Emma Saville is passionate about helping women feel supported and special throughout their pregnancy and birthing journey. Retraining in psychodynamic counselling, she was introduced to hypnotherapy and is now a proud member of the Hypnobirthing Association. With the increased knowledge that she absorbed, along with a desire to learn more about the mind and body, she started her mission to support women and their birth partners towards a positive and empowering birth, resulting in less trauma for mothers and happier children. Here Emma talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind Ellivase Hypnobirthing, the challenges she has overcome along the way, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Working in a job that no longer served me, having raised my daughter as a single parent, and her reaching the end of university, I questioned myself – what now? I recognised that I had lost my direction and that it was time for a change. As a result, my inspiration came from finding my ‘purpose’. I never thought for a moment that by choosing to retrain in psychodynamic counselling, so that I can help people, would result in finding my purpose and how this would inspire me to start my business!
Hypnotherapy was mandatory for the first year as it is a useful tool for counselling. From this, I was completely captivated by the power of the conscious and subconscious mind and how our thinking has a remarkable impact on how we live day-to-day. Around halfway into year one, we touched on hypnobirthing and it made perfect sense that if we change how we think, we can change our experience of giving birth – what a transformational encounter – no wonder hypnobirthing is becoming so popular! On completion of year two, I could not let go of what a powerful tool hypnobirthing is and how it has been proven to, and continues to, completely change the way women view and give birth, as well as recognising the vital role of the birth partner.
With admiration of my mum’s career as a nurse, working in SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) and my grandmother’s career as a matron, I felt that walking in their footsteps to care and to support women would be an honour. I qualified with Katharine Graves, the UK Founder of KGHypnobirthing – the only training accredited by the Royal College of Midwives in hypnobirthing – and became a member of the Hypnobirthing Association. My passion and mission grew with increased knowledge that I absorbed and a thirst for wanting to learn so much more about the mind and the body, which later resulted in a business to not only help women and birth partners but their baby too, resulting in less trauma for mum-to-be and happier children.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I launched in the autumn – a time that enables reflection and letting go of what no longer serves me. As a nation, we were slowly moving back to face-to-face meet ups after the global pandemic COVID-19, however virtual preferences were continuing to be fairly strong. With social media and word of mouth, couples registered with me initially for online course, later moving to face to face. Given the national shortage of midwives, the NHS ceasing the outsourcing of parent courses to the NCT, and moving to offering online parent courses, the noticeable trends are now moving to an increase for in-person classes. To enable choice, I expanded and offer in-person group courses throughout the year in Oxford, as well as private and online courses. As an added bonus to my group classes, I offer a social at the end where I look to invite other birth professionals both pre- and post-natal, which is super helpful for couples to particularly give thought to what is right for them in their fourth trimester.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
This has to be the many faces with expressions of “wow!”, the many shoulders dropping in sheer relief and relaxation, and the testimonials received from couples of how empowering they felt pre and post labour as they welcomed their baby. These breakthroughs absolutely epitomise the reason for what I do, the grounding of my purpose and my energy to be the best antenatal and hypnobirthing practitioner that I can be. I would like to take a moment here to thank all of my ladies, couples who have put their trust in me to support them on their journey to meet their baby, and all who I will meet in the future. Additionally, my thanks to those in the photos who have shared such incredible memories.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Whilst I adore spending time with my daughter, she is 26 now and busy exploring the world and settling into her adult life. As a single parent, my ‘need’ is less, which presents many opportunities at my fingertips to explore. From my training and extensive experience as an Executive Assistant, I am exceptionally well organised and can balance work and life well. When I am not supporting couples with antenatal and hypnobirthing, I am further educating myself on the options for women in pregnancy and birth and/or researching for a couple, hosting various events to support women and their birth partners, as well as welcoming my own endorphins in the gym.
