What do parents have to say about us?

I'd like to say a big thanks for the classes, they really helped me have a bit of time to think about the baby and labour and get myself ready. As you say, hard to do sometimes when you've got a toddler at home!

A few details for you: After an uncomfortable evening with lots of tightenings or braxton hicks, my waters broke at 12.30 at night. Immediately afterwards contactions were coming 3 minutes apart though were only lasting about 20 seconds and were very light. We rang the hospital and they told us to come in. By the time we got to hospital things had certainly gotten more intense and contractions were now only 1 minute apart, lasting 40 seconds or so. I had started off using normal birth breathing, but as we got towards the hospital I'd felt the need to switch to the escalator breath. As I wasn't able to get into the position you had taught us to slow things down (because we were driving!) I think the escalator breath really helped me with the intense contractions and ward off the urge to bear down. We reached the delivery suite and I bipassed triage as the midwife could see I was pretty far along. They knew I wanted a water birth so had begun to run the pool. She did a quick exam (midwife was very good and didn't expect me to lie down!) and said I was fully dilated. I hopped in the pool as it was still filling with great relief started the bearing down breath with my contractions and within 20 minutes our baby was born at 2.21am. - Louise, Peterborough Daisy Birthing, August 2011

Thank you so much for yesterday. Joe and I really enjoyed the couples antenatal workshop. Not sure what we were expecting, but we left feeling calm and at ease. We are really looking forward to the labor and delivery process (is that weird???) and this workshop only helped us to feel more prepared for it. It was exactly what we were looking for in a couple class - informative, relaxed, no "scary" birth stories, and no embarrassing role playing. We found it to be just the right combination of lecture and interaction. I love that your philosophy is that birth does not have to be a horrible, painful, difficult process. It seems that women/media like to share birth stories like veterans discuss war stories. I will be delivering a baby, not going to battle! You guys are the best! - Liz & Joe, Couples Antenatal, July 2011


It has all began at 6.10 am when my waters broke.Walking about has helped me a lot. I was doing the rotations when I had a contraction as well as the basic breath. It was working fine. Eventually we left to hospital about quarter past 9 o'clock. At this point my contractions were about 3 mins apart. When I was examined again about 11.40 I was already fully dilated and ready to push.

I struggled at the beginning as I could not get a grip of it. I concentrated and thought about bearing down breath and that helped me to start bearing down. It made such a difference!! I remember hearing the midwife "Whatever you do keep doing it because it is going great!!" Four contractions later my baby was out!! I REALLY HAD A GOOD AND EASY BIRTH!! It can really happen and I wish you all the same.' - Katia, St Ives Daisy Birthing, June 2011

'I pushed down like you said. I swear I could hear your voice. 3 pushes and out popped jonny boy at 8.50am. 2 hours and fifty minutes after arriving in the hospital. I was ecstatic. Thank you so much Steph. I have to say I was a little sceptical about the classes but can't tell you how grateful I am. My birth was amazing and I only have good memories.'
- Chantelle, Corby Daisy Birthing, May 2011

'I remained standing throughout my labour. I just changed to kneeling to deliver my baby. I did not have any gas and air and relied on basic birth breathing throughout. I didn't use the bare down breathing but I felt controlled and calm during the whole experience thanks to my breathing.' - Emma, Peterborough Daisy Birthing, May 2011

'So glad of the daisy birthing classes! MY BIRTH WAS EASY my notes read- Duration of Labour: 2hours 11minutes....... GET IN! Thank you for everything you taught me, I was petrified but with each class I learnt a bit more and felt as though I was a bit more in control. I cant wait to do it again one day and would DEFINATELY attend the classes again.'
- Charlotte, Rushden Daisy Birthing, March 2011

'I'd had no urge to reach for the Entonox throughout my labour, in fact I forgot it was there, and I'm sure it was due to everything I'd learned and used in Daisy Birthing classes. Thank you!'
- Sarah, St Ives Daisy Birthing, April 2011

'Thank you so much for the support & information you gave me throughout the daisy birthing course, I really couldn't have done it without it!!!!! In fact I'm proud to announce that I managed the 48 hrs of latent labour & the first 14hrs of established labour with paracetamol, tens, birthing pool, & of course the daisy birthing techniques that you taught me.. I didn't even need gas and air!' - Linzi [December 2010]

'Baby Girl was born at 6.45pm after 4 pushes, no pain relief and not even on labour ward...she weighed in at 7lb 3oz. This is a fantastic testament to your classes as I was calm and coping all the way through. After a very traumatic 1st birthing experience this c...ouldn't have been more different...' - Lisa [December 2010]

'Really enjoyed today - hubby and I feeling all positive about the birth and much less terrified!' Paula [December 2010]

'It was the best birth experience ever and we were home and relaxing by 9.30am! Andrew and I spent the whole day saying 'I can't believe she's here!', 'I can't believe it all happened so quickly!'. I firmly believe yo...ur techniques helped make this the positive experience it was and I can't thank you enough!!' Nicola [November, 2010]'

I cannot thank you enough for teaching me the bearing down breath!! I literally took two big breaths and breathed her out!! Amazing considering my previous 2 took 2 hours of pushing!!' [Angela, September 2010]


'I got to 9cm dilated using only breathing, visulisation and relaxation techniques and my birthing ball! The midwives were amazed and at times were only able to tell I was contracting using the monitor and were suprised at how quick I dilated from 3cm to 7cm!' [Leanne, August 2010]


'10 minutes after the end of our Daisy Birthing class, my waters broke, and 5 hours later he was born! It was a totally different experience from my first birth which was very traumatic, and I think what really helped me was how you changed my attitude to be able to see birth positively'. [Susie, August 2010]


'This is my second baby and last time without Daisy Birthing, I was terrified about labour’. [Kathryn, July 2008]


'Thank you so much for being there when we needed you, and at the end of the phone at anytime. You're a star!' [Jo & Louis, Jan 2010]


'Steph was very assertive and helped me to have my wishes heard when I wasn't in a position to speak up for myself.'
[Katie, Jan 2010]