Natural Labour

Natalie Kon-yu was nine weeks pregnant when the trembling began. Two weeks later she checked herself into a mental health unit. Though she was in crisis, the GPs, nurses and psychiatrists couldn't see beyond Natalie's precious cargo. She was made to feel that her pregnancy outweighed her mental health. This loss of agency lingered long into her early years of motherhood. In that time, she discovered that she was far from alone. In fact, her experience typifies the harsh inequalities endured by child-bearing women, as well as the devaluation of what is still perceived as ‘women's work'.

This guided meditation is designed to support a calm, confident, and natural childbirth experience through deep relaxation, breath awareness, and positive mental conditioning. Whether this is your first pregnancy or you're seeking a more empowered birth experience, this meditation helps you reduce fear, ease tension, and build trust in your body's natural ability to give birth. Research shows that fear and tension can intensify discomfort during labor.

Shannon Garner met and married the man of her dreams, had two gorgeous children and lived an idyllic life on the New South Wales coast. So why did she decide one day to pursue altruistic surrogacy? And what made her choose a gay male couple from Sydney? Labour of Love is Shannon’s honest and engaging story - a roller coaster of emotion set against the backdrop of a highly regulated ‘industry’.

Do you want to use your faith to have a natural childbirth, no matter the environment you end up in? Going through my youngest daughter’s birth without the support of my spouse was a life changing and faith growing experience. I made changes to my birth plan to accommodate my change in location, having my young son in tow, and needing additional support for the labor and delivery. Having the support of midwives, the flexibility of birthing at a center, and the power of prayer made all the difference in my experience.