Why Aren't We Taught About Birth in School?

Why Aren’t We Taught About Birth in School?
‘Why did I never know this about birth?’ - Every Hypnobirthing Parent Ever

From the moment you announce your pregnancy, it seems like everyone wants to share their dramatic birth stories. You hear things like, "OMG! You’re pregnant, you must be terrified to give birth," or, "I heard X can happen!" It's as if pregnancy invites a flood of horror stories, leaving expectant mothers feeling anxious and uncertain. While we absolutely believe that women who’ve had negative birth experiences deserve to be listened to, it shouldn’t be a pregnant woman bearing the brunt of those stories. The last thing a mum-to-be needs is fear.

Some people might say, "She deserves to know the truth." But the truth is, if those people haven't done KGHypnobirthing, their perspective is likely clouded by fear and misinformation. Birth should not be synonymous with fear, but sadly, that’s often the narrative pushed by society.

We feel strongly that birth education should be part of the school curriculum—right alongside other essential life skills. Maybe in place of Pythagoras' Theorem, which most of us haven’t used since we left school! Considering a large portion of the population will either go through birth or be birth partners, it seems only logical to prioritise practical, evidence-based knowledge over myths and fear-mongering.

For many, their understanding of birth comes from unreliable sources—rumours, exaggerated TV depictions, and well-meaning but misinformed friends and family. When you take a KGHypnobirthing course, you realise just how detrimental these narratives are for expectant mothers. The course provides logical, evidence-based information that helps you approach birth with confidence, rather than fear.

One thing we consistently hear from parents in our sessions is, "Why aren’t we taught this earlier?" or, "How do more people not know this?" These questions always resonate with us because we wonder the same thing! It’s astonishing how something as monumental as birth education is overlooked, leaving many people unprepared for one of life’s biggest moments.

At Mindful Maternity, we aim to fill that gap. Our goal is to offer the birth education that so many women sadly miss out on, empowering them to approach labour with confidence. As we grow, we’re committed to making this essential education as accessible as possible, so more women can have positive, informed birth experiences.