A guest blog by Katie Mellor

The lovely Katie Mellor, a pregnancy yoga teacher who I met through Instagram (and more specifically our joint love for birth books) has shared her incredible birth story with us in this guest blog. Thank you so much Katie for sharing your inspiring story with us and detailing how you used hypnobirthing during a change to your place of birth.

From home birth to hospital birth

Birth plans are deeply personal and often crafted with care and intention. When my first baby was born, I had a beautiful, empowering physiological birth at a midwife-led, stand-alone birth centre. With my second, I envisioned an equally serene experience—a home birth where I’d hold my baby on my chest in our living room, surrounded by comfort and love.

But at 34 weeks pregnant, everything changed.

We learned that our baby would need an operation immediately after birth. This meant I had to give birth in a tertiary hospital over an hour from home, far removed from the peaceful environment I’d imagined. While my primary concern was for my baby’s health, I also felt a deep sadness about losing the birth I had envisioned.

After the initial shock and a flood of emotions, I turned to hypnobirthing—a practice I had embraced during my first pregnancy—to navigate this unexpected turn. It gave me the tools to refocus, find positivity, and achieve an empowering birth despite the change in circumstances.

Here’s how I used hypnobirthing to transform my experience:

1. Advocacy: Speaking Up for My Birth Preferences

With my vision of a home birth gone, I focused on what mattered most to me: optimising my body’s natural physiology during labour, even in a medical setting.

I communicated my preferences to everyone involved in my care—from obstetricians to midwives and NICU staff. I emphasised my wishes for skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, minimal interruptions, and a calm environment.

While I felt repetitive at times, this persistence ensured my wishes were documented and respected. By the time I gave birth, every staff member was aware of my priorities, creating a supportive and aligned team.

2. Visualisation: Reimagining the Birth Experience

I had spent months visualising a home birth, so adjusting this mental picture was challenging. But visualisation is a cornerstone of hypnobirthing, and I knew its power.

I shifted my focus to what truly mattered: meeting my baby for the first time. Each night, I visualised holding my baby on my chest, skin-to-skin, feeling his warmth and hearing his first breaths. I clung to this image during labour, replacing fear with anticipation. This mental preparation helped me stay grounded and focused, even as circumstances unfolded differently than planned.

3. Breathwork: A Lifeline in Labour

Breathwork became my anchor. As labour began, I relied on the breathing techniques I had practiced through hypnobirthing and pregnancy yoga.

During a particularly intense moment, I had to remain still for a procedure while experiencing contractions without pain relief. My breath was my only tool, and it carried me through. Years of practice made it second nature, allowing me to stay calm and in control during those challenging moments.

4. Environment: Creating Calm Amidst Chaos

Giving birth in a large, unfamiliar hospital was far from what I had envisioned, but I worked to create a calming environment within the constraints of the setting.

For me, it wasn’t about fairy lights or music—it was about simplicity. I requested minimal people in the room and respectful, quiet care. When I noticed my labour slowing due to the number of people entering the room, I asked for privacy. Soon, it was just my husband, a midwife, and me, and my contractions quickly returned to a steady rhythm.

The Outcome: A Positive and Empowering Birth

Despite the twists and turns, I achieved a birth that was both positive and empowering. I held my baby skin-to-skin as he took his first breaths, just as I had visualised. While it wasn’t the birth I originally planned, it was filled with joy, connection, and pride.

I credit hypnobirthing for helping me advocate for my needs, reframe my expectations, and stay calm and focused. It reminded me that while birth plans may change, a positive birth experience is still possible with the right mindset and tools.

Final Thoughts

Birth is unpredictable, but hypnobirthing equips you to adapt and find empowerment in the process. Whether you’re planning a home birth, a birth centre delivery, or a hospital birth, these techniques can help you stay present and connected to the experience.

For anyone facing changes to their birth plan, know this: it’s okay to grieve the loss of your original vision. But with the right support and preparation, you can still create a birth experience that feels empowering, memorable, and uniquely yours.

Thank you so much Katie for sharing your story with us, it really is so empowering to hear how. you navigated such a big change to your birth plan. You can head to Katie’s website here to find out more about her pregnancy yoga classes and she has kindly offered a discount to anyone reading this who might be interested in yoga with her, quote ‘HANNAH20’ at checkout.