Fiona has been a shiatsu practitioner for several years and now specialises in maternity care after completing post graduate training with Suzanne Yates. She is also currently training with Janet Balaskas to become an Active Birth teacher and is also training with Pam England to become a Birthing from Within mentor. Fiona is also embarking on becoming a La Leche League leader so is able to offer insights into successful breastfeeding.
Fiona draws on her diverse interests and training as well as her own personal experience of birthing her two children at home in water, and is offering birth preparation for couples, both as regular 3 hour workshops or as personal 1:2:1 sessions.
Using her varied skills and experience from various disciplines, Fiona introduces and teaches many ways of preparing for birth and the workshops are an enjoyable way to learn skills and techniques for pain relief and emotional support.
These birth preparation workshops offer insights into how to be actively involved in the birth process and focus on how the birth partner can support and assist the labouring mother. They include simple Shiatsu massage techniques, acupressure points for pain relief, birth positions, breathing and visualisation. These can be very effective in supporting birthing women both physically and emotionally.
Birthing partners that Fiona have worked with have commented on the usefulness and security of receiving a set of tools they could use to help support the mother, and to be able to be more involved in the birthing process.