Optimal Rhythm
Life that comes from me is optimised for abundance.
As a mother of three under three, I've recently walked through pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood several times in a very short space of time. I care deeply about helping women feel confident in their journey toward a positive birth experience — one so wonderful it spreads like dandelions when she tells her birth story. Subscribe for thoughtful guidance and simple activities to support you through your matrescent journey.
A quiet corner of the internet for thoughtful birth preparation and positive birth stories.
My Story! | When I first found out I was carrying a tiny human inside me, of course I was thrilled, grateful and excited, but also, I felt unprepared and uncertain. I didn't know what to expect as my body started betraying me, with achy breasts, nausea and even pelvic morphing. Alongside the excitement, questions started to surface.
As an aerial trainer, my body had always been central to my life. Strength, movement and control were things I had spent years developing. The idea of surgery — even if medically necessary — felt frightening to me. Of course my life and my baby’s life mattered above everything else. But I also wanted to understand what options existed, and what might help me move through birth in the most supported way possible. |
Vaginal birth or Caesarean? Both Terrified me...What I was really afraid of was the unknown. So I got curious. I began researching what actually happens during labour. And the deeper I went, the more I realised that my frame of mind about labour and birth was setting me up to fail. Birth is not something that simply happens to us. It’s a physiological process our bodies are designed to move through. That journey eventually led me to something called hypnobirthing. At first I almost dismissed it. It sounded a little too mystical for me. But when I started listening to talks about the physiology of birth and how fear and stress influence the body during labour, a lightbulb went on. I knew that reframing my mind was key to reframing my birthing experience. “The only reason for pain in child birth is fear.”My original motivation had been simple: if there was anything I could do to reduce the chances of unnecessary intervention, I wanted to understand it. But the more I learned, the more confident I began to feel in my body and in the process itself. During my lunch break each day for a month, I watched positive birth stories on YouTube — primarily unmedicated births. I often found myself in tears, holding my belly, feeling my baby kick, imagining the moment I would finally meet her. I couldn't wait to experience that joy I was brainwashing myself to look forward to. Hypnobirthing also introduced me to the power of language. Referring to contractions as surges or waves helped me to visualise the progression of each one. Instead of “pushing,” some women focus on breathing their baby down, which also helped me visualise them coming. Each wave was bringing me closer to that moment I'd been dreaming of. I began practising simple visualisations — imagining my body opening like a flower in sunlight, or the tide slowly rising with each wave. Sometimes I would do this while listening to calming music in the bath, a place I imagined spending time during labour. Little by little, birth stopped feeling like something to fear and started to feel like something I could prepare for. Birth rarely unfolds exactly according to plan. There are many factors that influence how labour progresses, and flexibility is always important. My goal was to equip myself for every scenario so that I could still closely parallel to my originally planned path. I also believe there is value in becoming familiar with the kind of birth experience you hope for. When you understand your preferences, your options, and the physiology behind them, it becomes much easier to navigate decisions as they arise. Others are free to express their concerns, about the risks of trusting yourself over a healthcare provider. You can be self assured that you are not rejecting their advice by saying "I know another way and if that doesn't work I'm open to discussing your suggestion after". There is time. Rest assured your doctor will urge you if there really isn't time, and in that scenario you can surrender, but saying "not yet" is not the same as saying "no". My intention with this information is to equip you for every situation, so that there is always something for you to try before deviating from your plans. Preparation isn’t about controlling birth. It’s about feeling informed, supported, and confident enough to move with whatever direction labour takes. If you’re preparing for birth and want to understand:
then you’ll probably enjoy what I share. |