Birth Story Hypnobirthing, Saint Albans (2026)

24/05/2026

HEATWAVE HACKS IN PREGNANCY ☀️ Keeping cool with a blossoming bump can be difficult when temperatures rise 🌡 With hormonal changes, increased blood flow and extra heat produced by the placenta, in pregnancy your core body temperature can climb a little higher than normal. Check out our 6 heatwave hacks and handy hints…
💧 H2OHHH! From paddling pool or sprinkler spritz to a soothing soak in the bath (temperature shouldn’t be above 32°C), water is a wonder to keep cool. Heading out? Grab our fave One Hot Mama face and body mist for an on-the-go cool down delight
🥥 HYDRATION HELP: Keep a bottle of water with you at all times and drink at least 1.5-2 litres a day. Replace electrolytes that are sweated away with a simple homemade electrolyte drink - 500ml coconut water⁠, 250ml water⁠, juice from 1 lemon and 1 lime⁠, 1 tbsp honey⁠ and 1/4 tsp unrefined salt⁠
😎 SHADY LADY: Shade can make the temperature feel 10-15 degrees cooler than direct sun exposure. Seek shade if you’re outside and avoid being out in the hottest part of the day (11am-3pm). Slap on the SPF, style it out with a hat and sunnies and pop a handheld fan in your bag
🦶SOOTHE SWOLLEN FEET: Swollen legs and feet are common in pregnancy - elevate those tootsies to minimise swelling, wear comfy shoes and avoid standing for long periods. Increase your intake of watercress and citrus fruits which act as natural diuretics. Try Lighter Legs to soothe and refresh
❄️ ICE ICE BABY: Keep your freezer stocked up with frozen fancies. If you’re over 32 weeks, try a batch of raspberry leaf tea lollies - steep 300g raspberries, 3 raspberry leaf tea bags, 1 tbsp maple syrup for 10 mins in boiling water, add juice of 1 lime, decant into lolly moulds and freeze!
🧊DIY A/C: Ditch that duvet and invest in this home air-con hack. A great way to cool you down at night is to have a fan circulating cold air around your room, plus pop a two-litre bottle of frozen water in front of it, et voila… instant air-conditioning
How do you keep cool in heatwave when pregnant?

20/05/2026

LABOUR-AID LOLLIES 🍋 I often get asked in class which snacks and drinks are great to consume during labour, these zesty Labour-Aid Lollies are a winner and particular handy with a heatwave pending! ☀️
These easy to make ice lollies are great for labour as they not only hydrate but also offer a much-needed hit of electrolytes. Electrolytes help our body to work more efficiently during labour and are required for muscle contractions. Without them muscles become weak and surges of the uterus can be less effective in labour. Electrolytes also regulate our nerve function, hydration, pH levels and blood pressure.
Prep a stash of lollies ahead of time and your birth partner can pop to the freezer 🧊 to keep your cool, calm and refreshed throughout your labour whilst also maintaining your energy & endurance. Here’s how to make your very own Labour-Aid Lollies…
INGREDIENTS
🥥 2 cups coconut water⁠ 🚰 1 cup water⁠ 🍋 Juice from 1 lemon ⁠ 🍯 1 tbsp honey⁠ 🧂 1/4 tsp unrefined salt⁠
METHOD: Fill a jug with half of the coconut water (1 cup), add the lemon juice, salt and honey 🥄 Stir the ingredients together. Pour the remaining half of the coconut water and water & keep stirring until the honey has dissolved. Pour your labour-aid into lolly moulds and place in the freezer to set. Slip out of the moulds once frozen and savour as you work through your surges

