Di,

All I can say is thank you. Your course & education changed my thinking about my body & condition as “high risk”, “abnormal” & “medical”. I entered labour with a new respect for my body & a belief in it’s strength & power to work hard.

Mark was the other star who put into practice everything you taught him & was the most supportive, caring, relaxed, attentive, knowledgable birth partner I could have asked for.

Thank you x

Feeling empowered to achieve a natural birth. These classes informed my partner of the reality of birth & has given us tools to work together during the birth. Wonderful course, highly recommend to others

These classes have come at the perfect time when talking & planning with GP, doula & hospital. We now have a much greater understanding of  the natural process & hospital protocols. We realised we didn’t really know much! Having the time as a couple together to learn & the conversations it has encouraged has been great. The clouds have parted, thank you.

Hi Di,
I just wanted to let you know how much my partner and I appreciated & enjoyed your classes. They were educational & fun. Despite how tired/nauseous I was feeling I looked forward to the class each week. I think that they helped ease my anxiety & gave me confidence. 

I am happy to say the I have a 6 week old, beautiful boy. Although, in the end I was induced 3 weeks early (due to pre-eclampsia & high levels of bile) I laboured for almost 5 hrs during which time he was displaying signs of distress & we ended up having to have an emergency c-section. At least for the labour that I did experience I used much of what your classes had taught which helped a lot! 

We had the pleasure of attending Di’s “Birth” classes back in February this year. From that we were able to beautifully birth our gorgeous baby girl Lani Koko, born 10th April at 9.37am.

I was 40 weeks and 6 days pregnant and had a hind break in my waters Friday evening, not really realising what had happened and having some contractions throughout the night, the next morning everything had pretty much fizzled out. I was lucky enough to be in the Midwifery Group Practice and I called my midwife and went in for monitoring. Naturally as hospitals do, they wanted to induce me (which I REALLY didn’t want), I was able to let them send me home and I had until 7am Sunday morning, or they would induce me.

So on the Saturday afternoon, I went home and with acupuncture points, lots of walking up and down stairs, bouncing on ball, meditation and nipple stimulation (to get that oxytocin flowing) I managed to get labour started and by 7pm Sat night (while eating dinner) I was in pre-labour having regular contractions. I laboured as much as I could at home and by 3.30am, the contractions were really intensifying so we called our midwife and made the journey to the hospital. Up on all fours in the front seat as you do when your in labour. Fastest trip ever!

My amazing husband and cousin were the most incredible support team helping me through the labour. Thanks to Di, my husband was able to be exactly what I needed and I couldn’t have done it without him.Those moments when looking for someone to help me and maybe give me a way out, all he did was encourage and support me through. I just tried to listen to my body and when it told me to move, I moved and things would intensify more. At one point I just had to squat, and that’s when my waters fully broke and I started to get the urge to push. It really was just like the videos we saw in Di’s classes, the pushing was so intense and contractions were pretty much ontop of each other. Lani kicked me the whole way through my labour and I could feel her working hard as well to bring on every contraction. I pushed for 2 hours and finally I was able to keep her head crowned. Then one more contraction and her head was out. She even squeaked at this point. Eventually another contraction built and I birthed my baby girl. This moment is like nothing we have ever experienced before. Pure euphoria is probably the best way to describe it. Birth is such a gift, it’s tough but truely a miracle.

So thanks to Di, we were able to have the birth we planned for, a normal physiological birth. And thanks to my brilliant midwife and controlling the pushing there were no perinium tears either.

Lani is just devine and now 10 weeks old and we can’t thank and praise Di for her classes and knowledge to help us achieve the birth the we planned for.

Hi Di,

I just wanted to thank you for the amazing course you offered my partner Ben and I. Prior to attending this class I was terrified of labour, I heard all the scary stories of the pain and tearing and wanted none of it. Being a nurse I medicalized labour and was supportive of all the drugs to numb out the pain. I spoke to my midwife about my fears and thankfully she suggested I attend your class.

Your class transformed my views on labour and turned my fear into empowerment. I kept your booklet next to my bed and read it along with Rhea Dempseys, Birth With Confidence book every night. I went on the Spinning babies website from 28 weeks and did the exercises and throughout my pregnancy I was lucky to know my baby was in the LOA position. I practiced your list of inducing labour naturally and practiced acupuncture, birth ball, herbs and exercise and just like that I went into labour at 38 weeks and 4 days.

I stayed at home for as long as I could and went to hospital at 5cm dilated. I used a heat pack and breathing to help me through my contractions. When I thought I couldn’t get through it any more I jumped into the pool and it soothed my body, after 9 hours of labour, I gave birth to my son Dylan naturally without any medication or gas. I had the most amazing birth experience, the best I could have ever hoped for myself. My husband was in awe of my strength and days after my birth I feel the birth really unified us as parents and made us feel we could get through anything together. I was high on oxytocin for days and feel so empowered til this day.

