How Hypnobirthing Can Help During an Unexpected Fast Labour
Originally published on 17 April 2015 Updated 15 June 2026
Hypnobirthing is a form of birth preparation that combines education, breathing techniques, relaxation, self-hypnosis and practical tools to help women and their birth partners approach labour with greater confidence and calm. Contrary to popular belief, hypnobirthing is not about being hypnotised or losing control. It is about understanding the physiology of birth, reducing fear, and learning techniques that can help you work with your body during labour.
Many women use hypnobirthing to manage anxiety about birth, feel more prepared for labour, and develop trust in their body’s ability to give birth. Birth partners also learn practical ways to provide support throughout pregnancy, labour and birth. Whether you are planning a home birth, hospital birth or caesarean birth, hypnobirthing techniques can help you feel more informed, empowered and prepared for the experience.
At Fertility2Birth, I offer hypnobirthing classes in Farnham and online, supporting expectant parents with evidence-based birth education, relaxation techniques and personalised preparation for birth and early parenthood. We also have an online course, link at the bottom of the page.
My window cleaner arrived one afternoon and, as usual, he wanted a chat.
When he knocked on the front door, rather than climbing over the six-foot gate, I knew something was up.
After a bit of small talk, he told me he’d recently been cleaning windows for a heavily pregnant woman when he suddenly heard banging on the glass.
The Unexpected Birth Story
In he came with a fabulous window-cleaning story.
It was the first time he’d met this particular client, and only because the very pregnant woman happened to arrive home at the same time he did. A short while later, while he was up his ladder cleaning her windows, he heard frantic banging on the glass.
“Call an ambulance, I’m having a baby!”
WC rushed down the ladder and off down the road to call the emergency services. In the excitement, he’d momentarily forgotten the road name and needed to find it before he could tell the operator where they were. The labouring woman thought he’d run off and abandoned her!
Not long afterwards, the woman’s father arrived, soon followed by her son. To cut a long story short, the baby arrived very quickly.
WC, being the man he is, organised everything beautifully. The baby cried immediately and, in his words, “went from blue to pink straight away”. The birthing mum was, apparently, “so in control”.
And this is one of the reasons I love my window cleaner.
“My friend asked if I’d grabbed something to cut the cord,” he told me. “I said that in some cultures they don’t cut the cord at all. They just leave it until it falls off. Nothing needed touching at all.”
I’m considering bringing my WC along to all my hypnobirthing classes. It seems he’d make a rather good doula.
How Hypnobirthing Helps During Fast Labour
Imagine that situation from everyone’s perspective.
The labouring mum probably wasn’t expecting her baby to arrive quite so quickly. Very few women prepare for labour to unfold at that speed. Then there’s her father, who I imagine was relieved to find someone calm and capable already there helping. And her son – what an extraordinary experience to witness the birth of your baby sister.
I loved WC’s description of the mother. She was, apparently, “so in control”. Of course, I don’t know whether she’d taken a hypnobirthing course, but if she had, I imagine many of the techniques would have been invaluable in what was undoubtedly an unexpected and potentially frightening situation.
One of the things I love about hypnobirthing is that it is about far more than managing the intensity of labour. It teaches women and their birth partners about the physiology of birth, helps them understand what is happening in the body, and provides practical techniques that can help them remain calm, confident and in control throughout the process.
I genuinely believe that every pregnant woman, and every birth partner, can benefit from a hypnobirthing course.
I’m just wondering now whether I should start offering them to the window cleaners of Farnham as well.
Looking for hypnobirthing classes in Farnham or Surrey?
At Fertility2Birth I offer hypnobirthing courses designed to help women and their birth partners approach labour with greater confidence, understanding and calm. You’ll learn about the physiology of birth, breathing and relaxation techniques, and practical tools that can help you feel more prepared for whatever path your birth takes.
Visit fertility2birth.com to find out more about hypnobirthing classes, workshops and personalised support.
Welcome to my website, a space where I try to catch your eye, and explain the heart of my practice.
My journey over 17 years has taught me that true knowledge isn’t about the letters after my name or the timeline of my academic pursuits. It’s about the stories shared, the moments of vulnerability, and the human connection that transforms both you and me. It’s holding space, listening intently, and noticing the patterns within your words and emotions.
Together, we can navigate the complexities of life, embracing both the shadow and the light. So, if you’re seeking more than just a quick fix, and ready to make lasting changes, you’re in the right place. Let’s embark on this journey together. Click and read more about my approach here. To read more about Hypnobirthing classes with me please see here where we also have a hypnobirthing online course.
If you are researching hypnobirthing you might enjoy my blog post on Hypnobirthing, a little for the birth partner