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Hypnobirthing. Metodi pratici per migliorare il parto
THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOUR BIRTH BETTER. IT IS FOR EVERY WOMAN AND EVERY TYPE OF BIRTH.
AS FEATURED ON DRAGONS' DEN.
'Siobhan manages to completely demystify hypnobirthing, making it accessible and relevant to all women and all births. This book will be a complete game changer and I will be recommending it to mums-to-be from now on' Sarah Turner, author of The Unmumsy Mum
Expert hypnobirthing teacher and founder of The Positive Birth Company Siobhan Miller has made it her mission to change the way women around the world approach and experience birth. Through her teaching she seeks to educate and empower women - and their birth partners - so that they can enjoy amazing and positive birth experiences, however they choose to bring their babies into the world.
In this book, Siobhan debunks common myths about hypnobirthing and explains why she believes it can make every type of birth a better experience - from a water birth at home to an unplanned caesarean in theatre.
So, what is hypnobirthing? Essentially, it's a form of antenatal education, an approach to birth that is both evidence-based and logical. Hypnobirthing certainly doesn't involve being hypnotised; instead, it teaches you how your body works on a muscular and hormonal level when in labour and how you can use various relaxation techniques to ensure you are working with your body (rather than against it), making birth more efficient and comfortable.
Siobhan's advice and guidance will change your mindset and enable you to navigate your birth with practical tools that ensure you feel calm and in control throughout.
By the time you finish this book you'll feel relaxed, capable and genuinely excited about giving birth.
AS FEATURED ON DRAGONS' DEN.
'Siobhan manages to completely demystify hypnobirthing, making it accessible and relevant to all women and all births. This book will be a complete game changer and I will be recommending it to mums-to-be from now on' Sarah Turner, author of The Unmumsy Mum
Expert hypnobirthing teacher and founder of The Positive Birth Company Siobhan Miller has made it her mission to change the way women around the world approach and experience birth. Through her teaching she seeks to educate and empower women - and their birth partners - so that they can enjoy amazing and positive birth experiences, however they choose to bring their babies into the world.
In this book, Siobhan debunks common myths about hypnobirthing and explains why she believes it can make every type of birth a better experience - from a water birth at home to an unplanned caesarean in theatre.
So, what is hypnobirthing? Essentially, it's a form of antenatal education, an approach to birth that is both evidence-based and logical. Hypnobirthing certainly doesn't involve being hypnotised; instead, it teaches you how your body works on a muscular and hormonal level when in labour and how you can use various relaxation techniques to ensure you are working with your body (rather than against it), making birth more efficient and comfortable.
Siobhan's advice and guidance will change your mindset and enable you to navigate your birth with practical tools that ensure you feel calm and in control throughout.
By the time you finish this book you'll feel relaxed, capable and genuinely excited about giving birth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
May 16, 2021
Going to be zen AF in labour now 🧘♀️
January 2, 2021
Mixed feelings about this! Anything that helps me identify tension and learn how to relax is (I imagine) going to be a good thing, so this book does a good job of that. However it felt at times like the book was a bit disparaging of hospital staff and a bit too... entitled. Yes, it's our body/our labour etc, and the healthcare system has a duty to give you informed consent, but at the same time we have to put trust in the professionals who've spent years and years training for their job, and have years and years of experience. They know the evidence better than we do and are recommending things with a patient centered, evidence based approach. I'm not sure the book gave them credit for that and it felt like it was giving the impression you'd have to put up a fight to get a positive experience of birth.
But some really helpful relaxation tools in there, and an interesting read.
But some really helpful relaxation tools in there, and an interesting read.
April 12, 2021
There were some really good takeaways from this book, and I particularly liked the science behind the labour. I also enjoyed that it explained different birth types and so even if things don't go to plan, the relaxation techniques can be put to use e.g. staying calm for an unplanned caesarean and how you may want it to be.
