As viewers of One Born Every Minute will testify, one thing is certain: natural childbirth is excruciating. The Channel 4 hit series, set in a Southampton hospital maternity unit, ended its current run on Monday night. It will doubtless be re-commissioned as we can’t seem to get enough of women screaming in pain and men acting like hapless spare parts in the labour room.

But mother of two, Katy Redford, is no fan because she thinks it only exacerbates the deep fear of natural childbirth most expectant mums feel. She insists it doesn’t have to be this way:

“Birth can be absolutely beautiful and I don’t think enough women realise this. I know I didn’t.”

Katy, 37, discovered Hypnobirthing: the Mongan Method, were mums-to-be practise self hypnosis, deep relaxation and breathing techniques, when she was pregnant with her second child Harry. Her first-born’s entrance into the world had been a harrowing experience:

“I was being screamed at to push and bright surgical lights shone at me. I felt exhausted, quite ill and, if I’m honest, in shock. It wasn’t how I’d planned it – I’d pictured bean bags and lavender oils.

“Don’t get me wrong, when my baby boy Joseph (now 14) was placed in my arms it was still the most amazing, special experience but the part leading up to it was etched in my memory.

“Never again”, I said, afterwards.

Over a decade later Katy, of Dane Bank, Denton, was pregnant and fearful of the ordeal that lay ahead. “I’d go as far to say I was petrified,” she says.

The turning point was a remark by a consultant midwife at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport who asked if anyone had heard of Hypnobirthing.

Katy soon became a fully fledged devotee of the Mongan method of hypnobirthing named after American former college dean turned hypnotherapist, Marie Mongan.

“I followed the relaxation programme faithfully and learned about how our bodies are made to birth, how fear affects birthing. And when it came to labour I had a really comfortable and calm time. My 8lb 3oz boy was born in a pool at Stepping Hill with absolutely no pain relief.”

Now Katy leads a £200 five-week course in the method at the hospital and is in talks to roll out the classes at Tameside Hospital as well as teaching women privately in their own homes.

“From the very first class everything you’ve been told about natural childbirth is challenged. You realise that it doesn’t have to be an excruciating experience.”

The Mongan method is very specific and it’s important to realise that it doesn’t involve being hypnotised – you’re in control throughout.”

» For information, go to www.hypnobirthingmanchesterandcheshire.co.uk .

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University lecturer Sophie Woodward, 31, of Stretford, was determined to have as little medical intervention as possible when she gave birth to her first child earlier this month.

And she succeeded, despite having a 50-hour labour before Reuben finally came into the world, at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, on March 4 weighing in at 7lbs 5oz.

“When I say to people I was in labour for 50 hours and didn’t have pain relief they can’t believe it. It wasn’t painful. It was uncomfortable but I definitely wouldn’t describe it as painful.

“I went to the first class when I was 21 weeks pregnant and I knew the issue for me would be learning to relax because I am appalling at it.

“People were sceptical about it, especially women who’d already had children but my mum was really in favour.

“There are five classes, then you get a CD and a folder with scripts in to practise the relaxation techniques.

“You have to be committed and to listen and practise daily. I’d listen to the CD and my partner Simeon read the scripts – during my labour he was reading the scripts to me.

“I couldn’t believe how well it worked. I didn’t have any pain relief, but then in my mind I didn’t entertain the possibility of pain. I am not the hardest person in the world by any means but I managed just fine. If I had not learned the hypnobirthing techniques I bet I would have had a Caeserean because the labour was so long. A picture was taken of me immediately after Reuben was born and someone said I looked like I had been to a health spa.”

Danielle Quinn, 25, of Reddish’s experience of labour with her second child, Elvi, was very different to her first  with Saschka, now seven.

“When people ask me about Elvi’s birth, I say it was amazing. Then when I say I had a 10lb 3oz baby without any pain relief they think I’m either completely bonkers or some kind of hippy. But it’s completely true that it wasn’t painful and I’m a real wimp.”

Elvi was born at Stepping Hill Hospital on November 23 last year and the 18-week-old little girl is a bubbly bouncing bundle of joy for her mum and partner, Arran.

“When I found out I was pregnant with Elvi I burst into tears,” says Danielle. “I wanted an elective Caesarean – I’d had an epidural, diamorphine, gas and air and stitches with Saschka and I thought I would not have another baby because I didn’t want to go through another labour.

“But I saw Nadia Sawalha on The Wright Stuff talking about hypnobirthing and I thought I would give it a try. I didn’t go to my first class until I was 35 weeks pregnant but I ordered a book and CD and committed to it.

“The birth was a completely amazing experience and I can honestly say it didn’t hurt. Arran tells everyone how great hypnobirthing is!”

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