My Story

Pregnancy (Round One): Flying Blind
Hi, I'm Daria: military wife, former primary school teacher, and mum to two amazing little humans: a spirited 6-year-old girl and a sweet, cheeky 3-year-old boy.

When I was pregnant with my first, I was working full-time right up to 38 weeks. My version of baby prep? A few trips to the good old Mothercare and a weekly pregnancy yoga class. I didn’t know what I didn’t know — and figured I’d just go with the flow.


Birth: The Classic First-Time Experience
I ended up having what many might call a “typical” first-time hospital birth: early arrival, constant monitoring, talk of induction, a very long labour, and the dreaded “failure to progress.” My baby was back-to-back, which meant brutal lower back pain and a lot of fear. I was pushing on my back, panicked, and felt completely out of control.

Breastfeeding didn’t come easily either. I struggled but I was determined to do it all by myself. It was a tough, lonely start to motherhood.

Pregnancy (Round Two): A Whole New Mindset
With my second baby, I knew things had to change. I leaned into hypnobirthing, protected my space, and made a plan to heal better in postpartum. I promised myself I’d slow down, ask for help, and trust my instincts more.

Birth: Calm, Empowered, and Supported
And oh, what a difference! I birthed my son (not “delivered” - birthed, with strength and intention) surrounded by calm energy, affirmation cards lovingly read out by my husband, a Spotify playlist, and my breath. That’s it. No panic. Just power.

I stayed in bed, skin to skin, while others cared for me. No pressure to bounce back, no pram walks or visitors. Just peace. And my baby thrived.

Postpartum: Creating Space to Heal
This time, I gave myself permission to rest. I stayed close to my baby, let others help, and didn’t rush into the world. I actually loved my postpartum experience; it felt soft, safe, and sacred. And that made all the difference for both of us.