Session 1: The Initial Consultation

• Brief history of the pregnancy and discussion of the needs of the mother and father-to-be
• Discuss expectations of the birth - how hypnosis can meet these expectations
• Begin to challenge and change negative images/expectations
• Booking first session (to take place around week 34), and ...
• Decide whether I am the right therapist for you & whether this is the right therapy for you both (it is important that you feel relaxed with me and have confidence in my abilities)

Session 2: The Joint relaxation session (Mother & Father-to-be)

To include:

• Confidence and self-esteem boosting
• Bonding and ongoing childcare
• Calming and relaxing
• Creation of positive expectations to replace the negative
• To take away, for home practice ...
• Relaxation CD for use by both the mother and the father-to-be

(This CD can also be used with the baby after the birth for family relaxation!)

Session 3: For Mother-to-be

To include:

• Learning self-hypnosis, discomfort management, anaesthesia techniques and the creation/use of a "safe place."
• Lesson in 'self-hypnosis'
• Lesson in discomfort management (pain control) and anaesthesia (numbing) techniques
• Creation of a 'safe place' for relaxation and distraction up to and including the birth

To take away for home practice ...

• Background music CD
• Notes and information on discomfort management, anaesthesia and safe place

Session 4: For Mother-to-be ... Pre-Childbirth Session

• Techniques to enhance a relaxed birth (with flexibility to cover any possible outcome and potential changes to the birth plan) including:
• Ability to focus, discuss and make choices during childbirth
• Opening eyes during the birth
• Immediate bonding and feeling really good
• Fast and easy recovery
• Ego boosting and self confidence after the birth

The mother will take away with her ...

• Pre-childbirth CD for home practice, and ...

Don’t worry about these sessions tiring you out - we will do them in small chunks so ensure you are relaxed and enjoying the whole experience. As you can see, the 'Relaxed Childbirth Programme' is both thorough in its pre-preparation for the birth and well thought out so the expectant mother and father can give themselves the best and most enjoyable opportunity of enjoying a natural birth with the least amount of discomfort.

Session 5: For Father-to-be ... Phobia/Fear Busting Session [Optional]

For those fathers who may experience nerves prior to the birth, which might affect their enjoyment as well as reduce the support for the Mother! Relaxation session with hypnosis Phobia/Fear removal with specific techniques designed to make the birth enjoyable