HypnoHypnobirthing App for Pregnancy & Labour
Free hypnobirthing app for UK mums — used by 200,000+ women. Pregnancy meditations, labour breathing, surge timer, and positive affirmations. ORCHA certified.
200,000+ mums • ORCHA NHS Certified • Free on iOS & Android
HypnoBirth App is a hypnobirthing app for pregnancy and labour that gives you guided audio sessions, breathing exercises, affirmations, and practical tools like a contraction timer and baby kick counter. It's meant to sit alongside your NHS antenatal appointments, whichever way you're giving birth — at home, in a midwife-led unit, or on the labour ward.
If birth is making you feel a bit jittery, same, that's a really normal place to be. From what I hear day to day, most mums aren't chasing some "perfect birth" story for Instagram. They just want to feel calmer, more prepared, and less blindsided when labour starts at 2am and nothing goes to plan.
TL;DR: HypnoBirth App is a free, ORCHA-certified hypnobirthing tool that supports pregnancy and labour with guided audio sessions, breathing exercises, affirmations, and tracking tools. It's been used by 200,000+ women, and the whole point is to help you feel calmer and a bit more ready for birth — as an add-on to NHS care, not a replacement.
What Is Hypnobirthing
Hypnobirthing is a way of preparing for birth that centres on deep relaxation, rhythmic breathing, visualisation, and self-hypnosis — all aimed at reducing the fear and tension that can make labour feel harder than it needs to be. When your body isn't locked in a stress response, it's better able to produce oxytocin and endorphins, which are the hormones that help labour progress and offer natural pain relief.
The name comes from Marie Mongan, who developed her HypnoBirthing programme in the late 1980s. But the underlying idea — that a calm, confident mind supports a more manageable birth — goes back much further. Today you'll find the term used across courses, books, and apps, each offering their own take on the same core approach: practise relaxation before birth so your body has something familiar to fall back on when surges start.
Despite the name, nobody is being put to sleep or losing awareness. You're fully conscious throughout. The "hypno" part simply refers to a state of focused calm — the kind where your jaw unclenches, your shoulders drop, and your breathing steadies even when things are intense.
What UK research and guidance suggests
The NHS doesn't formally endorse hypnobirthing as a treatment, but many NHS trusts mention relaxation and breathing as helpful coping strategies during labour. A 2025 randomised controlled trial found that women who completed an online hypnosis-based programme reported lower stress levels and more positive birth expectations across pregnancy (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025). A broader systematic review reported reduced childbirth fear, improved feelings of control, and in some studies fewer interventions (F1000Research, 2026).
Where hypnobirthing has its limits
It won't guarantee a pain-free labour, a quicker delivery, or a particular birth outcome. It doesn't replace your midwife, your antenatal appointments, or medical pain relief like epidurals and gas and air. What it offers is a practical set of coping skills — and for many UK mums, those skills make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling like they can manage what's happening, even when things change.
What Is HypnoBirth App
HypnoBirth App is a free birth preparation app built around hypnobirthing, breathing exercises, and guided pregnancy meditation. More than 200,000 women have used it, and it holds ORCHA certification — meaning it's been independently assessed for clinical safety, data privacy, and usability by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications.
It's built to sit alongside NHS maternity care and your midwife's guidance — not to replace any of it. Think of it as a practical toolkit you can pick up in the third trimester, or earlier if you'd like a head start.
Hypnobirthing audio sessions
A growing library of guided relaxation and self-hypnosis tracks covering pregnancy, early labour, active surges, and postnatal recovery.
Trimester-matched meditations
Sessions that reflect how each stage of pregnancy actually feels — from first-trimester worry to third-trimester insomnia and everything between.
Labour breathing patterns
Practise slow breathing and surge breathing now so the rhythm is automatic when contractions start. Works with gas and air, TENS machines, and water pools.
Positive birth affirmations
Short, repeatable phrases you can use during scans, appointments, and those 3am spirals when your brain won't quiet down.
Surge timer
Log contraction frequency and duration so you and your birth partner can judge when to phone the maternity unit or head to hospital.
Baby movement tracker
Keep a daily log of kicks and rolls between midwife appointments — helpful context if you ever feel something's different and want to ring up.
Getting Started with HypnoBirth App
1. Grab the free app and choose a track
Download from the App Store or Google Play, select your trimester, and press play on your first session. The free tier has enough content to build a genuine daily habit — no payment required. Download HypnoBirth App.
2. Listen for 10–20 minutes on most days
You don't need a quiet house or a spare hour. A short session before bed, during a lunch break, or while the toddler naps is enough to train your nervous system into a calmer baseline. Over time, the breathing patterns become reflexive — less something you remember and more something your body just does.
A 2025 trial involving an online hypnosis-based birth programme found that regular practice across pregnancy led to measurably lower stress levels and more positive expectations around birth (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025).
3. Bring it into labour
When surges begin, you already know what works. Your birth partner can manage the timer, queue up your favourite relaxation track, and keep the environment calm while you focus inward. The techniques travel with you — whether you're in a birthing pool at home, on a labour ward, or being wheeled into theatre for an unplanned caesarean.
It's worth saying: hypnobirthing during labour doesn't look like silent meditation. Most mums move, vocalise, lean, and sway. The breathing and focus are what hold it together, not stillness.
Who It's For (And Where It Has Limits)
First-time mums navigating the unknown
When you haven't given birth before, your brain tends to fill the silence with worst-case scenarios. Daily hypnobirthing practice gives you something familiar to return to: a track you know, a breathing rhythm your body recognises, a mental picture you've rehearsed dozens of times. By the time labour arrives, it doesn't feel entirely foreign.
