THE amazing story of a mum who gave birth in the back of a car without pain relief reveals how powerful hypnobirthing can be.

Sonal Vasta gave birth to Mihan in November in the back of her husband's car and says the hypnobirthing techniques she learned at Royal Bolton Hospital helped her have a "calm" and natural birth.

Hypnobirth is not a well-known practice but it has been gaining ground in recent years and there have been a number of news stories about how the relaxing techniques have led mothers to have calm, quiet and in some cases euphoric births.

But what is hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing classes are offered at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Helen Carr, complementary therapy midwife and hypnobirth instructor, at the hospital says: "Its roots are based in the fact that childbirth is a normal, natural and healthy function for women."

Women and their partners going to hypnobirthing classes will be taught not fear their birth, that it is something natural that a woman's body is more than capable of doing.

Ms Carr says: "When in a calm and relaxed state, your body’s natural relaxant – endorphins (a natural pain killer, 200 times stronger than Morphine), replaces the stress hormones that constrict muscles and cause pain."

During the course women are taught breathing techniques to help them enter a relaxed state of mind during their birth.

The course also helps prepare mum's for birth, teaching them about what their body will experience, how it works and different techniques and positions to adopt.

Royal Bolton Hospital hypnobirthing classes ­— the cost is £125 for four sessions of approximately two hours.

To book a place contact the Birth Suite on 01204 390978.