Hypnosis and Mindfulness for Caesarean Preparation

with Sophie Fletcher MA, DipHyp(Sup), MNCH (Acc)

3 hour workshop · 12th January 2027 · 10am-1pm

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Often you don't think about preparation for a caesarean as you would for a vaginal birth, yet one of the most useful applications of hypnosis and mindfulness is for when things aren't going to plan.

Even those who want a caesarean, when they prepare this way are happy to find that they have much lower, if any anxiety on the day. They also find they have agency, around small aspects of the day, including what happens after the birth.

What you'll get:

  • Training in imagery tools used by top athletes to prepare
  • Hypnosis tracks including affirmations and pre and post birth support
  • A caesarean planning workbook for you to use
  • A certificate certifying 3 hours CPD
  • Video access for 30 days

You can use this:

  • as a doula if your client's path changes
  • as a midwife in a hospital setting
  • as a hypnotherapist with one-to-one clients
  • as a hypnobirthing teacher as an additional offer

You can download the learning outcomes here to share with your supervisor or manager. 

Download Learning Outcomes

Some of the reasons a caesarean may be chosen

Higher anxiety

A previous trauma

A surrogacy birth

A change in circumstances

A pre-existing medical condition

An emergency

All of these are different, each and every person will have a different fear. They may want the caesarean or they may not, it may be deeply upsetting for them.

Hypnosis and mindfulness can support a caesarean birth

Reduce anxiety prior to the birth

Reduce post-operative pain

Increase the chances of breastfeeding

Help balance post-partum hormone regulation

Reduce post-natal anxiety

Anecdotally I have also heard mothers say, how they felt more connected to their baby's birth, rather than disassociated, and that the day became something special and shared, rather than "just a way to get the baby out". My view is that this contributes to the lower rates of anxiety and potentially better bonding.

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How does it do this?

Changing how pain is processed

Neuro-imaging studies show hypnosis can change how the central nervous system processes pain, altering how we interpret the sensation. This can be especially helpful after a caesarean when reducing strong medication matters, particularly if you're planning to breastfeed.

Reducing anxiety, before and after

Hypnosis is highly effective in reducing both pre-natal and post-natal anxiety, through simple imagery techniques and hypnotic recordings.

Supporting recovery

Beyond maternity care, systematic reviews and meta-analyses show clinical hypnosis supporting wound healing, lower use of analgesia, lower anxiety and faster recovery times.

The Mindful Mamma® Caesarean Course

This is a three hour course where you will learn the basics of hypnosis and have a clearly defined programme that is easy to follow, even if you aren't a hypnotherapist.

If you are already practicing in hypnobirthing this is the perfect extension, and you'll see how the tools you teach can be applied in different ways.

If you are a birth professional you can offer these as stand-alone sessions for those preparing for a caesarean.

Please note: there are only 15 spaces available on this training per year. If you are interested in me teaching this to a cohort of midwives in the NHS, please get in touch directly.

If you have purchased the training, you have 48 hours to change your mind. After that it is non-refundable, but you will still be sent the recording afterwards if you are unable to attend.

Please note that as part of this course you will not be able to give medical advice. This is a course focusing on mindset approaches.

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Who is your trainer?

Sophie Fletcher is a clinical hypnotherapist, supervisor and mindfulness practitioner with over 20 years of experience in perinatal hypnotherapy.

The bestselling author of Mindful Hypnobirthing, Mindful Mamma and Mindful Menopause, her books have sold over 100,000 copies and are consistently in the bestseller lists globally.

She guest lectures across universities in the UK, on a wide range of topic relating to hypnosis and birth from hypnobirthing through to compassionate self-care for student midwives.

She spent 6 years on the Board of the National Council for Hypnotherapy, is an accredited member and continues to advocate for the use of hypnosis and dispel myths about it!

Ready to prepare with confidence?

Reserve your place on the 12th January 2027 workshop, or gift it to a colleague.

Reserve your place