THANK YOU DI

I read a quote somewhere and it really spoke to me so I’ll share it.

“We have a secret in our culture, and it is not that birth is painful, it is that women are strong.”

Hi Di,

my partner Nick and I attended Birth in the October 2016 series. We wanted to thank you for such an excellent course, we both got a lot out of it. Our baby Noah was born at home on 14/12 & it was truly the most empowering experience of my life! What we learned in the classes with you & Rhea was what helped Nick and I get through. I’m so proud that at no point in the labour did I want to go to hospital or get any pain relief. We just wanted to say thank you!

Many thanks,

Hey Di,

Heidi gave birth to our little baby girl. Lumi Rewa Andersen.

Full natural birth, she was absolutely amazing, staying focused and working through a 14 hour labour most of which (13 hours) was done in the comfort of our home.

Mum and baby made it through extremely safe and healthy.

I personally enjoyed the journey every step of the way and I’m so proud and in awe of the courage Heidi showed.

Your birth classes really drove home our decision to pursue a natural birth and armed us with the knowledge and confidence to move forward so, thank you.

Meet our new little addition
Rudy Ray Charles Alexander born at 4.45am on the 2nd Dec 2019 weighing 4.46kg ??
We fulfilled all of our birth preferences and managed to achieve the completely free from intervention water birth that we’d dreamt of.
Thank you Di Diddles ? xx

A huge thank you for your advice and wisdom!

My birth experience went really well. First sign of any thing happening started at 8am (some period pain), contractions started at 9am, baby arrived at 5pm on the dot the same day. What a civilised labour my son gave me!! Must have got my mum’s quick birth genes. Did not need any pain intervention, just used a tens machine. My midwife was amazing, so quick thinking and experienced. Was so glad to have her as my midwife.

I think your classes gave me some realistic expectations about birth and the confidence to stay calm and not to use pain medication. I don’t see myself as a goddess but I do think it’s helpful to tell yourself that it possible to give birth without medical intervention and that your body can do it. Rhea Dempsey had some excellent advice on that front as well as you.

Hi Di,

Thank you for the knowledge, strength and positivity your birth education class provided me and my partner in preparation for the birth of our first child.

Our son Marcel was born right on his due date, at the Mercy Hospital. The whole experience was absolutely amazing, and went almost exactly as we hoped, which we felt incredibly grateful for. The labour was nine hours, and with the wonderful support of my partner Anton, our student midwife Agia, and our Birth Centre midwife Karen, I was able to have a completely natural, calm and loving birth, with no tears or stitches needed after having a very healthy 8 pound 10 ounce baby! He started breastfeeding within an hour of being born, and hasn’t really stopped since. He weighs about 8 kilos at the moment and showing all signs of being tall like his father.

Thank you again for providing a positive and powerful space where expectant parents felt capable, strong and perhaps most importantly, excited about the birth experience.

I’ve attached a photo of Marcel and I greeting the sunrise an hour or two after he was born.

Warmest regards,

Hi Di,

Just wanted to let you know that I gave birth to beautiful boy, Elijah, on 7th June at home with the Sunshine Hospital home birth team. 

I had a 10hr  labour & I found the TENs and pool particularly helpful, especially birthing in water.

Thanks for the opportunity to attend your classes, we learnt a lot, – my husband kept telling me to go back to bed as its still early & when the midwives arrived I was 8-9cm, hehe. 

Just shows how different every labour is. It was hard work but i look back on it as such a positive experience and was so pleased with how it all went. 

We are all doing great & he’s feeding really well.

Hello Di,

I wanted to take some time out to write to you especially.
Nitin & I completed your course about 5 weeks ago.

I wanted to share with you my birthing experience as I am so thankful to have had training from you.

My son Noah was born 2nd August, 7.53pm.

He was overdue by 7 days and we were about to be induced within the following week as we had passed the hospital “time allowance of 10 days”

At first there was a big meltdown. But then I accepted that I was going to be induced and decided I will still be willing and able to give this a real go at the natural birth. I distracted myself with lots of stitching of cot sheets! This was actually good for me, after all the week of remedies of trying to bring on the labour.

Tuesday came along. The long awaited “show” arrived in the morning. Straight away I jumped with excitement! I felt alive! And just as I was about to book into preggie yoga I laughed and remembered our class and you demonstrating the first stage of labour. And then remembered you saying. Women need to preserve this energy for the last part of the birth!

Lunch time came along & there was still no movement, Google said the show sometimes arrives a few days before labour or in some cases 2 weeks earlier…….So I continued with the cot sheet stitching.

At around 2.30pm I said to mum, I just cannot have any more pineapples or paw paw or spicy curry & I’m definitely over the raspberry tea. I already was having Braxton hicks contractions. – It then occurred to me perhaps these weren’t the fake contractions?……I decided to time them, it wasn’t as frequent. The last one happened about half hour ago. And so I decided to ignore the signs.

