• Experienced Birth Attendant
• Childbirth Educator

My journey into the ‘birthing world’ began with my first pregnancy. I was going to have a ‘natural’ birth!!

I was fit, I swam daily (1 km right up until the day I went into labour), yoga, walking. I read pregnancy books, went to birthing classes, couples workshop. I went past the due date, a week, two weeks, and then a couple more days, with an induction looming labour finally came. It continued for many hours, at home and then in hospital, the frequency and intensity never changed, then after 24hrs I was told I was only 3cm’s. That was it, I no longer had control. I then entered into what I know now to be the ‘cascade of interventions,’ gas, epidural, and pethidine, then came the caesarean. My son was born, he was perfect.  I had not felt safe. I knew I had not fully surrendered to truly allow the labour to come.

I couldn’t change our story but I could have another story to tell next time.  And I did, after much angst about where to have my next child I chose to birth at home where I felt safest, with Midwife Jan, Doctor Peter and my Birth Attendant and Mentor Rhea. After 6 hours my daughter was born amidst candles, music and loads of love and support.  My partner and I were absolutely thrilled!!! 

I knew then that I had something to share with other birthing women, a belief in the birthing process, an understanding of what is needed to work with the pain, and the ability to hold that space for them.  Then came my next child, another home birth with my fabulous team, another gorgeous girl. 

Our family was now complete, but I wasn’t.  ‘I am being called’ I told Rhea many times.  Rhea had talked about starting a course to pass on some of her life’s work, but in a busy life how could it fit in? It did, Rhea shared her ‘Birthing Wisdom’ and so my journey continues.

I feel so fortunate for my experiences and are so thrilled to be able to do what I love, supporting women in pregnancy, labour and birth and co-facilitate with my gorgeous ‘birthing buddy’ Lael, running birthing workshops for women and couples.