HypnoBirthing is suitable for first time mums and mums who've had kids before.

We help women who are scared of birth because they've never done it before, who are anxious because of a bad experience last time, or who just want a calmer, easier, more natural birth experience.

If you're pregnant, and looking for an alternative to the over-medicalised, pain-is-inevitable, "gimme all the drugs" mindset, then HypnoBirthing is for you.

Somewhere between 25-30 weeks is ideal, as the success of the course is strongly linked to how much practice you do. However, provided you can finish the course before you give birth, it's still going to help.

Hypnobirthing has been taught to a couple a week before they had there baby and it worked.

No. There are many factors that can affect a birth, some of which are outside our control.

Also, like any childbirth preparation class, the success of the techniques is related to the amount of practice you put in.

However, as a guide, we find that around 65-70% of HypnoBirthing mums don't need any form of pain relief. Nearly all the mums in this category simply don't experience any pain - just pressure.

Around a further 20-25% only require something mild, like gas and air.

The remaining 5-10% usually fall into what we call 'special circumstances', where medical intervention is required. However, the HypnoBirthing mums still tell us that HypnoBirthing really helped - even if they were induced, or ended up with a caesarean.

The course is designed for running in groups (and many of our couples prefer the support and friends they make in a group),

but many people prefer to take a private course as they have more privacy with greater flexability when planning their sessions.

Yes - birthing companions are a very important part of HypnoBirthing success.

However, if your birth partner cannot attend all the classes and/or help you practice or attend the birth, your mother, sister or friend can also be your birthing companion.

Whoever you choose (and we strongly recommend it's the father if at all possible, as it helps build a strong relationship with the child), they must attend all the classes and the birth.