Hypnobirthing®
Shakti Births offers HypnoBirthing® antenatal classes in Centurion, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and online. Private and group classes are available.
what is hypnobirthing®?
HypnoBirthing® – The Mongan Method is a complete, evidence-based antenatal course for parents who desire a natural childbirth. It is as much a philosophy as it is a technique, and it teaches you that, in the absence of fear and tension, or special medical circumstances, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labour.
When you have your baby with HypnoBirthing®, you will not be in a trance or asleep. What you will experience is similar to the daydreaming, or focusing, that occurs when you are engrossed in a book or a movie or staring into a fire. You will be conversant and in good spirits – totally relaxed, but fully in control. Awake throughout, you will be aware of your body’s surges and your baby’s progress; but because you will have trained yourself to reach complete relaxation, you will be able to achieve a more manageable labour. You will experience birthing in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear that prevents the muscles of your body from functioning as nature intended them to. In this calm state, your body’s natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that constrict and cause severe pain.
Through a well-thought-out programme of deep relaxation, special breathing techniques, visualisations, affirmations, and education, HypnoBirthing prepares a birthing couple – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – for an easier, more comfortable birth.
It is recommended that you start your course between 20 and 34 weeks of pregnancy – but the earlier, the better – so that you have lots of time before your birthing day to practise the techniques.
hypnobirthing® advantages
- Taught for over 30 years, across 46 countries.
- Eliminates the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome before, during, and after birthing.
- Reduces, and often eliminates, the need for chemical anesthesia, episiotomy, and other interventions.
- Lessens fatigue during labour, leaving the birthing parent fresh, awake, and energised as they bring their baby into the world.
- Shortens the thinning and opening phase of labour by several hours and allows the birthing parent to utilise the natural pulsations of their body to breathe their baby down to the crowning stage, rather than pushing for long, exhausting periods of time. Reduces risk of pelvic floor damage.
- Brings the birthing parent, the baby, and the birthing companion together in a wonderful prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal bonding experience.
- The birthing companion is an integral part of the birthing, not an onlooker.
- Gentle birth leads to easier emotional and physical postpartum recovery.
- HypnoBirthing contributes towards experiences of self-confidence and satisfaction.
- Babies are better adjusted and happier.
- Fewer instances of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.
what is included in the course?
5 Weekly Classes
Private or group classes are available. Partners are included in the course, and a doula/mother/sister may also attend free of charge.
HypnoBirthing Book / Handouts
The official HypnoBirthing® book by Marie Mongan, as well as additional handouts, are provided.
MP3 Tracks
A number of MP3 tracks, including the popular Rainbow Relaxation and Daily Affirmations, are provided.
course outline
Class 1
Setting the stage
- Philosophy and beginnings of HypnoBirthing®
- History of women and birthing
- How the uterus works in birthing
- How fear affects labour
- The origin of fear and pain in labour
- Mind/body connection
- The power of the mind
- Psycho-physical association
- The vocabulary for calm and gentle birthing
- Breathing and relaxation
- Building positive images of birth
Class 2
falling in love with your baby
- Pre-birth, perinatal, and postnatal bonding
- The remarkable mind of your newborn baby
- Selecting care providers
- Creating the ideal birthing environment
- Preparing the mind for birth
- Breathing techniques
- Rapid and instant self-relaxation techniques
- Light touch labour massage
- Preparing the body for birthing (nutrition and toning)
Class 3
advanced visualisation and deepening
- Labour and birthing visualisations and deepenings
- Turning breech-presented babies
- Special circumstances to look out for
- Preparing your birth preferences (birth plan or wishlist)
- "Due dates" and how the body prepares for birth
- Artificial and natural labour induction
- Your body working for and with you
- Releasing negative emotions, fears, and limiting thoughts
Class 4
overview and summary of birth
- Pre-labour tricksters
- The onset of labour
- Birth explained simply
- Labour phases: thinning and opening
- The birth companion’s role in birthing
- Additional labour comfort measures
- What to do when labour slows or rests
- Decision making in labour: using your BRAINS
- Hallmarks as labour advances
Class 5
birthing and bonding
- Mother nears completion
- Labour positions
- Birthing phase
- Birth's perfect design
- Cord clamping and birth of the placenta
- The magical first hour
- Breastfeeding
- Bonding with baby
- The fourth trimester
hypnobirthing® birth videos
cost and bookings
Group HypnoBirthing Course
Classes held online. Next group course begins Mon, 05 May 2025 at 18:00.- 5 weekly classes, each lasting approximately 3 hours long.
- You will be provided with the official HypnoBirthing® book, all MP3s (e.g. Rainbow Relaxation and Daily Affirmations), and all other course materials, handouts, and resources.
- There is no extra fee for birth companions (partner, husband, mother, sister, friend, doula, etc.). This programme gives birth companions a wonderful role, being able to know where the birthing parent is at and what they need during any given moment.
- Minimum of 3 couples needed for a group course to take place.
- Payment arrangements can be made.
Private HypnoBirthing Course
Private classes held in the comfort of your own home or online.- 5 weekly classes, each lasting approximately 3 hours long.
- You will be provided with the official HypnoBirthing® book, all MP3s (e.g. Rainbow Relaxation and Daily Affirmations), and all other course materials, handouts, and resources.
- There is no extra fee for birth companions (partner, husband, mother, sister, friend, doula, etc.). This programme gives birth companions a wonderful role, being able to know where the birthing parent is at and what they need during a given moment.
- Cost excludes travel outside of Centurion.
- Payment arrangements can be made.
Upcoming Group Online Courses in 2025
- Monday, 03 February – Monday, 03 March 2025 | 18:00
- Monday, 05 May – Monday, 02 June 2025 | 18:00
- Thursday, 03 July – Thursday, 31 July 2025 | 18:00
- Monday, 25 August – Monday, 22 September 2025 | 18:00
- Monday, 03 November – Monday, 01 December 2025 | 18:00
(There is still space available for all courses – feel free to book online and pay via EFT using the banking details on the booking form and I’ll then confirm your booking and contact you again 1 week before we start to deliver study material, etc.)
When you change the way you think about birth, the way you birth will change.
Mickey Mongan