But midwives at Dubbo Base Hospital are learning how it is being done through a program called Calmbirth®.

Helping women overcome fear, anxiety and trauma when giving birth is the focus of the Australian education program developed by Peter Jackson, a male midwife with more than 35 years experience in general, midwifery and psychiatric disciplines of nursing at Sydney and regional hospitals.

“I continue to be amazed by the inner strength and natural ability that is within every mother to birth her baby calmly and with immense joy when she is free from fear,” he says.

Yesterday local midwives spent time with facilitator of the program in Dubbo and yoga teacher Cath Brennan,

hearing of her work with local woman and their “birth partners”.

The instructor says that fear in a woman giving birth can lead to “tension in her body and that can stop the process of labour”.

Calmbirth® focused on teaching women how to relax and breathe through their contractions, while visualising their babies passage into the world, she said.

“Calmbirth® can help mothers enjoy their birth experience, and encourages a sense of team work where the father or birth partner is given clues on how to support the mum and baby during

labour and birth,” Ms Brennan said.

Acting nurse manager of the maternity unit at Dubbo Base Hospital Tracy Roche has welcomed the briefing on the program.

“A couple of our midwives have already received this training and have said how good it is,” she said.