Karen Tootill; HypnoBirthing Practitioner and HypnoBirthing Mum

I grew up in Essex but moved to Birmingham in 1995 where I gained a BSc in Business Management at Aston University. After my degree I moved to London and worked in the city for few years before I studied for my Post Graduate Certificate in Education and changed career becoming a secondary school teacher. I then worked in a North East London secondary school teaching Business Studies and working as a youth counsellor until I had my first baby.

(My husband) Chris and I had our son Callum in 2005 and used HypnoBirthing to prepare for the birth. The HypnoBirthing course totally changed how we felt about the birth and as a result we changed from the hospital route to having Callum at home. His birth was the best day of our lives; I was so relaxed during labour I was in a dream like state for most of the time. We felt in control of the birth and Chris knew how to support me and did a wonderful job of helping to bring Callum into the world. Callum’s heart rate was steady throughout labour and birth and even though I had a long labour it was a wonderful experience.

As a result of the positive experience when birthing my son I trained as a HypnoBirthing practitioner with the HypnoBirthing Institute in 2006 and now run an established practice in Chelmsford and Rayleigh working closely with community midwives, local hospitals and independent midwifes from the Essex Midwifery Practice. I am very passionate about making birth a positive experience for women and believe birth should be a wonderful and safe event.

Since establishing my HypnoBirthing practice in Essex I have been invited to speak at several local NHS study days including;

•Study hour for midwives at St Johns Hospital, attended by community and hospital midwives

•Royal College of Midwifes conference on ‘Natural Birth’ attend by over 100 Mid-Essex midwives

•Study Day for Maternity and Healthcare support staff at St Johns Hospital

I also contribute to the antenatal relaxation classes at Basildon Hospital and NCT antenatal classes in Chelmsford and work collectively with HypnoBirthing practitioners in Essex and London, developing our practice and promoting HypnoBirthing at the London Baby shows and through national media such as Living TV, parenting press and national newspapers.

Chris, Callum, Matthew and I are now living in Old Moulsham, Chelmsford and I run my practice in Chelmsford and Rayleigh. I had my second son Matthew in September 2008 and you can read his birth story by returning to the tag at the top of the page – it was a wonderful birth!