Positive Birth Scotland: Hypnobirthing & birth preparation

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Positive Birth Scotland: Hypnobirthing & birth preparation

Midwife-led Hypnobirthing Birth Bootcamp & perinatal trauma therapy. 121 coaching, therapy & group w She passionately wants to do something to help change this.

Positive Birth Scotland offers expert tips, up to date research and inspirations so you can have a positive birth, regardless of where or how you choose to give birth. Please like and share this page if you want or have had a positive birth. Positive Birth Scotland is founded by Gemma Nealon, midwife, therapist & mother. When she became pregnant she knew that to have the birth she wanted she neede

d to keep her mind calm and her outlook positive. After searching many things, the only thing that really hit the nail on the head was Natal Hypnotherapy! After a truly amazing and fulfilling labour and birth she knew she had to share it! As a midwife, she is privileged to see the empowering and life changing effect that a positive birth experience can have. However sadly has seen women and their partners postnatally, disappointed and sometimes traumatized by their birth experience. She believes that if every women in the UK practiced Natal Hypnotherapy, birth as we know it would change for the better! Positive Birth Scotland supports women to have a positive birth experience regardless of where or how they choose to give birth. With a background as a massage therapist & NLP practitioner, and over 17 years experience of meditation, her philosophy is summed up by a quote from Henri Moore, ‘Whether you think you can, whether you think you can’t, you’re probably right’! I help parents move from birth fear to birth calm to achieve a peaceful birth by sharing my research based techniques to reduce pain and increase their chance of a natural birth. Whether you want to stay calm about giving birth or if you are completely frightened I can help you achieve the birth you want. BOOK NOW
My workshop is birth boot camp so you will get a formula that consistently delivers a peaceful birth regardless of how or where you give birth. I love working with people who value the birth of their baby, and understand it is one of the most important days of their life. My unique techniques will impact and positively transform your whole life. My motto is ‘focus on the birth you want but be prepared for anything’! I delivers a perfect mix of contemporary neuroscience, physiology, mindfullness, midwifery and cutting edge research-based techniques. Clients often say they are relieved by my down to earth, logical and researched based approach. I keep things simple, accessible and fun! Research show that women who use hypnosis in childbirth have shorter labours, use less pain relief, have lower rates of assisted & caesarian section, report higher levels of satisfaction & babies have higher apgar scores. Positive birth does not however promise you an easy peasy pain free birth, and advocates medical intervention when needed. Positive Birth Scotland's objective is to help teach you how to stay healthy and low-risk, and teach hypnosis & relaxation skills to overcome negative belief systems and programming around labour & birth.

18/02/2025

Having worked in the NHS as a Midwife and supported thousands of births, I know how vital the birth partner’s role is. Your presence, energy, and support can transform your partner’s experience.

What NOT to say:
❌ ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon.’
❌ ‘Try to relax.’
❌ ‘I know it hurts, but you have to push through.’

What to say instead:
✅ ‘You are doing it. I’m so proud of you.’
✅ ‘This must be intense, but you are incredible.’
✅ ‘Your body knows exactly what to do.’
✅ ‘I’m right here. You are safe.’

Less Talking, More Presence
The most powerful thing you can do is be fully present.

Labour isn’t a time for small talk or questions—it’s a time to create a safe, calm space.

✔ Breathe with her– If she’s breathing fast, slow yours. She’ll sync with you.
✔ Use intentional touch– Hold her hand, place a firm, grounding hand on her back.

Your Role: Holding the Space
A birthing woman cannot fully surrender if she’s carrying the mental load. Your job is to advocate for her, protect her peace, and let her focus on birthing your baby.

A birth partner isn’t just a spectator—you are part of this experience. When you show up with love and confidence, you’ll both remember this moment forever.

I put HUGE emphasis on birth partner preparation in my science-based Hypnobirthing workshops. You’ll leave feeling confident, prepared, and ready to support her fully.

There is SO much more I want to share with you so you can be the best birth partner ever!

Upcoming Workshop Dates:
📅 13th April 2025
📅 25th May 2025
📅 3rd August 2025

Can’t make it in person? I offer private workshops in person and online too—DM me for details!

Positivebirthscotland.com

27/01/2025

Hello, I’d love to invite you to my midwife-led, science-based Hypnobirthing and preparation workshop this Sunday in Edinburgh.As a midwife and birth educator, I’ve prepared thousands of people for birth. There’s so much I wish every parent knew, and I’m excited to share it with you.It saddens me to see so many people approach birth feeling unprepared. Preparation isn’t just about gathering information—it’s about learning to connect with your body and prepare for the big day.You might have read all the books, but at the end of the day, birth isn’t something you do with your head—it’s something you do with your body. This workshop is designed to help you stay calm and present throughout your birthing journey.Perhaps you’re unsure of how much preparation is truly needed, or maybe you’ve prepared but your birth partner hasn’t been involved. On the big day, this can leave you carrying the mental load while they feel like a spare part.Are you afraid of pain, intervention, or the unknown? That fear can pump your body with adrenaline, blocking the essential birthing hormones you need.The Good News?You can have a calm, positive birth experience—no matter how it unfolds. I’ve helped thousands achieve this and experienced it myself during my two beautiful births.Ten years ago, I founded Positive Birth Scotland to help families feel confident and empowered. I also created Birth Trauma Scotland to support those who didn’t get the guidance they needed.Now, I want to help you prepare—not by chance, but by design.This Sunday, you’ll learn: • How to connect with your body and stay calm. • Practical steps to prepare yourself and your birth partner. • Tools to replace fear with confidence and empowerment.Let’s ensure you’re ready for this incredible journey.Preparation is key, and you deserve to feel empowered. Join me this Sunday at Kin CollectiveYou can book your place and read loads of testimonials at:www.positivebirthscotland.com

