My philosophy on birth is about empowerment for women.
Through my education I try to liberate women to understand the array of choices that they have when it comes to giving birth.
At 23, while working in Japan, I was introduced to Michel Odent (an expert in the concept of water-birthing). He showed the most incredible water-birth films I've ever seen. I just went: Wow - if ever I have a baby, that's how I'm going to give birth - in the water. Later, I did; in 1995 I had my daughter in the water and in 1997 and 1999 came the births of my sons.
Back home, I began teaching baby-swim classes at Fremantle pool. There, I saw a need within the community to run a class especially for pregnant women.
After beautiful birth experiences with my own children, a girlfriend approached me about coming to attend her baby's birth. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do but I helped by providing affirmations, massage, looking her in the eye and giving reassurance that her labour was going smoothly. It was incredible.
Afterwards women flocked to me, asking me to attend their births. I began going to conferences and workshops to find out more about childbirth education. The more births I attended the more notes I made and soon realised that I was getting a full-blown apprenticeship. That's how my book - A Labour of Love: An Australian Guide to Natural Childbirth - came about. As I'd had three births myself, I felt as if I had some inside knowledge into what women need mentally, physically and emotionally.
There are many Doulas (non-medically trained pregnancy and birth support people) now, all around Australia. We're not by any means taking the role of the midwife. What we are providing is emotional and mental support.
Water birth is unfortunately illegal within hospital systems in WA. The only way a woman can legally give birth (in water) is at home through the community midwifery program. With proper education and public awareness, more women are looking at water births as an option.
WA has the highest rate of caesareans in Australia; we really need to question why.
There is an epidemic of fear in our society and it is perpetuated with horror stories from other women; perhaps because these women didn't have the support that they needed.
For more information, see www.alabouroflove.com.au.

As told to Annika Kristensen