Classes for pregnancy, labour, babies, toddlers and women.

01223 565348      annayoungs@hotmail.com

Antenatal Yoga and Birth Preparation Feedback

Comments from women, who have attended the classes and workshops:

"I think the antenatal yoga really helped me cope with labour to focus on breathing, try different positions, keep moving. I also think that it had increased my strength. I also think it may have helped keep me fit and happy to keep active, which may have helped to bring labour on naturally." Amanda - Guy born May 2008

"Just to let you know that William Astley arrived on Sunday morning - 5 days early and a very healthy 8lbs 10oz! I wanted to thank you so much for all your help and advice over the past few months - not to mention all the relaxation and chocolate biscuits! I have no doubt that the yoga & birthing positions and breathing techniques helped enormously. I had an 8 hour labour in all, starting with some mild backache and 'are these contractions?' contractions before my waters broke. I was admitted to the midwife led birthing unit at 3am and used a TENS machine and breathing for pain relief for most of my labour before getting in the pool and using that and gas & air. I am absolutely amazed to have had the kind of birth I wanted (despite being a sceptic before about the effect that controlling your breathing can have!) and feel very lucky that the midwife's expertise meant I needed no stitches and no pain relief after delivery. Many thanks for all your help in making this possible." Katrina - William born April 08

"We had a very positive labour which lasted 9 hours in total, of which the majority was spent at home - only the last 2½ hours were at the Midwifery-Led Birthing Unit at the Rosie. The care at the MLBU was wonderful and we had two midwives with us permanently from the moment we arrived to the birth itself. Their non-interventionist approach was exactly what we had hoped for.

I had an open mind about pain relief beforehand, but promised myself I would try to experience as much of the labour and delivery as I could cope with naturally. In the end I didn’t need any artificial pain relief at all – just two warm baths, lots of lower back massage and encouragement from my husband, and a focus on my breathing. Towards the end I did feel that I was breathing her out, which would have been impossible were it not for the antenatal yoga classes, so a huge thank you for all your help." Natalie - Eleanor born Jan 2008

"The teamwork and coaching suggestions that you provided during the birth workshop proved invaluable to us during labour, particularly for Steve, so many thanks again for running the session. Please encourage all birth partners to attend to really get the maximum benefit". Amanda - Alex born Sept 2007

"First and foremost I have to say that the Yoga classes really helped and I'm not just saying that! The only thing that got me through the whole labour was the breathing and focussing on what I was doing. What's more I think Mark found the birth preparation class really useful as well, as he knew what to expect and was fantastic at reminding me to breathe and breathe deeply, giving encouragement throughout the day and helping me to relax and attempt to visualise the baby coming out. So . if you haven't done so already, book up for one of Anna's classes!!" Kirsty - Finlay born Sept 07

"I  wanted to say a big thank you, because I am positive that all the yoga and birth preparation advice I had from you over the past few months contributed to making this a nice birth story! . I managed to cope with the pain by using the yoga breathing – was relieved to find out that the ‘golden thread’ breath does indeed work, it really really helped with the pain... my yoga breathing was doing  a good job of keeping me relaxed!   I also escaped without any tearing, I’m sure that the perineal massage advice must have helped towards that." Jill with Joseph - July 2007

"I have to tell you that the yoga and birth preparation workshop were amazing for me! I think I did just breathe Kyla out without any pain medication (just TENS and Entonox)!  The midwives were extremely impressed with how I managed to stay focused with the breathing techniques." Lori with Kyla - June 2007

"During this time I used the breathing we learned in your class  - it was really brilliant, the pain was significantly reduced - to less than 10% of what it was without the breathing - and it really helped me to focus, and to enter a place where it was just me and the pain and our baby on its way - quite a beautiful feeling." Clare  - Finn born April 2007

"I just wanted to let you know how yoga really helped me. I used a lot of the breathing, visualisation and postures we learnt and don't think I could have got through without it." Katharine – Owen November 2006

"The golden thread kept me sane towards the end - in fact I was visualising myself with my eyes closed at last week's yoga class doing my breathing!!  The midwife seems to think that I "breathed the baby out"… Thank you so much for the yoga classes, they were extremely helpful." – Michele  - Jojo September 2006

"Thank you for bringing friends together. It's been wonderful having you all around and meeting even more people through class." - Asha - Maya June 2006

"I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl "Ella Rose" on 15th July 2006. 6lb 2oz - naturally at the Rosie Maternity.  Arrived by ambulance as the whole labour progressed rather quickly, 4 1/2 hours in total....
The yoga breathing exercises really helped, so pain relief was not necessary (Not that I had the time!)
So a BIG THANK YOU!!!! - Your help and advice was great!" Lucy - Ella June 2006

back to top