As someone who enjoys yoga and have experience with breathing techniques for meditation etc, I can see this being useful. Obviously I won't know how useful for a few more weeks yet, though!
I must say, however, that I found some parts obnoxious and I would find myself incredibly self conscious telling medical professionals I want them to use the word 'surges' instead of contractions. Just as I would telling them to speak to my other half and not talk to me, who would surely just pass on what they're asking or saying anyway? I would therefore take some parts of this book with a pinch of salt!
The science and breathing techniques are useful, the 'I know better than you' attitude in parts seem less so.
As someone who enjoys yoga and have experience with breathing techniques for meditation etc, I can see this being useful. Obviously I won't know how useful for a few more weeks yet, though!
I must say, however, that I found some parts obnoxious and I would find myself incredibly self conscious telling medical professionals I want them to use the word 'surges' instead of contractions. Just as I would telling them to speak to my other half and not talk to me, who would surely just pass on what they're asking or saying anyway? I would therefore take some parts of this book with a pinch of salt!
The science and breathing techniques are useful, the 'I know better than you' attitude in parts seem less so.
November 21, 2023
I'm due to have a baby in the next two weeks. This book has some valuable information – breathing techniques, partner-assisted exercises, affirmations, and general birth education that can (hopefully) make for a positive birth experience. However, as promising as the initial birth biology 101 chapters were, Miller's perspective comes off overwhelmingly as anti-hospital propaganda. Boo!
Yes, of course, women who don't know any better are convinced that they need inductions sooner than they are comfortable with, and sure, many might agree to interventions they don't understand, but for the love of god, let's not get on our Western high horse and convince moms-to-be that the absence of white coats will inherently make their births connect them to the divine feminine.
People can get as crunchy as they want, myself having packed an essential oil to bring to the hospital, but no amount of woowoo affirmations is going to give a newborn baby the Hepatitis B vaccine. And no amount of elitist birth talk justifies feeling superior for refusing the privilege to give birth in a hospital when millions of women in developing countries would give anything for that level of care.
Yes, of course, women who don't know any better are convinced that they need inductions sooner than they are comfortable with, and sure, many might agree to interventions they don't understand, but for the love of god, let's not get on our Western high horse and convince moms-to-be that the absence of white coats will inherently make their births connect them to the divine feminine.
People can get as crunchy as they want, myself having packed an essential oil to bring to the hospital, but no amount of woowoo affirmations is going to give a newborn baby the Hepatitis B vaccine. And no amount of elitist birth talk justifies feeling superior for refusing the privilege to give birth in a hospital when millions of women in developing countries would give anything for that level of care.
August 24, 2023
I am all for wishing for a positive birth experience but I found this kind of excruciating to read. As others have mentioned, terms considered negative are replaced with words that are supposedly more positive e.g. they don’t use the term “contractions”, but instead use “surge.” I never found anything particularly negative about the word “contraction” and the arbitrary changing of jargon makes hypnotherapy feel quite culty.
Main takeaways from this book about hypnotherapy:
-Breathing is important and should be different in the up and down phases of labour (I knew this from my yoga teacher training)
-You should try and relax to promote oxytocin and avoid stress to reduce adrenaline
-your environment is important for this
-hypnobirthing is essentially relaxation methods pared with a spa-like environments and affirmations (recorded, read to you by a birthing partner from a script, or repeated in your head like mantras), to make you feel more empowered and in control
- a birth plan is useful for remembering preferences and a birthing partner can advocate for you when you can’t
I do think breathing and stress reduction are important for birth — the author shows a clear bias towards home birth though and is skeptical regarding interventions. I realise there’s some truth in what she says about things like forceps and episiotomy sometimes being the more cost effective option rather than what’s best for mother and baby, but I also know women who’ve tried hypnotherapy and still had very painful and long labours with interventions who felt they’d failed somehow because they didn’t relax enough.