08/03/2024

Sending so much love out to all mamas today. What a responsibility it is to be a mother, sometimes it feels like a lot of pressure to have a positive birth too with all the horror stories out there.

I’m incredibly grateful to all of you whom I’ve worked with over the years. Today, I celebrate the wonderful mama .summers, who has worked with me throughout both her pregnancies and is expecting her second baby any day. Her devotion to her baby’s birth and hard work paid off the first time, and it will again this time.

I’m thrilled for her and her supportive, lovely birth partner. Shona is the kind of person I love to work with. She takes action, is willing to face her discomforts, and invests in the birth of her babies. She is realistic, preparing for all eventualities, and hasn’t just attended a few courses to tick them off the list; she has done the work in between to get her mind and body in the right place. She understands support is crucial and that she can’t do it alone, so she has also invested in two wonderful doulas, and .heal.

I wish all of you knew the level of preparation you need to go through. Be careful to not just get head in childbirth books and research; you need powerful tools to regulate your nervous system and remain calm regardless of what happens during the day. You need to learn how to let go. Yes, you need to understand the conditions needed to give birth, how to communicate with medical professionals, when to say yes to intervention and when to say no etc. You also need a really supportive birth partner who can hold space for you to take control so you can let go.

My next science-based Hypnobirthing workshop is next Saturday at . After that, I have workshops on Saturday, the 20th of April, and Saturday, the 1st of June. For more details, visit my website www.positivebirthscotland.com to book a place and start planning for a calm birth.

12/11/2023

The ultimate Christmas present for new parents! Check it out 👇🏼

27/06/2023

What an inspiring story from Anna!

I know I share a lot of birth stories on here but it's not simply to sing my own praises - I want to show that despite what your background and medical history might be, that it is possible to move on and have the most empowering, wonderful birth experience free from anxiety or fear.

If you've had traumatic experiences in the past - be that with fertility, labour or birth, please know that it is possible to change the narrative and that you can move beyond what has happened before. Head to my website to read more inputting stories like Anna's.

22/06/2023

Just two more workshops left with me this summer so I thought I'd outline exactly what you'll get when you book one of my birth preparation and Hypnobirthing workshops. You'll learn about:

- The physiology and hormones of labour and birth
- The environment needed to positively influence birth
- The science behind hypnosis for childbirth and experience a hypnosis session
- Relaxation, breathing, visualisation and pain management techniques
- How to increase your chance of a natural birth
- How to work with your birth team and navigate potential medical interventions
- The effect of fear on childbirth and hw to stop it in its tracks
- Exactly what your birth partner needs to do
- How to feel calm and in control, regardless of how or where you give birth

What's more, as well as a full day workshops you'll also get so many added extras and bonus content including:

- UNLIMITED FREE 'Birth Calm' Classes.
- UNLIMITED Access To My 'Breastfeeding Calm’ Workshop.
- Exclusive Access To 'Midwife In My Pocket'.
- The Positive Birth Scotland Hypnobirthing And Birth Preparation Book, By Gemma Nealon.
- Birth Prepartion Prompts
- Nine Hypnobirthing Tracks
- £20 Off One-To-One Birth Coaching Or Therapy With Gemma Nealon

That's a pretty awesome package if you ask me! If you'd like to know more or secure a place on an upcoming workshops then head to my website (link in bio) where you can find all about my background, my workshops and the amazing people I've had the pleasure of working with recently.

https://positivebirthscotland.com/hypnobirthing-workshops/

18/06/2023

Our entire lives are driven by hormones, never more so than during pregnancy, labour and birth. During labour our bodies are flooded with hormones that work to ensure the safe delivery of our baby. When we see complications in labour it is often because something has gone awry with our hormones - perhaps fear has taken hold and we have become flooded with adrenaline, the fight or flight response.

In my workshops we take a deep-dive into how hormones can support us in labour and birth and how we can harness the power of amazing hormones like oxytocin and endorphins to feed a calm-birth cycle that keeps our labour on track and our fear in check.

Here's what the wonderful Anna had to say after a recent workshop: "Although my labour was quick and incredibly painful, it was exciting, beautiful and I felt in control and so confident in the process. I wouldn’t have changed a thing! Gemma’s training and support really prepared me and gave me the confidence and reassurance to birth my way and the way that women deserve to birth… without fear!"

