How I Started Hypnobirthing Australia & Hypnobubs – Career, Stay-at-home Mum or Both?

This is the first time I have written about my journey to starting Hypnobirthing Australia and Hypnobubs. I wanted to share this story in the hope of encouraging and inspiring other new parents to embrace the possible career/work changes that may occur when starting a family. Many mothers, in particular, hold fears about their future career prospects when they become a parent.

When my husband and I started our family, I cherished the opportunity to be at home with our babies. For several years I was predominantly a stay-at-home mum, and supplemented our income with a little bit of part-time work as a teacher, writer and actor (when I could arrange childcare/babysitting). I occasionally taught at schools and also did a stint writing for Mother & Baby Magazine.

As a mum, I was exactly where I wanted to be in life. My dream had always been to have a family and I was blessed with a loving husband and three beautiful, healthy babies.

But…I must admit, I also found that as much as I loved my important role as mother and caring for my children at home, I also missed aspects of my professional career as a teacher and writer. I had put a lot of time and effort into obtaining my qualifications and really enjoyed my work. I think that it is ok to be a loving mummy and still love your career!

Unfortunately though, the time demands of my career didn’t match up well with my role as a mummy. I now required more flexibility with my work hours, and child care was an issue.

I had been incubating a dream for a business over my four years of childbearing and childrearing as I became a strong advocate for calm, gentle and positive birthing. I’ve always lived my life by the motto “Knowledge is Power”, so I saw a real need for the creation of a well-structured, up-to-date, evidence-based, positive childbirth education program for parents, childbirth educators and caregivers. I had also discovered the power of hypnotherapy through my births – and wanted to share this wonderful skill with others.

So, I became a student again and completed additional study that, in combination with my prior qualifications, took me on a new career path as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Hypnobirthing Childbirth Educator. I was able to blend my past qualifications and experience with my new ones and it turned out being a good blend.

With three children under the age of 4 years (and a leap of faith), I became self-employed and founded – ‘Hypnobirthing Australia’. I had a grand plan… and it involved truly spreading the word of positive birthing far and wide!

For years I juggled babies, toddlers and work. I certainly worked some weird hours – commonly answering emails late at night or balancing a phone on my shoulder as I wiped a little bottom! The business also required an infusion of cash in order to grow; and this was money that we didn’t actually have… so my husband and I borrowed extra funds. We took risks – but my heart and head told me that this was the right thing to do.

Over the next three years I taught hundreds of couples hypnobirthing; wrote the Hypnobirthing Australia/Hypnobubs programs (based on the wisdom of many positive childbirth advocates and professionals worldwide, and my own experience of using these skills for my three births); developed class resources; professionally recorded hypnobirthing albums and, with help from experts, built the business, branding and marketing for Hypnobirthing Australia and Hypnobubs.

Hypnobirthing Australia became very popular in my local areas of Gold Coast and Brisbane – and so I decided it was time to share it all! I knew that there were many other passionate advocates for positive childbirth education throughout Australia and the world, so I saw no need for us all to reinvent the wheel. In 2013 the first Hypnobirthing Australia Practitioner Training was offered.

There are now over 250 practitioners offering Hypnobirthing Australia Classes throughout Australia and we have online course and classes options available worldwide. It seemed that just as my babies were growing up, so too did the business!

I am now very proud to know that I have created a career and business that suits my family, values, and intellectual and social needs.  It is a career that I am very passionate about – so I never really work a day in my life! I love the thought that my work can make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Despite me initially worrying about it; the changes to my career after having a family have actually been a wonderful thing! I encourage all new parents to embrace the changes that may occur with career and work when starting a family. Because, with great change also comes great growth and expansion!

Despite me uttering the occasional complaint about multi-tasking and feeling torn in every direction (haha – I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like that as a mother!)… I can say, hand on heart, that I am more satisfied with my life and career now, than ever before.

So, that’s my little story of how I went from career girl – to stay-at-home mum – to creating the Hypnobirthing Australia/Hypnobubs program.

Melissa x

Melissa Spilsted
CHt BEd BA HPCE, Hypnobirthing Australia – Director