Now, I don't want to put myself out of a job here but I was curious what a robot might answer.

I sometimes find it hard to articulate in a succinct way because I want to bust all the hippy myths at the same time as explaining the science and evidence behind this Antenatal birth preparation technique, which mostly results in me stumbling over my words.

And I have to be honest, Chatbot did a reasonably good job of explaining it to a degree.

So let's take a look at what he/she/them/they said,

Chatbot started where I may not have personally but I'm rolling with it. Self Hypnosis.

Now let me clarify, all types of Hypnosis are self hypnosis and we ALL go into these states every single day.

That period just before you fall asleep or just as you're waking, is self hypnosis.

When you are driving in the car and can’t remember the last 10 miles, that's self hypnosis.

So my answer to this is Yes, and No.

Yes the techniques that Hypnobirthing teaches you will help you anchor a deep state of relaxation, but no, just because I don’t like to use the term self hypnosis personally as it conjures up a skewed view of what Hypnobirthing is.

Breathing Techniques: Yes Hypnobirthing does teach 1-3 breathing techniques. Learning to breathe deeply and calmly activates our parasympathetic nervous system. When we activate this “Rest and Digest” system through breathing, it slows our heart, lowers blood pressure and promotes digestion. Our body enters a state of relaxation, and this relaxation breeds recovery. Thus making a far easier journey for you and your baby in birth

• Visualisations. By this point I'm noticing that Chatbot maybe understands some of the techniques used in Hypnobirthing but it has yet to identify what it is.

But I'm still rolling with it.

Yes, Hypnobirthing teaches the power of visualisations.

But it's not new nor exclusive to Hypnobirthing. Buddha is quoted as saying "What you think, you become.

What you feel, you attract.

What you imagine, you create." In hypnobirthing we work on creating a mental blueprint of your ideal birth.

Just as Usain bolt does before a race “I just visualised and then executed my plan.” or Muhammad ali told himself every day “I am the greatest”.

It's a tried and tested technique to rewire our minds to believe what is possible.

Education: I quite like this one, yes it is indeed an education but not just in birth. Hypnobirthing is steeped in science so it is primarily an education of psychology and physiology.

How your mind and body are connected and it focuses heavily on hormones, how they are promoted or hindered. Yes, an education, but far deeper than you might expect.

Supportive environment: I wasn’t expecting Chat Bot to come up with this one so i’m actually pleasantly surprised. Hormones are affected by our surroundings. Think about shopping on Oxford street, at Christmas. It's busy, it's loud, it's an attack on all of our senses and for most of us we would be feeling quite stressed. That's our hormones reacting to our environment. Now think about having an uninterrupted bath, low lighting, candles, your favourite music and some nice bubble bath. Feels nice right? That's your hormones, sending messages to your brain about your environment and signalling it to release the appropriate hormones. In hypnobirthing, we know which hormones we need to produce and which we need to avoid so we manage our environment to facilitate that.

Top 3 tips for Hypnobirthing

Practice makes perfect

Get the birth partner involved

Know your rights and feel empowered

In the ever-evolving landscape of pregnancy and childbirth, it's becoming increasingly common for expectant mothers to find themselves labeled as 'high risk.'

While the reasons behind this shift are multifaceted, including factors such as the trend of women starting pregnancy at an older age or with underlying health conditions, changing criteria for conditions like Gestational Diabetes, high BMI, and the rising number of c-sections for first pregnancies, one question remains at the forefront:

Does being labeled 'high risk' increase the likelihood of medical intervention during childbirth.

Are labour wards the safe option?

When the 'risky' label is applied to your pregnancy, it naturally alters your approach to the impending birth.

The primary focus shifts towards reducing risk, not only for the medical professionals caring for you but for you as well. This shift can give rise to feelings of anxiety about the birthing process and a strong desire to make it as safe as possible.

As a result, 'high risk' pregnancies often lead to giving birth on a labour ward – a precautionary measure.

However, here's where it gets intriguing: Research indicates that merely being on the labour ward elevates the likelihood of interventions such as c-sections, instrumental births, epidural use, and labour augmentation.

But why does this occur in labour wards?

The environment plays a significant role.

Brightly lit rooms with beeping machines and oversized beds aren't necessarily conducive to the natural birthing process.

Additionally, when interventions are readily available, they tend to be utilised more frequently. So, if you find yourself labelled as 'high risk' during your pregnancy, what steps can you take?

First and foremost, it's essential to grasp what this label genuinely means for you.

The way 'risk' is portrayed can significantly impact how you perceive it.

You should also seek a clear understanding of the actual odds of complications and the research that informs these statistics.

Remember, you have choices, even if it initially seems that a labour ward is your only option.

You can discuss your birthing place options with a consultant midwife or contemplate crafting a personalised 'out of guidelines care plan' in consultation with your healthcare team.

If a labour ward still feels like the right choice for you, don't assume that you're limited to a bed with machines.

There are ways to ensure a positive experience there.

Using all the tools in your Hypnobirthing kit, especially your decision making tools (Use your B.R.A.I.N) and your tools to control your environment can support you in feeling empowered, prepared and autonomous.

Even if you opt for an induction or a caesarean, these can be positive choices when you feel you have chosen them, rather than them being dictated to you.

You are in control

Embrace your options and make informed choices that align with your vision for the birthing journey you truly want.

Your hypnobirth experience can be both empowering and positive, regardless of the label applied to your pregnancy.

12 celebrities who talk about their journey with Hypnobirthing to have a positive birth experience.

Bizarrely, when women talk about a positive birth experience they are almost shunned to the corner and shamed for talking about birth in a positive light.

I have felt this personally in baby groups when everyone is sharing their own personal journey which is normally rife with drama and trauma, when I spoke up and talked of a calm, empowering, comfortable birth I could feel the daggers.

So it was no surprise to me that the most recent celebrity to talk about “breathing her baby out” was widely and publicly criticised.

These Celebrities don't think so.........