Hypnotherapy for fertility and birth in London and online

Fertility hypnotherapy is emotional support for people trying to conceive or having fertility treatment. Sessions focus on worry, tension, self-criticism and coping with uncertainty. They can sit alongside care from your GP or fertility clinic, helping you work towards feeling steadier during a demanding time.

The purpose of these sessions is to support emotional wellbeing, not to increase pregnancy rates or treat the medical causes of fertility problems. Hypnotherapy cannot promise conception. You can seek support for stress and anxiety while your fertility team advises you about investigations and treatment.

You should not blame yourself for feeling stressed or struggling to stay positive. Fertility problems and treatment can be emotionally demanding. The HFEA explains that evidence does not show that people with higher stress levels are less likely to have a baby through fertility treatment. Support is for your wellbeing, not a test of how well you relax.

Yes. You can enquire while trying to conceive, waiting for a referral or preparing for treatment. Sessions can focus on uncertainty, appointments, sleep or confidence in asking questions. You do not need to wait until treatment begins to ask for emotional support.

Sessions can offer space to work with sadness, frustration and the repeated cycle of hope and disappointment. We can practise ways to respond to difficult moments with less self-criticism. You do not have to suppress your feelings or pretend to be positive.

Yes. We can explore what makes these situations difficult and rehearse responses that respect your privacy and feelings. This might include choosing what to say, setting limits or deciding which events feel manageable. You can care about other people and still need space for yourself.

Yes. Partners and men can seek individual emotional support with fertility worries, treatment pressures and uncertainty. Sessions focus on your own feelings and coping needs. This is not treatment for sperm problems or other medical causes of infertility, which need appropriate clinical advice.

Yes. Individual support is available whatever your family structure or route to parenthood. You can discuss the emotional pressures of donor treatment, fertility appointments, uncertainty or preparing for birth. Contact me about your circumstances so we can agree the most suitable format.

Hypnotherapy can focus on the emotional demands of IVF: anticipating appointments, feeling overwhelmed, worrying about results or struggling to switch off. We can rehearse manageable coping responses and practise calming techniques. Your fertility clinic continues to guide all medical decisions and treatment.

Yes, you can enquire about emotional support during IUI, egg freezing or other fertility treatment. The focus may be procedure anxiety, uncertainty or decisions that feel emotionally difficult. Sessions are adapted to your stage of care and do not change your clinic’s instructions.

We can work with anticipatory fear and practise ways to approach injections or medical appointments more calmly. Tell your clinic if needles make you faint or feel unwell so they can plan appropriate support. Follow their injection training and medication instructions throughout.

Yes. We can rehearse arriving, communicating with staff and using calming cues during appropriate parts of the appointment. Your clinic can explain the procedure, sedation and practical arrangements. Hypnosis does not replace pain relief or clinical instructions, and you should remain able to respond to staff.

This means using hypnosis and relaxation to support coping while waiting for a pregnancy test after ovulation or treatment. Sessions may focus on repetitive symptom-checking, difficulty resting and worry about the result. The aim is a more manageable wait, not influencing implantation or predicting the outcome.

Ask your fertility team about any practical concerns and follow their aftercare advice. A relaxation recording can be used as emotional support when it is comfortable and safe to do so. You do not need to listen perfectly or believe that missing it will affect the treatment outcome.

You can enquire after an unsuccessful cycle, whether you are considering more treatment, taking a break or unsure what comes next. Sessions can support coping with disappointment and self-blame. Specialist fertility counselling is another useful option, and your clinic can explain the support available.

No. You can seek emotional support while pausing treatment, deciding to stop or adjusting to an unexpected future. The work follows your priorities and does not pressure you towards further treatment. Decisions about fertility care remain yours, informed by your medical team.

Hypnotherapy can support work on anxious expectations, tension and coping during pregnancy. We agree goals and adapt exercises to your comfort and care needs. If anxiety is persistent, intense or affecting daily life, tell your midwife or GP so you can access appropriate perinatal support alongside any hypnotherapy.

Yes. A subsequent pregnancy can bring both hope and fear. Sessions can focus on feeling steadier between appointments and responding kindly to yourself. You do not have to retell a loss in detail. Your maternity team and specialist bereavement services can also help you find suitable support.

Yes. We can rehearse attending appointments, asking questions and managing the waiting period. Techniques can include grounding, comfortable breathing and shifting attention away from repetitive checking. They support coping with uncertainty rather than offering reassurance about a result that only your clinical team can assess.