A lot of the positive birth stories within (including the author’s own) emphasise they discovered hypnotherapy for a second pregnancy after a traumatic first birth. I’m wondering, given the stories I’ve heard, if a first birth isn’t typically more likely to be painful and traumatic, whether you do hypnobirthing or not.
Main takeaways from this book about hypnotherapy:
-Breathing is important and should be different in the up and down phases of labour (I knew this from my yoga teacher training)
-You should try and relax to promote oxytocin and avoid stress to reduce adrenaline
-your environment is important for this
-hypnobirthing is essentially relaxation methods pared with a spa-like environments and affirmations (recorded, read to you by a birthing partner from a script, or repeated in your head like mantras), to make you feel more empowered and in control
- a birth plan is useful for remembering preferences and a birthing partner can advocate for you when you can’t
I do think breathing and stress reduction are important for birth — the author shows a clear bias towards home birth though and is skeptical regarding interventions. I realise there’s some truth in what she says about things like forceps and episiotomy sometimes being the more cost effective option rather than what’s best for mother and baby, but I also know women who’ve tried hypnotherapy and still had very painful and long labours with interventions who felt they’d failed somehow because they didn’t relax enough.
A lot of the positive birth stories within (including the author’s own) emphasise they discovered hypnotherapy for a second pregnancy after a traumatic first birth. I’m wondering, given the stories I’ve heard, if a first birth isn’t typically more likely to be painful and traumatic, whether you do hypnobirthing or not.
May 23, 2025
POST BIRTH UPDATE
I stand by my previous write up: it’s great for
✅ Breathing techniques
✅ Relaxation techniques
But I would be wary about being given unrealistic expectations for labour, the attitude to hospital staff and the treatment of unmedicated births as being the only truly liberating form of giving birth.
* I gave birth in hospital. The chapter dealing with hospital births frames them as being more painful, that you are less likely to have a ‘natural’ birth (ie by having an epidural). She writes with the assumption that you will be forced to give birth in hospital (because you have no alternative presented), the staff will misinform you (that you will be asked for consent with full understanding of what is happening) and that the care is generic and incompassionate (you will have to fight at every stage for things like skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping etc). In my case, this could not be further from the truth— I received exceptional care, respectful, thorough and truly kind at all times. They made sure I fully understood what was happening, even asking me to confirm that I knew by explaining it back to them. I kept forgetting that this book was only published recently for a UK audience with the way it made standard NHS procedures sound like battles to be fought.
* I read the chapter on induction once I realised I would be having one. I agree with the sentiment of holding out initially— in many countries inductions aren’t offered until 42 weeks have passed, especially for first time mums. Some of the information in the book wasn’t correct (at least for me) and crucially lacked the NHS’ current preferred induction technique (balloon catheter). The induction chapter also didn’t prepare me that labour could look very different, in fact, the chapter implied that once induced, my labour would look the same as if I had spontaneously laboured.
* I did my best to include some of these techniques in my labour. Some did nothing for me. The breathing really helped, but only to a point. My body did its own thing, and no matter how well I engaged with relaxation, there were some aspects I couldn’t control.
* I had a long, difficult, painful labour, full of tons of medical interventions and synthetic drugs! But I still had a positive birth experience. The one area this book doesn’t consider at all is how to process your birth after the fact, rather assuming that by using hypnobirthing techniques you will have a positive experience regardless of the actual experience. One of the key factors in the creation of trauma (other than the event itself) is how we process it afterwards. Because with the best will in the world, you may still have a traumatic experience even if you do everything in this book. There are many ways to have a positive experience, even if you don’t “succeed” at the hypnobirthing.
I started out really enjoying this with its breathing techniques and explanation of how birth works, but got disillusioned midway through. It feels to me that even though the author says that every birth is good and natural and you should do whatever works best for you and your situation, she still speaks disparagingly of hospital births, staff and medication. Let’s say if I met her and told her I actively wanted a hospital birth, I don’t think she would be judgmental to my face, but would privately wonder what woman in her right mind would want a hospital birth and try to work out what to say to change my mind. I very quickly went from feeling encouraged to feeling discouraged about birth, that despite my best intentions and the author’s platitudes about ‘you doing you’ I’m somehow still making ‘wrong’ decisions that will leave me with an upsetting birth experience.
