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For many expectant parents, the thought of giving birth can bring a mixture of excitement, anticipation and uncertainty. For Born Ready Method founder, Lindsey Lou Dakota, her own experience as a first-time mum revealed just how powerful knowledge and preparation can be in transforming fear into confidence. After discovering hypnobirthing and experiencing first-hand how practical tools, informed decision-making and a shift in mindset could change her birth experience, she became passionate about helping other parents feel equally empowered. Today, she combines her teaching background with evidence-based birth education, supporting couples to approach birth feeling calmer, more informed and confident in their choices, while also helping them prepare for the often-overlooked impact a new baby can have on their relationship.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My own experience as a first-time mum.
I was 40, labelled an “older mum” and absolutely terrified of giving birth. I enrolled in antenatal classes hoping they’d reassure me, but instead, I came away with even more questions and worries that simply weren’t answered.
Then I discovered hypnobirthing.
What surprised me most wasn’t the breathing techniques or relaxation, but how much I learnt about myself and what I was capable of. Instead of feeling frightened by every possible “what if”, I learnt practical skills that helped me stay calm, think clearly under pressure and trust my own judgement. Those skills didn’t stop once my baby arrived. They’ve stayed with me ever since. I still use them today, whether I’m making difficult decisions, handling stressful situations or simply reminding myself that I’m capable. That confidence was transformational.
People often assume hypnobirthing is about avoiding pain relief or medical intervention. It isn’t. It’s about understanding your options so that whatever path your birth takes, you’re making informed decisions rather than fearful ones.
During my first birth, I was told I wasn’t progressing and was offered a caesarean. Using the decision-making framework I’d learnt, I asked questions, understood my options and chose to continue. I went on to have the vaginal birth I’d hoped for.
Two years later, with my second daughter, I used exactly the same framework, however that time, I chose to accept a caesarean. Both decisions felt equally empowering because they were my own decisions that I had made with informed consent.
That experience completely changed how I viewed birth. I realised confidence doesn’t come from knowing exactly what will happen; it comes from knowing you can handle whatever does happen.
That’s why I do what I do. I want every couple to feel informed, calm and confident enough to make the choices that are right for them, whatever their birth looks like.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I qualified as a hypnobirthing teacher eight years ago, shortly after my first daughter was born, because I couldn’t stop thinking, “Everyone should know this stuff!”.
Without the knowledge I’d gained, my birth could have ended very differently. That wasn’t because I was lucky – it was because I knew the right questions to ask and understood the choices available to me.
My aim isn’t to tell parents what decisions to make; it’s to give them the confidence and knowledge to make the decisions that are right for them.
My mission became simple: strip away the myths surrounding hypnobirthing and show people what it really is. A practical, evidence-based birth education that helps parents feel calmer and more confident. Not just information overload, but transformational knowledge that changes mindset and beliefs. The effects last far beyond birth. This isn’t simply information you’ll forget a week later – it’s a shift in mindset and a collection of practical skills you’ll continue using long after your baby arrives. I deliberately focus on the things parents often aren’t taught elsewhere: how to stay calm under pressure, understand their choices, communicate effectively with healthcare professionals and build the confidence to make decisions that feel right for them. Practical baby care is already well covered by midwives, so I use our time together to teach the skills that are often overlooked.
I began by teaching one-to-one sessions in people’s homes, which I loved because every course could be tailored to that family’s needs. Later, I expanded into group courses, where my background as a teacher really came into its own. I wanted classes to be engaging, interactive and enjoyable – not lectures where couples simply sat listening for hours.
Most of my business grew through word of mouth, which I’m incredibly proud of. More recently, I’ve expanded online and built my website so I can support families much further afield.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough came when I realised there was an important element missing in the hypnobirthing industry as a whole.
Preparing for birth is amazing and very important but nobody was preparing couples for what comes afterwards.
After speaking with previous clients, listening to countless conversations between parents (in the capacity of a school teacher) and reflecting on recurring themes brought up in baby groups as well as my own experiences, several topics kept appearing: resentment, lack of communication and score keeping.
The arrival of a baby changes everything – whether you like it or not! Couples who have always communicated well can suddenly find themselves keeping score, feeling unheard or drifting into survival mode, whether it’s their first baby or subsequent babies.
I’m not a couples therapist, and this part of my course isn’t therapy. Instead, I’ve created a practical toolkit of simple techniques that help couples stay connected, communicate more effectively and understand what’s happening to each other during one of the biggest life transitions they’ll ever experience.
Ironically, this has also become my biggest marketing challenge because most expectant parents don’t think they’ll need it. But having a baby changes even the strongest relationships. A little awareness and a few practical tools can make an enormous difference before small frustrations become much bigger ones. I also actively teach some of it to my own kids to help them navigate their own playground tiffs! This will help them massively as they develop into communicative, well-rounded little people.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Family is one of the reasons I built my business the way I did.
I teach both online and in person, running small face-to-face courses in North and West Yorkshire several times a year while offering live online classes for parents across the UK. I love being flexible with work and creating my own schedule, because it allows me to paddleboard with the kids, keep on top of things in the house and actually have a social life! This work-life balance just wasn’t available to me as a teacher.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenge has been changing people’s perceptions of hypnobirthing. I too was sceptical at first and so was my husband!
Many people still imagine whale music, candles, home births or something only suited to “hippies”. But in reality, it’s rooted in science, psychology and evidence.
One of my favourite moments is watching sceptical birth partners soften and become hypnobirthing’s biggest advocates once they realise that it’s all science and evidence based and rooted in the sports psychology adopted by the most successful athletes! It’s fun to see the penny drop!
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Running my own business gives me the freedom to do something I genuinely believe in that fits around my family. I love seeing the messages from parents weeks or months after birth telling me how much more confident they felt or how the communication tools have helped them long after the baby arrived.
The downside is that you have to wear every hat. One minute I’m teaching a class, the next I’m updating my website, filming videos, answering emails or trying to work out social media algorithms! But seeing the impact the course has on families makes every late night worthwhile.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’d love every expectant couple to know that the fear of the unknown doesn’t have to overshadow their birth experience. If parents leave my course feeling calmer, more connected to their partner and more confident in themselves than when they arrived, then I’ve done my job. In the future, alongside growing Born Ready Method, I’m also excited to combine my teaching experience with a new project, helping parents prepare preschool children for learning to read. It’s designed to give children the foundations they need before phonics begins, making those first steps into reading much easier and more enjoyable.
Visit thebornreadymethod.com to find out more, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
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