Birth

Childbirth education classes for women & their partners seeking a positive birth experience
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'birth' provides complete ante-natal education for hospital and home births or is the perfect complement to hospital classes. birth has a wealth of information for first timers or those who have already had children. Ideal for support people, single parents, same s*x couples, VBAC, and midwifery students.

23/04/2024

“Babies don’t need to be put on a feeding schedule.

Babies don’t need to be taught how to sleep.

Babies don’t need to be separated from us to learn how to be independent.

Babies are born knowing exactly what they need. They need comfort, connection, and contact.

They need secure attachment.

They need us.

And we’re born into parenthood, with the instinct to hold our babies close. To respond to them. To keep them safe. To comfort them.

But our culture tells us we’re wrong.

Society tells us to put them on a schedule, to leave them to cry it out, to put them to sleep in a separate room, to wean them at a random arbitrary age...to start pushing them away from us as early as possible...or we’re failing as parents.

This is what I call white noise. And the more we listen to ut, the more power we give it, the louder it becomes. I’m all about helping you silence the white noise of society so that the whisper of your intuition becomes a loud roar.

Because the truth is, you know exactly what your baby needs - YOU. There is no gadget that can replace the warmth and softness and safety of a parent.

I’m absolutely passionate about the early years because they provide the foundation for all that is to come.

A baby’s brain is designed to interact with the environment in the first 1000 days of life to determine what sort of brain will be needed for the rest of life. The experiences of the first 1000 days are as significant as your baby’s genes. They literally wire your baby’s brain.

If you’re doubting your conscious parenting choices - nighttime or otherwise - you’ll find support and mama’s who just get it inside Gather, my membership community for natural parents. The doors are open for the first time this year for a few short days.”

📷: *x ✨

10/02/2024

First series for 2024 has started!
“Incredible presentation and education. Empowering human. Fun and real!”

20/01/2024

Not at all birth related……Melbourne folk-I’m looking for like minded people to join me in co ownership of a property/home in Eltham. Message me if you’re interested in finding out more or know someone who might be interested. 😉

02/11/2023

Is my baby getting enough at the breast? Here’s the answer……just look at this beautiful 16 day old who I visited today. He was initially very wriggly and unsettled after his feed but eventually, after a few farts, looked like this. Perfect!
I’m available for home visits to help fine tune breastfeeding. Contact me early, before small issues become big. www.birtheducation.com.au

21/10/2023

2 days at the Lactation Consultants Australia and New Zealand (lcanz) with Maureen Minchin (author of Breastfeeding Matters which was the first book I read about breastfeeding over 25 years ago when I was pregnant with my first) and Barb Glare from .conferences

10/10/2023

Welcome to the world lovely baby Mya.
“Just wanted to say thank you for all your wisedom and support through the birthing classes. Macy had a great time and had a successful physiological birth :). Mya was born last Saturday and she’s doing great. Macy is so happy she got into the MGP program because we have had such a positive experience and the midwives have really been hands on in guiding us this past week.
Thank you again.”
Wiza and Macy.

09/10/2023

knows a thing or 2 about normal physiological birth. Between the 2 of us we have over 50 years of birth experience and presenting birth classes. Week 2 for this group. One more series for this year. Tag someone who might want to come along to get informed and empowered for their birth.

06/10/2023

“I’m really loving this!!” - what James said after his first class with me on Monday night. Only one more series for 2023 coming up in November. Book now so that your partner can feel like this.

14/09/2023

Now that’s a tummy full of precious nourishing breastmilk! Some babies take their time. This little one is getting there. Sometimes we’re celebrating one breastfeed at a time, one breast at a time and even just one attempt. You’ll get there. Be patient. Stay present to this moment. Trust. ♥️

12/09/2023

“You have been an invaluable source of information and knowledge. We couldn’t have done it without you”
It’s been a pleasure to work with this beautiful family of 3. After attending my classes they had an empowering birth experience and achieved the natural birth that they had hoped for. It’s been so special to visit them on day 2 to help them navigate some early breastfeeding challenges. Their baby girl is blessed to have parents so aware, devoted and sensitive to meeting her needs. Such a gift. ♥️

26/08/2023

Seeing this beautiful 3 week old looking like this after a breastfeed is so reassuring. She’s definitely getting what she needs from the breast and is really still needing to be close to her parents in between feeds. If you’re finding your baby just seems to wake up every time you put them ‘down’ it may well mean that they still need to feel you. Using a sling is a great way to get through these stages that may come and go in an infants short time of close attachment.

21/08/2023

We’ll look whose here! 34 years on is reunited with Joe whose birth she witnessed and supported. Tonight Joe and Julia are listening to Rheas talk about the four letter word….PAIN! Don’t we love those special moments!!

