birth educator and author

Physiological birth: What makes a difference?

Are you like I was during my first pregnancy? You want a physiological birth, you’re excited and fully confident you’ll rise to the challenge?  

Maybe you are less certain. You’ll prepare as best you can, but you want to be realistic and you’ll wait and see what unfolds.

Or perhaps you’ve already had a birth experience that was not what you’d dreamed. You’re determined things will go differently this time.

Whatever your story, my hope is the same – for you to understand why simply wanting a physiological birth is not enough. 

This is certainly what I found out with the birth of my first baby (no, it didn’t go as planned), and from my birth debriefing work I know that not a lot has changed. In fact, things have gotten much worse for those who want physiological birth today.

The good news is that your own choices and preparation really can change how your birth will unfold! 

When you reframe your attitude to pain; when you understand what makes your ‘fight’, ‘flight’, ‘freeze’ and ‘fawn’ response so important; when you understand the impact of the place you choose to birth, the people you choose to have with you and the ways that you are supported can actually increase your pain tolerance and capacity for physiological birth – this is when you will birth with confidence.

If you’ve already had a disappointing or traumatic birth experience, I hope my work will help you to understand what unfolded. If you are approaching your first birth, I trust it will prepare you for the birth you want.

Photograph of Beyond the Birth Plan lying on a desk next to some flowers

Want to know more?

My first book Birth With Confidence brings together all the key concepts I share with parents-to-be in my workshops. 

I describe how in many countries around the world, including Australia, intervention rates are well above those recommended by the World Health Organisation and climbing – and how this makes physiological birth almost impossible in our current birth culture. I then share what you can do to beat those odds.

You’ll learn about the ‘crisis of confidence’, the emotional crisis that is so predicable in labour (and is not to be confused with transition to second stage), and what you can do to prepare yourself and your team for these moments. 

You’ll understand how the various ‘circles of influence’ around you — from your friends and family to the wider culture — can support or sabotage your birthing potential. 

You’ll identify your own attitude to pain — your ‘pain type’ — what it will mean for your birth, and the practical and emotional steps you can take to raise your pain tolerance level. 

And you’ll build a framework for deciding on the best caregivers and support people to help you through.

