Could birth really be described as ‘blissful’? Maud Roubeaud thinks so. We talk to this knowledgeable (and downright lovely) certified educator in Singapore about the magic of hypnobirthing.
When Maud Roubeaud found out she was pregnant in 2021, she felt as many new moms do – excited and scared. After all, the thought of giving birth is often fraught with fear of the unknown, peppered with painful birth stories from friends and online that have many of us second guessing ourselves and wondering how on earth we are going to do it.
To overcome her own fears, Maud googled ‘relax and pregnancy’, and came across a HypnoBirthing course that shaped her life forever. As the Founder of Bliss in Birth in Singapore, we sat down with Maud to learn about her unique approach, how she’s guiding other women to more mindful and empowered births, and why preparation, not perfection, is the key to a confident pregnancy and postpartum journey.
1. From lockdown to liberation: a personal journey to Singapore
Q: Thank you for spending time with us today, Maud. Can you share a little about yourself, your family, and how you came to be in Singapore?
“We moved to Singapore in 2023 after living in Shanghai for four years, where we experienced the pandemic. The last year there was really hard. We spent nearly three months in lockdown, confined to our apartment with our newborn baby and my husband. On one hand, the isolation made my postpartum period surprisingly smooth, as I was free from external pressures. But at the same time, the loss of freedom was unbearable. Eventually, my husband was able to negotiate a transfer with his company, and relocating to Singapore felt like a truly liberating step for our family.”
2. Discovering HypnoBirthing: reclaiming calm in the chaos
Q. How did you discover HypnoBirthing, and did it help you in your own birth experience?
“I didn’t really start thinking about how I wanted to give birth until quite late in my pregnancy. But I had a lot of negative thoughts and deep-seated fears around birth. At the same time, I remember a story from a friend who had an epidural and told me she was sleeping half the time and didn’t feel anything. That didn’t feel right for me either. So I started looking for ways to calm and prepare myself, and that’s how I discovered HypnoBirthing. At first, I didn’t really question having an epidural, but as I progressed through the course, I became more confident in my body and my abilities.”
“The hospital where I planned to give birth was very supportive of parents’ birth preferences, and they offered the option of a waterbirth, which really appealed to me. I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t have been able to give birth without any pain medication if I hadn’t trained with HypnoBirthing. But I also don’t think I could have used the techniques effectively without the support of my husband and medical team. In the end, it was definitely the hardest thing I ever had to do but I experienced a pain-free waterbirth—and I truly credit that to the HypnoBirthing course and to trusting myself enough to take that step.”
3. Building expertise: from journalist to birth educator and pilates trainer
Q: Can you tell us about your experience and qualifications, and how you help couples and moms during their pregnancy and postpartum journey?
“After moving to Singapore, I decided to train as a HypnoBirthing educator. More recently, I became certified as a Pilates teacher, which complements HypnoBirthing in so many ways. I love how both disciplines reconnect the mind and body. I’m also trained in DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation), a rehabilitation approach focused on breath, alignment, and core stability. I draw on all these tools—along with my previous experiences—to support parents in a holistic and practical way. While HypnoBirthing can sometimes seem a bit prescriptive, its foundations and techniques are incredibly powerful and well-proven. I teach it in a way that feels adaptable and relevant, no matter the situation or medical setting. I began my career as a journalist, and I believe that background helps me take the time to truly listen and hold space without judgment.”
4. Birth is birth: creating space for all experiences
Q. Can you share two positive birth stories you’ve been a part of, and what made them special?
“I have so many meaningful stories—it’s hard to choose just one. But two come to mind immediately. The first was a second-time mum who had experienced a traumatic, unwanted C-section with her first baby. She was deeply committed to having a vaginal birth this time—a VBAC, as it’s called in perinatal care. Achieving a VBAC in Singapore’s medical system isn’t easy, but she took my HypnoBirthing course, carefully chose a supportive birth team, and ultimately had the beautiful, physiological birth she had hoped for. She later shared her story with me, and it was incredibly moving.
The second story, perhaps unexpectedly, is about a planned C-section birth. This client had to chase me for weeks to join the course—we were both traveling abroad at the time—but she was determined. She was dealing with intense physical pain during her pregnancy and had also gone through significant personal trauma. After thoughtful discussions with her doctor, they decided a C-section was the best path for her. Despite the challenges, she fully embraced the tools from the course, and afterwards, she gave me one of the most heartfelt pieces of feedback I’ve ever received.”
5. Top three things every pregnant couple should know
Q. What are three things you think every pregnant couple should know in order to prepare for a blissful birth?
Birth is natural, but still requires preparation. “Birth is natural and not a medical event (although happening in a medical environment which makes it confusing) but just because something is natural doesn’t mean you don’t need to learn about it. It is not easy, so you should prepare for it. Like you can probably run but would you run a marathon without training first?”
Invest in your experience. “If you’re willing to invest in an expensive baby carrier that you’ll use for a year, consider how much more valuable it is to invest in creating a beautiful birth memory that will last a lifetime. Some mothers especially feel they have failed or not done enough for birth to happen naturally. The reality is that you can’t control all the elements but you can focus on what you can control: your body preparation and your mind control.”
Let go. “Learning to let go is the first lesson of a parent. You will not be just yourself anymore and if you want to survive this, you have to learn to let go of a few things.”
6. Beyond HypnoBirthing: moving for mental and physical strength
Q: Besides hypnobirthing, what other activities can help a woman prepare her body and mind for motherhood?
“Definitely sports. Health Hub recommends ‘150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week’ for pregnant women. Unless you have a medical condition that prevents it, physical activity offers only benefits both for you and your baby. If you weren’t active before, prenatal pilates is a perfect place to start. And if you were doing more intense workouts but now feel the need to slow down, it’s also a great choice. Pilates keeps you moving, builds strength, supports your baby’s development, and helps ease postpartum recovery. Staying active is not just about the body—it also plays a vital role in supporting mental health. One truly cannot go without the other.”
7. Finding the Right Support Network
Q. Any final words for new mothers or mothers-to-be?
“I’m truly in awe of the support systems that exist for postpartum mothers in many parts of Asia. As a French woman, I’ve seen how my friends back home often struggle alone in those early weeks without much support and my heart goes out to them. They say it takes a village so find your village because you are not meant to do this on your own. One of the most important things you can do is find support before giving birth. Seek out your circle—yes, family, friends, but even more importantly, connect with professionals (and I know some really good ones out there) who can guide you. They will save you time, energy, and help you feel held during one of the most intense transitions of your life.”
Meet the Expert: Maud Roubeaud
– Founder of Blissful Births Singapore
– Certified HypnoBirthing Educator
– Prenatal & Postnatal Pilates Instructor
– DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation) Practitioner
– Former Health Journalist
– Passionate about trauma-informed birth and postpartum support
Based in Singapore | Supporting women across Asia
Website: Bliss in Birth | Instagram: @blissinbirth
Have more questions about HypnoBirthing? Reach out to Maud directly through Instagram!