If you're expecting later this year - or even in 2024 - why not join me on one of my upcoming workshops and prepare for the best birth possible!

14/06/2023

Why is that birth educators repeatedly bang on about 'non medical pain-relief'?

It's not that medical = bad and non-medical = good (though some do seem to think this!) It's that, in my experience as a midwife, when medical interventions start during a labour they tend to cascade into more and more intrusive interventions. They can also really derail the concentration and focus of mum-to-be and introduce a whole new dimension to labour that is rarely planned for.

That's why I ask all the people I work with to really consider a whole range of non-medical pain relief first, to try things out like massage and breath work, to stay mobile and active in labour, to consider listening to relaxation tracks and planning their birth setting. All these things will support your body to do what it has done naturally for thousands of years and give you the best chance of a wonderful, empowering birth.

Find out more about my upcoming workshops at the Positive Birth Scotland website.

https://positivebirthscotland.com/hypnobirthing-workshops/

10/06/2023

You'll often hear my talking on here about my group workshops - they are after all incredibly popular and where I do most of my teaching as a birth educator but I realise they're not suitable for everyone - you might have done a workshop previously with me and want to take a refresher for a second/third baby, you might not be local to Edinburgh, you might have very specific worries or complications with your pregnancy that you don't wish to share in a group setting. Whatever your reasons, I thought it important to remind folks that I also offer 1-2-1 workshops via Zoom where we can really go deep into the specifics of YOUR pregnancy and birth.

If you'd like to know more about 1-2-1 workshops head to the website or drop me a DM and I'll do my best to get back to you asap.

https://positivebirthscotland.com/hypnobirthing-workshops/

06/06/2023

Many couples come to me with a water birth high on their list of 'ideals' ahead of labour so I thought I'd talk today about some of the reasons they're so popular. In it's most basic terms, a water birth is a method of giving birth in which the labor and delivery take place in a pool or tub of warm water. While every birth experience is unique, here are some general aspects you can expect from a water birth:

- Relaxation and pain relief: Water is known to provide a soothing and calming effect, which can help you relax during labor.
- Buoyancy: The buoyancy of water can make it easier for you to move and change positions during labor.
- Increased comfort: Many women find water birth to be a comfortable and supportive environment.
- Improved blood circulation: Immersion in water can promote better blood circulation and reduce swelling.
- Sense of privacy and control: Being in the water can create a sense of privacy and intimacy, which may help you feel more in control of your birthing experience.
- Potential for a gentle transition: Some believe that water birth can provide a gentle transition for the baby from the womb to the outside world.
- Increased flexibility in birthing positions: Water birth allows for a variety of positions during labor and delivery.

A water birth is by no means to only way to have an amazing birth experience - I spoke recently about the spectrum of birth - but if you'd like to know more about some of the ways you can prepare for birth regardless of HOW you give birth then head to my website where you can find out more about my group and private 1-2-1 workshops that will prepare you for the most amazing birth - water birth or otherwise!

02/06/2023

Let's face it, there's a lot of choice out there when it comes to birth education. A lot of practitioners who offer anything from a few hours to entire weekends and courses that stretch across the months of your pregnancy. How do you know which one to go with?

The true answer is you don't. Until you're on the other side of it you won't really know if your invest has been worth it which is why I regularly post feedback and testimonials about my workshops and why I'm really proud to share the amazing birth stories of couples I've worked with on my website. They're my best form of marketing - no algorithms or hashtags, just honest words from people who have benefited from my years of experience, knowledge and research.

If you'd like to be one of those people why not sign up to one of my upcoming workshops this summer - places tend to go fast but there's currently spots available on all three workshops. I'd love to see you there.

31/05/2023

Let's talk about delayed cord clamping.

After your baby is born the umbilical cord, which links your placenta to the baby, continues to pulsate and transfer blood, oxygen and stem cells to your baby. The World Health Organisation defines the optimal time to clamp your baby's cord as when it has stopped pulsating (or become white), which can be three or more minutes after birth. This supports the baby's transition to life outside the uterus - your baby could receive approximately 30% more blood than they would have without it.

Until recently, the cord was immediately clamped and cut at birth but there is not and never has been any evidence to support the intervention of early clamping. Conversely, the benefits of delayed cord clamping are associated with:
- increased social skills and fine motor skills at age 4 years.
- increased iron levels which help with growth and both physical and emotional development.
- increased blood volume.
- Smoother transition to initial breathing.
- Increased stem cells, which help with growth and the immune system.
- Better outcomes for preterm infants.

Whilst delayed cord clamping and cutting the cord is best for your baby, many NHS trusts still only practice routine delayed cord clamping of uptown one minute.

In my workshops we cover the importance of communicating your preferences and choices to your medical team and the importance of asking the right questions at the right time. Everything I teach is science-backed and grounded in years of experience as a midwife and my uber-geekery love of birth research and studies! Head to my website to find out more about my unique birth education and the different options I offer from one-off workshops to dedicated 1-2-1 support.

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http://www.positivebirthscotland.com/

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