Birth Story Hypnobirthing, Saint Albans (2026)

12/02/2026

WE ❤️ OXYTOCIN: Did you know that your love hormone, oxytocin, powers a positive labour & birth?
From early pregnancy, oxytocin is working its magic. As the embryo implants the uterine lining, oxytocin helps establish the connection and behaviour between mama and baby. At birth, oxytocin enters the bloodstream and starts our surges (contractions). Baby then tilts clockwise pushing closer on the cervix, increasing oxytocin and building intensity of surges, journeying baby down birth canal and into our arms✨ In the golden hour, oxytocin peaks establishing initial bonds with baby and stimulates ‘let down’ for breastfeeding
However, oxytocin rapidly decreases with fear and anxiety, so it’s vital we don’t let adrenalin takeover and tap into 10 tips to boost oxytocin for labour & birth…
🫁 BREATHWORK: Can work wonders for birth – creating calm, confidence & control allowing oxytocin to flow in abundance

😌 RELAXATION: Unlock your relaxation response from head to toe. When the mind is calm, the body is calm

🔗 TRUST: From birth partner to medical team, it’s vital you trust each person in your birth space & they support and respect your preferences

⛔️ PRIVACY: Be it closed curtains and doors to establishing on your birth plan who’s invited into your safe space - birthing mum shouldn’t feel exposed or disturbed

🕯️ DIM LIGHTS: Makes our birthing hormones happy allowing body to work at its best. It also releases melatonin, which combined with oxytocin, can help dilation

🧘🏽‍♀️ MEDITATION: Switch meditation mode ON! Whether you listen to a guided hypnosis or a soothing soundtrack - unlock your state of emotional relaxation

❤️ LOVE & TOUCH: Be it kisses, cuddles, massage, ni**le stimulation or s*x - creating intimacy stimulates a surge of oxytocin

🥑 OXYTOCIN RICH FOOD: Try avocados, watermelon, salmon, dark chocolate, figs, oranges & chamomile tea

👶🏼 BONDING: From prenatal bonding exercises to creating connection with birth partner - bonding builds unconditional comfort

🧿 AWAKE 6th SENSE: Let your archaic brain rule - trust the body to birth as nature designed. Liberate with vocalisation, movement & oxytocin will flow!

10/02/2026

RASPBERRY LEAF TEA: Fancy a cuppa? ☕️ Raspberry leaf tea is a herbal tea that is made from the leaves of the red raspberry plant to tone and ready the uterine muscle for effective surges during labour. Whilst raspberry leaf tea has been used for at least two centuries to support the body during pregnancy and birth, its effectiveness to get labour going is still a topic for debate for healthcare professionals. We always recommend that with any herbal remedy, you consult your midwife before consuming raspberry leaf tea
📅 WHEN SHOULD I START?
The NHS advise to start drinking raspberry leaf at 32 weeks, but not before. Allowing enough time for your body to experience all the benefits. You can gradually increase to drinking up to 3 cups a day in preparation for labour
✅ BENEFITS FOR PREGNANCY & BIRTH…
Alongside strengthening the uterus for labour and a myriad of mineral and vitamin benefits for pregnancy. From studies available*, the link between drinking raspberry leaf tea regularly from 32-34 weeks may potentially…
⏰ Reduce the time of 2nd stage in labour
💧 Lower the chance of artificial rupture of membranes (breaking waters)
🗓️ Reduce post-date pregnancies
👶🏽 Reduce interventions such as forceps and/or ventouse
⛔️ RASPBERRY LEAF TEA ISN’T RECOMMENDED IF YOU…
* Had a c-section within the last 2 years
* Having a planned caesarean
* Have high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia
* Premature labour in a past pregnancy
* Have strong Braxton Hicks contractions
* Had a quick labour before (

