Forget the crystals and the chanting — hypnobirthing is far more practical (and far less woo-woo) than you might think. At its core, it's a toolkit of breathing, relaxation and mindset techniques that help your body do what it's perfectly designed to do. Here are five things about hypnobirthing that every pregnant woman deserves to know.

From sceptic to convert to qualified teacher — this is the story of how hypnobirthing completely transformed one woman's relationship with birth. Jem shares her pregnancy fears, her first hypnobirthing class (crystals very much not included), Maya's birth, and the moment she knew she had to share this with every pregnant woman she could find. The beginning of Bright Births.