Introducing birthing bliss

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My name is Bianca and I am the Hypnobirthing Australia™ certified childbirth educator, and hypnomum, behind birthing bliss.

‘birthing bliss’ is a labour of love borne out of  the experiences I had in the lead up to, and birth of, my son.

Coming from a legal background, and navigating the public health system as a ‘higher risk’ pregnancy (with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Gestational Diabetes), I was taken aback by the lack of decision-making and information shared with me. 

From day one I was told “you will have a pre-term induction.” The risks of having an induction (and the risks of not having one), were not explained, and I was not asked, just told, what would happen. My practitioners didn’t ask for my consent, let alone obtain my informed consent (as they are required to). 

As my pregnancy progressed, I learnt more about inductions (through external sources) and decided that I only wanted one as an absolute last resort, but I was dismissed and made to feel selfish when I raised any concerns.

I turned to Hypnobirthing Australia’s Positive Birth Program,™ where I was given the support needed to restore my self-confidence and reclaim my agency. 

Fast forward to my 38-week appointment: my obstetrician said that I needed an induction that week (contrary to earlier advice from the midwives and recent ultrasounds the hospital swore by). When I sought more information, I was told that it was their decision to make and to undertake further investigations if I 'wanted' to 'put the baby at risk’ by ‘prolonging’ my pregnancy. 

When I returned from that ultrasound with results in my favour, my medical team continued to insist on the induction but could not explain why it was medically indicated in my specific circumstances. When pressed, they ultimately revealed that they were concerned about staffing as my son was due around Christmas.

With the support of hypnobirthing, I was able to advocate for further information, follow my intuition, and the evidence, and ultimately make an informed decision that was right for me and my baby. 

I went on to have the empowering birth I wanted, as Conor was born spontaneously at 39 weeks and 5 days, at 3.5kgs. 

birthing bliss is not anti-hospital or anti-intervention. It is committed to inclusivity and supporting all birthing persons to have a positive, empowering and blissful experience no matter where (home or hospital) or how (with or without interventions) they birth. 

It is designed to equip both birthing persons and their partners with the information and support they need to take back the decision-making power and to make informed decisions that are right for them (including interventions if desired). 

It is determined to make this kind of birth knowledge and support more widely accessible, as knowledge is power.

It is also driven by a passion to rewrite the negative stories we’ve all heard about birth, to replace fear around birth with excitement and to normalise positive birthing experiences. 

We do this via the Hypnobirthing Australia Positive Birth Program ™ , Australia's most popular hypnobirthing education course, which is comprehensive, evidence-based, and specifically designed to support Australian parents no matter how they birth.