13/05/2026

WATER BIRTH FAQS: From warmth of water to what to wear, baby’s first breath to birth partner etiquette - we’ve collated the most common questions we get asked about birthing in water in class and compiled a handy FAQ just for you…
💧 Q: Does the water stay warm? A: The water temperature is usually between 34-37ºC during the first stage of labour. For your baby’s birth, the water needs to be about 37ºC
💧Q: How will be monitored? A: Your midwife will use an underwater hand held doppler every 15-30 minutes during active 1st stage of labour and every 5 in 2nd stage. Your blood pressure, temperature and pulse will also be regularly checked. A birthing mirror can also be used to monitor baby crowning
💧 Q. What pain relief can I have in water?
A. Water is a wonderful method of promoting comfort but if you need a little extra, you can use gas and air (entonox) or squeeze a birth comb during intense surges. You can’t have any opiates (pethidine) for about 2-3 hours before you get into the pool & you can’t use a TENS machine as there is a danger of electrocution
💧Q: What if a pool is unavailable in hospital?
A: If you have access to a shower at hospital, you can kneel, sit or with the support of your birth partner, use the shower to stimulate your endorphins
💧Q. What should I wear in the pool?
A. The choice is yours as long as you’re comfortable - you can go naked or pop on a bikini top
💧Q. Can my birth partner get in the pool?
A. Absolutely - make this wish clear on your birth plan & pack swimwear
💧Q. Can I deliver my placenta in a pool?
A. A physiological third stage is common in water. You can have an active third stage in water - the oxytocin injection be administered in the pool, then you’ll transfer to dry land to deliver the placenta to better monitor blood loss
💧Q. Will my baby breathe when it’s under water?
A. When babies are born in water, their body behaves as if it’s still in the womb until their first breath, at which point their lungs open. As a baby comes from water (womb) into water (pool) the lungs are not open and no water can get in. Your baby won’t take a breath until they’re out of the water

11/05/2026

It’s not about a ‘perfect’ birth. It’s not about a rigid birth plan. As Blaise shares, hypnobirthing is about preparing for all birth paths and feeling calm, confident & in control ahead of achieving the RIGHT BIRTH ON THE DAY ✨ Here’s a taster of what you’ll learn across our one-to-one course…
CLASS 1: MIND & BODY 🧠 Tap into the science of our mind and body for birth - debunk hypnosis myths, learn how to take charge of your thoughts & understand how the mind interprets pain and discover how to manage it. Explore how the right mix of hormones can harness a calm birth and how our uterus muscles are made to easily birth our baby
CLASS 2: RESET & RELAX ✨ Learn incredible relaxation and breathwork tools to calm your mind and body in labour, establish control as your work through your surges & feel confident in distracting your mind away from any discomfort by counting yourself down to your relaxing place.
CLASS 3: PRE & POSTNATAL PLANNING ✅ Connect with your emotions through a cathartic fear release session, explore prenatal bonding techniques and postnatal preparation. Together we’ll shape your flexible birth plan from the right companions to calm environment, birth preferences to options for promoting comfort
CLASS 4: BIRTHING & BIRTH PARTNER 👶🏽Journey step-by-step through your labour and birth - understanding the starting signs, timing surges to super effective birth positions. Learn birth humming and how to make that golden hour shine with your newborn. Plus, focus on birth partner support roles including how they can confidently advocate your birth, make informed decisions and coach & calm you from home to hospital
BOOK YOUR COURSE - Tap ‘contact’ in our bio link to get started with a complimentary discovery call

06/05/2026

Today is Maternal Mental Health Day 🤍 From pregnancy or parenthood, feelings of vulnerability, anxiety and overwhelm can feel all too familiar. Whilst hypnobirthing is an incredible tool to help shape a positive mindset, build emotional resilience and bolster a sense of calm & confidence, it’s hugely important we learn to educate and break the stigma around maternal mental illness. With 1 in 4 women worldwide experiencing perinatal mental health conditions, we want to support every expectant and new mum and their families, so together they can seek support they need
Marking 10 years of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, this year’s theme is ‘A Decade of Voices’ highlights the power of women knowing it is ok to express their needs, feelings and experiences. Did you know 7 in every 10 women hides or downplays mental health symptoms? We want to let you know you’re not alone, it’s to OK to vocalise your feelings and needs related to your mental well-being. But what are the symptoms we should be looking out for both during or after pregnancy?
Our amazing friends at have created the Perinatal Mental Health Symptom Checker which shares the following 8 common ‘red flag’ symptoms of perinatal mental illness which will give you the best chance of spotting them in yourself or someone you know…
🙁 Sudden, big or constant changes in your mood or emotions
💭 Thoughts or images about harming yourself or harm to your baby, especially if they’re intense or violent
😶‍🌫️ Feeling overwhelmed by guilt, shame or hopelessness
👶🏼 Struggling to bond with your baby or feeling detached from them
🛌 Finding it impossible to sleep or relax, even when baby is sleeping
🧳 Thinking that your not a good parent or your baby is better off without you
👁️ Seeing, hearing or believing things others don’t
🍽️ Frequent worry or fear about food or your body image
Please remember, you know what’s normal for you and if you don’t feel right speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor, plus we’re here 24/7 with our exclusive Birth Story support service. You’re not alone mama ❤️

