Jennie's empowering second birth following a traumatic first experience

I didn't know this kind of empowering birth experience was possible for us.

Zoe DonkinJune 15, 2026Comment

Hypnobirthing for C-section anxiety

Hard to imagine how we would have done it without those techniques, so thank you!

First Baby, Planned CaesareanZoe DonkinFebruary 25, 2026Comment

Kate's positive birth experience following IVF

I felt incredibly fortunate to have the birth I had hoped for and it meant that my recovery has been very quick and that both my wife and I were able to live off the high of the experience of the birth

First Baby, Birth Centre, IVF, Positive First BirthZoe DonkinFebruary 2, 2024Birth Pool, IVF

Anna's positive elected caesarean Birth

“I instinctively knew at that point that electing to have a c-section was the right decision for me and baby”

Big Baby, Planned CaesareanZoe DonkinSeptember 18, 2023Caesarean, Lewisham hospital

Rebecca's empowered birth at Kings

We headed to Kings as I felt a shift in the surges and an urge to push. Two midwives and a doctor said they didn't believe I was in active labour as I was so calm and relaxed, so after some persuasion on my part, they examined me and I was 9cm!

First Baby, Positive First BirthZoe DonkinMay 14, 2021Confidence, Caesarean, KingsComment

Laura's positive birth experience at Kings

“I have always firmly been of the belief that every labor is unique and to be open minded towards it, so I found the thinking behind hypnobirthing ideal in keeping this mindset.”

First Baby, Positive First BirthZoe DonkinMay 7, 2021Smooth Birth, KingsComment

Marie's positive birth story (an almost unplanned home birth!)

“Throughout everything, even at home when I thought we were going to have to deliver a baby in our hallway, I never felt afraid”

Positive First Birth, First BabyZoe DonkinFebruary 23, 2021Comment

Hannah's positive breech birth - elective caesarean

“I kept up with the hypnobirthing - I just switched to a caesarean visualisation. Once I had got my head around everything, I planned a woman centred caesarean”

First Baby, Positive First BirthZoe DonkinFebruary 23, 2021Caesarean, BreechComment

Lauren's induction birth story during lockdown

Certainly a very strange time to give birth and not ideal but I felt mentally prepared, calm and positive for the birth and in control.

Induction, First BabyZoe DonkinJuly 13, 2020Birth during CoronavirusComment

Hypnobirthing after two difficult births

I am living proof that you can have the birth you choose to have.

Birth Centre, Positive Third BirthZoe DonkinMarch 9, 2020Birth Pool, St Thomas, Smooth BirthComment

Tallie's water birth in the birth centre - her first birth

"Having a water birth was the most fantastic experience ever. It allowed me to focus deeply on my breathing.. this relieved me of pain and gave me something to focus on."

First Baby, Positive First Birth, Birth CentreZoe DonkinMarch 9, 2020Birth PoolComment

JESS'S SMOOTH BIRTH

"We were the talk of the midwife station - the couple who walked in fully dilated, had no pain relief and gave birth to a baby in her waters!"

First Baby, Positive First BirthZoe DonkinFebruary 17, 2020Smooth Birth, Birth Pool, Confidence

Hypnobirthing and Birth pool for Susannah

“Because I was so calm I didn't panic and was able to let my body do what it was built to do.”

First Baby, Birth Centre, Positive First BirthZoe DonkinFebruary 7, 2020Birth Pool, St ThomasComment

Jemma's positive VBAC

Hypnobirthing really is a lot more logical and practical than the name suggests, and practicing the affirmations and relaxations is immensely powerful.

VBAC, Second Baby, Positive Second BirthZoe DonkinFebruary 7, 2020Labour wardComment

Ali's second birth at home

we had a wonderful home birth, and I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you as your hypnobirthing course and information played a huge role in us having such a great experience.

Second Baby, Home Birth, Positive Second BirthZoe DonkinFebruary 7, 2020Smooth BirthComment

Caroline's natural second birth

It was a beautiful dark room, with a lighted pool, and I put on the speakers on my phone to continue listening to the hypnobirthing recordings.

Second Baby, Birth CentreZoe DonkinMarch 12, 2019Birth Pool, Car journey Comment

Laura's calm first birth

I felt in control of the process and not scared of my body, labour and birth.

First BabyZoe DonkinMarch 12, 2019Smooth Birth, Sense of controlComment

Shoko's calm induction

I used to think that people who had a smooth labour were just being lucky. But I am proof myself that it is not the case.

Second Baby, IVF, Positive InductionZoe DonkinMarch 12, 2019Labour ward, Pessary, Trust, ConfidenceComment

M's helpful 'Taxi Persona'

I put the tracks from you on my iPhone, plugged my headphones in, turned up the volume, wore sunglasses and put on a white scarf covered in lavender and clary sage.

First BabyZoe DonkinJanuary 31, 2019UCLH, Episiotomy, Trust, Car journey, Cord around neckComment

A THERAPIST’S VIEW

"As a Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist... I can appreciate that Zoe is highly skilled and uses her work in amazingly subtle and powerful ways."

First Baby, Father's PerspectiveZoe DonkinJanuary 29, 2019IVF, Confidence, Trust, Testimonial, PregnancyComment

WHAT MUMS AND DADS SAY

WITH THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR TESTIMONIALS AND HYPNOBIRTHING BIRTH STORIES

BELOW IS A COLLECTION OF POSITIVE BIRTH STORIES, TESTIMONIALS AND HOW HYPNOBIRTHING HELPS EVEN WHEN THINGS DON'T GO TO PLAN...

“I kept up with the hypnobirthing - I just switched to a caesarean visualisation. Once I had got my head around everything, I planned a woman centred caesarean”

Certainly a very strange time to give birth and not ideal but I felt mentally prepared, calm and positive for the birth and in control.

I am living proof that you can have the birth you choose to have.

"Having a water birth was the most fantastic experience ever. It allowed me to focus deeply on my breathing.. this relieved me of pain and gave me something to focus on."

"We were the talk of the midwife station - the couple who walked in fully dilated, had no pain relief and gave birth to a baby in her waters!"

“Because I was so calm I didn't panic and was able to let my body do what it was built to do.”

Hypnobirthing really is a lot more logical and practical than the name suggests, and practicing the affirmations and relaxations is immensely powerful.

we had a wonderful home birth, and I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you as your hypnobirthing course and information played a huge role in us having such a great experience.

It was a beautiful dark room, with a lighted pool, and I put on the speakers on my phone to continue listening to the hypnobirthing recordings.

I felt in control of the process and not scared of my body, labour and birth.

I used to think that people who had a smooth labour were just being lucky. But I am proof myself that it is not the case.

I put the tracks from you on my iPhone, plugged my headphones in, turned up the volume, wore sunglasses and put on a white scarf covered in lavender and clary sage.

"As a Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist... I can appreciate that Zoe is highly skilled and uses her work in amazingly subtle and powerful ways."