'No other natural bodily function is painful and childbirth should be no exception'.

Dr Grantly Dick-Read

Now booking for July, August & September 2010

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=v536xaNBMh4

Check out the above youtube link following a Hypnobirthing mum....

Amanda has taught Hypnobirthing to over 700 couples - the feedback has been extremely positive!! I am compiling statistical evidence about the effects of Hypnobirthing - Will be available soon....

Benefits of Hypnobirthing 

• Hypnobirthing eliminates or greatly reduces the need for painkillers
• Shortens the first stage of labour by several hours
• Creates a more integral role for the birth companion
• The shorter labour and fewer drugs leads to a more rapid postnatal recovery for both mother and baby
• Eliminates fatigue during labour, leaving you alert and with energy for active birthing
• Returns birthing to the beautiful peaceful experience nature intended

What you will learn

• Special breathing techniques to aid ultimate relaxation
• Visualizations to enable you to work confidently with your body
• A fantastic massage technique to encourage endorphin release
• Ways of bonding with your unborn baby
• Skills to build total confidence in your own body
• Fear release methods to overcome any worries or concerns you have around birthing and parenting
• Self hypnosis techniques for deep relaxation during labour and birthing

The Hypnobirthing group classes cost £200.00 per couple

 Read a few of the stories below...

Hi Amanda,
 
Just to let you know that we had a new addition to our family 2 days earlier than expected.  I was due on 4th Sept and on 1st I had a show (5.30am) then was in slow labour all day (I had a scan with the consultant on 1st and he offered to give me an internal but I declined wanting nature to take its course). The following morn at approx. 2.30am the contractions became stronger and closer together.  Thankfully, with the help of hypnobirthing techniques, I was able to control the pain through slow breathing and this kept me relaxed (actually, too relaxed!) because at approx. 4am I decided to get out off bed and have a shower in preparation for the hospital and whilst having the quick shower I had 2 contractions - at this stage I thought I had left it too late to go to the hospital and had visions of giving birth at home!
Anyway, left home at 4.40am arrived at Altnagelvin at 5.05am, (fully dilated), got to the labour ward at 5.20 and our baby girl was born at 5.49!  I delivered without any pain relief which I can't believe! (Baby weighed 8lb 1/2 oz).
 
Amanda, thank you for all your help and advice.  It certainly made a difference both during pregnancy and certainly through labour.  I cannot say enough about hypnobirthing and would highly recommend it to anyone who is pregnant.
 
Amanda, thanks again for everything.
 
Regards
 
Mary 
 

Hi Amanda,

Baby born!

Clare

4.06am - 2nd March (Mothers Day!)

7lb 9oz

8 hr start to finish. Quick rundown - contractions began lightly at 8pm

waters broke 9pm, went to hospital at 12am where 3cm and cervix very

favourable. Breathed my way on my own in room til 4am , only called

midwife to run bath for me. Called midwife about 4am to check me as felt

baby was very well down. She said come down to labour suite where I

could settle in and she could check me. Got into room at 4.02am and had

to quickly jump on bed as felt babys head. Cue poor manic midwife

running about trying to get organised. Three short breaths later and out

popped Clare onto the bed. Now I found relaxation helped early stages,

but I struggled a little with the slow breathing during contractions, I

know I hadn't practiced that enough and I will say the contractions were

painful. But I was able to manage without pain relief and breathing def

helped - I used each one to work with baby helping her down. I was just

amazed by the 2nd stage. It just didn't hurt breathing Clare out. It was

amazing. It stung slighty but was nothing like my first birth and I

didn't even make a sound (in fact didn't make sound over whole labour) -

just breathed her out and it felt so natural. I felt so relaxed and

eneregised after which was opposite of Annies birth. I was able to just

use the time after to feed and bond with her......

Anyway. Home now  - alls well and thankyou so much for your help. Both

Damian and midwife were pretty amazed by it all. No doubt you will have

a few referrals from Coleraine direction if I have anything to do with

it !!!

PS, i took the 3 half tablespoons of castor oil at 4.30 on as per

hypnobirth book and 4 hrs later - voila. I know its a little dangerous

but I made sure and took loads of water after. Convinced this is what

started labour.

Best Wishes,

Alice

Hi amanda,
 
Just to let you know I had a baby girl on 3/9/08, normal delivery, 6lb 12oz.  I went into labour early hours of last tues morning- stayed at home all day tues, used rainbow relaxation cd.  Contractions slowed to 1 every 20mins during tues, tried nipple stimulation- increased to 1 in 7 at most.  Ended up going to fetal assessment wed morning as not progressing, was 3-4cm well effaced at that stage.  Had a stretch and mobilsed about, then bath but still not increasing.  Taken to labour ward 3pm, had ARM, waited an hour still no progress, then syntocin started at 4pm.  Things progressed quickly with syntocin and Amy was born at 8.10pm.  Managed on entonox and 'breathing'.  Hard to believe its nearly a week ago now.
Thanks for all your help it was really appreciated.  I would definately recommend hypnobirthing to anyone.  I hope things have went well with the rest of the group.
 
