Calm Mama Club - Pregnancy, Birth & Hypnobirthing with Tara Day
Published by Tara Day
Parenting
Kids & Family
Calm Mama Club is your unfiltered space for pregnancy, birth & hypnobirthing. I’m Tara Day, a qualified hypnotherapist, hypnobirthing teacher, mum of one and currently pregnant with my second baby. Each week I share my real and honest pregnancy journey, and motherhood moments. You’ll get practical tips for pregnancy, labour, postpartum recovery, mindset and relaxation, plus a science-backed approach to hypnobirthing that talks openly about pain and the realities of birth. 🌐 www.taradayhypnotherapy.com
Free Hypnobirthing Audio for Active Labour | Birth Zone 🤍 This is your go-to hypnobirthing audio for active labour - designed to guide you moment by moment, helping you stay calm, focused, and in control as your birth unfolds. In this session, you’ll be gently coached through labour with simple, reassuring prompts to: Breathe deeply and rhythmically Move your body intuitively Stay present and connected Trust your body and the process Take one contraction at a time The Birth Zone is where your mind and body work together - a focused, instinctive state where you feel calm, capable, and in control. This audio helps you return to that space again and again throughout labour. This is ideal for: Active labour support Staying calm and focused during contractions Reducing panic or overwhelm Reinforcing hypnobirthing techniques in real time 🎧 How to use: Listen during pregnancy to become familiar with the prompts and flow. Then use during active labour for continuous guidance and reassurance when you need it most. Pair this with your favourite Anchor of Calm audio to create a powerful combination of relaxation and real-time support. A practical, empowering tool to help you move through labour feeling supported, confident, and in control. ✅ What I Did: I listened to Tracks 1 & 2 (Anchor of Calm / Floating Calm) throughout pregnancy and on repeat during early labour (1-4cm) to relax my nervous system and reduce anxiety. In active labour, I listened to Tracks 3 & 4 (Athlete Within & Birth Zone) on repeat until transition (around 8-9cm) when I no longer needed the audio and preferred silence. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
Free Hypnobirthing Audio for Pregnancy & Labour | Athlete Within 🏃♀️ This empowering hypnobirthing audio is designed to help you build mental strength, resilience, and confidence as you prepare for birth. In this session, you’ll be guided to visualise yourself as a strong, capable athlete, running a marathon with focus, determination, and steady endurance. Just like a marathon, birth is a powerful physical and mental experience, and this audio helps you connect with your inner strength and trust your body’s ability to do it. By listening regularly during pregnancy, this becomes a powerful Anchor of Strength and Endurance - allowing you to tap into both relaxation and resilience during labour. This is ideal for: Building confidence for birth and reducing fear Developing a strong, focused mindset for labour Hypnobirthing practice with an empowering edge ✅ What I Did: I listened to Tracks 1 & 2 (Anchor of Calm / Floating Calm) throughout pregnancy and on repeat during early labour (1-4cm) to relax my nervous system and reduce anxiety. In active labour, I listened to Tracks 3 & 4 (Athlete Within & Birth Zone) on repeat until transition (around 8-9cm) when I no longer needed the audio and preferred silence. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
Free Hypnobirthing Audio for Pregnancy & Labour | Clouds of Calm ☁️ This soothing hypnobirthing audio is designed to help you feel calm, relaxed, and deeply supported throughout your pregnancy and during labour. In this session, you’ll be gently guided to imagine yourself floating effortlessly on soft, weightless clouds, allowing your body to fully relax while your mind drifts into a peaceful, safe space. By listening regularly during pregnancy (a great time is before bed), this audio becomes your Anchor of Calm ☁️ a powerful mental association that allows you to quickly return to a state of relaxation during labour, whenever you need it. This is ideal for: Pregnancy relaxation and insomnia Hypnobirthing practice Reducing anxiety around labour Creating a calm and positive birth experience 🎧 How to use: Listen daily (or as often as you can) during pregnancy to build a strong association with calm. When you play this during labour, your mind and body will recognise it and naturally return to that relaxed state. A simple, powerful tool to help you feel more in control, confident, and at ease as you prepare for birth. ✅ What I Did: I listened to Tracks 1 & 2 (Anchor of Calm / Floating Calm) throughout pregnancy and on repeat during early labour (1-4cm) to relax my nervous system and reduce anxiety. In active labour, I listened to Tracks 3 & 4 (Athlete Within & Birth Zone) on repeat until transition (around 8-9cm) when I no longer needed the audio and preferred silence. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