03/02/2026

Would you love to feel supported from bump to birth like Birth Story couple Reema & Harps? We’re here to help 🤍
Designed and shaped to your requirements, our courses will guide you through hypnobirthing & antenatal education and share how you can eliminate anxiety attributed to birth by building a toolkit primed with positive relaxation, hypnosis and breathwork techniques. Plus, join me for a Birth Story 1-2-1 hypnobirthing course and you’ll access all of this…�.�💬 4 x 2 hour classes + 1 complimentary refresher class ahead of your EDD�.�🎧 12 relaxation tracks, 1 post-birth healing track, over 100 hypnobirth videos, programme handbook�.�📱24/7 teacher text service for UNLIMITED support upto and after the birth of your baby�.�📝 Guided birth planning session including templates to help you shape a flexible birth plan �.�🎁 Birth Story welcome pack including positive affirmation cards, birth comb, relaxation tools & silk eye mask�.�👶🏽 Courses available for ALL births including elective c-sections, breech, twins, VBAC and scheduled inductions�.�NOW BOOKING MARCH & APRIL 2026 COURSES - 📧 email me to book your course at birthstoryco@gmail.com or tap our bio link 🔝 to visit our website �.�.�.�

28/01/2026

Which position is your baby in? During pregnancy, your developing baby moves into several different positions in the womb 🔄 The ideal position for baby just before labour is the cephalic anterior position (occiput anterior). In this position, baby is head down, chin to chest, hands to heart & back to belly - this position allows them to move more easily and comfortably through the pelvis when in mum is assuming an upright, forward & open position
Other positions of a developing baby in the womb include…
👶🏽 CEPHALIC POSTERIOR POSITION: In the occiput posterior position baby is facing head down, but face is positioned toward your stomach instead of your back. Recent research suggests that the labour is likely to be longer as the baby has further to turn
👶🏻 COMPLETE BREECH: The buttocks are pointing toward the birth path (downward), with the legs folded at the knees. The feet are near the buttocks. Around 1 in 5 babies are in the breech position at 30 weeks of pregnancy. By the end of pregnancy only about 3 in 100 are breech
👶🏼 FRANK BREECH: The buttocks are toward the birth path, but the baby’s legs are straight up in front of their body, and the feet are near the head
👶🏽 FOOTLING BREECH: One or both of the baby’s feet are pointing downward toward the birth canal
👶🏾 TRANSVERSE LIE: Lying sideways or even shoulder presentation - baby is positioned horizontally in the uterus. Although many babies lie sideways early on in pregnancy, most turn themselves into the head-down position by the final trimester
👶🏿 OBLIQUE LIE: Baby is positioned diagonally in the uterus, with their head or bottom resting near the mother’s hip rather than vertically
From The Mirror Mantra and pregnancy posture pointers to a myriad of positions for labour and birth, hypnobirthing shares tools to support baby from womb to world. SIGN UP for our Spring ‘26 courses by tapping ‘contact’ in our bio ⬆️

27/01/2026

WHY IS MY BABY SO ACTIVE AT NIGHT? 🌙 Ever wondered why baby is so active when you’re feeling relaxed? Be it a baby rave in your belly when you’re tucked up in bed or when deep in a moment of meditation they share a little kick or two
When we achieve an ultimate state of emotional relaxation not only does is stimulate our endorphins, offering that gorgeous feel-good hormone ♥️ hit for both us and baby, but a deep state of calm also allows our uterus muscles to soften and ease out. This creates more room in the womb for baby to flutter, stretch, swoosh and also begin to get into the optimum position for birth
Here’s 5 reasons why babies become more active during the night…
🪩 BEDTIME = PARTY TIME! Your daytime movement rocks and lulls your baby to sleep, but when you’re in bed, your little one is ready to roll, flip, and turn
🩸 BLOOD SUGAR CHANGES: After dinner, your blood sugar levels rise, which can make the baby more active, often between 9pm and 1am
🕐 CIRCADIAN RHYTHM: Research suggests a natural, late-evening peak in fetal activity as part of their development
🤫 PEACEFUL PERIODS: With fewer distractions and noises once we’re snuggled up in bed, you are simply more attuned to their kicks, rolls, and stretches
🦶 KICKS ARE A GOOD THING: Keep track of the pokes you feel to be better connected with your babe, even those in the wee hours of the morning
Remember, it is important to get to know your baby’s specific pattern of movement. If you notice a sudden, significant decrease in movement, or if movements stop entirely, you should contact your midwife or consultant immediately

