gentlebirth workshops

*** DURING COVID-19, I AM OFFERING EITHER A LIVE ONLINE VERSION OF THE 1-DAY WORKSHOP BROKEN DOWN INTO 4 SESSIONS OF 2 HOURS AT TIMES THAT SUIT YOU - OR 2 IN-PERSON SESSIONS OF 4 HOURS IN YOUR HOME. LEARN FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME IN SESSIONS TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR NEEDS. ***

The GentleBirth programme combines
  • brain training for pregnancy, labour and birth
  • self-help in labour
  • negotiating your care in the maternity services.
The brain training part includes changing unconscious thought patterns using hypnosis and affirmations, changing conscious thought patterns using mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy and sports psychology. Mothers-to-be follow the programme using an amazing new app with lots of options to tailor it to their needs. The workshop is a great way to pull the whole programme together and is often most beneficial for partners to get them on board. Almost all mothers who use the app join the Facebook page 'GentleBirth - Official' where you get great support and hear really positive birth stories instead of the usual horror stories most people want to tell you. See www.gentlebirth.com for more info. Here's a short video that explains the science that the programme is based on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1UKghQ3Szk

GentleBirth has so much more to offer than other hypnobirthing programmes!

Workshops are €275 per couple including 1 month free subscription to the app that starts at the time of booking and 30 day access to an online resource following the workshop.
  • Usually: Weekend workshops in Marino Institute of Education Conference Centre, Dublin 3 - 1-day + blended learning format - subject to government guidelines for indoor activities.
  • Contact Niamh 086 8577140 or dublinantenatal@gmail.com
  • Read my instructor bio below to find out more about my philosophy around preparing for labour and birth.

My instructor bio

GentleBirth combines all the elements that I think are essential for a positive birth experience into one easy-to-use programme. I’m excited to be working with motivated couples – people who believe birth can be different from the negative stories everyone wants to tell you, different from the media representation of birth. If you’ve already joined the GentleBirth Facebook group, you'll have read how it can be a wonderful, positive, life-changing experience.

I understand how important preparation for childbirth is. It made all the difference to me on my first birth in hospital and my two births at home. I sought out all the relevant information about hospital policies and practices and how to work around them and I also did some DIY brain conditioning using affirmations, deep relaxation and self-hypnosis. The GentleBirth workshop and programme pulls all this - and much, much more - together for you.

My background: I am an experienced antenatal teacher teaching since 2005 and tutoring trainee antenatal teachers since 2013. I teach a unique weekly yoga-based class called Pregnancy Relax Stretch Breathe that combines pregnancy yoga, antenatal education/practical skills and socialising for pregnant women. I am also a Baby Massage instructor.

My project: I am author of www.bump2babe.ie which is the Consumer Guide to the Maternity Services in Ireland which was updated and re-launched in June 2018. The guide is ‘one-stop shop’ resource for information on every Irish maternity hospital.

My reviews: Visit https://g.page/r/CVPRtU5cRuI_EAE
or my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pg/MyBumpMyBirthMyBaby/reviews/?ref=page_internal) to read positive reviews of my workshops.

My article in the Irish Times: I featured in the Irish Times in 2016 and got an opportunity to outline my philosophy around birth. Read more here http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/i-don-t-hold-one-type-of-birth-as-being-the-ideal-1.2529545