Let me say here though that I’m grateful for the breathing and relaxation techniques and have been practicing them and really feeling the benefits— for those two or three chapters, I wholeheartedly recommend the book. This is the number one thing I would like to do throughout labour and I wouldn’t have known about it without reading this.
Other things I disagree with:
- unmedicated birth can be painless if you only have the right mindset
- questioning or refusing the medical recommendations— they ARE being made for good reasons, and while it’s totally OK to push back on them (if you have enough knowledge), this should be very seriously considered and not take second place to dreams of a ‘natural’ birth
- similar to the above, this book is not the substitute for the years of intense, evidence based medical training that the staff have undertaken, and any delay in latest research and current practice is because the research still needs more investigation before being the number 1 recommendation, that’s no small thing. If you haven’t trained in this area, I would question the wisdom of refusing medical recommendations because of your desire for a ‘natural’ birth. Reading a book, some online articles, a handful of YouTube videos and/or a course does not make you an expert, and I worry that this book gives people the impression they know more than they do and are better informed than the medical staff
I would personally also feel uncomfortable preaching to the midwives and surgeons about what words to use, how to perform natural caesarians and why their induction methods are wrong.
I also can’t help but notice that the majority of the 5 star ratings are written by people before experiencing labour, and I wonder if there’s something around rose tinted glasses for first time parents, which worries me even for myself. Hence why I hope to update after labour.
Disclaimer: because of how discouraged I began to feel whenever reading this book, I didn’t read every chapter. Some I skim read, others I ignored. The really helpful ones I re-read. But I feel that I got enough of the book to leave a review of my reading experience.
I stand by my previous write up: it’s great for
✅ Breathing techniques
✅ Relaxation techniques
But I would be wary about being given unrealistic expectations for labour, the attitude to hospital staff and the treatment of unmedicated births as being the only truly liberating form of giving birth.
* I gave birth in hospital. The chapter dealing with hospital births frames them as being more painful, that you are less likely to have a ‘natural’ birth (ie by having an epidural). She writes with the assumption that you will be forced to give birth in hospital (because you have no alternative presented), the staff will misinform you (that you will be asked for consent with full understanding of what is happening) and that the care is generic and incompassionate (you will have to fight at every stage for things like skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping etc). In my case, this could not be further from the truth— I received exceptional care, respectful, thorough and truly kind at all times. They made sure I fully understood what was happening, even asking me to confirm that I knew by explaining it back to them. I kept forgetting that this book was only published recently for a UK audience with the way it made standard NHS procedures sound like battles to be fought.
* I read the chapter on induction once I realised I would be having one. I agree with the sentiment of holding out initially— in many countries inductions aren’t offered until 42 weeks have passed, especially for first time mums. Some of the information in the book wasn’t correct (at least for me) and crucially lacked the NHS’ current preferred induction technique (balloon catheter). The induction chapter also didn’t prepare me that labour could look very different, in fact, the chapter implied that once induced, my labour would look the same as if I had spontaneously laboured.
* I did my best to include some of these techniques in my labour. Some did nothing for me. The breathing really helped, but only to a point. My body did its own thing, and no matter how well I engaged with relaxation, there were some aspects I couldn’t control.
* I had a long, difficult, painful labour, full of tons of medical interventions and synthetic drugs! But I still had a positive birth experience. The one area this book doesn’t consider at all is how to process your birth after the fact, rather assuming that by using hypnobirthing techniques you will have a positive experience regardless of the actual experience. One of the key factors in the creation of trauma (other than the event itself) is how we process it afterwards. Because with the best will in the world, you may still have a traumatic experience even if you do everything in this book. There are many ways to have a positive experience, even if you don’t “succeed” at the hypnobirthing.
