After the traumatic birth of her first baby, Wolverhampton mother Sarah Wilson was willing to try anything to ease the pain of delivering her second child.

And on hearing she could could give birth while hypnotised to help her cope with labour, she jumped at the chance to try it out.

The new phenomenon is still raising sceptical eyebrows, but Sarah is one of many women who are slowly putting the days of agonising childbirth behind them by getting to grips with the technique.

The 30-year-old, from Pendeford, said: “The birth of my son Cameron took 16 hours. It was painful and I didn’t feel in control.

“I wanted another baby but I was so scared going into it because of that first experience.

“I found out about this hypnosis technique, which mainly teaches you how to relax deeply and stay calm. 

“Just before I went into labour my mother-in-law saw me and said I almost looked in a trance because I was just totally calm.”

Sarah’s daughter Isobel was born in less than an hour at New Cross Hospital.

“It was so quick and easy and I felt totally in control,” she said. “I can’t say it was totally pain-free but I would recommend it to anyone.” 

After already proving a hit in London, group classes to promote the Hypnobirth technique are now being launched in Featherstone by Staffordshire-based mother-of-two Clare Taggart, who used it herself when she gave birth to her second child Skye 18 months ago.

The 30-year-old, who also runs private classes, said: “A lot of people are sceptical because when they hear the word hypnosis they think of TV shows where they show people out of control. It is nothing like that at all – it just teaches how to get into a deep state of relaxation. People don’t realise they do the same thing on a daily basis when they daydream.”

The Hypnobirth course runs at Featherstone Farm Hotel from July 1 and then every six weeks. Call Clare on 01785 824907 or log on to www.hypnobirthing  babies.co.uk