                                        Rachel 

Hiya Amanda,

Just a wee message to let u know that i gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Amelia, last Saturday . I was 10 days overdue and i had been in slow labour for a week therefore i had my waters broken early on Saturday morning and she arrived at 2.30. I had been down with you for 2 sessions in July with another couple from Dungiven and Donegal. I got a lot out of them but i also practised the rainbow relaxation every other day. i had the best birth i could ever have hoped for and i put it all down to how informed i was about my own body and how relaxed i was able to push myself to be. For the two hours before she was born i took a wee bit of gas and air and at THAT point(lol) which i was told would happen anyway! i asked for an epidural! needless to say i was far too advanced but i took a wee bit of pethadine and out she came!! It was an amazing feeling and the only way i can describe the pain that i felt in those last 2 hours was good pain!! Thank you so so much for teaching Jeff and myself that there was no need to be afraid of the most beautiful few hours of our lives. As a couple it has brought us even closer and we now have a gorgeous, calm, happy baby. When the time comes for a wee brother or sister for Amelia we will defininetly be in touch for a refresher course!!

All the best Amanda and thanks again for helping to make our first birth so special!
 xxx

Paula

Amanda,
 
At long last I am getting to put my birth story down on paper. Grace was 6 weeks old on Thursday and I dont know where the time has gone. She is happily napping now so I am making the most of this quiet time!
 
Well as you know I was due to be induced at 11 days over on the Tuesday morning. I came to see you for a final fear release session on the Monday at 5pm. Exactly 12 hours later at 5am I woke and realised after a while that "something was happening". I kept relaxed and an hour quickly passed. I then started to time my surges but as they were still so manageable and also as this was my first baby I still was not 100% sure if it was the real thing! But I did my breathing and listened to both the affirmations and the Rainbow Relaxation. Hubbie lay beside me sound asleep and I was so calm he did not even wake him! At 8am I showered and had breakfast and wakened himself. 
We arrived at the hospital at 10am, I still felt calm and in control. I was not seen until 11.15am and waited patiently and again kept in tune with my body and my breathing. I was then examined and I could not believe it when the nurse said I was 6cm! My waters then went spontaneously on the bed. This nurse came to visit me after the delivery and she told me she was about to re-examine me as she thought she had made a mistake as I was so calm!
 
We were then whisked off to the delivery suite and I put on my CD and also used my favourite lavender. As requested we were left fairly much to ourselves with the midwife popping in and out. James did the light touch massage and I concentrated on the breathing, the music and inhaled my lavender from a wet face cloth (it really helped!). A few different midwives popped in and out to observe and also to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere (the 3 other delivery rooms were in full swing!). I just can't believe how manageable the whole thing was. I did not need any pain relief and our beautiful Baby Grace was born four hours after admission at 3.15pm. She was so calm yet bright and alert and took to me breast within the hour (I am still breastfeeding and it is going super). Can I also say the staff in Letterkenny were fab and very enthused and impressed with the hypnobirthing. As you said it makes their job a lot easier and they were very supportive all the way.
 
We just want to thank you for everything Amanda. I really cant believe how it all came together so well. I would (and am) recommending hypnobirthing to anyone and everyone is just astounded when I tell them I did not need any pain relief (not that I am bragging!). James is also ranting and raving about it to anyone who will listen! I would say to any woman who does do the course to listen to your CD daily, especially the affirmations as these really worked for me and made me feel positive and willing and able to cope with anything. While in the beginning I did have my doubts I would say just believe in yourself and your body and keep positive and you will get there, and its so worth it. I also found the visualisation techniques great during labour (blue satin ribbons!).
More than anything I want to thank you for the advice and support you gave me. The fact that you are such an experienced midwife is a huge bonus and it made you very easy to trust and confide in.
 
I will get around to giving you a call soon. Hope all is well with you and yours.
 
Once again a million thank yous, and I do hope to see you soon,
 
Fond regards,
 
Eimear, James & Baby Grace (oh and Clea the red setter whose nose is not too out of joint!)
 

Hi Amanda
 
I'm finally finding time to send you a quick email to thank you for all your help and support with the hypno birthing and preparing me for my c-section.
 
I had a lovely baby boy Callum on 20th July weighing 8lb 11oz. All went well, I was very nervous going to theatre and during the section but found the breathing and rainbow relaxation technique a brilliant help, and I would have been lost without them to focus on.
 
