Labour of love

AT THE heart of “The Inner Woman” is Esther Swoboda-Thurnheer’s passion to make a difference to how mothers and their companions see the birth and labour of their babies.
Ms Swoboda-Thurnheer founded The Inner Woman five years ago and runs classes at Healesville and Balwyn providing sessions for expecting, birthing and new mothers.
“Childbirth is a normal and natural part of life and it is my aim to take the fear out of it and empower woman and their families,” said Ms Swoboda-Thurnheer, a qualified and experienced doula and HypnoBirthing practitioner.
Ms Swoboda-Thurnheer said a doula’s aim was to enhance the birth process, equip expecting parents with knowledge and strategies that can help the mother birth as normally as possible.
“My experience is that having a doula present at the birth can greatly reduce medical interventions and shorten labour, as well as decrease post natal depression,” she said.
The HypnoBirthing classes incorporate a range of techniques such as relaxation, visualisation and breathing, as well as gaining knowledge of the natural function of a woman’s body to birth a baby, birth myths, the role of the brain and how hormones help the birth process. “The program also transforms the companion into an integral part of the birthing process,” Ms Swoboda-Thurnheer said.
Through The Inner Woman’s Expecting Mothers’ Group, women explore pregnancy, birth and beyond in a safe and nurturing environment, as well as learning to relax.
For more information call Ms Swoboda-Thurnheer on 0411 037 306 or visit www.innerwoman .com.au.