19/08/2023

“They told you about the contractions but did they tell you about the expansion?
Did they tell you how your body would open to make way for the whole universe to pass through?
Did they tell you how your heart would explode with a love bigger than anything you’ve ever known as you pulled your baby to your chest

They told you about the ring of fire but did they tell you about the crown of stars?
Did they mention that there is a moment when your baby enters the world and you leave your body and touch the heavens and become the light of a million galaxies?
Did they tell you how the pain of stretching to receive your child would be more exquisite than any sensation you’ve felt?

They told you you would scream but did they tell you about how you would roar?
Did they tell you about the power that would rise up from your belly as you called your baby forth with your mighty voice?
Did they tell you how you would embody the wild woman within you and breathe fire with your song?

They told you you would bleed but did they tell you how that sacred blood wouldn’t scare you?
How you would feel grateful for that magical liquid of life as it trickled down your leg?
How you would honor its flow and how it would help you heal a lifetime of hating your body’s bleeding cycles?

They told you these stories and taught you to fear birth, to fear your power, to fear yourself.
But you’re stronger and wiser than that mama.
You know that birth is your divine dance, your soul’s song, your moment with God, and you walk fearlessly into her open arms.”

~ Catie Atkinson
on Instagram

Art: Paz Treuquil, “Pulliwen”

https://www.paztreuquil.com/

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17/08/2023

My favourite post birth/winter warming tea recipe. In a good size saucepan grate a k**b of ginger. A k**b of fresh turmeric. 10 Chinese dried red dates. A handful of goji berries. 2 cinnamon sticks. 4 cloves. 4 cardamom pods. Fill with water. Bring to the boil then simmer for 5 mins. Strain and sweeten with a little honey if desired. I leave mine on the stove and top it up with water and reheat as needed. This tea is warming healing and nourishing. Post birth you need to warm your body- not cold water. Especially at this time of year (Australia). Once you get to enjoy this tea it will become a family staple!

08/08/2023

Working with this beautiful mamma and baby on getting face to breast symmetry. Sometimes it takes time and patience. If you are having issues please reach out asap. I’m working in the Melbourne metre area doing fine tuning home breastfeeding consultations.

07/08/2023

It’s World Breastfeeding Week and I’ve been busy visiting breastfeeding mothers and babies offering fine tuning consultations to help address pain, pinching, and general sore ni***es and uncertainty. Home visits available in Melbourne metro area. Contact me for next available appointment. 0400 484 620

03/08/2023

Delightful Dad diagram illustrating what I shared while observing his baby breastfeeding. Gentle fine tuning can make all the difference. I’m confident that after today’s visit this family are going to continue to thrive.

01/08/2023

Todays home visit…….breastfeeding works! Unraveling a few things to help things flow between this mamma and her beautiful baby.

31/07/2023

Happy World Breastfeeding Week

31/07/2023

Lucina changed her care to a homebirth after attending my classes. Here’s what happened next……”I woke up on day 40 +3 of pregnancy with super mild cramps which continued throughout the day and I didn’t think much of them. At 5.30pm I had a bloody show and they really picked up and I didn’t get much break from then on. I preferred to be on my own in the bathroom at home, with tens machine, then switched to the birth pool in living room after a couple of hours, I found it a bit distracting in the water actually and couldn’t get comfortable so upon the suggestion of the midwife I got out, sat on the toilet and then stayed in the bathroom for the remainder of the labour. I had a shower and then was kneeling on the floor with our doula in the room with me. She suggested trying some lunges and as soon as I did I could feel the head. I didn’t have to push or do anything conscious my body was just in the zone in fact once the midwives and everyone was in the bathroom they said don’t push just breath and our baby was born in a few minutes! It’s definitely true that the endorphins kick in when you need them at the end and I didn’t feel any pain. Our beautiful baby boy Milan was born.” - Lucina

30/07/2023

Visiting this 3 day old today. He found feeding from this side a little harder because this was the fuller breast but with a little fine tuning from me and a super calm and patient mamma he fed beautifully until satisfied. I’m visiting anyone in the Melbourne metro area.

28/07/2023

Arrrhhh the comfort and pleasure of breastfeeding. Helped this lovely mamma and her beautiful 1 month old fine tune their breastfeeding and unravel a few ‘latching’ myths such as the wide mouth.

27/07/2023

A belated congratulations to mighty Michelle who attended my classes at the start of the year. “Hey Di,
Just wanted to reach out and say a huge thanks as I birthed my son on the 19/03/23.
I achieved my natural physiological birth with no interventions or drugs what so ever!
I have your classes and Rhea’s book solely to thanks for this! (And my midwife for recommending them).

I had a 31 hour labour total, which I was prepared for and knew first babies are a hard slog. I moaned and groaned A LOT, which I learned from videos you showed in class. My pain management tools were brith combs and tens machine.
Damien was an amazing birth support partner and stayed so positive and utilised massage techniques we learned in class.
When I hit my crisis of confidence claiming I was fading and I couldn’t go on, rather than buckling, Damien cried tears of joy because he knew then I was in transition and baby was close.
Sure enough 45 minutes later I was on all fours birthing my baby with all my might!

