Chris and Melinda had hired a doula, and attended Birthtalk’s “Path to a Better Birth” Course (along with their doula) as part of their preparation.

Says Melinda, “I came to Birthtalk as I wanted to be able to make an informed decision about key aspects of birthing so I was clear about what to include in my birth plan. I wanted to hear first-hand from other women what their birthing experience was like, particularly in a hospital environment. That is, the kind of decisions they had to make, what kind of support they wanted around them during labour, what they liked and what they would do differently next time.

“I've always had a fundamental belief that my body was made for birthing. My major concern was external factors such as dealing with the hospital system and how my husband, doula and I could best handle it.

“Birthtalk helped both my husband and I feel empowered leading up to the birth of our first child. Before Birthtalk we felt quite naive. It provided us with real, constructive information about our birthing choices and a deeper understanding about how a birthing body works. Birthtalk reassured for us that birth is an amazing, natural process.

Going through the birth preparations and experiencing the kind of birth that I wanted has had a very positive impact on my relationship with Chris. Although I didn't think it possible, it has brought us even closer and our relationship feels stronger than ever.

We would highly recommend Birthtalk to first time parents like ourselves. It provided us with a real perspective on what to expect. It enabled me to clarify my key wishes in my birth plan and articulate my expectations to my husband and doula. This meant we understood our roles so we could work well as a team.

The birth of Tion is probably the most empowering experience I've had in my life. I feel content about the way events unfolded and so grateful for the two amazing support people I had present. I think that this birth experience has given me a sense of calmness in the way I mother.”

Melinda and Chris’s doula, Karen, also attended Birthtalk with her clients. Here she shares her experience:
“In a general sense I found attending Birthtalk really enlightening as I was able to hear and learn about what families were going through and had already been through, what their needs and hopes were. It was a really welcoming, supportive environment and everyones' thoughts and feelings were welcome and safe.

With regards to supporting Mel and Chris, attending Birthtalk with them meant I was there to hear what they had to say in the group environment - 'inspired' by the themes of each meeting and sharing with the other couples and mamas around them. I think there may be things we might have missed discussing otherwise. Attending with them meant they didn't have to try and explain things to me later. I was there to hear it with them. To be moved with them.

Go to Melinda’s full Birth Story

©Melinda and Birthtalk

© Birthtalk 2002-2009