About Julie

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About Julie > A Day in the Life of Julie

What does your work involve?

Knowledge, experience, enthusiasm, energy and the dedication to share it with pregnant couples. As an active birth pre natal class educator, in independent private practice for 20 years, a professional birth support person, and calmbirth® instructor. My work involves a wide variety of facets but mostly it is to do with connecting with the lovely couples who attend my classes and require my guidance, reassurance, encouragement and uplifting motivation as they prepare for their "Transition Into Parenthood".

Why have you chosen to do this type of work?

As a young pregnant woman expecting my first baby I received great help through the pre-natal classes I attended and wonderful support from my partner to achieve the birth I wanted to achieve. I understand the anxiety, challenges and concerns that expectant couples face and felt highly motivated to undertake the training and provide really effective and positive education and preparation for them.

Describe a typical day.

Up, showered and washed hair, dressed, breakfast, load of washing, clean up kitchen, drop eldest son to train station with in depth conversation about relationships, hug youngest leaving for high school by about 8.00am, turn my attention to 9am commencement of a 3 hour individual session for a couple expecting twins, lots of questions answered and encouraging information provided by 12 noon lunchtime, salad sandwich and a cup of tea with our golden retriever as my companion, then onto marketing and business bookwork and answering the phone and emails for the afternoon, and preparation of handouts, posters and videos for the evening session. Partner of over 28 years, Geoff, arrives home and all family gather round the table to discuss the day, share dinner, chat and laughs together.

7pm to 9.30pm, facilitate the group for the evening, teaching about labour and breathing, options such as positions, the use of the hospital facilities, self help strategies for the women to use and partners role, including massage. After a “rehearsal” for labour where I guide the women and their partners through likely responses to labour we all relax and the partners are guided through foot massage – the women just totally love it!

One couple stays behind, patting our friendly black cat, Bagheera. After 9.30pm when everyone else has gone home, (relaxed and with very comfortable feet), concerned because their closest friends have just given birth and told them an horrendous story – they need to tell me their story and receive clear ideas and guidance on how to support their friends and yet minimise the risk of it happening to them. They leave an hour later feeling relieved and refocused on their own unique experience. I have a relaxing hot bath, hot cup of tea listening to the beautiful relaxation cd rainforest magic by about midnight.

What is your advice for a woman about to approach labour?

Have courage and determination – be cared for by midwives – have a birth plan clearly communicated to your partner, extra support person, midwife and any other birth attendants. Stay in the shower or bath as long as you wish – grin.

Why are you teaching calmbirth®?

During September 2007, I trained as a calmbirth® training practitioner which is a wonderful new Australian course. Calmbirth® provides positive visualization, relaxation using breathing and consciously relaxing muscles and good guidance for women on how to work with their body during the labour and birth process rather than against it. Based on the philosophy by a UK obstetrician Dr. Grantly Dick-Read that childbirth pain is caused by fear and tension. He describes the fear tension pain cycle and how women who are prepared properly for labour and birth are quite capable of birthing normally without intervention or drugs. The basic idea being that the more relaxed a woman is during her labour the more comfortable she will be.

The calmbirth® course is designed to explain these concepts, to women and their partners, and to provide a forum to master the skills by drawing on the resources within very effectively. Underpinning all of my work in the Transition Into Parenthood classes is the same philosophy with calmbirth® training and that is encouraging, supporting and guiding family bonding between a couple as they prepare for the birth of their baby. Focusing on the role of the value of each parent, the importance of mothers and equally the importance of fathers in the life of their unborn and newborn baby – with this in mind by encouraging enjoyment rather than stress and fear during the period of the pregnancy and birth it creates the space for a more conducive atmosphere for good solid family bonding. Relaxation, joy, hope, courage, determination, togetherness creates good strong loving relationships. In a nutshell, that’s what it is all about.

There are times when women attend on their own without their partners, for a variety of reasons, and of course this is perfectly fine. Women love the way they feel so empowered after these courses, they feel uplifted, with more courage and determination in the most positive way.

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Read more... About Julie

Detailed Credentials
Recommended Services
Julie's Photo Gallery
Direct Deposit Details