Charlotte Edun, who has just joined the team at Hever Castle Health & Wellbeing, spent her 20s and 30s working in advertising in London before getting pregnant and realising she “didn’t have a clue.”
She said: “I was absolutely terrified. It’s very hard to prepare people for birth.
“A friend of mine suggested I try hypnobirthing and I ended up having a very, very positive home birth.”
Buoyed up by this positive experience Charlotte Edun then trained in counselling, hypnotherapy and hypnobirthing. Initially she just wanted to teach women how to have an experience like her own – calm, relaxed and positive.
However, after the birth of her third child she decided to pursue it as a career.
“Once I saw the corporate world from the mother-side I realised how woefully unprepared most women are for birth.
“The way we expect women to prepare for motherhood is completely different to the way we expect to prepare for anything else – and I wanted to provide an antenatal course that gives women all the best of hypnobirthing in a way that resonates with them,” Charlotte Edun said.
“It’s about helping women to ask the questions they don’t know they need to ask.
“I want to free women in terms of the birthing experience, birth isn’t inherently awful. You can influence it, you can make informed decisions.
“If you come out of the birth feeling battered & bruised, that you weren’t in control, that you failed and had birth done to you, then it affects your confidence in all the other decisions you make; maternal decisions, career decisions.”
Charlotte Edun has been working in the field since 2014, and last year was joined by fellow doulas Laura and Ruth. Together they now provide support for parents-to-be from Rochester to Tunbridge Wells, including antenatal classes, hypnobirthing courses, free positive birth movement sessions, birth and post-natal doula support.
The Good Birth Practice currently runs a breathing class at Fisical Mind & Body Studio in Sevenoaks.
The first Good Birth Planning + Hypnobirthing Day Retreat with Charlotte Edun will take place on Sunday 29 March at Hever Castle Health & Wellbeing.
The day runs from 9.30am to 5.30pm and will involve a mixture of hypnobirthing, birth planning & preparation techniques and skills.
Those attending are invited to purchase lunch at The Waterside Bar, Restaurant and Terrace or bring a picnic.
For more information or to book email: [email protected] or call 07905 986810.
The Wellbeing Centre opened in April 2019 at Hever Castle Health & Wellbeing. It offers a range of classes such as pilates, yoga and Paracise™ and treatments including physiotherapy, massage, beauty therapy, counselling, nutritional therapy & antenatal care.
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.