My name is Helen Cuthbertson, I am a mum in my thirties and I live in Harbury, South Warwickshire. I originally trained as a Network Architect/Engineer and have a BSc degree.
As a mum, I have experienced both extreme's of childbirth. My first experience in 2003 was fairly traumatic and resulted in an instrumental delivery. I was determined my second birth experience was to be very different so I read everything I could get my hands on that wasn't centered solely on medicalisation and pain relief, but instead focused on women gaining the control back and having an understanding of the basic physiological needs of a labouring women. Many of the books I read featured Michel Odent's work and research or Shelia Kitzinger and I found them very reassuring. So much so that when I went into labour with my daughter I felt in control because I trusted my body and knew I could do it - and I did. It was a quick and easy natural birth with no pain relief and I am delighted to say it healed me from my previous experience. I did however come to realise that even during this natural process I was having to fight to get what I wanted. I felt that had I had a Doula I would have had an experienced advocate to speak my wishes on my behalf, and then I could have been left undisturbed, which is the ultimate goal of any woman in labour.
Finally, when I got pregnant with my third I knew I wanted to have the baby at home and put my knowledge of HypnoBirthing® into action. The end result was an amazing experience, all be it with my longest labour yet and a beautiful baby girl. You can read my birth story here.
As a result, I decided to change careers and train as a midwife, feeling that this might enable me to be in the best possible position to help more women to have the experience they deserved. Frustratingly, I found this not to be the case. My experience in the hospital environment proved to me that, all too often, the midwives are unable to practice 'authentic midwifery' because they are often stretched, too busy with administration and were having to pigeon hole women and deliver care according to protocols and time-scales. The Midwives themselves, were frustrated at not being able to support the women as they would like and sometimes a basic understanding of what a labouring women requires is very much forgotten.
Women in labour need as little outside stimulation as possible. Women in labour need peace and quiet, warmth and to feel safe, secure and unobserved. I understood this and knew I could give this support far better, if I was to work as a Doula. So in 2007 I took a break from midwifery and decided to become a Doula. In October 2007 I attended a Paramana Doula course by Michel Odent which was extremely enlightening and motivating then in November 2007 I qualified as a HypnoBirth Instructor which enabled me to teach antenatal classes. During these classes I equip mothers with wonderful methods of relaxation and an understanding how their bodies work during childbirth to enable them to access their own natural resources providing a calm, more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
"Helen is an incredibly friendly, warm and caring person. Her passion for empowering women to have easy and memorable births is always evident. I really couldn't recommend anybody better to learn HypnoBirthing from or to have as a doula in the Warwickshire area" (Sarah Ockwell-Smith)