Free Hypnobirthing Audio for Pregnancy & Labour | Ocean of Calm 🌊 This calming hypnobirthing audio is designed to help you feel deeply relaxed, safe, and in control during pregnancy and birth. In this session, you’ll be guided through a peaceful ocean visualisation, walking down a soft sand dune and along a quiet beach, listening to gentle waves. By listening regularly during pregnancy, this track becomes your Anchor of Calm ⚓️ - a powerful mental association that you can return to during labour to quickly access a state of relaxation and confidence. This is ideal for: Pregnancy relaxation and insomnia Hypnobirthing practice Reducing anxiety around labour Creating a calm, positive birth experience 🎧 How to use: Listen frequently during pregnancy (before bed is a good time) so your mind and body learn to associate this audio with calm. When you use it during labour, it can help you instantly return to that relaxed state. Don't worry if you fall asleep whilst listening, it will still be working it's magic in the background! Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or your next birth, this is a simple but powerful hypnobirthing tool to support a more positive experience. ✅ What I Did: I listened to Tracks 1 & 2 (Anchor of Calm / Floating Calm) throughout pregnancy and on repeat during early labour (1-4cm) to relax my nervous system and reduce anxiety. In active labour, I listened to Tracks 3 & 4 (Athlete Within & Birth Zone) on repeat until transition (around 8-9cm) when I no longer needed the audio and preferred silence. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode, I’m sharing my second birth story , an intense & powerful water birth - very different to my first birth which included an epidural, forceps, and an episiotomy! This episode isn’t about “doing birth perfectly” or avoiding pain. It’s about preparation, mindset, movement, and having tools to support a physiological or low-intervention birth, while staying open to all outcomes. I talk honestly about hypnobirthing, pain, TENS machines, gas & air, movement, water birth, and the mental shift that helped me stay present through labour. Whether you’re pregnant, preparing for birth, or simply curious about different birth experiences, this episode is for you. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown (02:26) My first birth recap: long labour, epidural, forceps & episiotomy (04:09) Early & prodromal labour, soft play, waters breaking & hypnobirthing (09:00) Pain, knowing what to expect & why hypnobirthing reduces (not removes) pain (10:48) Triage, vaginal exams, stretch & sweep, and navigating choices in birth (15:07) Birth centre, movement, UFO positions & using a TENS machine effectively (20:14) 5cm–10cm dilation, water birth, irregular contractions, gas & air, music & transition (26:44) The pushing phase & birthing in the water - how to avoid tearing (29:06) After the birth: shock, placenta delivery & afterpains (34:11) Key takeaways for birth preparation 🌿 Key Takeaways Practise hypnobirthing! It’s about mindset more than pain elimination Rest early, move often, and stay upright Find pain relief tools that support you Focus on one contraction at a time Do your research and be prepped If this episode resonates, save it, share it with a pregnant friend, and follow for more honest conversations about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode, I chat with my husband Jack about his experience of being a birth partner... we chat about: Anxiety before having a first born baby AND then having a second child (01:00) How our memories and experiences differ around the birth (04:19) Trusting the medical staff (07:05) Advice for birth partners - help to drive oxytocin, prep the admin! (08:40) Bring good snacks! Don’t get stuck in Asda on the big day (12:16) Advice for maintaining your relationship postpartum - you’re on the same team! (13:43) Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