25/01/2026

ARE YOU DUE TO GIVE BIRTH THIS SPRING? 👶🏻 Thinking about hypnobirthing but not sure what it’s really all about? We’re here to help! Join us for a FREE hypnobirthing taster on Wednesday 25th February, 7.30-8.30pm(GMT). An informative, inspiring and insightful start to your hypnobirthing journey and great preparation for ALL births. Whether you’re planning a physiological birth, elective c-section or welcoming twins, sign up to discover how you can positively prepare for any kind of birth experience
In this 1 hour live online session, I’ll guide you through how to build your hypnobirthing toolkit 🧰 From breathwork for labour to the science behind birth, how to make informed decisions and why a flexible birth plan is key. Round up with a mini hypnosis session and you’ll leave feeling calm, confident and even excited about your birth
WHAT DOES THIS SESSION COVER?
💭 What hypnobirthing is really about & how it works 🙇🏻‍♀️ How to eliminate birth fear
🧠 Busting myths and understanding ‘hypnosis’  🌬 Breathwork & relaxation techniques
📋 Shaping a flexible birth plan
✨ 10 minute mini relaxation session 🤰🏽What I cover on the full course
💬 Q&A with Birth Story founder & registered hypnobirth instructor Nicola Wilson
🎁 A gift to get your started on your hypnobirthing journey
HOW DO I SIGN UP? Simply email me at birthstoryco@gmail.com to secure your spot and to find out more details 📧 Be quick as spaces fill up fast! . . . 

20/01/2026

With maternity care and services firmly in the headlines, please don’t let the flurry of stories send you into a spin - we’re here to support you for birth 🤍 Hypnobirthing isn’t just about breathwork, it’s rooted in antenatal preparation for ALL births. Embracing early education, will enable you and your partner to feel excited and empowered as you journey from bump to birth and allow you to navigate your midwife appointments with confidence
Our 5 Ps share how a Birth Story hypnobirthing course can positively support you along your journey from first to fourth trimester…
🤰🏽PHYSIOLOGY: What’s really happening in my pregnant body? From understanding uterus muscles to accessing the right hormones for birth to exploring pain, positions for labour and the pelvic & perineal preparation - this is one science lesson they don’t teach at school
🧠 PYSCHE: Preparing the mind for birth is just as vital at preparing our body. Through subconscious reframing, self-hypnosis and setting a mind-body connection, we help manage our fear-tension-pain cycle and access our flow state to unlock deep emotional relaxation
📆 PREPARATION: Did you know that you can start preparing with hypnobirthing as early as 20 weeks? By the time your 36 week planning appointment rolls round, you’ll already have those antenatal questions answered, flexible birth plan shaped and feel empowered to drive forward the birth that’s right for you and baby
📋 PREFERENCES: You are in control of your birth and knowing the choices available to you from pregnancy to parenthood is key. Understanding sweeps to birth spaces, stages of inductions to making informed decisions, placenta delivery to postnatal plans, promoting comfort to golden hour preferences - choice promotes confidence
♥️ PERSONALISATION: Not all births are the same and neither are our courses. We take time to shape sessions tailored to you and your birth partner. Tapping into specific anxieties, flexing birth prep to accommodate changes in birth path and always being at the end of the phone with our 24/7 teacher support service, we’re here to shape YOUR birth story - DM me to get started

