Common reactions

After first traumatic births

“My experience of the first birth was very intellectual so now (that we have the book ‘What Dads Can Do’), it is a complete relief to have a ‘living map” explaining how men can help the mothers’ body to naturally wake up. I feel empowered and so much better equipped – far more confident to deepen our relationship with the coming birth. The book has brought me out of my head and into the user-friendly diagrams with clear as a mirror wording”.

Matthew, Brisbane

‘I have no doubt that the techniques that you went through with my wife in the lead up were critical in giving us the pleasant birthing experience we had. I felt very much more empowered to help her through the contractions. This as opposed to the first time around…standing off to one side hoping it would all be over soon. The techniques Heather passed on really assisted her through the pain and helped to keep her relaxed.

Our first birth lasted 33 hours in labour with a constant reliance on gas and pethidine shots, followed by an epidural and a forceps delivery. In contrast, this time round we were in labour 1hr 45mins, No gas, No pethidine and by the time an epidural was ordered, there wasn’t enough time for it to take effect.

As such we look back with joy on the whole process. We hope that more people will make an effort to prepare for the birth via these types of options. It makes the whole day a far more pleasant and less stressful experience that you feel you have some control over, rather than leaving it up to whoever happens to be in the labour ward at the time’.                     (Note from Heather – A different Matthew again – that is THREE on the one page!!)!

Matthew, Brisbane

After firing the Ob and going public . .

(Hence bub was 4 more weeks on when he came).

” After being told at out of the blue 37 weeks she was ‘too old’ to birth naturally and that she would need a C section next week . . .we took your advice and investigated the natural and real birthing options still available in the public system. Prior to her going into labour, I did the preparatartory moxa and massages.   useful way to prepare for the birth. She had very comfortable night’s sleep after each session.

I found that your advice was invaluable in assisting me to give the support that she needed in the birth of our son. I applied the pressure at the points that you indicated and this appeared to give her real relief during the contractions.

Being able to offer an alternative to pain relief as well as acting as an advocate for my wife when she is not in a position to help me realise the positive role I could play in the birth of our child.  I am so grateful to you in assisting me in playing a positive role in supporting my wife birth our baby.

‘Prior to her going into labour, I gave the massages to her sacrum and buttocks, and was a useful way to prepare for the birth. Although the labour was induced she did not take any pain relief, nor was proglastin applied due to the cervix had to begun to dilate. (I put this down on your advice to go public and making us more aware that it is quite normal to go over the forty week cycle.

‘I also found that your advice was invaluable in assisting me to give the support that she required in the birth of our son, . I applied the pressure at the points that you indicated and this gave her so much relief during the contractions, no other pain relief was needed”. Paul Normal Park, Brisbane

At home . . .

‘What Dads Can Do’ was an essential tool for our home birth. The DVD helped give me a clear understanding of how (& where) to massage and moxa. The book had an answer for every question that I had and made me much more comfortable and confident about birthing at home. Not only did the book provide vital information about massage, energy flow and birth, reading ‘What Dads Can Do’ brought me even closer to my wife  in the weeks before and during the birth’.  She had an ecstatic orgasmic birth and said that Heather’s massages were worse than the labour!’ 

Matt, Brisbane

“I could not believe that my wife could look as ecstatic as the woman we saw on that beautiful birthing DVD we watched a week before – it was everything and more that we could ever have hoped for!! After all she went through after our son’s birth, this was just magic!! So was me being able to do something useful. Thank you for giving us our daughter”.

Mark, Greymouth, NZ  (note from Heather – they came to get pregnant and worked with me beautifully all through)

“Having Heather’s “What Dads Can Do” manual and DVD and “WDCD – Birthing” DVD has been really fantastic. It meant in the weeks leading up to our daughter’s birth we were relaxed and confident and very comfortable!!

Our groundwork leading up to the birth of our daughter not only prepared her mum physically for birthing but also it gave me the confidence to assist her. The massage techniques in labour and the reassurance I felt during the birth event that everything was progressing as nature intended was fantastic.

All of this resulted in the home birth of our first child without intervention into the peaceful and loving environment- a joyous event – not directed by strangers. My wife experienced ecstatic birth and there was no hint of depression – she was high for days after doing it all herself”.

Chris, Brisbane