After years of heartbreaking efforts to try to conceive, Louise Cheshire was at her wits' end and feared she'd never become a mum.
But then she tried a radical new approach – by being hypnotised into believing she was pregnant.
And to the astonishment of Britain's top gynaecologists, Louise, 36, is now a proud mum to a baby girl. Louise, from Hinckley, Leicestershire, was about to start IVF treatment with partner Ian Forrest, 33.
But incredibly, just four weeks after attending a one-hour session last January with hypnotherapist Russell Hemmings in Coventry, she became pregnant.
Daughter Aafia Rose was born on December 3 last year, weighing 6lbs 11oz, at University Hospital, Coventry.
Louise said: "Seven years ago I had two miscarriages and then I was trying for a baby for five years after that.
"We were trying for a baby the whole time but I thought I couldn't have a baby. I was under one of the country's top gynaecologists.
"I had lots of tests and they couldn't find anything wrong. They said there was no problem with me.
"We were going to try IVF but I thought hypnosis was worth one last try.
"It helped me quit smoking years ago and I just thought it was worth a shot. I never expected it to work but after just one session I felt much more positive and calm.
"Russell basically hypnotised me into believing I was pregnant and would have a baby.
"Four weeks later Ian and I went away for the weekend and a few days later I took a pregnancy test and it came back positive. I was thrilled.
"I'm convinced the hypnotherapy helped relax and calm me down because I was so worried about not having a baby.
"He also taught me techniques to deal with anxiety when I was feeling worried helped me relax about being pregnant.
"It was the best hour of my life and I was pregnant four weeks later.
"I know it sounds unreal but I'm convinced that it really helped me because I stopped thinking about it so much and stopped worrying."
Russell Hemmings, a clinical and cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, said: "Cognitive Behavioural Hyponotherapy (CBH) is a very powerful treatment that if administered correctly will make you more capable of conception.
"Be aware that when couples have exhausted all of the available options paid all of their hard earned money on the treatments and eventually stop trying they will often let go of the stress around there personal moments and will then naturally fall pregnant.
"The truth is that it is much more likely that we are predominantly 'accidents' as opposed to 'planned'."