At 21 I became pregnant with my first child, I was young and naive and I thought I knew everything! I was convinced I would manage being pregnant and having a baby just like everyone else. I would be just fine...

But the truth was I actually didn't know anything about having a baby. I told myself "every women does it… how hard could it be? Women have been doing it for thousands of years". Truthfully inside I was scared to death!

My friends and family helped me to choose the best baby clothes and accessories, yet regarding how to prepare for the best birth outcome, the silence was deafening.

What they were quick to tell me was the horror stories about how painful birth is, and how they just wanted to get it over with. I was sure there had to be a better way. I needed answers, but I had a problem...I didn't know who or where to turn to.

I will never forget the first day I felt the baby move inside me it was so exciting! Though with each day bringing the birth closer, fear started to creep in. And no matter how hard I tried I couldn't find the answers I was looking for.

I found one book on pregnancy and childbirth which I devoured from cover to cover, however it gave me little to no useful information on actually having a baby. I then found a birth class running in my local area - at last I was going to get some good advice about how to birth a baby!

One evening, my own doctor came to speak. I was excited...answers at last!
As he began to speak, he glanced around the room and stopped when his eyes rested on me..."1 in 3 women in this room will have a Caesarean section".

As he said this I felt panic!! It was an awful feeling. I didn’t want to have a Caesarean section, that hadn’t even crossed my mind. It was not part of my plan! C-sections were for emergencies and I wasn’t planning on having one of those.

I told myself, that would not be me! However, due to my lack of knowledge and understanding about how to have a positive, natural birth experience - I became that statistic.

From the first pre-labour contraction to the emergence of my baby by c-section, it was 68 hours. I experienced many hours of pain, an epidural that led to temporary nerve damage and finally a general anesthetic - all in order to have my baby. I was left physically exhausted battered and heartbroken.

I soon began to ask myself, how did this happen? I was devastated and depressed. I was fortunate enough to have a beautiful healthy baby, yet I felt cheated! I couldn’t explain it. I was a healthy young woman who should have been able to birth naturally, yet the outcome left me feeling incomplete (& ripped off!).

As time passed the scars in my body healed, but the scars in my mind did not. I was excited to become pregnant again, and this time I was determined to experience a natural birth. However, I was now considered as high risk!

I began to research everything I could about vaginal birth after c-section and came across a video from a birthing class with real people talking about their actual experiences! Some had disappointing birth outcomes with their first baby yet went on to having a beautiful experience with their next birth. I wanted that too!

Following my first surgical birth I experienced terrible pain. My wound had become infected and the epidural had caused temporary nerve damage to one of my limbs. Recovery took weeks! Yet in spite of all of that, it wasn’t the caesarean that caused my disappointment, it was that I felt like my power had been taken away. I had lost control of what I wanted. There had to be a better way...

After watching the birthing video I decided I needed a birthing coach, so decided to hire an independent midwife.

My midwife educated me about vaginal birth after c-section, a good diet (because diet plays a role in good birth outcomes), and helped with my mental fear around what I felt was the failure of my first birth (& didn't want to be my second!). I had to convince myself I could do it!

Through her care, support and good information I felt prepared for my second birth (finally). But guess what happened... my second baby was born by caesarean section, 49 hours after I began to pre-labour. However this time I experienced an amazing and empowering birth!

And although I was hoping for a natural (vaginal) birth, I realised that having a positive and powerful birth experience is about being in control of your choices and feeling empowered as a woman.

I had discovered that even though the final outcome had not turned out exactly how I thought it would, I had taken control and managed the pregnancy and birthing process every step of the way. I grew as a person, and I learnt more than I ever could have imagined about birth, pregnancy and babies.

Two years later my third child was born naturally in the most amazing birth ever! A good birth is about being in control of your choices. This changed the course of my life. I became a childbirth educator, a nurse, midwife and coach. I began supporting women just like me.

Over the years I have supported hundreds of women who wanted the best possible birth experience. We can’t control every detail, but we can educate and empower ourselves and prepare our minds for any situation.

If you don’t have your own personal birth coach, if you don’t have the information and help you need, let me change that for you.

What I learnt and because I worked on me and realised the power in taking control of my body, my baby and my birth, I achieved the outcome I desired. Imagine if you could avoid my pain and go straight to feeling like a Superwoman!

A woman who instead of fearing birth, could overcome all fears and achieve the birth of your dreams! I want to help you achieve this goal.

Having a c-section today has become an acceptable alternative to vaginal birth, yet it is major abdominal surgery that comes with risks to mother and baby. Without a doubt for some it is a lifesaving necessity, but the need for a caesarean is only necessary in a very small percentage of women. On average 30% of women now have their babies by c-section. That means that at least 20% of women are having unnecessary operations.

I do not want to see you suffer as I did, which is why I created The Pocket Midwife.

When I took control and gained back my power, giving birth and life in general changed for the better. And this is what I want to share with other women.

Imagine having a step-by-step guide to labour and birth, containing the tried and tested information that I have used to help hundreds of women relax and prepare for birth.

The Pocket Midwife is a support tool that empowers you through education, teaching you control over your body and mind that enables you to relax and achieve a calm and joyful birth.

Don’t go through another day unprepared for labour and birth! The audio visualisation has been designed to walk with you from early pregnancy to birth. Your very own pocket birth coach, this tool is equivalent to one complete birth coaching session\, valued at over $475!