Hypnosis helps mother, 30, in pain-free birth

Louise Walker, 30, was suffering painful contractions when she went into labour with baby Harrison – but got hypnotherapist Paul Hazell to put her into a trance rather than using the normal medical drugs.

Mrs Walker, of Patrington, Hull, said: "I am the biggest sceptic. I thought I would need all the pain relief going."

She was surprised when she went through birth without needing any:

"I was crying with the pain, but as soon as he started, I felt really relaxed. When the contractions came, there was hardly anything."

Mrs Walker, who gave birth at the Jubilee Birth Centre at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, Hull, last weekend, was told by Mr Hazell, owner of the Hypnotherapy Clinic, to remember a time in her life when she "felt good about herself".

The mother-to-be recalled the happiest day of her life – her wedding to police officer Gareth Walker – while he got her to press her middle finger and thumb together on her right hand to relieve the pain.

Mr Hazell said: "Louise was struggling really bad with the pain but I hypnotised her within a few minutes. She knew everything that was going on, but I was 'talking' to her subconscious."

She underwent the hypnotherapy while she was in a birthing pool, but Mr Hazell left her to it at 3.30am on Saturday – almost four hours before Harrison was born, weighing 7lb 8oz.

Expectant mothers can attend parental hypnotherapy courses, which includes listening to CDs but it is rare for a hypnotherapist to visit a woman during labour.

Mr Hazell was recommended to Mrs Walker by her husband, who had previously undergone hypnotherapy at the clinic, as a natural way of relieving pain rather than taking medication.

Proud father Gareth, a 28-year-old police officer, said: "It's the best feeling ever. It made me more relaxed knowing that she wasn't going through as much pain as she was before.

"The transformation when Paul came was phenomenal. I looked at Paul and the midwife looked at me and we couldn't believe it. When Paul had gone, I was telling Louise to concentrate, think back and press her fingers together.

"A lot of people are sceptical about hypnotherapy, but there's no way you can fake the amount of pain relief she got from it."

Mrs Walker said that choosing to be hypnotised as she gave birth has changed her views on the alternative therapy.

She said: "The pain was absolutely agonising, I was doubled over because it hurt so much. I'm not brilliant with pain anyway but this was the worst thing I've ever experienced.

"Paul arrived when I was in the middle of a really bad contraction but as soon as he started talking to me I felt like a completely different person.

"All he did was get me to picture my wedding, I've no idea how it works. It didn't feel like an out-of-body experience or anything. I was still there, but the pain was gone. I was completely focused on my wedding day and it took the pain away."

The full-time mother, who has been married for two years, endured an 11-hour almost pain-free labour thanks to the hypnotherapy.

She said: "I tried it because Gareth thought it was a good idea, I never thought it would work the way it did. It has completely changed my mind about these things."

Mr Hazell said: "Having a hypnotherapist present at the birth is very, very unusual and I've never done it before, but hypnotherapy is about relaxation and Louise told me she needed more help with the pain.

"She came to me once before the birth and said she was frightened of needles and gas and air so I said I would help her."