19/01/2026

WHAT IS VERNIX? Have you ever wondered what those creamy-looking patches are on newborns? It’s called vernix caseosa - a white naturally occurring biofilm covering baby’s skin during their time in the womb. The term comes from Latin and literally translates to “cheesy varnish”. Humans are the only animals whose newborns are coated in vernix
Vernix begins to cover your baby’s skin during the second trimester. At around 20 weeks of pregnancy, your baby will be covered from head to toe in a white, greasy layer of vernix. During the rest of your pregnancy, the thickness of the vernix layer will increase to reach its peak at 36-38 weeks. By around 40 weeks it is mainly found in the skin creases. Your baby may come out covered in vernix, or it may already be mostly gone by the time they greet the world
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VERNIX?
🤰🏽DURING PREGNANCY: The vernix your baby swallows may also help nourish their developing gut bacteria
✨ IN LABOUR: Vernix’s greasy, oily texture could serve as a natural lubricant to help baby gently down the birth canal
🤱🏽POST BIRTH: Vernix helps with the development of the skin’s protective layer known as the ‘acid mantle’. This gives your baby’s skin extra immunity and protection against germs 🦠 It can assist babies latch on too - the scent of vernix might be involved in triggering neural connections in babies’ brains needed for breastfeeding.
👶🏼 BONDING: Research has linked leftover vernix caseosa to the intoxicating “new baby smell” associated with babies - this smell may play a part in triggering sensations of love and pleasure in new parents
❤️‍🩹 POSTNATAL RECOVERY: Vernix contains compounds thought to promote perineal wound healing, so it may aid in recovery for vaginal births.
WHEN SHOULD I WASH VERNIX OFF?
Experts advise leaving the vernix to be absorbed naturally unless it is drying and causing sore areas in cracks or fissures 🛁Research suggests that delaying a baby’s bath until 24 hours after birth may have a positive effect on temperature regulation and blood sugar levels
Did your baby have a lot of vernix?⁠

12/01/2026

Hands up, are you an overthinker? ✋🏻 We all have days when our negative chatterbox goes into overdrive, especially when it comes to the unknowns attributed to pregnancy, labour & birth
Whether we recall past traumatic birth conversations or replay all things that could go wrong with our own labour - that thought cloud can weigh heavy on our mind ☁️ Negative thinking is in our evolutionary biology - our brains are wired to over-learn from negative experiences - this helped our ancestors evaluate threat and avoid danger. Remember, when we dwell in negativity our stress increases and our happiness suffers which isn’t conducive positively preparing for birth
Here’s a technique I love leaning into to curb patterns of overthinking and help take charge of thoughts - THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE 🔄 With this easy technique, you’ll be able to tune out those antenatal anxieties and swap wobbles by welcoming a plethora of positive thoughts 🙌🏻
1️⃣ Monitor your thoughts, when a negative thought arises, observe it - notice if that thought sounds familiar? 🧠 Negative thoughts are simply a habit of thinking and habits CAN be broken!
2️⃣ Don’t suppress the negative thought or judge yourself for having it - just bring awareness to what’s happening. With a conscious desire for CHANGE you can clear your mind 💭 and keep any negative thoughts about birthing in check
3️⃣ When we separate and swap away from a negative thoughts - we remove its power 🗑 Worry thoughts aren’t necessarily real and you can easily EXCHANGE them for POSITIVE thoughts. You’ll never be able to hang onto the positive with all that negative chatter in the way
4️⃣ By practicing this thought exchange over and over we can overcome those anxieties and create positive thoughts which will drive your preparation for birth - who doesn’t want a ✨CALM, CONFIDENT✨ birthing experience where you’re in control of every step of the way!
For more ways to take charge of your thoughts and prepare for a positive birth experience - SIGN UP for our 2026 hypnobirthing courses by tapping our bio link ⬆️  . .  birth

Birth Story Hypnobirthing

12/02/2026

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