The whole experience was so empowering and I feel I can take on anything! Including motherhood.
We also got a beautiful first few golden hours and breastfeeding has started off well.

Thanks to you and Rhea again, the work you are doing is amazing and I’m just so happy and proud of my birth.”

Michelle and Damien

25/07/2023

Another night with the queen of oxytocin, the Mother of Pain.

20/07/2023

Saw this beautiful little fellow yesterday. He hadn’t fed from the breast in his first 10 days of life without the aid of a ni**le shield. Also been topped up with a bottle. After some gentle adjustments/suggestions we saw him feed straight from his mothers breast and then settle and sleep for 2 hours. His mumma was so surprised. Later she said “Thanks so much for a great session!! Feeling really good about it all.”
Breastfeeding is easy and natural. It doesn’t need complicated techniques or interventions or devices in your baby’s mouth. I have availability next week for home visits in the Melbourne metro area. Or on Thursday morning . Contact me directly on. 0400484620

18/07/2023

Wonderful workshop in Castlemaine on the weekend. After more than 20 years running birth education I am constantly inspired and enriched by working with couples at the beginnings of their transition into parenthood. A beautiful group of open hearted people. Can’t wait to return next year for another gang of Castlemaine/and surrounds locals.

17/07/2023

Welcoming beautiful baby Elsie to the world. Hi Di,
My partner Will and I completed your birth course a month or so ago and just wanted to let you know we achieved a natural physiological birth and welcomed our little girl Elsie into the world on the 24th of June. After a long 48 hour labour, Elsie was born in the birth pool (we were in the midwifery group practice program) without any drugs or intervention. We wanted to thank you for the invaluable information you provided in your birth classes and feel it really helped set us up to get the birth we wanted. Thank you again!
Kind regards,
Harriet and Will (and Elsie)

30/06/2023

Another beautiful birth story:

Hi Di,
Just wanted to reach out and tell you that we had our baby boy, Jack last Saturday 17/6/23 5d weighing 3.2kg.

I got to have the normal physiological birth that I wanted with no drugs or interventions, and managed to only had to have one exam during labour. Unfortunately I had shocking sciatica through the whole labour which kept me out of the zone, kept slowing down contractions and really prolonged the whole thing (37 hours), but my support team really utilised spinning babies to keep me in as many new positions as my body would allow which was great. The other thing that helped enormously was being in the huge bath at the hospital.

Unfortunately, I ended up with a pretty significant post partum haemorrhage causing really low BP, fainting and several MET calls so I had to stay in hospital for 4 days (the team were great working really hard to get me home asap though). This was all after the birth though and so it didn't really matter at all.

Breast feeding was a little derailed by lots of hospital advice and the fact that I wasn't allowed up/couldn't really sit in bed with the catheter and couldn't use my arms well with IVs in both, but I've signed up for the Thompson method which has immediately helped me regain my confidence in my instincts. It's a shame because we did so well feeding before everything went downhill, he'd latched before the cord has stopped pulsing and I'd got up off the floor.
I wanted to thank you for your classes, the two most valuable things we got out of them was that I felt validated in my initial concerns about the hospital system and that it gave my partner an insight into what I was feeling anxious about. I hadn't been able to explain why I was feeling nervous about the system and wasn't informed or educated enough to defend my wish to have a home birth to all the nay-sayers around me. It was too late to change my preference by the time we came to your class, but I still felt really comforted that my instincts were correct.

Thank you Di, for all your help, your classes were brilliant. I can't wait to recommend them to other people. Freya.

22/06/2023

I have lots of availability next week for breastfeeding home visits in the Melbourne metro area. Anyone struggling with the early weeks of breastfeeding need an experienced and gentle guide to help them enjoy the simplicity and pleasure of breastfeeding and nurturing a newborn? Contact me directly on. 0400484620

19/06/2023

Sometimes I’m visiting women at home with their babies who have been struggling for days or weeks with breastfeeding. They have received a pile of advice from various health professionals but still feel overwhelmed and confused. They aren’t sure that they’re ‘doing it right’ or that their baby is ‘doing it right’ believing that their baby has a shallow latch or isn’t opening wide enough or……My consults involve gentle observation of your baby feeding and immediate suggestions to fine tune in collaboration with you. Results are immediate and women feel a greater confidence and trust in their breastfeeding. Please reach out early….most ‘problems’ can be fine tuned easily to set you on your beautiful breastfeeding journey. [email protected]

Address

Fitzroy High School, Cnr Michael & Falconer Sts, Nth Fitzroy
Melbourne, VIC
3068

Website

http://www.birtheducation.com.au/

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What a night last night at the Melbourne premiere of @birthtimeworld Awesome film that says exactly what many of us in the birth profession want to be said to a larger audience. If you get a chance to see it you really must!! #birthtime

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'birth' provides complete ante-natal education for hospital and home births or is the perfect complement or alternative to hospital classes. Dynamic weekly classes provide a wealth of information for first timers or those who have already had children. Ideal for support people, single parents, same s*x couples, VBAC, and midwifery students.