Barry Hunt, Tamara Cianfini, Lucy Cooney

THE winner of the Welwyn Hatfield Times’ Local Business Accelerators (LBA) competition has been announced.

Tamara Cianfini, right, owner of Birtheasy, with client Sarah Dimmer and her newborn baby

Birtheasy, a hypnobirthing antenatal programme run by Tamara Cianfini in Handside Lane, has been selected from thousands of small businesses to receive a share of £15m worth of free newspaper advertising.

Tamara’s business will now receive three months of free advertising in the WHT, as well as online at www.whtimes24.co.uk

Over the same period, Tamara will be given free business mentoring from Hertfordshire social media coach Lucy Cooney.

Tamara, a mum-of-two who used hypnobirthing herself during the birth of her daughter Alana, said: “It’s fantastic to win.

“It’s a great opportunity to really spread the word about what I do, and letting women know there are more options out there.

“Education is so important when it comes to having your baby, and this will really show that you can have better births.”

Tamara is a certified hypnobirthing practioner, nurse and registered Doula.

Birtheasy classes teach expectant mums and their partners to be calm and relaxed during labour and birth – a key factor in giving your baby the best start in life, Tamara claimed.

“It’s still quite a new concept, but you’re starting to hear a lot more about it,” she said.

“I just wish it wasn’t called hypnobirthing, as it makes it sound like something it’s not.

“I think a lot of the dads that come in are very sceptical, and it’s my job to turn them around and show them what we’re doing here is the right way to birth.

“They normally do come around by the end.”

The LBA is a national campaign by The Newspaper Society which aims to boost small businesses in 2012 through their local paper.

The initiative is being backed by the WHT and parent company Archant Herts & Cambs, as well as Prime Minister David Cameron and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden.

Archant Herts & Cambs commercial editor Barry Hunt said: “The judges felt Tamara’s business wasn’t just a business but a community service, and it’s definitely the right time for that sort of company.

“We want to help Tamara, and it would be great if we could help mums as well.”

Tamara also holds free information nights every month in Handside Lane for expectant parents.

Call Tamara on 07951102213 or email info@birtheasy.co.uk for more information.