So you’ve decided to add a hypnobaby to your family and are searching for the best online birthing class to help you prepare for a natural birth.

As the pandemic continues it makes sense that parents are choosing to learn at home instead of attending classes in person. There are no doubt many benefits to an in person class (practicing hands on comfort measures) is a big one - and being around likeminded parents, but the last 18 months have made in person classes almost impossible and for some parents in person classes are financially not an option. Hypnobirthing classes are specialist classes so they’re usually more expensive than other more generic childbirth prep classes.

As you’re likely to only take 1 childbirth class - finding one that is affordable, empowering and enjoyable is important so let’s take a look at some of the differences between the GentleBirth Hypnobirthing Masterclass and the Hypnobabies home study option.

Hypnobabies is a Powerpoint Style Homestudy Class

Hypnobabies homestudy uses Powerpoint approach to preparing for birth using hypnosis. This audio only program prepares you to prepare for an unmedicated hypnobirth and ranges from $180 for the digital program to $220 for the hard copy binder of materials and audio sessions.

GentleBirth is a Video Based Homestudy Class

In comparison, the GentleBirth Masterclass that comes free with your app subscription spans over 12 hours. You’ll learn hypnobirthing, meditation, sport psychology, CBT, brain science and mindset hacks - just as part of your mental preparation. We also include unmedicated and medicated labor options and physical comfort measures in hospital, a birth center, or home setting and it’s all FREE with the GentleBirth Hypnobirthing app ($12.99). For just a little less than your favorite latte and croissant you get access to our full Masterclass.

Once you get started with the app it’s likely to be a companion through the rest of your pregnancy and the first year of your baby’s life. There’s dozens of reasons why the GentleBirth App is the best hypnobirthing approach available today.

We’ve also included a ‘mini masterclass’ class for birth partners who need to learn the basics in a short amount of time. You also experience the only class of it’s kind ‘Pain and the Brain’ where you’ll learn about how the brain processes pain and simple hacks to engage different pain modulation mechanisms to reduce pain perception in labor. It’s a fascinating 1 hr class you don’t want to miss if delaying or avoiding medication is important to you.

Hypnobabies Is For Unmedicated Births

Hypnobabies is focused on parents learning hypnosis to change the sensations of birth for an uncomplicated hypnobirth. In other words it’s a little limited. No matter what your plans for the big day - keeping all of your tools on the table makes a difference). The epidural can be a solution and not an intervention for some parents and appreciated when it’s needed. It’s often very challenging for a parent who has done everything possible to prepare for an unmedicated birth who needs some extra support on the day, to have no other resources but to listen to the same hypnosis Mp3 that she’s used for the last several months. It makes that unexpected change even more difficult to cope with. GentleBirth provides you with those tools.

That aside, there are other important differences between the two courses, including:

What’s Included in Hypnobabies?

The Hypnobabies homestudy pack includes 20 hypnotic audio practice sessions. Additional Mp3s must be purchased individually - so if you have any unexpected changes to your plans you’ll have to use the materials you’ve been practicing with.

What’s Included in GentleBirth?

In contrast, the GentleBirth App includes over 140 unique audio sessions to support you in your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey including twins and VBAC. Each of our specially curated collections focuses on a specific need (Reduce Anxiety, Improve Sleep, Labor Playlist, Cesarean Birth, Positive Induction, Change of Circumstances in Labor etc, etc). Meditation is a core foundation of the GentleBirth approach as it trains the brain in different ways and not a part of a hypnobabies class. All of our Instructors take a 6 week training in Mindfulness and Compassion training for Birth Professionals.

Meditation is a very different experience to hypnosis (it’s a bit more work!) - you don’t just press play and drift off to sleep. One of the key differences is goal is the importance of staying alert, awake and aware so you notice when your mind wanders off and know the importance of gently guiding it back to the tool of focus (breath, sensation, sounds etc) - here’s a few more of the key differences between hypnobirthing and meditation.

Hypnobirthing the Mongan Method Vs Hypnobabies

The Mongan Method of Hypnobirthing which I’ll discuss further in another blog is very similar to Hypnobabies but also puts limits on what a positive birth experience is and can seem quite judgmental when it comes to using any other physical comfort tools in labor or medication. Hypnobabies doesn’t shy away from discussing complications and provides more childbirth eduction. Similar to Hypnobabies with the Mongan Hypnobirthing method there are no additional tools to support a parent who decides an epidural would make their experience more enjoyable and less traumatic. If you’re just learned that your baby may need to be born by cesarean - how will listening to the Rainbow Relaxation support your mental health in those moments? Ironically the Mongan Method will argue that maternity services should not be one size fits all for women, our labors, labor progress etc are all as unique as our fingerprints. Yet the Mongan Hypnobirthing approach is adamant that a one size fits all approach to birth preparation will be effective. Can you see why there was such a need for a more inclusive, real life approach to hypnobirthing?

I want you to have a full toolkit of resources to choose from during your unique pregnancy, birth and parenting journey. We have also specially curated content for birth partners (male or female). Your hypnobirthing and meditation sessions are specific to your due date as you’ll see in your daily recommended practice sessions so they will change throughout your pregnancy.

In labor you can use our free GentleBirth Contraction timer and play your favorite labor sessions as you time your surges. Our advanced timer guides you through every surge based on the length of your labor and how intense the sensations are.

The GentleBirth App includes 3 Postpartum Journeys;

• Immediate postpartum for physical recovery, infant feeding and emotional wellness (there’s partner content too).

• Body Positive - a unique 12 week program to learn to love your postpartum body, manage cravings with mindfulness techniques and enjoy exercise and healthy eating through hypnosis.

• Wellness - hypnosis and meditations for ongoing

Learn about the Founder of GentleBirth - the Best Hypnobirthing Program

Tracy Donegan has an Honors B.Sc in Midwifery and is a Registered Midwife, Birth Doula trainer and International speaker on Positive Birth (Brazil, UK, Ireland, USA). Tracy trained as a Hypnobirthing (Mongan Method) educator in 2005 and has been teaching parents since 2006. Tracy is the author of GentleBirth: Your Positive Birth Begins Here, and Mindful Pregnancy. Tracy has a comprehensive knowledge of labor and birth practices in Europe and the US. Tracy trained in Mindful Motherhood and is due to complete her Masters in Mindfulness Studies in 2022. In 2017 Tracy was awarded Maternity Innovator of the Year at the MaMa Conference in the UK for her GentleBirth Hypnobirthing App. Tracy’s GentleBirth approach combining Mindfulness training, hypnobirthing and brain science is currently part of several international studies with Universities in Canada, Brazil and Portugal. Tracy’s new app FertileMind - a mindful approach to fertility challenges launched in Sept 2021 along with her new book FertileMind. Tracy provides ongoing support to parents as they prepare for their positive birth (and lots of postpartum support too).

GentleBirth Masterclass - Hypnobirthing Vs Hypnobabies

We’re here to help you fill your labor toolkit and stack the odds in your favor of having the safest, most positive birth experience possible - as you define it.

No matter which class resonates the most with you trust that you can handle anything that comes your way on the big day - and long after!