I'm 38 weeks pregnant, waiting for labour to start and I have a lot of opinions on growth scans! ➡️ 38 Weeks Pregnant / Pre-Labour Signs and Symptoms (01:18)Heart rate drops, nausea, generally feeling ‘off’ ➡️ Waiting for Labour - wanting the baby to arrive before Christmas! Inductions (05:20) ➡️ Signs of labour / losing mucus plug and advice for 1st time mums having a long labour (08:22) ➡️ Growth scans - a rant on my perspective (11:42) Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode I’m joined by Emily Lacey, personal trainer and pregnancy & postpartum movement specialist! We talk all about the importance of movement and tips on what to do / not to do during pregnancy and postpartumE ➡️ Why is Movement So Important During Pregnancy and Post-Partum? (01:47) ➡️ Recommendations for Each Trimester (02:20) ➡️ Why it’s important to see a pregnancy/post-partum specialist (03:31) ➡️ Advice for busy, tired pregnant ladies / mums! (06:29) ➡️ Top 3 yoga poses for labour (10:30) ➡️ How Your Birth Partner can help (14:48) ➡️ Importance of Breathing (16:00) ➡️ Can you move with the epidural? (17:40) ➡️ Hypnobirthing breathing before a C-Section (19:14) ➡️ Pelvic Floor - Strengthen AND Relax (21:48) ➡️ Tips for Postpartum Exercise (24:46) ➡️ Hospital Bag - Bring a Yoga Mat! (31:44) Find Emily here! ⬇️ IG: https://www.instagram.com/impactfitness.el/ Website https://impactfitness-el.com/ And the Pregnancy Retreat we were raving about was hosted by Thea @ BirthMoon Doula - check her out! Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club #PregnancyYoga #PregnancyMovement #pregnancy #Postpartumrecovery
34 Weeks Pregnant Weekly Update I’m 34 Weeks pregnant this week and here are my weekly ramblings! I talk about my pregnancy symptoms, Braxton Hicks (surprise surprise), feeling huge, discharge, baby position and why hypnobirthing needs an upgrade, including 3 tips you can take away! And remember you can grab your FREE hospital bag checklist by going to my IG or TikTok and commenting ‘Hospital Bag’ on my latest video . ➡️ Hospital Bag Checklist (00:50) ➡️ 34 Weeks Pregnant Pregnancy Symptoms: Braxton Hicks, Cramps, Feeling HUGE (and loving it) (01:22) ➡️ Second time Pregnancy with a toddler - Boundaries & a Baby Doll (02:31) ➡️ Discharge…it’s normal! (05:31) ➡️ Posterior Placenta & Baby Movement - What Is the Optimal Position?(06:00) ➡️ Why Hypnobirthing needs to go back to it’s Hypnotherapy Roots (08:25) ➡️ Tips for anyone doing Hypnobirthing right now (11:18) 1. Put the practise in! 2. Reframe any negative thoughts & feel the feels! 3. Get out of your brain and into your body. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
If you’ve ever felt anxious, overthinking, or fear 🙋🏼♀️ this episode will help you understand why . I’m diving deep into what’s really happening inside your mind and body when anxiety takes over, from your amygdala scanning for danger to the subconscious beliefs that keep you stuck in fear. I talk about: ✨ Anxiety that I’ve experienced this week - fears of pre-term labour and pressures of being a hypnobirthing practitioner (01:38) ✨ The real science behind anxiety - your amygdala, the fear response, your nervous system and why we’re still scared of invisible lions (07:33) ✨ Three tips on how to manage Anxiety (13:40) - feel the feels, re-code old beliefs and shake it out. This isn’t surface-level advice: it’s a deep, practical episode designed to help you start healing anxiety at the root. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club The Invisible Lion by Benjamin Fry - https://benjaminfry.co.uk/the-invisible-lion/ Deer shaking off stress - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QgglTik6G4 #Anxiety #AnxietyRelief #Hypnobirthing #Mindset #NervousSystem
What Is Hypnobirthing!? Does Hypnotherapy Work? The Science and The Myths! Hypnobirthing is all about mindset, and ANYONE can practise it! In this episode, I’m breaking down what hypnobirthing actually is, and how it can be used alongside modern medicine, including gas & air, inductions, and even an epidural. As a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Hypnobirthing Practitioner, I’ll explain what hypnobirthing IS and what is ISN’Tc. ➡️ What is Hypnobirthing? (00:45) A set of tools to help you release tension and increase relaxation to help achieve an easier birth ➡️ The Science behind Hypnobirthing (01:45) ➡️ Hypnotherapy Theory (02:26) ➡️ What Hypnotherapy ISN’T (05:04) - it is NOT guaranteeing a pain-free birth and you’re not a failure for also having medication. Hypnobirthing can be used alongside medication. ➡️ What is included in a Hypnobirthing course? (09:30) ➡️ FAQ: Is Hypnobirthing only for natural / home births? (12:46) ➡️ FAQ: When should you start practising Hypnobirthing? (13:04) ➡️ FAQ: Do you need to do Hypnobirthing with your partner? (13:54) ➡️ FAQ: Does Hypnotherapy Work? (15:25) Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode, we’re talking all about Braxton Hicks contractions, those unexpected tightenings that can take you by surprise in pregnancy. You’ll learn what they are, why they happen, and how to tell the difference between practice contractions and the real thing. My experience - 31 Weeks Pregnant, 2nd pregnancy, braxton hicks and anxiety this weekend (00:56) Braxton Hicks - what are they? (06:45) How are Braxton Hicks different to labour contractions? (07:38) When do Braxton Hicks start and what causes them? (08:21) How to stop Braxton hicks? (09:09) Think of this as your calm guide through one of pregnancy’s most common (and often misunderstood) experiences. Whether you’re feeling confused, curious, or just want reassurance, this episode will help you understand what your body’s doing and why it’s a positive sign that everything’s getting ready for birth. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
What Really Makes a Positive Birth Experience: Feeling Informed, Supported and Calm. When you picture a “positive birth,” do you think of a peaceful water birth at home? You’re not alone, but the truth is, a positive birth can happen anywhere. In this episode, I dive into the real ingredients of a positive birth experience: being informed , supported , and calm . Drawing on my own birth story of starting with a home birth and transferring to hospital, I share how empowerment and mindset matter far more than the setting itself. You’ll hear: ✨ Why being informed (knowing your options, risks, and benefits) gives you confidence (04:00) 🤍 How feeling supported by your partner, midwife, or doula transforms your birth experience (05:30) 🌿 What it really means to stay calm : and how relaxation tools like hypnobirthing help you trust your body and reduce fear (08:08) I also open up about how this experience inspired me to create my own approach to hypnobirthing, one that’s realistic, grounded, and designed to help every woman feel informed, supported and calm. If you’re pregnant, planning a birth, or want to redefine what “positive birth” truly means, this episode will help you feel ready, reassured, and confident in your body’s power. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
41 Pregnancy Symptoms - Is It Normal? Yes, Probably! In this episode I talk all about the weird and wonderful symptoms I’ve had in both pregnancies - what have I missed?! Bleeding gums (01:04) Lightning crotch (01:38) Pelvic girdle pain (02:11) Round ligament pain (02:11) Hip pain (02:11) Back pain and Sciatica (02:11) Insomnia (05:12) Vivid dreams (06:16) Charlie horses - leg cramps! (06:43) Restless legs (07:30) Sickness (08:19) Cramping (09:42) Increased sense of smell (10:32) Blood pressure changes (11:59) Mood swings (13:28) Blood sugar changes (14:03) Exhaustion (15:12) Hair density changes (16:17) Food aversions / cravings (17:10) Bigger, darker nipples (18:34) Sore breasts (19:33) Constipation - haemorrhoids (19:57) Body odour (20:58) Frequent urination (21:52) Brain fog (22:05) Swollen feet and ankles (22:15) Carpel tunnel (22:30) Heartburn (22:54) Increased thirst (23:27) Spider veins (24:15) Stretch marks (24:24) Metallic taste in mouth (24:30) Stuffy nose (24:49) Skin tags (25:12) Belly hair (25:52) Linea Nigra - belly line (26:06) Sun spots (26:47) Numb legs (27:00) Heart palpitations (27:52) Nose bleeds (28:07) Discharge (28:15) Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
This week on the podcast! 👶 My 28-week midwife appointment (01:10) 🤰 29-week pregnancy symptoms – sciatica, hip pain and peeing myself (03:00) 🍼 Toddler updates from Toddler Land – teething, eggy sick incident, and our latest adventures in tile shopping! (05:32) Join me for all the honest, real-life pregnancy and parenthood updates 🎧 Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
We just got back from 3 days in Copenhagen (our baby moon!) - and it really hit me how completely life has changed since becoming a mum. This episode is a reflection on how motherhood has transformed everything for me - the messy, chaotic, beautiful reality of it all. Here’s what I talk about 👇 1️⃣ The Secret Club of Motherhood (01:10) – a new level of respect and empathy for women everywhere. 2️⃣ How Time Has Changed (03:48) - goodbye Tara time! 3️⃣ Lack of Spontaneity (07:14) - the days of “just popping out” are gone. 4️⃣ Changing Friendships (07:45) - you can’t just jump in the car anymore... 5️⃣ Identity Shift (09:39) – your body, your sense of self… it takes time. I didn’t feel like me again for 12 months. 6️⃣ Career Shift (11:04) – priorities change; flexibility suddenly matters more than promotion. These are just my reflections but I’d love to know how becoming a parent has changed YOU . Let me know on Social Media! 💬 #parenthoodpodcast #motherhoodpodcast #pregnancypodcast #motherhood #parenthood Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
Pregnancy advice can feel like a minefield… 🫠 one person says “absolutely don’t,” the next says “totally fine!” I’ve been digging into the actual data (thanks Emily Oster 📚✨) and making choices that feel right for me . Here’s where I’ve landed 👇 🍣 Sushi: yes, but from good restaurants only! (01:30) 🧀 Cheese & deli meats: I’m fine with pasteurised + heated, even Stilton (04:05) 🥩 Steak: cooked well-done, saving the rare one for post-baby (07:15) 🛁 Baths & hot tubs: thermometer in hand, keeping it under 38°C (09:02) 😴 Back sleeping: I don’t stress if I wake up that way, my body moves when it needs to (12:25) 💇♀️ Hair dye: totally fine, just be aware colour can take differently (14:29) Every pregnancy is different, and every choice is personal. 💛 This is simply what feels right for me, not medical advice. What do you think? Let me know on Social Media! Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode I share my birth story & my journey of welcoming my first baby into the world, in a story that’s both positive and realistic . From early prodromal labor at home to eventually heading to the hospital, I talk about the surprises, challenges, and some things I wish I had known! Key takeaways for first-time mums: Prodromal labor is real : first-time mums can be in labor for a long time. Rest is essential. A positive birth isn’t defined by how it happened, but by how you FELT afterwards 💛 Hypnobirthing is a powerful tool , and so is medication. For my next birth, I plan to focus on hypnobirthing while staying open to all options. Knowledge is power. The more informed you are, the more confident you feel. YOU GOT THIS. Trust your body and yourself 💕 Whether you’re preparing for your first birth or just curious about the realities of labor, this episode offers an honest, empowering, and relatable perspective on birth and why flexibility and self-trust matter most. What is your definition of a positive birth? Let me know on Social Media! #BirthStory #PositiveBirthStory #RealisticBirthStory Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode, I share my personal experience and insights on labor pain , and how we can reframe it in a way that’s empowering rather than frightening. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Why I still use the word “pain”: Unlike traditional hypnobirthing courses, I find it helpful to acknowledge the sensation. I wasn’t fully prepared in my own birth, and understanding this made a huge difference. 2️⃣ Pain as progress – Athletes experience and even embrace pain because it signals growth and strength. Labor pain works in the same way: it’s your body doing exactly what it needs to do. 3️⃣ Turn the dial – You can learn to reframe and control the intensity of sensations , like adjusting a dial, so labor feels more manageable and empowering. If you’re preparing for birth or supporting someone who is, this episode will give you practical tips, mindset shifts, and real-life perspectives on how to move through labor with confidence. Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
In this episode of the Calm Mama Club, I share my 25-week pregnancy journey , including the symptoms I’m experiencing and how they differ from my first pregnancy. I also talk openly about the challenges of looking after a teething toddler while pregnant, and the realities of sleep deprivation and how it impacts our daily life and relationships. If you’re a mum-to-be, a parent juggling multiple kids, or just curious about the honest ups and downs of pregnancy and motherhood, this episode is for you! I share personal tips, reflections, and practical strategies for navigating this stage of pregnancy while caring for little ones. Topics covered in this episode: Common 25-week pregnancy symptoms and how they differ between first and subsequent pregnancies. 24 week midwife appointment Managing a teething toddler while pregnant and coping strategies for those tough moments. The effects of sleep deprivation on your mental health, energy, and relationship. Real-life weekly mum update , sharing honest experiences, tips, and reflections. Tune in for an authentic look at pregnancy, parenting, and self-care , and join me as I navigate this journey with humour, honesty, and a little bit of chaos! Thanks so much for listening 💛 🌐 Website: www.taradayhypnotherapy.com 📱 Instagram: @calm_mama_club_ 📱 TikTok: @calm_mama_club
