Being our first baby, we were nervous and uneducated about childbirth. We went along to the hospital classes and I left the first one in tears as the teacher had frightened me with scary stories and talk of pain, interventions, drugs, etc. I was very anxious and had heard about Calmbirth so after doing some research and speaking to Melanie on the phone (who was very warm and lovely over the phone, instantly put me at ease), we signed up for the classes. We left the first class smiling, feeling happy and armed with information that had been shared in a warm, relaxed environment. The information included the possibility of interventions during childbirth however it did not make this the primary focus. The focus was on the capabilities of a woman's body and how we can go into labour with a calm sensible approach, no matter the outcome. I carried that sense of calm with me throughout the latter stages of my pregnancy and when i did go into labour i am proud to say i was very quiet, focussed and confident throughout the whole 28 hours. A great thing was my husband was happy to speak on my behalf many a time as he too knew our options and the type of birth we wanted and we got just that - a calm birthing experience and a beautiful happy baby.

Approximate cost: $500

I would thoroughly recommend Melanie Cane's Calmbirth classes to anyone who is pregnant. The education was invaluable and helped me to have an amazing drug free birth experience. My obstetrician said that it was so peaceful each time he came into the room that he almost felt like he shouldn't talk. I was fully present to the experience.

I rave about this course and recommend it to my pregnant friends. I was pregnant with my first child and I researched for something to understand more about the birthing process as everything I'd heard from friends, colleagues and family were so scary I thought there has to be a more positive experience out there.

I searched the web and found Calmbirth, and that practitioner Melanie Cane from TLC Birth and Beyond was local to me - it was perfect.
Initially my husband 'tagged' along but very soon he was as engaged as everyone else in the course and we had interesting conversations for hours afterwards.

The knowledge and confidence I gained from the Calmbirth course was invaluable - every pregnant woman should attended these classes, they should replace the ante-natal classes at hospitals with this course. It takes the 'fear' out of the labour and birthing process and clearly spells out what's happening with your body and how you can work with it, not against it.

When we went to our ante-natal classes at the hospital, after the first night my husband and I left shocked and understood why so many women and partners leave these classes scared sh!tless. All they talked about was what could go wrong and what interventions they would do, and assumed that everyone would eventually want drugs. We completed the ante-natal classes and thought of it as the medical perspective and left confident knowing that things could be different.

During the drug free labour of our beautiful son, the midwife made comment 'you're not acting like a woman in labour' and I responded 'sorry to disappoint you'. Whilst we didn't have the 'perfect' birthing experience (Emergency Caesarean) it was still very calm and relaxed.
So many midwives commented on how calm and relaxed our son was during our hospital stay. He is now a delightful nine month-old who is still such a calm and content baby, even when he's unwell.

Melanie's Calmbirth course is the very best thing I could have done to prepare for my birth.

I highly recommend TLC for anyone who is wanting the tools to experience the birth of their child in a relaxed, calm environment.

Approximate cost: $400

I was referred to Melanie's Calmbirth classes by my sister who had done the course and raved about it. I was pregnant with my first child and I feel extremely lucky that I found out about and attended the classes before giving birth. I wasn't frightened about giving birth, however the knowledge and confidence I gained from the Calmbirth course was invaluable - every pregnant woman should attended these classes, they are worth every penny!!! Melanie has a beautiful calm and caring nature and is so experienced in all things birthing. I benefitted hugely from learning about the physiology of the body and how the female body is designed to give birth without the mind having to think about it. My ante-natal classes had touched briefly on these topics but the Calmbirth course delved so much further into them. I listened to the relaxation CDs every day for the last six weeks of my pregnancy and I have really happy memories of that time. I had a wonderful drug-free and pain-free labour and my husband and I both found the whole experience incredibly moving and positive - this is I am sure due to Calmbirth!!! We now have a delightful nine month-old who is such a calm and content baby. Melanie's Calmbirth course is the very best thing I could have done to prepare for my birth.

I called Melanie from TLC because we were interested in the Calm Birth course. I was in my 3rd trimester and was so pleased she was able to fit us in at short notice. My husband and I both benefited immensely from the course and it was the best thing we could have done as preparation for the birth of our first child.

Melanie was caring, knowledgable and the course gave us confidence going into what was a fairly daunting time. The hospital prenatal classes only skimmed the surface and we are so glad we met Melanie and did Calm Birth.

I originally went to TLC to have a pregnancy massage with Charlotte. It was unlike the massages I have had in the past. She is completely set up for pregnant women and has the most comfortable massage table that allows you to lay comfortably on your tummy, while enjoying your massage. Not only was it a very relaxing, comforting massage, but it was clear the moment I walked in the door that the TLC environment was one of support for both pregnant women and their babies. Charlotte is very passionate about her work and that is obvious from the moment I met her.

My husband and I also decided to take the Calm Birth class with Melanie. We took the class over two days and it was the best thing we have done to prepare for the birth of our daughter. Melanie is a true believer in the Calm Birth method and she teaches in a way that naturally just 'makes sense'. I highly recommend TLC for anyone who is wanting the tools to experience the birth of their child in a relaxed, calm environment.

Melanie and Charlotte are very passionate about what they do, and are amazing support for moms, dads and babies. They believe in the natural ability that our bodies innately have surrounding birth and beyond and I am so grateful to have found them both.

My partner and I did Calmbirth with Melanie in preparation for our planned homebirth after a previous traumatic 'emergency' caesarean birth at our local hospital.
After I finished Melanie's classes, I felt confident and empowered to achieve the birth I wanted. I found the follow up support via phone invaluable and she was always happy to chat to me.
She also attended my labour as my birth support doula and was totally amazing. I am proud to say I achieved our VBAC and Melanie helped us get there.

I just wanted to thank you.so, just to say, thank you, and keep up the good work, this is definitely a useful and constructive object.

The Calmbirth classes we did with Melanie were the best thing we ever did for both ourselves and our baby! Her years of experience and her desire to help couples have positive birth experiences, really shines through. We came away from her classes feeling empowered, encouraged, and totally prepared for however our birth experience would enfold.

Approximate cost: $440

Contacting Melanie @Tlc calm birth & beyond was one of the best decisions I ever made. Melanie is a wealth of information and thanks to her guidance and the wonderful calm birth program, I had a dream birth. I cannot recommend Melanie highly enough