In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, I’m sitting down with Katharine Graves, the powerhouse behind KG Hypnobirthing, to uncover the magic of turning birth into a calm, confident, and downright empowering experience. We’re talking about how hypnobirthing can completely change the way you feel about labor, why evidence-based maternity care is non-negotiable, and how partners can be fierce advocates in the birth space. Katharine also breaks down natural birth approaches like water birth, what you need to know about common interventions like inductions and C-sections, and why preparation is your secret weapon for a birth you feel good about. This is your permission slip to take charge of your birth story and make it an experience you actually want to remember.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:52 Katharine Graves on Hypnobirthing
05:20 Challenges and Misconceptions in Modern Birth Practices
20:05 The Role of Partners in Birth
30:15 Comparing Human and Animal Birth Practices
34:35 The Role of C-Sections in Modern Birth
34:54 Challenging Hospital Birth Assumptions
35:52 The Power and Pain of Birth
36:33 Hospital Interventions and Their Impact
39:18 Global Perspectives on Birth Practices
39:59 The Influence of Technology in Birth
40:49 The Debate on Birth Interventions
46:39 The Importance of Informed Choices
47:49 The Concept of Bonus Time in Late Pregnancy
56:37 The Golden Hour and Post-Birth Practices
01:02:57 Addressing Birth Trauma and Hypnobirthing
01:06:22 Final Thoughts and Resources
Guest Bio:
Katharine Graves is the founder of KG Hypnobirthing, a leading antenatal pregnancy & birth education programme that has helped thousands of families approach birth with calm, confidence, and informed choice. She’s a highly respected hypnobirthing expert - having been the first person to introduce hypnobirthing to the UK. She is also a hypnotherapist and doula as well as being author of The Hypnobirthing Book, selling well over 100,000 copies worldwide. Katharine has spent over 15 years personally teaching over 3,000 parents and 2,000 teachers & maternity professionals how to support physiological, empowering birth.
Katharine is deeply passionate about respectful, evidence-based maternity care and the importance of giving women the tools to advocate for themselves during pregnancy and labour. Through her work, she’s trained hundreds of midwives and birth professionals, and continues to lead the way in transforming birth culture through education and compassion.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
BIRTH EDUCATION:
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LINKS MENTIONED:
Check out The Hypnobirthing Book here!
Keywords: hypnobirthing, KG Hypnobirthing, Katharine Graves, natural birth, water birth, positive birth, calm birth, empowered birth, birth preparation, partner support in birth, birth advocacy, induction alternatives, avoiding c-section, evidence based birth, childbirth without fear, hypnobirthing techniques, labor comfort measures, natural pain relief birth, pregnancy podcast, The Birth Lounge