Tokophobia is an intense fear of childbirth and sometimes pregnancy. It may relate to a previous experience or occur before a first pregnancy. If fear is severe, speak to your GP or midwife about specialist perinatal mental health support. You deserve help and a chance to discuss your birth options.

Yes. You can discuss birth-related fears before pregnancy, including worries that affect decisions about having children. Sessions can support work on anxiety and confidence in seeking information. A GP can also help you access specialist advice if the fear is intense or persistent.

Sessions can focus on present-day anxiety, a sense of lost control and preparing for future care at a manageable pace. You do not have to relive the experience. Flashbacks, nightmares or severe distress should also be discussed with your GP or maternity team so specialist trauma support can be considered.

No. You can choose what to share, and we can begin with your current needs and goals. You can pause or decline an exercise. Hypnosis is not used to recover hidden memories, establish what happened or pressure you into revisiting distressing events.

No. Hypnotherapy is emotional support alongside appropriate maternity and mental health care. Keep your appointments and discuss treatment decisions with your clinical team. If you have a physical concern such as bleeding or reduced baby movements, contact your maternity unit promptly rather than using relaxation to wait it out.

Hypnotherapy for birth uses individual sessions to work on worry, confidence and preparation for labour or a planned birth. Techniques may include relaxation, imagery and rehearsing how to express preferences. The aim is to feel more prepared while remaining flexible about the medical care you and your baby may need.

There is overlap in skills such as relaxation, breathing and visualisation. These sessions are individual hypnotherapy tailored to your fears and goals, rather than a complete antenatal education course. Antenatal classes and your maternity team remain important sources of practical information about labour, feeding and caring for your baby.

Starting a few months before your due date gives you time to practise and become familiar with the techniques. You can also enquire later in pregnancy. We discuss the time available, your main concerns and a realistic plan; there is no requirement to reach a particular week before asking.

Yes. Relaxation and confidence work can sit alongside your chosen pain relief, including an epidural. Needing or choosing medication is not a failure. Discuss options with your maternity team and feel free to change your preferences as labour unfolds.

You can use sessions to work on anxiety and preparation for an induction or planned caesarean. We can rehearse communicating with staff and coping with unfamiliar surroundings. Your maternity team explains the procedures and medical options; hypnosis supports your emotional preparation.

No. Birth experiences vary, and no preparation method can guarantee how labour will feel or unfold. The aim is to build coping skills, confidence and flexibility. A change of plan, pain relief or medical intervention does not mean you have done anything wrong.

You can share agreed calming cues, recordings or preferences with your birth partner. They may help by offering reassurance and reminding you of techniques you find useful. If you want a partner involved in an appointment, contact me beforehand to discuss the format.

You do not need to feel calm all the time. We can practise returning to a simple anchor, asking for explanations and taking one step at a time. Techniques are tools you can use when helpful, not rules you have to follow or a measure of a successful birth.

Susannah Saunders offers appointments at City Hypnotherapy Centre, Longcroft House, 2–8 Victoria Avenue, London EC2M 4NS, a short walk from Liverpool Street station. You can also choose an online appointment by Zoom. Contact me to discuss your needs and availability.

Yes. Individual appointments are available by Zoom, which may be convenient around treatment or pregnancy. Choose a private, comfortable place where you can hear clearly and will not be interrupted. We discuss your needs and whether online appointments are suitable before starting.

Standard individual sessions cost £198 per session, including VAT, and last approximately 50 minutes. Your first appointment includes hypnosis as well as the consultation. Appointments are available in the City of London and online; the fees page has full booking information.

We discuss your situation, any medical or psychological care, and what you would like help with. I explain the approach, answer questions and agree suitable goals with you. The first appointment includes hypnosis tailored to your needs, with time to consider how you found the experience.

The number depends on your goals, circumstances and how you respond. Some people want support around a particular appointment; others prefer work across treatment or pregnancy. We discuss a plan and review progress together rather than promising a fixed number or a particular outcome.

Yes. You receive a personalised recording of your session to practise with between appointments. We discuss when and how to use it comfortably. Listen only where it is safe to relax, never while driving, and follow your clinical team’s instructions during treatment or labour.

There is no single best practitioner for everyone. Look for recognised qualifications, an approach that respects medical care and someone you feel comfortable talking to. Susannah holds the HPD and SQHP qualifications and has practised since 2003. Try the free relaxation audio to hear her voice, or contact her to discuss your needs.

Use the contact page or call 07973 896907. Tell me briefly what you would like support with and whether you prefer London or Zoom. You can ask questions before booking, and the free 30-minute relaxation audio offers a way to get a feel for my voice and approach.