I was prepared to be in so much pain and for my recovery to be slow afterwards, as I was with my other 2 sections and believed it would be worse with the third child, but to my amazement I've had no bother at all and have been on my feet pretty quickly this time. It could only be that I had myself mentally prepared with your help...I cannot thank you enough!!!!!!
 
I thought you would appreciate my feedback also in helping other mums going through the same procedure, and i thank you once again for giving up your time to help me get through it all!!!!
 
Take Care
 
Carolyn Brennan

hi Amanda

well i had a baby girl on the 20th of july and called her **** she was 7lb 11oz, 2lb lighter than her bigger brother james there is 14 mths between them

long story short Amanda, i had a great birth thanks to you

the birth went really well and i can't thank you enough your course definitely made the world of difference.

i listened to the cd every night, and the affirmations in the car too, by the end i knew the whole thing of by heart. at the time i wasn't sure if the cd would make much of a difference, but by the last couple of weeks i realised how positive i was feeling about the birth and i was really looking forward to the "big day" i honestly had no fears at all about the birth i just knew everything would be ok.

the evening before my surges started i rang my mother inlaw and asked her to baby sit, i just knew i was ready to start and sure enough i started slowly at 3am i was very excited and got my husband to drive in to cragavian for 6am but the midwife told me that i was not ready yet and to go for a walk

so we went and got breakfast went shopping in rushmure shopping centre and had lunch in portadown we both really enjoyed our time together on our own that day before the birth, but soon i was tired but going back to cookstown seemed too far. so we booked in to a b&b and that's when i rang you for advise, after talking to you we both cuddled up and slept for a couple of hours.(all this time i hand the cd on my headphones on repeat since 3am) when i woke up at about 7 i was rested and ready. surges where very strong, and rang a head to hospital to tell them i was coming and that i hoped for a water birth in the MLU(midwifery led unit)

once i arrived it was really busy and it felt like i was waiting for ever. eventual i was told that there still was no room anywhere but i could wait in the cleaning room where they wheeled  a bed in for me to sit on.( i just kept telling my self everything was ok and i'll face anything calmly and in control, that it didn't matter what was going on around me as long as i was calm.) at about 8.30 i was brought up to MLU and given my own room. and the birthing pool was just available so it was being filled up for me. my surges where definitely getting stronger and i was on all fours on the floor i  knew the baby was going to be born very soon. by 9.15 the pool was ready. and the midwife came to collect me to bring me down to it, i stood up and in with one step i stopped and a minute later she was born.

never got to the pool, but it didn't matter

i never needed or wanted drugs for pain relief at any stage in fact i would not describe any part of the labour as painful more as strong pres sue, i really enjoyed my whole labour, i loved the feeling of her head coming down i was so excited,

truly magical experience

i have being ranting and raving about you ever since to anybody who will listen. the whole thing was a really positive experience

i really liked the fear release you did in the course it help me alot i think

for me i think the affirmations had the strongest affect on me, and i still use them every night when i'm putting my son to bed at 7pm i repeat "i am happy having fun and loving motherhood"

and i am... i love being a mum of 2 its very hectic but its great and i cant stop smiling.

thankyou amanda

JUST A SMALL... VERY BELATED NOTE OF THANKS TO AMANDA... ON JULY 12TH I GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL 8LBS AND HALF AN OUNCE...HAVING ONLY NEEDED GAS & AIR...AND ONLY IN THE LATTER STAGES A 50MG DOSE OF PETHIDINE!! ALL WAS WELL!! I WOULD RECCOMMEND THIS COUSRE TO ANYONE... BE IT 1ST, 2ND OF SIXTH BABY!! SHE WAS ABSOLUELY FANTASTIC AND REALLY REINFORCED THE NATUARLNESS THAT IS CHILDBIRTH!! THE GIRL IN THE ROOM NEXT DOOR COMMENTED THAT ALL SHE COULD HERE FROM MY ROOM WAS THE SOUND OF RAINBOW RELAXATION (THE CD) I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL AMANDA YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN (HOPEFULLY 2 OR 3 TIMES AGAIN- BUT THEN THATS IT) MANY MANY THANKS KERRY, SEAN AND BABY AOIBHE XO

 Amanda, thanks for everything!!Will see you soon. The birth went brilliantly and was so fast in the end.

P & P, Co Donegal

Thank you so much for all your help. You really helped us prepare for the birth. We will be in touch to let you know how it goes.

C & M, Derry

Amanda, Thank you soo much for all your help and support - it made my labour a wonderful experience.

K & D, Co Tyrone

Thank you for all your help and support, your advice has been invaluable to me. P.s A special thanks for getting O to do light touch massage - its wonderful!!

N & O, Derry

Thank you for the brilliant course, it was fun and really made sense. The breathing techniques really helped in labour.

J & C, Strabane