I started out really enjoying this with its breathing techniques and explanation of how birth works, but got disillusioned midway through. It feels to me that even though the author says that every birth is good and natural and you should do whatever works best for you and your situation, she still speaks disparagingly of hospital births, staff and medication. Let’s say if I met her and told her I actively wanted a hospital birth, I don’t think she would be judgmental to my face, but would privately wonder what woman in her right mind would want a hospital birth and try to work out what to say to change my mind. I very quickly went from feeling encouraged to feeling discouraged about birth, that despite my best intentions and the author’s platitudes about ‘you doing you’ I’m somehow still making ‘wrong’ decisions that will leave me with an upsetting birth experience.
Let me say here though that I’m grateful for the breathing and relaxation techniques and have been practicing them and really feeling the benefits— for those two or three chapters, I wholeheartedly recommend the book. This is the number one thing I would like to do throughout labour and I wouldn’t have known about it without reading this.
Other things I disagree with:
- unmedicated birth can be painless if you only have the right mindset
- questioning or refusing the medical recommendations— they ARE being made for good reasons, and while it’s totally OK to push back on them (if you have enough knowledge), this should be very seriously considered and not take second place to dreams of a ‘natural’ birth
- similar to the above, this book is not the substitute for the years of intense, evidence based medical training that the staff have undertaken, and any delay in latest research and current practice is because the research still needs more investigation before being the number 1 recommendation, that’s no small thing. If you haven’t trained in this area, I would question the wisdom of refusing medical recommendations because of your desire for a ‘natural’ birth. Reading a book, some online articles, a handful of YouTube videos and/or a course does not make you an expert, and I worry that this book gives people the impression they know more than they do and are better informed than the medical staff
I would personally also feel uncomfortable preaching to the midwives and surgeons about what words to use, how to perform natural caesarians and why their induction methods are wrong.
I also can’t help but notice that the majority of the 5 star ratings are written by people before experiencing labour, and I wonder if there’s something around rose tinted glasses for first time parents, which worries me even for myself. Hence why I hope to update after labour.
Disclaimer: because of how discouraged I began to feel whenever reading this book, I didn’t read every chapter. Some I skim read, others I ignored. The really helpful ones I re-read. But I feel that I got enough of the book to leave a review of my reading experience.
April 15, 2022
Really enjoyed the techniques and positivity around labor that I think will be super helpful when the time comes! Didn’t love the negativity around hospital births or trusting medical professionals. As with many things, if you can take the positive bits and ignore the snark, there’s some really great information and guiding principles in here.
January 11, 2021
There was some good stuff in here, but nothing you won’t already hear if you go to an NCT course before your birth. Also, the amount of repetition is huge; it’s basically a pamphlet expanded to a book by going on about battery-operated tea lights and room spritzes over and over and OVER again...
July 11, 2019
I definitely recommend this for anyone that is remotely nervous/scared about childbirth. I'm due in 3 weeks and already feeling confident, happy and informed so I'm simply not the target audience for this. There were a couple of sections that detailed the science behind contractions and labour that I found useful. I'm sure the breathing techniques will also come in handy but the sections of the book focusing on birth stories and reinforcing that you can say no to any intervention were less informative for me.
September 17, 2022
It was very informative behind how the body works during labour and birthing your baby which I found useful to know as I’m now aware of what my body will be doing and why! Also amazing what our bodies can do! However, it was a bit too ‘zen’ for my liking, and not portraying a good light on all medical staff that have years of experience and know what they’re doing. One subject I found strange was the natural c-section… where you can ask to dim the lights etc… I’d like my surgeon to see what he/she is doing thank you very much! Again personal opinions! Each to their own!
October 16, 2022
I watched one of Siobhan's one hour webinars (free) and that was a useful sunmary of most of the things which are in the book. The book is very wordy and makes it an unecessarily lengthy read.