Learn more
'Rhea Dempsey is a wise woman who everyone I know refers to everyone else I know … I know all the time. She is a keeper of secrets and a polisher of treasures. She is a fierce supporter of things that actually matter: like women and their experience when giving birth, and men and their experience of bonding with their children. These are just two of the things that make her a true treasure, and we are so lucky she’s written some of her wisdom down in this book.’
Clare BowditchMusician and mother
‘If you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant, this book is a must read.'
Pinky McKayAuthor of Parenting by Heart, Sleeping Like a Baby and 100 Ways to Calm the Crying
'During my twenty years of involvement in childbirth activism and research, many women have asked me ‘how can I have a good birth?’ I have wanted just this book—Rhea’s wise answers—to give them. Now we have it'
Dr Kerreen ReigerSchool of Social Sciences La Trobe University and author of Our Bodies Our Babies
'Ever since I encountered first-hand the power and the clarity of Rhea Dempsey's vision of childbirth, I have been hoping Rhea would write a book. I have no doubt [it] will become an instant classic—for women about to give birth, for their partners, and for childbirth professionals across Australia and beyond'
Maria TumarkinAuthor Axiomatic, Otherland and Traumascapes
'Make this one of your staples for your pregnancy – no matter where you live in the world. Get your hands on it!'
Kelly WinderBelly Belly
'Just finished reading Birth With Confidence by Rhea Dempsey. Fantastic book! It really encourages women to explore and reflect on what they want and provides guidance about how to navigate the ‘maternity system’ and the birthing process. This is the information mothers need… holistic and woman-centred rather than the usual manuals on the ‘stages’ of labour and how to be a good girl in hospital. If you are looking for a present for a pregnant woman…'
Dr Rachel ReedAuthor of Why Induction Matters
'A fantastic reference for anyone starting on the journey towards motherhood who wants a normal physiological birth but is confused by the options available to her or intimidated by the thought of pain in childbirth.'
Kabita DharaBooks+Publishing
'Many women who have attended Rhea Dempsey’s birth workshops will whoop with delight knowing that a book full of her birthing wisdom is now available.'
Erin Horsley‘Birth Matters’ – Journal of Maternity Coalition
'Covers many issues that the average woman usually doesn’t even contemplate until she is already pregnant and “in the system”.'
Melinda EalesMidwife
'Now we have something to actually hand to our women who have goals and dreams for their births.'
SophieMidwife
‘Rhea, I read Birth With Confidence three years ago, prior to the birth of my son. It was by far the most useful and realistic book that I had read as part of my preparations and I truly believe that the concepts that you conveyed made a huge contribution to the achievement of the natural birth that I wanted. Thank you for writing such a wonderful book, which truly resonated with me.’
KateMother
‘Rhea, I just wanted to let you know that we gave birth to a beautiful baby boy … I had an amazing labour and birth experience and am still buzzing about it. And I am very thankful for all the great words of wisdom from your book ‘Birth with Confidence’. I laboured at home with my two-year-old toddler and when the time came I got to birth at our local birthing unit in the birthing bath all by maternal effort—I felt/feel very empowered.’
AbbieMother
‘Rhea brings more than three decades of birthing support and wisdom, sharing tools and perspectives that will help expectant women to navigate self-doubt and set up solid support systems for a confident birth. (I loved Rhea’s workshops too, as a pregnant mama!) Birth with Confidence is honest, empowering, and illuminating. Highly recommended.’
Dr Sarah BuckleyAuthor of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
‘Rhea Dempsey’s dynamic and profound book, Birth with Confidence, has stimulated a lot of our thinking around how we engage with women and their supporters in preparation for labour and birth. We thank her for her inspiring work.'
Nicky Leap and Billie HunterProfessors of Midwifery and authors of Supporting Women for Labour and Birth: A thoughtful guide
‘Your brilliant book Birth with Confidence … is truly one of my favourite birth books that I refer to often in many of my papers and in working with women and feel it is an essential read for all pregnant women, their partners and support people.’
MelindaStudent midwife
‘Rhea’s book is the book I wish I’d had before my first baby—it puts words to the gut feelings I have about birth. This book is a game-changer for us women who are neither hippies nor radicals, but simply wish to have a go at normal birth because we know there is a more richly rewarding way for both mothers and babies.’
Leigh RussellLeadership coach and co-author of Game On!: Supercharge Your Career and Build the Life you Want
Beyond the Birth Plan Cover

Go deeper ...

Have you read my first book Birth With Confidence or attended my workshops and want to go deeper in your birth preparation?

Beyond the Birth Plan began life as the ‘second half’ of my first book, but when I realised how much I was trying to fit in I decided it needed to be a book of its own! Core to this second book is my understanding of how our emotional preparation for physiological birth can be just as important – if not more so – than our physical preparation. 

Our emotional patterns – the habituated stress responses that we have developed from infancy, through childhood and into our adult lives – have huge impacts on labour. (As you can guess, they also have a big impact on our parenting.)

In Beyond the Birth Plan I invite you to explore how your ‘fight’, ‘flight’, ‘freeze’ and ‘fawn’ responses and your unique style of attachment in relationships may play out in labour. 

I share stories drawn from the hundreds of women I have supported in birth, to illustrate how many impactful life experiences, such as loss, grief and abuse, can influence pregnancy, labour and birth.

So, if you’re ready for the next step in your birth preparation, join me to go deeper.

Learn more
'For those who long to heal from a traumatic birthing experience, or for those who hope to avoid one in the first place, this book is an excellent place to begin your birth education. Beautifully written and so bloody useful.'
Clare BowditchMusician and mother
'Rhea’s warmth and wisdom are a sure guide for birthing families.'
Dr Sarah BuckleyAuthor of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
'I love this book, in it Rhea shares her wisdom gathered over many years of working with parents and supporting birth. The book goes beyond the birth and into the often hidden realm of childbirth as a rite of passage. Women’s birth stories are included throughout, providing a deep exploration of the reality of pain and power in the modern birth context. The book offers a holistic approach for parents preparing for their birth journey.'
Dr Rachel ReedAuthor of Why Induction Matters

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The content provided on this website is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or replace individualised medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health.

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