Hypno-WHAT?! Modern Hypnobirthing with Claire.

Claire Smith - Doula & Hypnobirthing Teacher

Welcome to the Hypno-WHAT podcast! I'm Claire, a doula & hypnobirthing teacher from Edinburgh. I'm here to debunk a lot of the nonsense that surrounds Hypnobirthing for you because, let's be honest, it sounds like crap.

But what if I told you it was actually like Sports Psychology for birth... would you think it was a bit less weird? Hypnobirthing simply acknowledges the impact that your brain has on the unfolding of birth.

It's less vagina-whispering and more learning how your body works; helping you to really believe in yourself and the amazing capabilities of your pregnant body.

The aim of my work is to help you to feel informed & in control; prepared for whatever route your birth may take; confident in your decision-making; setting you up for a really positive post-natal period with your new plus-one.

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Episodes

4. Breathwork for labour & birth
24-03-2023
4. Breathwork for labour & birth
This week we are talking about breathing and why it’s one of the most well-known hypnobirthing tools. Our breathing can help us to take control of how our body is reacting to a situation and how you breathe really does impact on the chemistry of your body.We briefly look at different techniques to use in labour & birth and alongside this episode there is a bonus episode with a guided breathwork to help you practice.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy, you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
3. Preparing for Chest & Breastfeeding
02-02-2023
3. Preparing for Chest & Breastfeeding
This episode will be discussing how to prepare for chest or breastfeeding your baby and we are going to be mostly discussing what normal newborn behaviour looks like for babies who are not bottle fed. This is something I think is super important to understand before baby arrives, because with the UK’s breastfeeding rates being amongst the lowest in the world, very few of us actually know what that looks like or what to expect - and that also goes for our support network.Human milk is designed to be very easily digested - this makes it easy on our tiny baby’s tummies, but it also means that they need feeding frequently. We’re designed this way for a reason though, it’s not a flaw. Hopefully today I can help to build your confidence in your body & your baby working together to establish feeding…The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
2. Unpicking preconceptions about hypnobirthing with Jade & Alix from The Birth Uprising
20-01-2023
2. Unpicking preconceptions about hypnobirthing with Jade & Alix from The Birth Uprising
Warning - this episode contains a bit of swearing, so if that's not your vibe maybe give this episode a miss.The very first guests on The Hypno-WHAT Podcast are my brilliant pals Jade & Alix who run The Birth Uprising, who I trained with back in 2021. The TBU approach is 'no fluff, no bull'; Jade & Alix tell it like it is, there's no pretension with this pair at all, and they are fiercely passionate about making hypnobirthing accessible to all. TBU content is always inclusive, striving to include support for everyone and every kind of birth - which is exactly why I wanted to train with these wonderful women!In this episode we each discuss a myth about hypnobirthing and why it drives us up the wall, and then we'll completely dispel it for you. We touch on:Why Hypnobirthing is soooo much more than just breathingHypnobirthing is NOT just for natural births, nor can it guarantee oneHow Hypnobirthing can help you navigate an elective or unplanned caesarean.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
BONUS! Guided Relaxation - Pregnancy Body Scan
13-01-2023
BONUS! Guided Relaxation - Pregnancy Body Scan
Your first bonus track of Series 2! This 10 minute body scan is designed to help you find softness and stillness whenever you need to.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
1. Estimated Due Dates
13-01-2023
1. Estimated Due Dates
The Estimated Due Date... that magical day your hit 40 weeks and fully expect your baby to arrive then or shortly after. As does everyone you shared the date with. The texts flood in - Have you had the baby yet? How long are they going to let you go? Get a sweep. Eat 14 pineapples.None of it is ill intended but it can sow the seeds of doubt and have you questioning your body - why hasn't it gone in to labour by now?Well today I'm going to talk you through the due date and why you should pay it as little attention as possible. We're going to talk about focussing on The Due Period rather than a single day, on which less than 5% of babies are born.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!References:Bull, J.R., Rowland, S.P., Scherwitzl, E.B. et al. Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles. npj Digit. Med. 2, 83 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7A.M. Jukic, D.D. Baird, C.R. Weinberg, D.R. McConnaughey, A.J. Wilcox, Length of human pregnancy and contributors to its natural variation, Human Reproduction, Volume 28, Issue 10, October 2013, Pages 2848–2855, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/det297Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
14. Water Birth - what does the evidence say?
06-12-2022
14. Water Birth - what does the evidence say?
In this episode I’ll be discussing using water during your labour - and that doesn’t necessarily mean you plan to birth your baby in the pool. Birth pools & showers can be brilliant tools for relief during labour, even if you want to birth your baby out of the water.There are lots of big claims about birth pools - they make labour less painful and can reduce your risk of intervention... but what does the evidence actually say? Let me break it down for you in today's episode.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!ReferencesBurns E, Feeley C, Hall PJ, et al Systematic review and meta-analysis to examine intrapartum interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes following immersion in water during labour and waterbirthAli Akhlaghi, MD et al, Comparison of waterbirth with conventional vaginal delivery: A non-randomized controlled trial from IranSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
BONUS - 6 Minute Pregnancy Relaxation
06-12-2022
BONUS - 6 Minute Pregnancy Relaxation
Never tried a guided relaxation before? The short tracks on this podcast are a great place to start. This track is just over 6 minutes long and designed to be used wherever & whenever you need a quick reset and to check in with yourself & baby.The intention of this practice is for you to connect with your body & baby, recognising where you are at the present moment, acknowledging that & accepting it. I encourage you to notice not only the negatives, as our brains are so inclined to do, but also the positives.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!*Do Not Listen To Guided Relaxations While Driving or Operating Machinery*Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
13. Your Amazing Uterus & It's Powerful Contractions
03-11-2022
13. Your Amazing Uterus & It's Powerful Contractions
