HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method was founded by Marie Mongan in 1989 and is inspired by the work of the English obstetrician Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, the father of natural childbirth. Marie Mongan is a Clinical Hypnotherapist 

with an active practice in New Hampshire in America.

There is no pathological reason for pain in childbirth. Fear and interventions cause the body to malfunction, then there is pain. HypnoBirthing® teaches women to actually relax their body to work the way it was designed to work, based on the belief that childbirth is a natural healthy event, not a medical emergency. HypnoBirthing® teaches women to use self-hypnosis, massage, relaxation and special slow breathing techniques to keep discomfort from occurring in the first place.

HypnoBirthing®  is returning birthing to the beautiful, peaceful experience nature intended. Using this method you can learn techniques for safer, easier and more comfortable birthing through guided imagery, visualisation and special breathing.

Around 65-70% of HypnoBirthing® mothers don't need any form of pain relief. Nearly all the mothers in this category simply don't experience any pain - just pressure. Around a further 20-25% only require something mild, like gas and air. 

The remaining 5-10% usually fall into what we call 'special circumstances', where medical intervention is required. However, the HypnoBirthing® mothers still tell us that HypnoBirthing® really helped - even if they were induced, or ended up with caesarean. 

Here are some of the things you'll learn at HypnoBirthing® classes that are not covered in most antenatal classes.

• Breathing techniques that actually help

• How to massively reduce the need for any medication at all

• How to reduce your risk of needing an episiotomy during birth with a stunningly simple massage technique

• How to be confident and informed when dealing with the medical staff - when to question, what to ask...and when it's time to let them take charge 

• How to release any fears you might have about childbirth, regardless of where they come from 

• How to bring about your own easy start of labour with simple, natural techniques, if you go beyond your "estimated due date" 

• Most importantly, you'll know how to relax and stay calm and in control - regardless of what's happening around you 

Additional benefits that have been reported by mothers include:

• Considerably shorter labour and birthing

• Significantly fewer surgical births

• High number of comfortable, natural births with no technological assistance

• A high rate of success in assisting breech-presented babies to turn into appropriate birthing position with the use of posture and hypnosis (in a study done at the University of Vermont of 100 women at 37 to 40 weeks, there was a 81% success rate with hypnosis) 

• Highly energized mothers in good spirits following births that are calm and gentle 

Does it help the baby too?

Yes. We find that babies born using HypnoBirthing® tend to be calmer, feed better, sleep better and experience less trauma, because they are gently and calmly breathed into the world at their own pace.

Scientific research has also shown that the babies usually have higher Agpar scores as well (a measure of how well your baby is doing immediately after the birth, and then five minutes later).

Finally - something useful for the father to do!

Instead of your husband or partner being a helpless onlooker, they become a central part of the birthing process helping you to stay calm and focused on the techniques you've been taught. As a result, the fathers feel proud to have been able to help, and to be an active part of the birth. Imagine how close that makes them feel to you and the baby!