With Rhea Dempsey - birth educator, doula, author, trainer & counsellor

Today I am privileged to be speaking with renowned Australian birth worker, Rhea Dempsey. Rhea is an Independent Birth Educator, Doula, Trainer, Counsellor and Author. Her understanding of birth has been gained over four decades. She has presented nationally and internationally. She is recognised as an insightful commentator on the difficulties women, who have a yearning for normal physiological birth, face in navigating present birth culture.

Her book Birth with Confidence: savvy choices for normal birth, explores the issue of physiological pain and the importance of experienced support. While Beyond the Birth Plan: getting real about pain and power explores the deeper emotional and psychological dynamics impacting birthing potential.

In this episode of the podcast we explore the difficulties in navigating the Western maternity care system, why we need to interrogate the ‘thank goodness’ birth stories we keep hearing about, and ways to support physiological birthing amidst this all.

To connect with Rhea or to find out more about her work and books:

Here's Rhea's website: https://rheadempsey.com.au/

Her Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/rheadempseybirth/

Her Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/birthingwisdom

And here are links to Dr Sarah Buckley's work:

https://sarahbuckley.com/

https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/resources/health-care/maternity/hormonal-physiology-of-childbearing.pdf