NHS to offer birth budget – includes Hypnotherapy

NHS birth budget approved as part of maternity plan

Under the new NHS birth budget, each pregnant woman would be given a budget to spend on approved services as part of her maternity plan. This could include complementary approaches like hypnotherapy, birthing pools, private midwives, or antenatal classes focused on relaxation and confidence. The aim is not to replace NHS maternity care, but to give expectant mothers greater influence over how their care is delivered and by whom.

According to the BBC, this move follows recommendations from a major national review into maternity services in England, which found that too many women felt their choices were limited or that their birth plans were not respected. The review called for a more woman centred approach that would enable mothers to make informed decisions about where and how they give birth, supported by consistent, high quality care.

NHS England hopes the NHS birth budget scheme will also help reduce anxiety and stress during pregnancy, which are known to influence labour experiences and outcomes. By allowing mothers to include therapies such as hypnotherapy, known for promoting calm, reducing fear, and easing discomfort, this approach encourages a more holistic vision of maternity care that values both physical and emotional wellbeing.

The idea is part of a broader cultural shift in maternity services, recognising that childbirth is not only a medical event but also a deeply personal life experience. For many women, feeling safe, supported, and heard can make all the difference. Allowing more choice may also encourage better communication between mothers and healthcare professionals, ensuring that care plans are developed collaboratively rather than imposed.

Trials of the new NHS birth budget scheme are expected to take place later this year in selected NHS areas. If successful, the programme could be rolled out nationwide, offering expectant mothers across the UK access to a greater range of options. NHS England has described the pilot as a step toward a more responsive and compassionate maternity system, one that acknowledges that wellbeing is about more than clinical safety alone.

As highlighted by the BBC, services covered by the NHS birth budget could include private midwifery care for continuous one to one support, hypnotherapy to relieve anxiety and pain, home birth arrangements, birthing pool access, and postnatal support such as breastfeeding consultations. Women would work closely with their midwife or maternity team to plan how to use their budget most effectively, based on their individual needs and circumstances.

This initiative also reflects growing interest in complementary approaches to childbirth such as hypnobirthing, which combine self hypnosis, relaxation, and breathing techniques to help mothers feel calm and confident before and during labour. For many, this approach offers a natural and empowering way to reduce tension, fear, and discomfort, and to experience birth as something positive and instinctive rather than overwhelming or frightening.

By including hypnotherapy within the list of supported options, the NHS is recognising what many mothers and practitioners have long known, that emotional preparation and psychological wellbeing are just as vital to a positive birth experience as medical care. When a mother feels in control, her body can work more efficiently, stress hormones reduce, and the likelihood of complications can fall.

Ultimately, the introduction of personal NHS birth budgets represents a shift towards a more collaborative and respectful maternity service, one that treats women as active participants in their care rather than passive recipients. It signals that choice, trust, and empowerment belong at the heart of modern maternity care.

For expectant mothers who want to prepare emotionally as well as physically for childbirth, hypnotherapy offers a practical way to approach birth with confidence and calm. Whether used alone or as part of a wider care plan, it can help transform fear into focus, and anxiety into trust.