How Hypnobirthing Changed My Perspective as a Midwife
When I first heard about hypnobirthing, I have to admit—I rolled my eyes.
As a midwife, I knew what it was, or at least I thought I did. I associated it with low-risk, very “natural” home births—calm music, candlelight, and people saying things like “trust your body.” It felt niche, soft, and frankly unrealistic for most of the births I was seeing.
But then I started paying closer attention.
What I discovered completely changed my perspective—not just on hypnobirthing, but on how we prepare people for birth.
Hypnobirthing isn’t about guaranteeing a pain-free, unmedicated, textbook-perfect labour. It’s not only for home births or for people who already feel calm and confident.
It’s for everyone.
It’s for the parent who’s feeling anxious. The one who’s had a difficult previous experience. The one navigating a high-risk pregnancy or preparing for a C-section. It’s for partners who want to be useful but aren’t sure how. It’s for people who want more than just medical information—they want tools for staying calm, informed, and in control.
What really struck me was how practical hypnobirthing is.
- Breathing techniques that help you regulate your nervous system.
- Deep relaxations that actually shift your mindset.
- Tools to prepare for birth and cope if things change.
- Communication strategies that help you advocate for yourself.
- And perhaps most surprisingly—how much more engaged and confident birth partners become.
So yes, I was once skeptical. But now, I genuinely believe every birthing person deserves access to these tools—_especially_ those facing challenges or uncertainty.
Because when your mind is calm, your body can respond better. When your partner feels informed, they show up stronger. And when you feel in control—even when plans change—you walk away empowered.