Hypnobirthing for Caesarean Birth - the Lothians & Forth Valley

Making Your Caesarean Birth Special with Hypnobirthing & Birth Planning

Many expectant parents in my antenatal classes ask: “Can hypnobirthing really help if I’m having a caesarean?”

The answer is a resounding yes. Whether your caesarean is planned or decided during labour, hypnobirthing techniques can help you stay calm, confident, and connected to the experience of meeting your baby.

And with caesarean rates rising locally, it’s more relevant than ever.

Caesarean Births: The Local Picture

Caesareans are no longer rare in Central Scotland.

• In NHS Lothian, recent monthly maternity data shows caesarean births make up around 37% of all deliveries, with elective caesareans alone accounting for about 18%. (NHS Lothian Maternity Statistics)

• Across Scotland as a whole, the latest Public Health Scotland report shows 41.8% of singleton births in 2024 were delivered by caesarean — the highest on record. (Public Health Scotland 2024)

This means that for many families, preparing for a caesarean isn’t just a “backup plan” - it’s a realistic and common path to birth.

Understanding Caesarean Births

Caesareans generally fall into two groups:

• Planned (Elective) Caesarean: Arranged in advance, with time to meet your obstetrician and anaesthetist, ask questions, and prepare calmly.

• Unplanned (sometimes called Emergency) Caesarean: Decided during pregnancy or labour due to medical reasons. Despite the word “emergency,” most are calm and controlled.

Some parents prefer to think of caesareans as planned or unplanned to avoid the drama that “emergency” implies.

Hypnobirthing Techniques for Caesarean Birth

Hypnobirthing is about more than managing contractions - it’s about using breathing, relaxation, and mindset techniques to stay calm, reduce fear, and feel grounded.

In the operating theatre, these tools can be transformative:

• Reduce anxiety before and during surgery.

• Keep oxytocin flowing, which helps bonding and recovery.

• Create a calmer atmosphere for you, your partner, and your baby.

How to Prepare with Hypnobirthing

Here are some practical ways to adapt hypnobirthing to your caesarean journey:

• Affirmations – reframe thoughts (“I am calm, I am safe, I am about to meet my baby”).

• Relaxation Tracks – listen to caesarean-specific hypnobirthing recordings in the run-up.

• Breathing Techniques – slow breathing during spinal prep keeps you steady.

• Music – bring your playlist to theatre for familiarity and comfort.

• Visualisation – imagine safe, calm spaces as you wait for baby’s arrival.

• Touch – hand or shoulder massage from your partner keeps you grounded.

• Knowledge – understanding the step-by-step process reduces fear of the unknown.

Creating a Caesarean Birth Plan

Yes, you can absolutely have a birth plan for a caesarean. It helps your team personalise the experience and keep you at the centre of care.

Some ideas to include:

• Whether you’d like staff to give a running commentary — or keep voices low.

• Playing your own music.

• Whether you’d like the screen lowered so you can see your baby’s birth.

• Immediate skin-to-skin in theatre if possible.

• Optimal cord clamping and who cuts the cord.

• What your partner should do if baby needs extra care.

• Permission for photos of your first moments together.

Even if you’re planning a vaginal birth, including a caesarean plan “just in case” ensures you feel prepared and supported whatever happens.

How I Can Help

As a qualified hypnobirthing practitioner and antenatal teacher, I tailor scripts and relaxation tools specifically for caesarean birth.

My Linlithgow Antenatal Course includes:

• Hypnobirthing for both vaginal and caesarean births.

• Evidence-based education on caesarean procedure and recovery.

• Partner tools to keep you calm and connected in theatre.

• Emotional support for processing expectations if plans change.

With local caesarean rates now topping 1 in 3 births in Lothian and even higher across Scotland, being prepared for this path is more important than ever ... and prepared doesn’t mean resigned - it means empowered, calm, and ready to make your caesarean birth feel as special as any other.

I’m Joy - antenatal teacher and perinatal therapist in Linlithgow. I help families across West Lothian and beyond prepare for both vaginal and caesarean births with hypnobirthing, personalised planning, evidence-based antenatal course and a massive dose of calm confidence.