27/04/2026

HYPNOBIRTHING FAQs 💬 Thinking about getting started on your hypnobirthing journey soon but not sure where to begin? Our hypnobirthing FAQs are here to help…
Q. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO START A HYPNOBIRTHING COURSE? 📆
A. We recommend from 20 weeks+ in your pregnancy. This way you have ample time to work through the 4 classes, refine your relaxation tools and work in your complimentary refresher session nearer to your EDD
Q. ARE CLASSES ONLINE OR FACE-TO-FACE? 👩🏽‍💻
A. We offer both options! Based in Hertfordshire, you can relax and enjoy classes at Birth Story HQ or learn from the comfort of your home over Zoom
Q. IS HYPNOBIRTHING SUITABLE FOR ELECTIVE C-SECTIONS? 👶🏽
A. Absolutely! Our Confident C-Section Hypnobirthing Course is specifically for couples planning an c-section birth. Designed to educate and empower, you’ll explore what a gentle Caesarean entails, embrace relaxation techniques & explore birth preferences. Plus, postnatally we’re here for you with restorative c-section recovery support
Q. I HAD A TRAUMATIC PREVIOUS BIRTH, HOW CAN HYPNOBIRTHING HELP?🤰🏻
A. We work with numerous tools and techniques to help minimise birth trauma and anxiety - from cathartic fear release hypnosis and learning how to protect our emotions to understanding how to reset our subconscious and learning how to minimise habits of overthinking. Through gentle change, we can minimise feelings of fear and boost a sense of calm confidence
Q. CAN MY PARTNER JOIN? 👥
A. Hypnobirthing isn’t just for expectant mums, it’s for birth partners too! From simple nurturing to soothing strokes, coaching prompts to confidently advocating should curveballs arise - it’s all about teamwork when it comes to preparing for a positive birth experience
Q. WILL MY LEARNING BE SUPPORTED? 🩷
A. We pride ourselves on supporting every couple from pregnancy to parenthood. You’ll be personally guided by qualified hypnobirth instructor & founder of Birth Story Hypnobirthing Nicola Wilson. Plus, you’ll have access to our exclusive 24/7 teacher text support service
Do you have a question about hypnobirthing? Share it below & we’ll get answering…

21/04/2026

WHAT’S YOUR ESTIMATED DUE DATE? 📅 Only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date! The term ‘estimated due date’ means there’s not one definite date of arrival but an ESTIMATED window in which most babies are born - that’s between 37-42 weeks…1 whole month. Also, let’s take into consideration women’s due date can vary according to her ovulation cycle, s***m implantationo or even scan dates, which can change later in your pregnancy
Overthinking about our EDD can activate our stressor hormones which hinders the body’s natural process of birthing. Whilst we all countdown to those all important EDDs, the most important thing to remember is BABY WILL COME WHEN BABY IS READY! 👶🏻
Here’s our 5 tips to feel relaxed & ready rather than dialling in on a due date deadline…
🗓️ SHARE YOUR DUE MONTH…rather than your due date with friends and family. This will minimise messages aplenty on your due date asking about labour progress and baby’s arrival which can feel overwhelming and knock confidence
❤️ BOOST YOUR OXYTOCIN: Use those latter weeks to top up your ‘love’ hormone, which is responsible for our surges (aka contractions), by indulging in pregnancy massage, reflexology, cuddles and calm moments
😌 POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS & HYPNOSIS: Unlocking your relaxation response through hypnobirthing practices is a simple and powerful technique that reaps deep rest and stress release
📱CURB THE COMPARISONS: We all love a social media scroll but this can set a precedent for comparisons and expectations - your pregnancy and birth is completely unique
💫TRUST NATURE: Remember we are the only mammals given an EDD. Learning to trust your body, baby and birth process is key. Tap into our primal self and physiological make up - birth is one of the most amazing acts of nature

