A message from Heather:
I sincerely wish I had had this with me whilst I was growing my babies. It would have made an extraordinary difference to my life as a new mother and even for me in my body now. I wrote it so others did not have such trials I encountered in doing what should come so naturally – having easy pregnancies, better births, easy babies and a bonded life with the dads of my children.
‘I can’t believe how the massage and moxa have sorted out the back and neck tension. At this stage of pregnancy to be able to sleep again is amazing!! The baby is moving around now (trying to get into right position) and I feel so much more comfortable. As soon as my husband comes home, he has work to do – and it has completely eased up the back problems I thought were due to just being pregnant. Thank you so much!!! ‘ Carol, Wilston, Brisbane
As an acupuncturist…………………..
When I first graduated, I felt I knew all about pregnancy and was therefore well prepared for it myself. I was confident about all the points to use in any situation – eg. morning sickness, induction, breech, prolonged labour, bleeding etc. Personally experiencing pregnancy and labour did not at all match the theory I had studied. For me, Western medical interventions totally overrode the subtleties I was used to in TCM. At 42 weeks, I was booked in for an induction based on numbers, not mine and the baby’s health, which caused MUCH STRESS. No matter how many theoretical inducing points I used, I needed the emotional support (something not mentioned in my obstetrics classes). The labour was very difficult and again, no amount of TCM theory would help – I needed support and felt helpless in the sterile hospital world of machines. Again, this was not taught during my studies. At this crucial time, we needed practical information, not text-book cases in black and white. (ie. Something akin to ‘What Dad’s Can Do’!) My ideal birth was impeded by time restrictions and both the baby, and myself nearly died. I had a big haemorrhage and went into shock. I told my husband to press Spleen 1, to stop bleeding, which had a strong effect and the Doctor said that saved me from requiring a hysterectomy! The baby was given 48 hours of antibiotics, which gave her thrush and a skin rash and I did not see her for the first 12 hours – so much for bonding! All this was very traumatic – so when I discovered I was pregnant with number two, I had a strong experience of morning sickness. Again, my TCM theory simply had no effect and my nausea would not abate. I was distraught with discomfort and didn’t know why. Luckily, some friends lent us ‘What Dads Can Do’ and I consequently came to see Heather. She suggested the trauma of my first labour was a cause of the nausea, and the invasion of the cold when I was in post partum shock. Of course! I thought. How practical and useful and a simple explanation. Heather cupped my navel, which was very intense but highly effective – unfortunately, something else that we did not learn at college. After the cupping and associated moxa, my nausea subsided considerably. I took Chinese herbs and Kalianna’s Birth Trauma Essences. All were very helpful, but I was still worried about going back to hospital. Our copy of ‘What Dad Can Do’ was very WELL READ. The DVD is so easy to follow – all that moxa and massage – just for me!! Lucy, Brisbane
Yvonne
I’ve been a midwife since 1980. I have practiced midwifery in many different settings. I first met Heather Bruce around 2003 in Brisbane thru the Home Birth Group. I was practicing as a home birth midwife.
Heather is extremely passionate about helping women to birth naturally – and what’s more to enjoy their birth. Her focus is not only on what is best for both mother and baby but also the whole family. Differing to other health professionals, she has incorporated many different health modalities to be able to give all a more complete healing for both mothers and babies: this puts them in a fantastic place of complete health.
Her comprehensive book “What Dads Can Do” is a great tool to help with what, where, why and when you can do to keep mum in optimum health throughout her whole pregnancy into the postnatal period and back into her active family life, to eventual menopause and old age. Below is a list of many different things that I saw as changes in the health of women that Heather and I were caring for at that time.
- Ease with which these women gave birth. ( Women with a history of long slow painful labours giving birth in 2-3 hours or less without drugs for pain relief)
- Correct positioning of baby giving rise to easier births. Better positioning of transverse babies or unstable lie with grand multi para.
- Turning of breech babies ( or easier labours for women who choose to birth their breech babies vaginally)
- Change in symptoms of women with many serious conditions eg Pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnious, oligohydramnious, cholestasis of pregnancy, Gestational diabetes of pregnancy, placental problems like low fetal growth, high fetal growth, twins, pelvic or backache of pregnancy, morning sickness, or nausea thru out pregnancy, essential hypertension. Many of these women improved so much they still were able to birth at home safely.
- Post birth:- easier and safer birthing of placentas. How to stop or control bleeding post birth without drugs.
- Improved healing for any damaged perineums especially for 3rd and 4th degree tears. Outcomes for subsequent pregnancies much better with more holistic healing
- Better outcomes for women with depression, both ante-natallly and post-natally.
- Improved baby and mother attachment leading to much improved health for mother and baby post-natally, better breast feeding etc
To achieve these things it has meant some small changes in practice. No breaking rules of our profession. I spend much more time on diet and lifestyle. I have stopped using cold on perineum’s or breasts. Using heat you achieve great outcomes right when you want them plus better for long term health. Using Moxa sticks and massage on mothers sacrum and back.
Heather runs courses for midwives which help them learn how to be able to assist women to have much more enjoyable pregnancies and births. I have been incorporating different things in my practice, like no cold application at any time, better education about their bodies, better able to understand their bodies, encouraging women to take responsibility for their own and their children’s health, being patient with nature and allowing the women’s body to birth the baby and the placenta themselves. Using moxa sticks and massage and teaching dads to help their partners to achieve the great birth they are wanting to have.
What I have found is, working with Heather’s work, I been able to get a much more enjoyable practice, with giving women a much more healthy pregnancy, birth and post natal period even when working with higher risk women. AND
- Almost zero induction rate,
- 90% homebirth rate with no drugs, (only non pharmaceutical pain relief),
- only occasional tears,
- no episiotomy rate,
- 95% + breast feeding rate,
- minimal 3rd day blues, only occasional post natal depression and by far
- almost 100% women who love their labour and want to repeat it.
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Testimonials to use
Midwives
Heather’s manual gives the couple a sense of empowerment. There is always a reason behind things happening and whilst my training may say otherwise, whenever I have a coupe use her work, often apparently ‘high risk’ problems always reduce, leaving the birth a more likely natural event. The pelvic opening massage and the use of moxa has revolutionized the way labour plays out for those especially previously plagued with structural pain and inability to sleep comfortably. Yvonne, NZ
I was given WDCD by a couple, who had just had such a wonderful pregnancy and birth, so very different from the last two, that they wanted to share it with all as they had finished having their own children. Ruth, NZ
Birth workers
An amazing resource – something for the dads to do to get them involved
Need to be practicing at home before labour, as although it is easy and the dads ‘get it’, mum needs to trust him and his abilities and this comes through home work in the weeks leading into labor. Liz, doula, Brisbane
The most important part of this work is that it is positive. Dad instead of not knowing what to do, has a guide, and can be incredibly useful. When dad has been practicing at home, when in labour he is such a valuable asset as he takes the place of an epidural – they have danced this act before – she trusts him, he knows what to do and it all just flows. Beautiful!!! Liz, Brisbane