A 2026 systematic review of hypnosis-based childbirth approaches found consistent reductions in fear of birth, along with stronger feelings of control and greater overall satisfaction with the experience (F1000Research, 2026).
NHS labour ward or midwife-led unit
A lot of people picture hypnobirthing as candles and home births. In reality, the majority of UK births happen in hospital, and that's exactly where these skills get used most. Guided breathing works alongside CTG monitoring, IV lines, and epidural top-ups. You can listen to a relaxation track while waiting for your anaesthetist. You can use affirmation prompts before a planned or emergency caesarean. The environment changes; the nervous system doesn't.
Home births
Giving birth at home can feel beautifully intimate and, in transition, startlingly intense. An app-based routine gives you structure: breathe in for four, out for eight, soften your face, let the surge peak and pass. If you need to transfer, the same skills come with you in the ambulance.
Birth partners who want to help but don't know how
The most common thing partners say is "I didn't know what to do." HypnoBirth App gives them a clear role: set the playlist, dim the lights, offer water between surges, watch the timer, and keep the room quiet. It turns good intentions into practical support.
Where it has limits
Consistency matters — practising regularly for four to six weeks before your due date makes a meaningful difference. Evidence is strongest for reducing fear and increasing birth satisfaction, not for guaranteeing shorter labour or removing the need for pain relief. If you have a complex pregnancy, a history of trauma, or significant mental health concerns, speak to your midwife or GP about additional support alongside the app.
Browse Pregnancy & Birth Topics
Jump to the area that matters most to you right now.
Pregnancy meditation
Trimester-by-trimester audio to help you wind down. Meditation for pregnancy
Calm pregnancy
Practical ideas for the days when everything feels too loud. Calm pregnancy support
Hypnobirthing techniques
Breathing, visualisation, and anchoring — what the evidence supports. Hypnobirthing techniques
Hypnobirthing meditation
Guided relaxation tracks designed specifically for birth prep. Hypnobirthing meditation
Birth affirmations
Quick phrases to steady your mind when fear creeps in. Hypnobirthing affirmations
Labour meditation
A familiar voice to keep you grounded through surges. Labour meditation
Sleep support
Third-trimester insomnia relief that actually works. Sleep meditation for pregnancy
Breathing for labour
Slow breathing and surge breathing you can use with gas and air. Pregnancy breathing techniques
Contraction timer
Log surges and spot patterns so you know when to phone the unit. Contraction timer
Best hypnobirthing app
Independent side-by-side look at UK options. Compare apps
App vs antenatal classes
Wondering whether you need one, the other, or both? App vs classes comparison
Pregnancy stress relief
Evidence-based ways to lower cortisol when you're running on empty. Pregnancy stress relief
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hypnobirthing?
Hypnobirthing is an approach to birth preparation built around deep relaxation, controlled breathing, visualisation, and self-hypnosis. The goal is to lower fear and tension so your body can work with labour rather than against it. When stress hormones drop, the body is better placed to release oxytocin and endorphins — both of which support labour progression and natural comfort. It's a preparation tool, not a guarantee of any particular outcome, and it sits alongside — never replaces — midwifery and medical care.
What is HypnoBirth App?
HypnoBirth App is a free birth preparation app offering guided hypnobirthing audio, trimester-matched meditations, labour breathing patterns, positive affirmations, a surge timer, and a baby movement tracker. Over 200,000 women have used it worldwide. It carries ORCHA certification for health app quality and is designed to work alongside your NHS maternity pathway.
When should I start using a hypnobirthing app?
Most UK mums begin between weeks 20 and 28, giving themselves at least four to six weeks of consistent daily practice before their estimated due date. That said, there's no wrong time to start — even a few weeks of regular listening can help familiarise your body with the relaxation response.
Is HypnoBirth App free?
Yes — the core app is free on both iOS and Android. An optional premium tier unlocks the complete audio library, additional guided tracks, and extra features, but you can build a solid daily practice without paying anything.
Does hypnobirthing make labour pain-free?
No — and any source claiming otherwise isn't being honest. What the research does support is a reduction in fear, lower perceived stress, and greater satisfaction with the birth experience. Some women report less pain; others say the pain was the same but felt more manageable. Outcomes depend on how consistently you practise, the circumstances of your labour, and a range of medical factors.
Can I use HypnoBirth App on an NHS labour ward?
Absolutely. The app focuses on breathing, relaxation, and mental coping — none of which interfere with CTG monitoring, induction protocols, IV access, or any other standard NHS procedure. Bring headphones, queue up a track, and use the surge timer between examinations.
Can I use hypnobirthing if I want an epidural or a caesarean?
Yes. The breathing and relaxation techniques apply regardless of birth mode. Many mums use calm breathing while waiting for an epidural to take effect, or listen to a guided track before a planned caesarean. The skills help manage anticipatory anxiety, which is present in every type of birth.
Is hypnobirthing safe in pregnancy?
Published research consistently describes hypnobirthing as low-risk and non-invasive, with no reported adverse effects in clinical trials. If you're managing significant anxiety, a trauma background, or a diagnosed mental health condition, it's sensible to let your midwife or GP know so they can advise on whether you'd benefit from additional one-to-one support as well.
Can my birth partner use the app too?
Yes — and many partners find it genuinely useful. They can learn the breathing cues ahead of time, manage the surge timer during labour, queue up audio tracks, and act as a calm anchor in the room. How involved they are should always follow the birthing person's lead.
Does hypnobirthing work in hospital settings?
It does. The techniques are portable — they work in NHS hospitals, midwife-led units, birthing centres, and at home. Guided breathing and relaxation don't require any special equipment, so they slot into whatever environment you're in, alongside whatever medical support is being provided.