Today's episode is going to be focusing on contractions - what are they? And how does our uterus actually work?Most people in the beginning know very little about what contractions are. They just think 'Right I’m going to have contractions, whatever they are, and they will get bigger and harder until my baby is born' ...and that’s just not true for everyone. Not all contractions are made equal; we have different kinds of contractions which do completely different jobs, at different stages in our labour.I really hope this episode helps to breakdown a little of the physiology of birth for you, and goes a little way to building your confidence in your amazing body and it's incredible capabilities.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
12. First Steps to Feeling Better About Birth
20-10-2022
12. First Steps to Feeling Better About Birth
It’s all very well to be told about the importance of building a positive mindset for birth, but how do you actually get to a place where that feels realistic?For some people, they hit pregnancy feeling pretty neutral about birth, others even feel good and excited about the experience of giving birth, however, there are a great many people who don’t fall in to either of those camps. If that is you, you are not alone. In fact, I’d say you’re maybe in the majority group!If you are currently in a place where the idea of birth being a positive experience feels pretty far fetched and your wracked with fear & anxiety then this episode is for you. I’m not here to tell you not to be scared, I think it’s really important to recognise our feelings, not just try to cover them up.Let me take you through some of the first steps I use with my clients to try and help them to dial down a bit of that belief that birth is an inherently negative experience.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!ReferencesBirth Trauma Association Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBTA/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
11. Tailoring Your Birth Environment
29-09-2022
11. Tailoring Your Birth Environment
Today we’re on episode 10 and we are talking all about how to tailor your environment for birth. In the previous episode of the show we looked at choosing where to give birth, now we’re thinking about the considerations for how to make that environment supportive of birth.We talk about the importance of remembering that the majority of birth begins at home - unless you are having a caesarean or induction then you will be labouring at home, so what can you do to support yourself there?I also talk a little about how all of this still applies and is just as important if you are having an induction of labour.The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!References:The aesthetic nature of the birthing room environment may alter the need for obstetrical interventions; 2019https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36416-xSpace, place and the midwife: exploring the relationship between the birth environment, neurobiology and midwifery practice; 2013https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24139678/Birth, Bath, and Beyond: The Science and Safety of Water Immersion During Labor and Birth; 2014https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4210671/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
10. Why Should You Write A Birth Plan & Where To Start!
23-09-2022
10. Why Should You Write A Birth Plan & Where To Start!
Today’s episode I’m introducing you to one of my favourite aspects of birth preparation - and what I also think is the most important thing to make sure you do - and that’s get yourself some birth plans sorted out! Yes plural!!!There is definitely an element of being able to ‘go with the flow’ when it comes to your experience of birth, but the process of writing and researching your birth plans is not something you want to overlook. It’s a really powerful way to become familiar with birth, how it works and what your options are.Resources & ReferencesThe Birthing Parents Club Birth Plan Template - https://birthingparentsclub.com/birthplanCheck out my friend Anna’s incredible induction series on instagram: - www.instagram.com/hackneyhypnobirthingFor positive induction birth stories, you can read all about my clients Ildi and Emma, who chose to have their labours induced at 39 and 40 weeks, respectively - https://birthingparentsclub.com/blog/category/Induction+of+LabourEvaluation of the effects of a birth plan on Taiwanese women's childbirth experiences, control and expectations fulfilment: a randomised controlled trial - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20036361/The Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
9. Choosing Where To Birth Your Baby
16-09-2022
9. Choosing Where To Birth Your Baby
In today’s episode I take you through a bit of the process of choosing where to birth your baby and explore your options for midwife led units, labour ward, theatre & home birth. There's quite a bit to get through, and it's a bit juicy! Hence why I'm chatting for a bit longer than usual this week.We also touch on your right to choose where you give birth, and this right is protected by law. The organisations mentioned are AIMS UK and Birth Rights who provide an incredible free resource to families who need support with their care during pregenancy, birth & post natally.The studies mentioned in todays episode with regards to risks & outcomes in each setting come from The Birth Place Study, 2010 and the home birth review published in The Lancet. Both are linked below. You can also check out my website for a table of outcomes which should make it easy for you to compare the rates of different interventions across different intended birth places.The Birthplace Study - https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace#the-birthplace-cohort-studyThe Lancet Review: Maternal outcomes and birth interventions among women who begin labour intending to give birth at home compared to women of low obstetrical risk who intend to give birth in hospital - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30063-8/fulltextBirthing Parents Club - Choosing Where To Birth Your Baby - www.birthingparentsclub.com/birthplaceThe Hypno-WHAT Podcast now has it's own instagram page! Give it a follow here to keep track of new episodes as they come out! And if you want to have a nosy at what Claire is up to you can find me here.If instagrams not your thing you can also get in touch via email, my address is claire@birthingparentsclub.com. I really do love hearing from you, so whether it’s podcast feedback, episode ideas or your birth story please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.I hope you are enjoying the soothing sound of Scotland in your ears as your relax during pregnancy; you can now buy more of my hypnobirthing mp3s on my online shop. They are a bargain £4 each and cover topics such as anxiety, confidence building, fear release & preparing to breastfeed. Check it out here! Or to get yourself booked in for private birth prep with me - available online or face to face in Edinburgh & the surrounding.Your feedback is super important to me - it not only tells the podcast gods & goddesses that you are enjoying the show but it helps me to reach more people, spreading the good word of birth far & wide! If you have a couple minutes to drop me a rating & a few words for a review, I would be so grateful - thank you!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hypno-what-modern-hypnobirthing-with-claire/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy