private antenatal class in London & online
Discover a private birth preparation course tailored to you
designed and taught by London's premier birth coach
Gain the tools, knowledge, and reassurance to approach your birth calmly and confidently — in a private setting shaped around your needs, concerns, past experiences, and hopes for birth.
Approved by elite
obstetricians
The first and only hypnobirthing coach
at The Portland.
Discreet and
confidential
A private setting, trusted by
high-profile clients
Over 90 births supported, consistent five-star reviews.
Built from real birth experience,
not just taught theory.
There’s a lot of noise around birth.
From Google searches and podcasts to well-meaning advice from friends, colleagues…and yes, even your Aunty Maud. And while it comes (mostly) from a good place, it can leave you feeling more overwhelmed than informed.
Because suddenly, you’re trying to make sense of it all:
What actually matters?
What’s right
for me?
How will I handle it when the time comes?
So while I’m never here to tell you how you feel, if you are feeling daunted, nervous or fearful, it’s completely understandable.
After 7+ years of being right there with parents during birth, I’ve seen it time and time again:
The right preparation changes everything.
(And that’s exactly where I come in)
“We booked the Hypnobirthing course with Elise beginning of 2025 to prepare for our birth in April. It was the best thing we could have done to prepare. She not only gave us a lot of knowledge but also so much confidence and strength as a couple to navigate the uncertainties and go into Labour with a positive mindset. I can only highly recommend her course!! Thank you so much Elise for your support.”
Veronika
“Such an incredible course - Elise is the fairy pregnancy godmother you didn’t know you needed. Super empowering giving you and your partner everything you need to have a positive birth experience before during and after. My husband came away knowing what he needed to do and when and everything we learnt gave me so much more peace of mind answering all my questions and the things I didn’t even think of.”
adele
“Not only did she help me remove any fear leading up to labour, but truly had me looking forward to the experience. Thanks to her, I felt immensely educated and well prepared going into what ended up being an unexpected induction. My entire birth experience was truly better than I could have dreamed and left me feeling extremely grateful that I could look back on the day with such positive and happy memories.”
blaize
HI, I’M ELISE TOBIAS
My 1:1 private hypnobirthing course is a modern, tailored approach to birth preparation...
...where you
have the space to discuss your personal concerns
understand what’s happening in your body,
feel confident in your decisions.
Approach birth feeling calm....
No, I don’t teach you how to control what happens in birth. But I do teach you how to control your response to birth for an empowered, calm and positive experience.
1:1 PRIVATE HYPNOBIRTHING
AT THE RENOWNED WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL,
THE PORTLAND, IN CENTRAL LONDON
Enrol on a tailored, 1:1 hypnobirthing course designed around you.
Shaped around your mindset, your questions, and anything that feels important to you.
This private course is highly recommended if you have specific worries, concerns or fears around birth, as we take the time to go deeper, at your pace, with space to explore what’s relevant to you, building your confidence, and focusing on what will truly help you feel ready.
What We Cover:
↠ Understanding your body
We go through how your body works through pregnancy and labour so nothing feels new, and you can approach birth with knowledge (not fear!).
↠ Your mindset & response
You’ll learn how your brain influences your experience, and how to use simple, effective tools to shape how you respond in the moment.
↠ Working with your hormones
A clear understanding of the key birth hormones, and what you can do to support them, so your body can work optimally.
↠ Your practical toolkit
You’ll build a set of techniques you can actually use — including breathing, relaxation, visualisation, movement and comfort measures — with guidance on when and how to apply them.
↠ Birth partner support
Your partner will understand their role fully, and how to support you confidently throughout pregnancy and at every stage of labour.
↠ Making informed decisions
You’ll learn how to navigate your options with clarity, using simple frameworks to help you stay present and in control of your experience.
↠ Understanding the stages of labour
From early labour through to birth and the immediate postnatal period, including how to navigate unexpected turns with confidence.
↠ You’ll also gain a clear understanding of:
pain relief options
induction of labour
how and why to create your birth preferences
How a private course works
This is a highly personalised experience, with every session shaped to you, your partner, and your specific needs. Here’s what's included:
5 hours of 1:1 sessions, typically delivered across 4 x 75 minute sessions
The option to meet in person at The Portland, or via Zoom
Detailed follow-up after each session, with guidance on how to continue your preparation
The Course Companion and all printed hand outs for you to use in your own time
Access to Elise’s full library of masterclass videos
Full album of Elise's Hypnobirthing audio tracks
Checklists, templates and additional handouts
Bespoke essential oil blends for pregnancy and labour.
This is a complete personalised hypnobirthing to explore your concerns, build confidence, and ensure you feel fully ready.
How much is this course?
£900
For a tailored course and everything above.
Hypnobirthing course in London
Enter The Portland's
Wellness Space
A tranquil, private setting in the heart of Central London.
Designed to feel calm and serene, this is a space where you can step away from the outside world and focus fully on your preparation.
Find us
212 Great Portland Street
4th Floor, The Portland Consulting Rooms
Miss Claire Mellon & Associates
W1W 5QN
“I listened to Elise’s guided birth meditation and went into labour that same evening! Elise’s course taught me to trust in my body and my baby and head into birth without fear.”
We loved the Hypnobirthing course with Elise.
I had an amazing, empowering birth experience at Chelsea & Westminster hospital in the birth centre and delivered my little boy without the use of pain medication or intervention - we are grateful to Elise for the tools her course provided us with.
pascal, Hypnobirthing course attendee
Preparing for an elective C-section?
This is for you, too. I have a specific two-part workshop to support you in pregnancy and as you prepare for this way of birth
Hi, I,m Elise
Birth coach + trusted doula at The Portland, London.
and Mum too!
Of course, this is where I could swoop in and say,
“No, no! Birth isn’t scary. You’ve got this.”
And while that reassurance can be comforting, I know it’s not what actually changes how birth feels. So let’s get to it:
Just like elite athletes train their minds for peak performance under pressure — and actors spend months (sometimes years) preparing for a defining moment — I help pregnant women train their mind and nervous system for birth, so they feel calm, capable and empowered in pregnancy, and as their birth experience unfolds.
Everything I teach is underpinned by my revolutionary approach to birth:
The Captain &
The Crew
Just like an athlete prepares
for a marathon
You can prepare for this incredible life moment; birth.
My signature methodology sets you up for optimal performance.
Your subconscious brain (the part working beneath your awareness) is the Crew.
It knows the job. It’s highly trained. And when conditions are right, it can get on with the work beautifully.
Your conscious brain (the part responsible for logic and decision-making) is the Captain. The Captain’s role isn’t to micromanage every move. It’s to understand what’s happening and stay calm under pressure
Because the Crew — your subconscious brain — is the only part that controls your labour.
When the thinking mind tries to take over, it can interrupt that flow. During this course, I teach you how to let the Captain step back, delegate, to trust the Crew to do what they’re designed to do.
the only london birth coach
Endorsed & recommended by Claire Mellon
"I first noticed the difference in women who had prepared with Elise before I even knew exactly what she was teaching. They arrived in labour noticeably calmer, more confident and exceptionally well informed. As an obstetrician, that makes a real difference. Elise’s approach is evidence-based, practical and refreshingly free from the ‘woo’. She prepares women for the realities of birth, whatever path it takes, and I see the benefits of that preparation and the support she provides time and time again”
Let’s recap, why choose this private course?
↠ Created with “on the ground” doula experience supporting parents giving birth
↠ Expert-led, evidence-based teaching you can trust
↠ A fully tailored experience, designed around you
↠ Space to explore your mindset, questions and concerns in depth
↠ Practical tools adapted to how you think and process
↠ The flexibility to meet at The Portland or privately via Zoom
↠ Choose a time and date convenient for you and your schedule
“Elise presents all the information and options in a way that is non-biased and tailored to your specific feelings and anxieties. Most importantly she taught me how to advocate for myself in a system that can sometimes behave like there’s only one option. We had such a positive birth experience, and I attribute so much of that to the work we did with Elise.”
Laura
“Elise’s Hypnobirthing course was by far the most beneficial course my husband and I did prior to the birth of our first child. We’re so grateful to Elise for sharing all of her hypnobirthing wisdom. It was invaluable in helping us prepare for our little one’s arrival and I felt excited and confident for the birth which I never thought I’d feel. I had the birth I had wished for, and I believe it was the hypnobirthing preparation that played a huge part in having a short and calm labour.”
kate
“The knowledge and experience Elise has is unbelievable. She explains the science and psychology behind labour so clearly and it left me feeling confident I can take on labour confidently with my husband by my side. I cannot recommend Elise and her hypnobirthing course enough!!! If you even have the slightest doubt or fear of the unknown process of labour that I highly recommend you attend this course with Elise.”
christiana
Looking for a more structured, small-group experience?
I run regular group hypnobirthing classes at The Portland, too.
As a first time mum to be, I found Elise’s private classes not only reassuring, but educational and informative. Both my partner and I came away feeling happier and more prepared for labour after each session.
Oh my goodness, what a fantastic course! I cannot recommend this private session highly enough. Great for dads too who want to be the best support they can for mum.
Hosted in a lovely calm environment, Elise delivers a fantastic and clear presentation and you get a guidebook & goodies to take a way. Elise is very warm and knowledgeable and makes you feel instantly welcome.
My partner and I attended last month, and I can honestly say we’ve put into practice all the teachings we learned and I’m still listening to the affirmations and reading our personal ones aloud at home.
emma - private hypnobirthing course client
Frequently Asked Questions
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The content is grounded in the same approach, but the experience is entirely tailored to you. In a private setting, I’m able to shape everything around your mindset, your questions, and anything that feels specific or important to you, with space to go deeper where needed.
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The course is usually delivered across four x 75-minute sessions. We can space these in a way that works for you, allowing time to take things in and build your confidence as you go.
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Yes, sessions can either take place in person at The Portland or online via Zoom, depending on what works best for you.
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Most people begin between 20–33 weeks of pregnancy. If you’re outside of that window, feel free to get in touch and I can guide you on the best timing for you.
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Yes, definitely! The private setting allows us to explore anything that’s coming up for you in more depth, and to work through it at your pace.
Where helpful, I can also draw on additional tools to support you in shifting how you feel, not just what you know. -
You’re very welcome to join. Many people come to me after previous preparation, looking for a clearer, more practical understanding, or to feel more confident in how they’ll respond.
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If you’ve prepared before, you may not need the full course again. I offer refresher sessions for returning clients, which can be tailored to what you need this time — or a mix of both — whether that’s rebuilding confidence, revisiting key tools, or preparing for a different experience. You’re very welcome to get in touch and I can guide you.
Ready to train your brain for the optimal birth experience?
Discover a private 1:1 birth prep course delivered by London’s premier birth coach and doula.