FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I be considering the Birth Ready pack?

The idea for About Little Humans came about after we both practised hypnobirthing during our pregnancy and after endless hours of researching questions that we had about pregnancy and birth. We were amazed by how hypnobirthing had helped us, not only for birth but generally in life and grew a passion for sharing all the things we had learned with other expectant parents with the ambition of making them more informed and confident parents. We have trained and become hypnobirthing teachers and have put together a complete online course that will fully prepare you for your little one’s birth. Have a look at the pack’s description to see exactly what it covers. We have gathered the information found in the pack through different sources (such as articles, medical sources, statistical studies, books) and have put it in this unique format for your easy access.

The course does not only cover hypnobirthing, we also explain to you your birth options, we show you how to create a birth plan, we explain how your body works during labour and so much more. If you are planning to run at a marathon, you don't just show up. You prepare in advance for it. The same goes with giving birth!

We are excited to share this information with you and are convinced that you will hugely benefit from it and that it will make you look forward to giving birth. You will feel empowered and confident as you will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to achieve a calm and memorable birth.

What is hypnobirthing?

We cover this at the Birth Ready pack which you can visit here.

Is hypnobirthing la-la land airy fairy nonsense?

Not at all. Although the name may imply it, it is nothing like that. Many women who have practised hypnobirthing during their pregnancies swear by it. Hypnobirthing has actually been around for years and it was Dr Grantly Dick-Read who, in the 1920s and 1930s, observed that women who faced childbirth without fear experienced significantly decreased levels of discomfort during labour. 

Hypnobirthing, along with the additional information that we share in our Birth Ready pack, will show you how to eliminate that fear of giving birth and turn it into control and power. 

You will find that hypnobirthing is very much grounded in science. It gives you a biological understanding of the anatomy and physiological processes involved in labour and birth. By appreciating how your body works during labour and what fuels the contractions, you better understand the importance of the breathing and relaxation techniques that we will cover on the pack and therefore welcome and trust your body’s process. Hypnobirthing is also based on neuroscience and we share with you tips and tricks on how to train your brain to relax and therefore control the hormones released by your body during labour which will have a great impact on the birth experience. We guide you through what you need to do to fuel your body with the hormones that will make the contractions efficient and therefore as comfortable as possible.

Can labour be painless for hypnobirthing mums?

We cannot guarantee that this will be the case as it depends on each person’s personal response to hypnobirthing. What is definite (and you will understand why when we cover how contractions work) is that it is not natural for labour to be causing you pain. There have been reports from countless hypnobirthing mums who have experienced no or minimal discomfort levels during labour and who, at their choice, have used minimal or no pain relief. We guide you through what you can do to achieve a calm and relaxing birth and it is up to you on how you choose to use the tools we give you in the course.

What makes the Birth Ready pack unique?

There are a number of elements that make our Birth Ready pack stand out from existing antenatal classes:

1. The content. Normally you can either take traditional antenatal classes, typically run by clinics, or purely hypnobirthing classes. The Birth Ready pack not only combines the two antenatal structures, but we also cover important topics that are not included in traditional antenatal classes (such as, what is the golden hour, the optimum cord clamping and why you should insist on this, and many more).
2. The format. We move away from long hours of teaching (often done over a weekend) which can make the whole process tedious, tiresome but also the traditional way of antenatal teaching tends to stress parents as they are bombarded with technical information with little focus given on the rationale behind certain things and little time given to parents to digest all of the information. We understand that, your time is precious and have created the pack in this unique online format which contains a number of short videos, nearly all under 10 minutes, that you can watch at your own pace and from the comfort of your home. This format allows you to re-watch some or all of the videos closer to birth and to show all or a selection of videos to your birth partner. 
3. The support. The objective of the pack is not only to educate parents but also to make them feel positive about the birth and look forward to it. We have a whole chapter dedicated to birth partners in which we cover how they can support you during the whole process, starting from today. We want to get you excited and make you feel empowered as parents.  

Is the Birth Ready pack only intended to support the future mother?

No! The online pack is designed to also help the birth partner. Often birth partners feel intimidated by the idea of labour as they are not sure of how to offer support to the mother. The Birth Ready pack includes specific sections in which we address the birth partner and guide them in detail through things they can do to support the mother. They can also benefit from the rest of the pack as we explain how the mother’s body works during labour and how to help her achieve a calm and comfortable birth. 

When should I be starting the course?

There is no hard and fast rule on when the best time is to start the Birth Ready pack. Of course, the sooner you start, the more time you have to practise your hypnobirthing skills and as you will have access to the pack for a full twelve months, you will be able to revisit the material as often as you like from the comfort of your own home. We recommend starting at around the 20 week mark, but it’s never too late. If you are well into your pregnancy, you will still benefit from completing the course, there were mums who completed the course at 39-40 weeks of pregnancy.

Is it worth me doing the Birth Ready pack if I plan to have a c-section?

For sure! The Birth Ready pack is designed to make a positive impact on the birth experience, no matter how you decide to birth your baby. Hypnobirthing skills can be and are used for all types of births. The pack includes information so you can familiarise yourself with caesareans. We cover how to replicate the benefits of a vaginal birth through a caesarean, we explain what a “gentle” caesarean is which is now performed by obstetricians worldwide and we touch on the possibility of having a vaginal birth after a caesarean (for second pregnancies). Of course, the breathing and hypnobirthing techniques you will learn apply to all c-sections, whether planned or unplanned!