Hi Janay, Somehow we felt that you warranted a phone call rather than a round robin style email - really because we wanted to thank you so much for helping us have such a wonderful birth. We'd love you to meet Edward and would also love to come along to a class to tell our birthing story and how hypnobirthing really helped us.

We're busy spreading the word about HypnoBirthing to all the expectant parents that we know. The midwife who helped deliver Edward was quite keen to find out more as well - she was really impressed!

                                                                           Lisa & Brian

We wanted to thank you for your support and encouragement with hypnobirthing: the birth of our daughter, Ava Anaïs was practically perfect and everything we had hoped.

We birthed at Warwick Hospital, had a fabulous selection of midwives, spent a number of hours in the birthing pool and managed the whole shebang drug free!

The breathing we had learnt and practiced, the techniques that enabled Paul to both distract and support me meant a calm, peaceful birthing day for Ava. The only part which was not text book was towards the end (it was a long day) when I did push rather than breathe her down. However, knowing the hypnobirthing techniques and principles, I knew that this needed to be done slowly so as not to tear so I was even able to manipulate that to my advantage.

Many, many thanks for your help. The hospital said I was an ideal candidate for a home birth next time.

                                                                           Justine and Paul

Just wanted to let you know that Lauren arrived at 0359 on Tuesday 20th January weighing 6lb 1oz. She was 3 weeks early but everything went wonderfully well. She was born at home as planned after a 6 hour labour using just TENS and the birth pool. We're all now doing great and adjusting to life as a family.

We just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and advice. You have been a real inspiration and without your coaching Lauren's birth wouldn't have been the amazing positive experience it was. Thank you so much.

                                                                           Richard, Emma and Lauren

Carl and I attended your course in august/september and I just wanted to let you know how helpful it was. Oskar was born on 28th September, 3 weeks early to our surprise. I found the breathing exercises really helpful in what was a very rapid labour - I was only in hospital about 2 hours before Oskar was born. I also used the CD in the labour room. Even though I was rather taken aback at going into labour 3 weeks early, your course gave me a feeling of "being prepared" which made me alot less anxious. Thanks again,

                                                                           Jenny and Carl

Thomas was born at 6.30am on 17/6/09 weighing in at 8lb 3oz. We're all doing well. I won't say it was painless, but it was very fast and I kept in control 90% of the time, just the odd small panic! All done on TENS and gas and air - the epidural Dr was about to start when they realised the baby was coming (I went from 5cm to delivery in an hour after a very slow start, so no-one expected it!). Thank you so much, it made so much difference. I'll come to a class anytime to tell my story.

                                                                           Jane

As my due date approached I began to get worried about giving birth, hypnobirthing had been recommended to my, so I booked onto a course run by Janay Alexander of Divine Intentions.

Hypnobirthing taught me how to use deep relaxation and visualisation to allow myself to be in tune with my body, allowing the natural endorphins to act as pain relief. I gained a lot of confidence from doing the course and felt that I would be far more relaxed giving birth at home, rather than in hospital. I received the full support from the Midwife Team and we planned for a home birth.

I went into labour at around 5am, it was not long before the contractions were every five minutes, but as they only lasted around 30 seconds I did not think they were being that effective.

Karen [Community Midwife] came at 11am to do an examination, I was surprised to hear that I was already 5cm dilated and that I could have been in the birthing pool from 4cm. Chris started to fill the pool and Becky [2nd Community Midwife] arrived. I got into the pool at around 12.30pm, the water made a real difference made things a lot more bearable.

The contractions were now approximately every 2 minutes, it was very tiring as there was no time to get over one contraction before the next one arrived. I was able to use the hypnobirthing breathing and visualisation techniques throughout.

At 2pm I was finding it harder to cope and asked for gas and air, I had eight deep breathes, this got me back on track with the hypnobirthing breathing techniques and I managed the rest of the birth with no further gas and air.

The membranes did not burst naturally and started to come out as a sack, so I had to get out of the pool to have the waters burst. I returned to the pool to deliver and at 4.23pm Isabelle was born.

The umbilical cord unusually short and did not allow for Isabelle to put onto my chest, so it had to be cut straight away, as soon as it was cut Isabelle started to breathe.

Isabelle was very alert and calm and was breast feeding 10 minutes after being born. The placenta was delivered naturally about an hour later.

Karen and Becky were brilliant and I could not have asked for a better birthing experience.

                                                                           Clare & Chris

I remained relaxed breathing through surges and Greg got up to put The Tudors on. After a while I suggested he put the birth pool up. He was reluctant still believing the birth was a long way off but decided to do it to keep me quiet. My midwife contacted me by text and asked how long and how far apart the surges were. I counted through the next one - it took a fair amount of concentration - I was shocked to find that it was over 40 seconds long and there were less than 3 minutes before the next one came. I was already in established labour and had had no idea.

My midwife suggested she pop round after her cup of tea - she arrived around 9.50pm.

We all thought she would just be popping round and then going home, but it became clear to her within a short time that she was staying so she unloaded her equipment from the car.

By 11pm I was in the bath room sitting backwards over the loo and asked if the pool was ready. It was, I got in and began to push.

I could not believe that I was ready to push already and asked what was meant to happen next. Over the next three hours I was supported by Sue, my midwife and Greg, encouraging me. I found the pushing hard work but it was not - to me at least - painful, the build up to pushing had been more painful. Although the pushing phase was relatively long, I believe that this was right for me and I certainly had no idea that it was that long at the time.

Finally Kobi revealed his head and a bit more pushing revealed his shoulders and one more push and his feet were out. Perhaps due to the long pushing phase I was lucky to only receive minor tears and grazes which I have not suffered from at all.

I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced such an amazing birth but put it almost completely down to being relaxed, fit, breathing and a bit of luck.

                                                                           Lizzy & Greg