I also feel there is a (likely inadvertent) negative tone around a lot of the things said about healthcare professionals and medical intervention and I wonder whether this leaves some women with fears about what may happen...
In summary, if you have very little knowledge or experience about what to expect and your birth options, the book may be for you. If not, see if you can be lucky enough to catch a webinar and this will probably be enough.
I also feel there is a (likely inadvertent) negative tone around a lot of the things said about healthcare professionals and medical intervention and I wonder whether this leaves some women with fears about what may happen...
In summary, if you have very little knowledge or experience about what to expect and your birth options, the book may be for you. If not, see if you can be lucky enough to catch a webinar and this will probably be enough.
October 18, 2024
I haven’t given birth yet and although I’ve read this book cover to cover I know I’m not done reading it.
However, how it has changed my perspective of birth is enough to review it for now. A must read if your fearful of the experience.
I’ll update the review after birth!
Edit: although ended up not giving birth naturally, this book put me in the right mindset and I am forever thankful. The tools and techniques were useful in pregnancy as well.
However, how it has changed my perspective of birth is enough to review it for now. A must read if your fearful of the experience.
I’ll update the review after birth!
Edit: although ended up not giving birth naturally, this book put me in the right mindset and I am forever thankful. The tools and techniques were useful in pregnancy as well.
May 24, 2020
Felt the tone of the author was quite judgey and it was only thinly veiled with ‘oh but it’s *your* baby *your decision*.
September 7, 2021
Informative but does push particular agendas.
May 25, 2025
Best book to read to prepare for labour. Made me feel so much calmer and excited to meet my baby
April 26, 2025
I’ve already had 3 children and found out I was never taught shit about childbirth until I read this book. Our bodies as women are so powerful and we truly are made for this if we decide to utilize this “feature” or are able to. This book really helped me trust myself when it comes to the birthing experience.
January 22, 2022
My wife is having our baby in a few months, and having read this book, it's clear that I knew almost nothing about what to expect and how to help her when she gives birth. Nothing, of course, except what I've seen on TV: lots of screaming, shouting of "push!" and a sense of danger and urgency. As a man, I recognise the TV father helplessly spectating, comically fainting, or sitting outside an operating theatre chewing his nails.
Siobhan Miller very convincingly argues that this view of childbirth, which we all (men included) soak in from an early age through TV shows and films, gives us a warped idea of childbirth. It primes men to feel like useless spectators, and more importantly it primes women to fear giving birth. That negative feeling can make a difficult birth more likely, causing a vicious cycle of tension that increases pain, that increases fear, that increases tension, etc.
Conversely, positive feelings can encourage relaxation, which reduces tension, which reduces pain, which reduces fear. Taken together, Miller argues, this gives a better chance of having a positive birth.
The keys seem to be, first, to replace the TV vision of birth in your head with "positive birth stories", of which there are many. Second, to practise breathing exercises and oxytocin-releasing behaviours (such as light-touch massage) that promote relaxation and help contractions. There is one exercise for the 'up' stage of contractions, when the cervix gradually opens. And one exercise for the 'down' stage where the baby is gently guided down and out. Third, to manage the environment, whether it's at home, birth centre, or hospital, to create an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. And finally, to have a birth plan - not something to which you need to stick slavishly, but some kind of framework that can guide the experience when it's underway.
Reading the title, I thought this would be about hypnosis, but it's actually about breaking a cycle of fear and trying to create an environment where the mum-to-be can relax and allow her body to work its natural magic. It's not dogmatic about birth needing to be 'natural', and the author says to be ready for changes to the plan, and that a C-section is just as positive as a vaginal birth if it feels positive. I'm grateful to no longer be the quintessential helpless father figure, but the "keeper of the cave", responsible for managing the environment, relaxing mum, supporting her through the breathing exercises, and being by her side throughout the experience.
