Getting to know Calmbirth Educator Heidi Best

A lot has changed since Calmbirth Australia first introduced Educator Heidi Best. We thought it was time to get to know Heidi over again!

Heidi began teaching the Calmbirth antenatal education program in 2018 in Central Queensland through her original education franchise business, CQ BIRTH & BEYOND. Since then, Heidi has supported more than 250 expectant couples as they prepare for labour, birth and early parenthood.

In January 2023, Heidi and her family returned to their home state of Western Australia to be closer to extended family. With the move came a new business name – BEST BIRTH & BEYOND. Heidi is now based in metropolitan Perth, where she continues to combine her work as a Registered Midwife, Calmbirth childbirth educator, Paediatric Nurse Educator & After-Hours Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist at Perth Children’s Hospital, as well as being a Postnatal Doula for private clients.

I work at… Best Birth and Beyond in Perth, W.A. facilitating monthly group Calmbirth antenatal workshop & private workshops on arrangement. I also continue to work clinically in paediatric nursing and midwifery (primarily in postnatal units since 2023).

My life in five words… adventurous – purposeful – loving – holistic – optimistic.

Interestingly, these five words from my original introduction in 2018 still describe me rather well!

The best thing about where I live is… Perth’s amazing beaches and sunsets – and being close to our extended family again.

What I do to relax when I’m not working… spend time with my husband and three children, being outdoors, listening to music, watching movies, catching up with family & friends, visiting my parents’ rural Wheatbelt farm in my hometown of Badgingarra, and playing word games with my youngest daughter on my mobile phone app.

I can’t live without… music, family, friends, laughter, chocolate and a great cup of tea!

The person I most admire is…. my mother – a 79 year old retired rural nurse/midwife & wheat-sheep farmer’s wife. We worked together in international health in my younger years in rural Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa (1998). This was an amazing, life-changing experience we shared. She is my genuine heroine & I am so grateful to still have her in my life.

What I love most about being a Calmbirth Educator… empowering couples to embrace their “labour of love” no matter how their pregnancy and labour/birth journey unfolds. Also, helping shape a change in birth culture from one that was commonly feared or thought of as requiring “management”, into a more positive experience for couples that can be embraced – this is lifelong, positive generational change.

If I had to describe my own birth experiences in 3 words… varied – profound – empowering.

Being a mother of four and having lost our second daughter to a non-correctable congenital heart condition as a newborn, these journeys have taught me that no birth journeys are ever identical – each is unique and will teach us valuable lessons about the woman’s body as an amazing design of our Creator, the miracle of birth and the courageous human spirit – if we are open to learning.

The 3 essential things you need to take with you into labour are…

(1) knowledge & a flexible, positive mindset;

(2) a well-prepared, supportive birth partner/coach;

(3) a giant Ikea bag full of all my favourite birth tools – loads of practical comfort strategies

(yes, I still have a soft spot for a labour TENS machine!)

What has changed most since my original Calmbirth introduction in 2018?

Honestly, probably me! I have more years of clinical paediatric nursing and midwifery experience, more years of motherhood behind me, more years of educating, and more than 250 Calmbirth and private birth/postnatal doula clients who have taught me so much in return. I have a deeper appreciation of how unique every family’s pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting journey can be.

The location of my teaching and my business education franchise name may have changed, but the reason I teach Calmbirth has not. I still love helping couples move from a place of anxiety or uncertainty around their pregnancy, labour and birth towards knowledge, confidence & connection – one family at a time!

My most memorable moment as Calmbirth® Educator… this is a tough one as there are so many! But honestly, I think it is in learning from couples – I have learned that neurodiversity doesn’t just apply to child development, but it is also a factor in a woman’s personal life journey into pregnancy, birth and motherhood. I have learned that neurodiverse women can be amazingly resilient with a very high pain tolerance in labour and birth. I observe women in labour and have been completely in awe of them being able to accomplish quite difficult life challenges, almost miraculously.

A favourite quote… “Speak tenderly; let there by kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well”  ~  Mother Teresa

If you had to describe how seeing a baby being born makes you feel… delighted and emotional! I just love watching the miracle of birth and love helping parents welcome their most preciously created cargo into this world.

You can follow me on social media:  @Best Birth and Beyond (Facebook or Instagram) or email me at [email protected]