EMPOWERING A NATURAL PROCESS WITH CALMBIRTH®

EMPOWERING A NATURAL PROCESS WITH CALMBIRTH ®

✦ Lea Bailey is a Midwife, Registered Nurse and Calmbirth® Practitioner who is at home with nature and who fully trusts nature’s processes. From her personal to her professional life, she prefers to keep things natural and this was the seed of her holistic birth approach - Calmbirth®

Lea is focused on educating women and their partners to be more trusting and appreciative of the natural birthing and parenting process.

As a midwife for the past 23 years, Lea has worked in all areas of the maternity unit at Port Base Hospital, specialising in neonatal intensive care. She has extensive experience and qualification to care for pregnant women and their families through the entire process from prenatal to postnatal, including the birthing process, breastfeeding and lactation bonding.

Calmbirth® is Lea’s private specialisation. It stems from her trust in natural processes and she is passionate about teaching women to understand, trust and appreciate their bodies. Labour is not something to fight against. She helps women to work with the birthing process and to adopt healthy and more active habits during pregnancy. Being active when pregnant helps women to be mentally, emotionally and physically healthier.

What keeps Lea so driven in what she does is the beautiful outcomes she has experienced with the families under her care. In fact, many have even returned for their second and third child´s births and postnatal care. Lea has become a calm and wellknown presence in her community for her personable and holistic service. She is watching children in the community growing up around her, and she remembers their mothers´ birthing journeys that she has been a part of.

What is interesting is there has been an increase of around 40% in Caesarean Section births, and Lea has had women choosing to come to her to try for a normal birth after having had a Caesarean. Lea’s healing component in the birthing process is what makes women decide to give normal birth a try but with a very different frame of mind.

Lea sees herself continuing to offer Calmbirth® to the Mid North Coast community for a long time to come. Many have benefited with joy from the process. Calmbirth®’s unique methods teach women to drive more oxytocin to the brain via proper breathing and relaxation techniques. It also creates a relaxed bond between the couple and empowers them with the knowledge they need to understand and enjoy birthing and beyond.

Ultimately, Calmbirth® is about empowering the parents. It involves both partners in the entire process. They are given clear information and trusted to take an active part in the decision making. It helps parents to own the birthing process and be active participants in welcoming a new life into their families.

Lea’s kind and inviting presence helps couples to relax and be open with what they want to know. She understands every couple has different needs, lifestyles and traits and her gentle and open nature helps bring assurance to couples who may be nervous or worried about the unknown.

As a testament to Lea´s work over the years, there are now many Calmbirth® practitioners all over Australia. It is even a government programme in New Zealand and Hong Kong. Lea continues to bring her natural, kind touch to women to help them find joy in their own unique birthing processes.