19/04/2026

WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS COURSE…IT WAS EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO FEEL CONFIDENT & CALM ABOUT BIRTH 🤍 It’s been a total joy teaching Steph and her birth partner Lewis our one-to-one hypnobirthing course ahead of welcoming their baby girl. Here’s what Steph shared about her Birth Story Hypnobirthing journey…
“My partner and I could not speak more highly about Nicola! We absolutely loved this course and her guidance. It was everything we needed to feel confident and calm about birth, and we found it so refreshing. Her energy and tone were exactly what we needed—reassuring, warm, and supportive—especially when feeling apprehensive about how we would meet our baby.
We genuinely looked forward to our evening sessions with her, and each one left us feeling calm, informed, and empowered. My birth partner also learned so much and felt much more included in the whole process, which made such a difference for both of us.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone on their pregnancy journey, including all birthing partners. Nicola’s guidance was invaluable and we are so grateful for everything she shared with us!”
Would you love to feel calm, confident and in control of your birth experience? ✨SIGN UP TO OUR SUMMER 2026 COURSES✨ - email Nicola at [email protected] or tap our bio link 🔝 to visit our website

16/04/2026

When I was birthing my baby, I distinctly remember my midwife frequently asking me multiple times if I needed a wee 🚽 Little did I know a full bladder sits in front of the uterus and mine was taking up valuable space, making it harder for my baby to descend properly into the birth canal. After my midwife helped me out of the birth pool and being gently drained with a catheter, I slowly eased back into water and birthed my baby 10 minutes later! One key take away from my birth, which I now teach, is to not let that unseen obstacle of a full bladder get in the way of a calm & comfortable birth
Making time to wee is essential in labour, to not only prevent an overly distended bladder but also make the most of the myriad of benefits…
👶🏻 FACILITATES BABY’S DESCENT: With an empty bladder, there’s more room in your pelvis for your baby to move down and into the optimal position, encouraging a more efficient progression of labour
🌊 OPTIMISES UTERINE CONTRACTIONS: When your bladder isn’t in the way, your uterus can contract more effectively and efficiently, potentially leading to more productive contractions
😌 ENHANCES COMFORT: Emptying your bladder relieves pressure and can significantly improve your comfort levels allowing you to focus on your breath and relaxation techniques
❤️ ASSISTS PLACENTA DELIVERY: Going for a wee can help the placenta separate from the uterus. A full bladder can impede the effective expulsion of the placenta which can sometimes lead to a retained placenta
🤱🏽REDUCES POSTNATAL PROBLEMS: An empty bladder also matters after birth! A full bladder can prevent the uterus from firming up efficiently and can contribute to increased postpartum bleeding
Whilst midwives are brilliant at detecting a full bladder when we get to hospital, we also encourage birth partners to keep an eye on how frequently mum heads to the loo whilst labouring at home. Remind her to drink small frequent sips and wee every 1-2 hours ⏰
For more tips to make your labour and birth a calm and comfortable experience, browse and book your Spring/Summer ‘26 hypnobirthing course at birthstoryco.com

12/04/2026

HOW WILL I BE MONITORED IN LABOUR? Did you know that during labour you will be offered fetal monitoring as a way of seeing how baby is coping with surges (AKA contractions) as they move gently down the birth path? There are 2 types of monitoring which you could be offered once in hospital - continuous and intermittent…
↪️INTERMITTENT MONITORING: In the UK, guidelines recommend that all low-risk mothers should be monitored intermittently every 15-30 minutes for at least 60 seconds after a surge during active 1st stage of labour and every 5 in 2nd stage (at 10cm dilated), checking baby’s heart rate during and after surges. By using a hand held electronic doppler or pinard, mum is able to mobilise freely in a birth pool or in the shower, switch positions and even walk around their birth space
✅ TOP TIP: To ensure you remain deep in relaxation and undisturbed, in your birth plan note that you’re happy for your midwife to monitor intermittently as required, without asking you each time 🤫 This will avoid moving you into your alert side of your response system and allow you to remain calm and relaxed
🔄CONTINUOUS MONITORING: This involves strapping two plastic pads to your abdomen and these are attached to a monitor that shows your baby’s heartbeat and your contractions. Your midwife will read the print out to trace and check baby is doing well. Continuous monitoring is only used in high risk pregnancies or there is an indication to do so in labour such as induction of labour, meconium stained waters, epidural, twins, preterm labour, reduced fetal movements or after a previous c-section
✅ TOP TIP: Remember, continuous monitoring doesn’t mean you have to remain in a sedentary position laying flat on the bed - be sure to ask for wireless telemetry monitors or longer leads so you can…
🟡 Bounce on a birth ball
🧍🏽‍♀️Stand upright and rock & rotate hips
🛏️ Lower the bed and kneel on it
✋🏻 Kneel on your hands and knees
🦶 Squat to open your pelvis
…all of these positions will make labour more comfortable and you’re working with gravity to birth your baby
How were you monitored in labour?

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