An hour later, this just didn’t feel like the contractions I had had for a few weeks.

4pm I got Mum to call hubby & to get him home.

Mum & I were dancing by now, trying the birth ball the yoga mat.
I wanted to save the shower & bath for later.

4.30 Hubby arrived home & asked how far the contractions were? “I have no idea” I mean I was having contractions that were pretty sore in my back. Back pain should be happening after all baby was in posterior position. I kept thinking.

Hubby was amazing. He got me straight into the shower, fed me little bits of fruit. Gave me coconut juice.
Put the tens machine on. This tens machine was the gods send machine. All I can say is – Alleluia Tens Machine.

At 5pm there was a suggestion to go to the hospital but I refused. I don’t want to go early & then I’m on the “hospital 24 hour in birthing suite” scenario when they will c-section baby out!

By 6.30pm I was on my paws. On the sofa. Suddenly my waters broke.
And this my sign to go to the hospital.

7pm we had everything packed in the car. Off we went to the hospital.
Hubby missed the turn off. Instead of going off the my nut, screaming I just said- it’s ok do a U turn & go back.

By now my howling was really bad. Teeth clenching types of pain.
I was still very certain this was just the beginning of labour. I remember thinking- “women do this, I can do this.”

This mantra suddenly just stuck in my head. Women do this I can do this. I remember from that moment that’s all I would think during a contraction.

7.20pm, for goodness sake why is the receptionist nurse person at the hospital asking me a million questions?
Just get me some help. Pronto.
Meanwhile tens is off the scale on the real zeeee buzz..
Also reception lady, there is no one else here.
And finally I had to say – I just can’t talk anymore my waters are breaking. And I need to sit on my towel. I just can’t answer anymore.

7.35pm We were welcomed by the  midwife.
She warned us about how we would be assessed & depending on how far along I was in labour they might send me home.

I had another contraction. In the corridor.

As we approached the assessment room, I felt this overwhelming urge to……
And that was the most embarrassing thing. I ended up having an accident in my pants!!!

So I excused myself to go to the toilet.

7.45pm the midwife asked what am I doing in there & she’s coming in. NO!!!
I begged. Don’t come into the WC!
But she did.
And then she had a look, & said she could see the head, with lots of hair!

Wait, what? But I have music, I have calming breathing that I’ve been practicing. I have a BIRTH plan!

Babies head could be seen.

I was clutching the sink, & the midwife said I’ve got this in the next few contractions baby will be born.
She wasn’t wrong. I was standing.

The next contraction babies head was born, then the next one Nitin hubby caught baby. All the while I am still standing.

7.53pm. Noah arrived to meet us!
I didn’t even have time to hop in the bath!

So Di, I managed to do it. A natural physiological child birth! I did it.

And I wanted to Thankyou. I am so thankful for your training Di, so so thankful. Thanks to you I tricked my body into thinking I’m still in early labour so that I could stay home!

I achieved my goal & we just have the most precious son!

Thank you so much!!

My husband Dave and I started our pregnancy a little naive about the journey that lay ahead……

Click here to read more……shauna & dave birth story

Click here to read Melanie & Shane birth story

Hi Di,

Just writing to say thank you for the birth classes that we attended a few months back.

We have just had our baby in late December.

I wanted to write and thank you. The birth classes took me from being terrified of the birth experience to feeling calm and confident to manage that challenge when it came. It normalised the birthing process, and I felt confident to vocalise and move around. My husband also did a terrific job in providing support during the birth and the classes contributed to his understanding of what was happening and therefore confidence and approach during those hours. The class also helped us put together and communicate clear birth preferences.

We were able to achieve natural delivery using gas only, and narrowly avoided forceps which I am really thankful for, as Bub wasn’t coping well in the final 40mins, resulting in an episiotomy.

We used the strategies discussed in the class, and this especially helped in the early stages at home to stay calm and relaxed, conserve energy and meant that we progressed well there, and then also worked well as a team with our wonderful midwife from the MGP program later in box hill hospital, where we had a 5 hour 40 mins active labour.

We had confidence and knowledge to be able to negotiate with the midwife and specialists around visits to special care nursery and they ended up coming to us and doing additional tests that were required in the birthing suite, achieving more skin to skin contact, and to actively intervene / decline the use of sugary syrup before it was used to soothe the baby during a test as we had colostrum available – I doubt I would have had the confidence to do that if we had not covered in the classes that these kinds of decisions may come up and could definitely be negotiated. We also had confidence to decline the use of formula post birth when bub’s weight had dropped a bit, and this resulted in accessing some additional support around breastfeeding – Think these are the kinds of things that have made the greatest difference and helped us get off to the best possible start. Great!

We appreciated your down to earth and evidence based approach to the classes. All the best, and thank you again. We will highly recommend your classes to others.

Hey Di,