It's a very empowering book all round. Highly recommend.
Siobhan Miller very convincingly argues that this view of childbirth, which we all (men included) soak in from an early age through TV shows and films, gives us a warped idea of childbirth. It primes men to feel like useless spectators, and more importantly it primes women to fear giving birth. That negative feeling can make a difficult birth more likely, causing a vicious cycle of tension that increases pain, that increases fear, that increases tension, etc.
Conversely, positive feelings can encourage relaxation, which reduces tension, which reduces pain, which reduces fear. Taken together, Miller argues, this gives a better chance of having a positive birth.
The keys seem to be, first, to replace the TV vision of birth in your head with "positive birth stories", of which there are many. Second, to practise breathing exercises and oxytocin-releasing behaviours (such as light-touch massage) that promote relaxation and help contractions. There is one exercise for the 'up' stage of contractions, when the cervix gradually opens. And one exercise for the 'down' stage where the baby is gently guided down and out. Third, to manage the environment, whether it's at home, birth centre, or hospital, to create an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. And finally, to have a birth plan - not something to which you need to stick slavishly, but some kind of framework that can guide the experience when it's underway.
Reading the title, I thought this would be about hypnosis, but it's actually about breaking a cycle of fear and trying to create an environment where the mum-to-be can relax and allow her body to work its natural magic. It's not dogmatic about birth needing to be 'natural', and the author says to be ready for changes to the plan, and that a C-section is just as positive as a vaginal birth if it feels positive. I'm grateful to no longer be the quintessential helpless father figure, but the "keeper of the cave", responsible for managing the environment, relaxing mum, supporting her through the breathing exercises, and being by her side throughout the experience.
It's a very empowering book all round. Highly recommend.
September 21, 2023
This book is life changing. I started reading it during my pregnancy and it made every difference in birth. I feel like every woman who is about to give birth should read this, because it explains things NO ONE had ever told me. It explains what the body is physically doing during birth and ultimately helped train me to remember that the pain means that things are happening and the more I am clenched and uptight, the less the body will work WITH the pain. EVERY birth is so so so different, and the author also does such a wonderful job making space for every one and every choice, from hospital birth to home birth. When I was in labor, I thought upon SO MUCH that I learned from this book, the main take away being that I have one job, no matter what kind of birth I ended up having: to remain calm. I remember being in the transition phase and literally forcing my shoulders to go down. I remembered to keep my breathing steady, to go WITH my baby and body- not against. She also gives birth positions that are super helpful. This book just really changed it all for me. I personally didn't necessarily do hypnobirthing in terms of visualization other than visualizing my baby and I working together, which also changed my life. And like I said- even if you are planning an epidural or ceasarian or ANY type of birth, this book is just amazing and reminds us the power of our thoughts and that it should be YOUR decision. I can not recommend it enough. This and "Expecting Better" by Emily Oster were my close friends in pregnancy.
August 17, 2021
This book has kind of a fancy/ weird title, but I think a better one (and I feel like the author would agree) would be: Just breathe! Time and time again the discussion of labor, birth, and postpartum came down to those two words. I found this book to be really useful. As someone who has gone through labor once I wasn't as interested in the "what," but this did help to explain a lot of the "whys." It also gave me some really good tools and topics of discussion with my husband and midwives. I have and will recommend it!
February 18, 2020
I was hugely sceptical but so glad I read this book. It has nothing to do with hypnosis! Even just understanding what your body is actually doing, and what your options really are makes all of the difference. It has really changed my outlook on labour and birth, and I can honestly say I feel excited rather than terrified. Definitely recommend to any parents-to-be.
March 19, 2025
The cover says “By the time you finish this book you’ll feel relaxed, capable and genuinely excited about giving birth” which had me rolling my eyes when I got it. WELL WELL WELL guess who has pie on her face. Me. I’m officially excited for birth 🫣
April 23, 2023
I believe that anyone who is having a baby should read this book. The word hypnobirthing sounds ridiculous but this book just taught me more about my body and how our bodies are made for birth. This book has given me the chance to understand the choices I have within the birth centre/hospital and I can't wait to use some of the techniques.
