photo by Sarah Stirk
|
I've known midwife and hypnobirthing 'teacher of teachers' Kemi Johnson for 8 years, and she has been my mentor on all things birth-related. Her passion for birth inspires everyone who meets her. She guided me through my second pregnancy and birth: - that's her in the background, embodying the silent, calming and trusting presence that allows birth to unfold. I'm delighted to facilitate Katharine Graves Hypnobirthing workshops with her, and many women find that the combination of weekly yoga classes and a weekend course with Kemi give them and their partner the confidence they need to feel truly excited about their baby's birth. Watch/listen to Kemi in the video and podcasts below, where she talks about being a midwife and explains what hypnobirthing is. And here is a recent email I received from Amanda after completing the course. You can email Kemi at kemi@birthjoy.org
|
Hi Louisa,
Just wanted to say thank you very much for recommending the hypnobirthing course to me. I just completed the course with Kemi last week and it has been without a doubt the most valuable thing we’ve done in preparing us for the arrival of our baby.
It was the first thing that doesn’t medicalise birth or consider pregnancy to be a medical condition but treats it as a natural process that occasionally requires medical intervention. It provided me not only with relaxation techniques, but most importantly it gave us practical information and tools to go into childbirth feeling confident and informed to be able to make the right decisions for us. It helped my husband immensely by helping him to understand his important role during childbirth and has also helped us look at this together as a team.
Hypnobirthing is such an unfortunate name, my husband was so sceptical but is now one of the biggest advocates of it and is recommending it to anyone who will listen! For me personally, I really wanted to avoid an epidural, intervention and tearing and give birth in the birth centre, however I wasn’t confident that I’d be able to do that. Having spent time with Kemi, who was amazingly positive and helpful, it has completely transformed my thinking and belief and I now feel calm, confident and in control of the next few weeks when our baby will final arrive!
The only thing I would change is that I would have done it sooner, I’m 37 weeks now and recognise how valuable it is to practise, so would strongly recommend to anyone who is interested to complete the course as early as possible to really maximise the benefit you’ll receive from doing it.
Thanks again – will keep you posted with how things pan out for us over the next few weeks, but I’m sure it will be great! Thanks also for the brilliant yoga classes –they have been an absolute godsend and have been one of the things that I really value each week, and have played such an important part in my preparation, particularly as I get further into my pregnancy.
Love,
Amanda x
Hi Louisa,
Just wanted to say thank you very much for recommending the hypnobirthing course to me. I just completed the course with Kemi last week and it has been without a doubt the most valuable thing we’ve done in preparing us for the arrival of our baby.
It was the first thing that doesn’t medicalise birth or consider pregnancy to be a medical condition but treats it as a natural process that occasionally requires medical intervention. It provided me not only with relaxation techniques, but most importantly it gave us practical information and tools to go into childbirth feeling confident and informed to be able to make the right decisions for us. It helped my husband immensely by helping him to understand his important role during childbirth and has also helped us look at this together as a team.
Hypnobirthing is such an unfortunate name, my husband was so sceptical but is now one of the biggest advocates of it and is recommending it to anyone who will listen! For me personally, I really wanted to avoid an epidural, intervention and tearing and give birth in the birth centre, however I wasn’t confident that I’d be able to do that. Having spent time with Kemi, who was amazingly positive and helpful, it has completely transformed my thinking and belief and I now feel calm, confident and in control of the next few weeks when our baby will final arrive!
The only thing I would change is that I would have done it sooner, I’m 37 weeks now and recognise how valuable it is to practise, so would strongly recommend to anyone who is interested to complete the course as early as possible to really maximise the benefit you’ll receive from doing it.
Thanks again – will keep you posted with how things pan out for us over the next few weeks, but I’m sure it will be great! Thanks also for the brilliant yoga classes –they have been an absolute godsend and have been one of the things that I really value each week, and have played such an important part in my preparation, particularly as I get further into my pregnancy.
Love,
Amanda x
