Rhea is a former PE teacher turned childbirth educator, and counsellor and feels privileged to have attended more than a thousand births in hospitals and home settings as a birth attendant as well as connecting with many more women, their partners and support people during birth preparation workshops and personal birth counselling sessions. Rhea has spoken extensively around Australia and internationally and is the author of two books – ‘Birth with Confidence: savvy choices for normal birth’  and the most recent ‘Beyond the Birth Plan: getting real about pain and power’.Rheas thoughtful, gentle voice takes us on a look back over the world of birth from the past 40 years from England to Australia.  How Rheas home births led to her passion into childbirth education and birth attendant work. How home births were parties back in the days! Rhea talks with us about how sadly, in more than forty years of birth work, she’s witnessed an unprecedented rise in unnecessary medical interventions and the development of a culture that, rather than supporting women to birth naturally – physiologically -, is actually undermining them.We discuss the f&@k1ng epidural, as Rhea terms it, and how she feels it has hijacked what labour and birth discomfort means. The ‘thank goodness births’ and what this means for society.And we discuss the importance of what it is we ‘choose’ to focus on when providing childbirth education. Attachment styles and how that impacts how we go into birth. How shame plays a role in how we may or may not ask for help.Rhea leaves us with an oxytocin fuelled story from her book and makes Katie cry! LINKSRhea Dempsey website, courses, books Support the show Produced and edited by Katie James - Support the show via our Patreon page or at BuyMeACoffee Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Then head over to leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website with links to courses and moreRachel's website with links to courses, blogs, books and the collectiveDisclaimerThe information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time.The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content...