
The five-week classes run by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are being held on a Saturday morning to help women to have a more relaxing, comfortable birth by using self-hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques.
The course is being run by accredited HypnoBirthing practitioner Vicki Brown, who qualified as a midwife nine years ago and has seven years experience providing HypnoBirthing classes privately.
Each course includes a two and a half-hour class every week for five weeks. As they are not funded by the NHS there is a charge of 25, which includes a book and CD. The sessions cover the practical aspects of birth such as antenatal education as well as the HypnoBirthing techniques.
Partners learn what their role is and how they can help, such as using massage techniques and also breathing and relaxation techniques along with the women. There will be a maximum of six couples per course.
Ms Brown said: "Women who use HypnoBirthing experience less pain and therefore need less pain relief. It helps the mind's messages which are sent to the brain to be much more positive, which helps women to relax and remain calm."
Teacher, Rachael Hooker, 27, from Stockton, gave birth to her son eight-month-old Sebastian at the University Hospital of North Tees.
She said: "I decided to do the programme with my husband, and we had such a good experience with it. "My husband Chris was a bit daunted, but after the classes, he knew what to expect.
"He had a role and helped me through it. It is fantastic that this is now available at a local NHS trust."