May 19, 2024
Honestly, no regrets reading this book. It makes me feel more prepared regarding what to expect during birth and how to advocate for myself. Plus, some good tips and tricks. This book is an easy read and puts you in the right mindset… takes you away from seeing birth the way they show it in the movies! I also didn’t expect "hypnobirthing techniques" to be these things… it has nothing to do with hypnotizing yourself LOL it’s all about preparing your mind to give birth. *bonus* Some good resources included as well.
October 22, 2022
Maybe the real review should come post birth. But a sensible and accessible read.
September 29, 2024
I am a birth partner currently at 24 weeks (just over half way) and safe to say I was very anxious that I had NO IDEA how I was going to be able to help - let alone be a source of comfort and positivity for my Wife. Having read this - Siobhan has really made me feel that this will be an exciting event for both my Wife and I. I feel much more confident now about going into birth fully prepared. Great read for those about to have their first baby!
February 5, 2025
am I….gonna do this unmedicated…..haha no…no….I mean…..👀..nah…haha…unless
August 15, 2025
Listened to this via audio book, definitely some good breathing tips and positive birth tips but it’s heavy on unmedicated births which is not my journey!
August 21, 2024
I loved this book. So helpful. I listened to it on audio and ended up buying a physical copy as felt it would be more useful to go through it and use it as a resource. My only one small complaint was the assumption that everyone had a birth partner and that much of it relied on that assumption. I just imagined someone who didn't finding that part really disheartening ... Otherwise, a brilliant useful guide!
June 26, 2024
There is a very obvious push for unmedicated home births and a clear distrust of medical professionals and hospitals. The author makes it seem as if this is the superior and only natural way to give birth. Actually Siobhan, all births are natural, whether you give birth under the stars in your backyard or in a hospital with assistance from doctors. The important thing should be that mum and baby are safe, get the support they need and that mum (and dad) feel agency over the process. No clue why it matters to the author what environment other women choose to give birth in. The stories in the book make it seem as though a home birth is all smiles and ease. Well, I sure am happy I had the privilege of giving birth at a hospital. I can’t imagine the trauma of experiencing the complications I had at home.
The cherry on top was the author’s claim that giving birth doesn’t have to hurt if you have the right mindset. What a cruel way to guilt trip mothers who had painful labours and create unrealistic expectations for first time mums. As if the excruciating pain I experienced during my labour was my fault because I didn’t use the right affirmations or didn’t have enough electric candles or didn’t demand everyone call my contractions ‘surges’. Wonderful if those things work for you, but don’t judge me for giving birth with the needed medical help and an epidural.
The cherry on top was the author’s claim that giving birth doesn’t have to hurt if you have the right mindset. What a cruel way to guilt trip mothers who had painful labours and create unrealistic expectations for first time mums. As if the excruciating pain I experienced during my labour was my fault because I didn’t use the right affirmations or didn’t have enough electric candles or didn’t demand everyone call my contractions ‘surges’. Wonderful if those things work for you, but don’t judge me for giving birth with the needed medical help and an epidural.
April 21, 2023
Gifted to me by my friend who found it reassuring, my rating is based on not having been able to get passed the poor writing style. The author repeats herself constantly, which made it feel like she just needed to fill space to make a thick enough book. This book could have been 1/3 long if just sticking to the basic information necessary. And so many "fluff words" made some of her theories feel less valid, as I couldn't take some things seriously. Things like "lovely oxygen" instead of just "oxygen". There are countless encouraging sentences placed on almost every page, such as "you've got this", which made this book feel more like a motivational self help book rather than a science backed book. While encouragement can make a real impact on stressful situations such as giving birth, I think people should know this book is not heavy on facts.
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