Getting To Know Calmbirth Educator Lee Swift

21/03/2023 Lee Swift

I love stories. Reading them, watching them, listening to them. I even love singing and dancing them. I especially love birth stories. I’m excited to have the opportunity, through Calmbirth, to help you start your own birth story. Investing in a Calmbirth course will provide you with the knowledge, confidence, and tools that you need to be the author of your birth story. Calmbirth will also give you the ability to handle any plot twists that may come your way. To learn more about the course click on the following links What to expect and Why Calmbirth?

Let me tell you a little of my own story…

I became fascinated with pregnancy and birth when I was a nursing student. My good friends were having their first baby and they invited me to sit in on an antenatal appointment. The moment I heard that baby heart beat I was hooked! I returned to university to study midwifery as soon as I could, and I’ve not looked back. I love working at the local hospital and meeting new parents and their babies, witnessing part of their birthing story and the beginning of their parenting journey. I’m absolutely delighted to be able to work closer with couples though Calmbirth. I love talking about pregnancy, birth and caring for little people and I often get teased by my husband, and business partner, for talking about birth when I am supposed to be serving in our shop, and from my children when I stop wherever we are to admire babies and pregnant bellies and ask questions of both little people and parents.

I live with my husband David, our four daughters, a whippet, and a tabby cat. We live in a home full of music, singing, dancing, laughter, and love…along with the noise that goes along with navigating the needs of young (and young at heart) adults, and little people.

Life is busy but there are some highlights in my week that I always look forward to. I always enjoy my dance class (gotta love those endorphins), I help lead at my local playgroup (which combines my love of singing, dancing, reading and little people all at the one place!) and volunteer in the music and kids ministry at my church.

When listening to birth stories I often hear about the negative experiences (everyone loves to tell you their horror story right?) but this didn’t match my own experience of pregnancy, labour and birth and I spent years puzzling why this was and searching for what I could do to help people have a positive experience like what I had. When I heard about Calmbirth the pieces came together and I knew that this was a way that I could make a difference. Empowering women and their partners to work with their birthing journey to create the best birth for them. Changing the negativity to joy one birth story at a time.

My Calmbirth classes are taught in a private room in my home with a maximum of three couples per class. If my scheduled day time classes don’t suit, please contact me to arrange evening classes.

I look forward to meeting you and hearing your story.

Lee.

My name…Lee Scott.

I work…Launceston General Hospital as a midwife, at Wholesome House Mowbray as an all-round assistant supporting my husband, and as a Mum of four girls (this is my favourite job… made more enjoyable by being able to have some time out at my other jobs).

My life in five words…busy, chatty, funny, music, prayerful.

The best thing about where I live is…its beauty. Tasmania really is a beautiful place to live, and Launceston is a small enough city that it doesn’t take long to leave it behind and get into nature.

What I do to relax when I’m not working...my favourite way to relax is going to a dance class or production rehearsal. I can completely switch off the work brain and truly be in the moment. I also love disappearing into a good book or watching a movie with my family.

I can’t live without…my four daughters. I love having all the pieces of my heart with me.

The person or traits I most admire is…authenticity and commitment.

What I love most about being a Calmbirth educator…being able to pass on knowledge.

If I had to describe my own birth experiences in 3 words….empowering, unique, exciting.

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

Faith in your body that you can birth your baby,
a safe space,
and a good support team (which can look different depending on what you need).

My most memorable moment as Calmbirth® educator…hearing that a couple achieved the birth they wanted! They started the course unsure about how their birth would go, or what they would be allowed to plan for (as they had had 2 previous caesarean sections), and over the four weeks of classes they made a plan, had it signed off by an obstetrician, and then went for it confident that they knew what they were doing. Hearing about their birth was a huge moment of joy too (I literally danced for joy in the lounge room) and I felt honoured to be a part of their journey.

If I had to describe how seeing a baby being born makes me feel…awestruck. Every time. I love how our bodies have been designed.

A favourite quote…“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’” Jerimiah chapter 29 verse 11.

This verse gave me the reassurance and hope I needed when pregnant with my rainbow baby.

You can follow me at…calmbirthwithlee on facebook and instagram

My next Calmbirth courses are:

May 5th to 12thMay 26th to June 2ndJune 26th to 30th

I have a private, comfortable space that suits 2 to 3 couples so you can be assured of personalised care. I have set aside most Fridays to teach (weekends are busy with the kids!) and look forward to meeting you.