bundle of joy.

Tom and Paula recently studied a KG Hypnobirthing course.  We love the tweet Tom put out after their baby arrived:

'#ItWorks!'

Thanks to all who sent lovely messages. Huge, great big thanks to Katharine Graves @hypnobirthing for her words of wisdom! #ItWorks!

— Tom Shaw (@SirTomShaw) July 28, 2016