Meet Your North Shore Hypnobirthing Educators
Practical birth preparation with experienced Sydney doulas
We’re Samantha Gunn and Lauren Balsillie—hypnobirthing educators, birth doulas, friends and mothers. Through North Shore Hypnobirthing, we teach the Hypnobirthing Australia™ Positive Birth Program in group classes in Killara, on Sydney’s North Shore, and through private courses in person or live online.
Our teaching brings together comprehensive childbirth education and the practical experience of supporting families through pregnancy, labour and birth. We help you understand your options, practise useful techniques and prepare your birth partner to support you with confidence.
You’re welcome to come with questions, mixed feelings or uncertainty. You don’t need to have a particular birth plan—or feel confident about birth—to benefit from our classes.
Samantha Gunn | Hypnobirthing Educator and Birth & Postpartum Doula
I’m Samantha, a mother of four adult children and a birth and postpartum doula with 10 years of experience. Having supported approximately 250 births, I bring practical knowledge of the many ways birth can unfold to my hypnobirthing teaching.
My own experience of using hypnobirthing for one of my four births sparked my interest in this approach. Later, as a doula, I saw how families could draw on their preparation to ask questions, work together and navigate changes during birth.
Alongside my doula and hypnobirthing qualifications, I’m a certified hypnotherapist and a Thompson Method Breastfeeding Educator. My further training includes acupressure, Spinning Babies®, Optimal Maternal Positioning, baby massageand Internal Pelvic Release Work.
Throughout my time as a doula, I’ve remained committed to ongoing professional development. Continuing to learn, reflect and build my skills helps me offer thoughtful education that responds to the individual families I work with.
My teaching style is calm, practical and reassuring. I want you to understand the information, feel comfortable asking questions and leave with tools you and your birth partner can use.
You can learn more about my birth and postpartum support at Samantha Gunn Doula.
Lauren Balsillie | Hypnobirthing Educator and Doula
I’m Lauren, a qualified hypnobirthing practitioner, doula and mother of four, based on Sydney’s North Shore.
Feeling underprepared for my first birth inspired my passion for helping other parents approach birth with greater understanding and confidence. Through my doula work, I’ve supported women using hypnobirthing tools and techniques across a range of birth experiences.
I bring warmth, encouragement and practical knowledge to our classes. I’m particularly passionate about helping you explore your choices and helping your birth partner understand the important role they can play.
My aim is for you to feel heard, supported and better prepared for birth and the beginning of life with your baby.
You can learn more about my doula support at Lauren May Doula.
What You Can Expect From Our Classes
Our hypnobirthing classes combine discussion, practical activities and time to ask questions. Together, we explore:
What happens during labour and birth.
Breathing, relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques.
Movement, positioning, touch and other comfort measures.
Birth preferences and informed decision-making.
Practical ways your partner or support person can help.
Staying supported when circumstances or plans change.
Hypnobirthing doesn’t guarantee a particular birth experience. Our focus is on helping you build knowledge, develop useful skills and feel more confident participating in decisions about your care.
Hypnobirthing Classes in Killara and Private Tuition
Our group courses take place in Killara and welcome families from Sydney’s North Shore, Northern Beaches and beyond. Private courses are also available in person or live online.
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or approaching birth again, we’d love to help you find the course that suits you.
View Group Classes & Upcoming Dates
Educating families from all areas of Sydney including the CBD, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and more.Based on the North Shore, we prepare your for birth in all types of births in all types of environments, including home, birth centre and hospital. Many of our families are giving birth in hospitals like:
Royal North Shore Hospital Public St Leonards (RNS), Royal North Shore Private North Sydney, The Mater Hospital Wollstonecraft, Northern Beaches Hospital Frenchs Forest, Hospital for Women Randwick (RHW), Prince of Wales Private (POWP), Royal Prince Alfred Camperdown (RPA), Westmead Public Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital, Hornsby Hospital, The Sydney Adventist Hospital Wahroonga (SAN) … and more.