Last year I travelled to Uluru. As normal, I love to find out about traditional birthing rites and traditions of the cultures in the areas that I visit.

I found a story from Jilpia Nappaljari-Jones particularly interesting. In it she describes how the “Grandmothers and other designated women attended births, they gave physical and emotional support such as holding and massage to the labouring woman”. Jilpia explained that in her culture, this was designed “to remove fear and fear is responsible for so many prolonged and complicated labours.” I found it so intriguing, that they were well aware how fear impacted normal birth.