About Fuel for Mama

How I discovered hypnobirthing

I was petrified of childbirth until I tried hypnobirthing. But it actually made me excited to give birth. I went on to have a fantastic, smooth natural birth.

Looking back, I was astonished at how I took it in my stride and how my body just did its thing. I wanted to share this with others. As a result, I trained in Hypnobirthing under Katherine Graves, author of the Hypnobirthing book and founder of KG Hypnobirthing . The Royal College of Midwives accredited my training and as a result, I have a diploma in hypnobirthing. Katherine is largely credited with being responsible for bringing hypnobirthing to the mainstream in the UK.

My second birth, however, was not as straightforward. I planned a home birth, but discovered I had obstetric cholestasis (a condition where you produce extra bile). This resulted in a hospital induction. Using hypnobirthing techniques meant despite this change, I still had a great birth. My own experience reinforced how important it is in pregnancy to know your rights, be informed, know how to advocate for yourself and make decisions that feel right for you.

My approach

Both my birth experiences have shaped my philosophy. Ultimately, I want you to have a great birth, no matter how you give birth. A positive birth isn’t determined by how you chose to give birth, but how you feel about it. This is the core of what and why I teach.

Furthermore, all people want to do is tell pregnant women horror stories. My mission is tell pregnant women that great birth experiences exist. Because of this I champion positive births and want to make this mindset approachable for everyone. Consequently, my Hitchin hypnobirthing classes inform and empower women to have better birth experiences.

Having run a popular baby & toddler group in Hitchin I have met so many new mums and hear many varied birth experiences. Many mums or mums to be are dubious about hypnobirthing. Some consider it to be ‘new age’ and ‘a bit hippyish’. Therefore, when I created Fuel for Mama, I wanted to offer a dynamic approach to hypnobirthing and birth preparation. I aim to appeal to even the most pragmatic and skeptical. Most importantly my ethos is to be accessible, supportive but also have some fun.

I also love bringing people together. What I dislike is when it feels patronising or forced. Parents need support. Creating a local network of friends is a great way to get this. Just having a few other local mamas who you can chat to, can have a huge impact on wellbeing. Knowing someone else understands what you’re going through can fuel you. The Fuel for Mama course connects like-minded people with shared interests. It facilitates conversation and getting to know each other in a natural way.

Hypnobirthing courses in Hitchin and beyond

Fuel for Mama offers Hitchin hypnobirthing, birth preparation and pregnancy relaxation courses. Fuel for Mama is ideally located for anyone wanting to do hypnobirthing in Hitchin, Baldock, Letchworth, Luton, Stevanage, Biggleswade or the surrounding villages. I also offer virtual teaching for those not wanting to meet in person or living further afield. For those wanting a private course or a ‘create your own’ course, I am also happy to come to you, and cover Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and London.

Why Fuel for Mama?

Firstly, my courses prepare you for birth so you feel calm and confident. Secondly you learn how to make informed decisions which are right for you. I also explain the important role the birth partner plays, so that they are useful and supportive in labour. But finally I connect you with people who are on the same journey, to support one another. Essentially, it’s about giving you the fuel you need to have a confident birth and be an empowered parent.