Calmbirth and She Births® are well-respected childbirth education programs but differ in their approach, content, and philosophies.
Here’s a comparison of the main differences:
1. Foundational Philosophy and Approach:
Calmbirth:
Calmbirth focuses on the mind-body connection, particularly the role of the mind in influencing the birth experience. It emphasises relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and visualisation to help parents feel calm and confident during birth. The program is rooted in understanding the physiology of birth and how to support the natural process through a calm mindset.
She Births®:
She Births® offers a holistic approach, integrating various tools and techniques beyond just the mind-body connection. It combines yoga, acupressure, massage, nutrition, and the latest scientific research. It also emphasizes the role of both parents, providing comprehensive support for the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of childbirth and early parenting.
2. Course Content:
Calmbirth:
The course content primarily focuses on breathing, relaxation, and visualisation techniques. It educates parents about the physiology of birth and how to create a calm environment, both mentally and physically. Calmbirth also touches on practical birthing positions and the birth partner’s role.
She Births®:
She Births® offers a broader curriculum that includes relaxation and visualization techniques as well as practical skills like yoga, massage, acupressure, and body-based birth practices. It also covers nutrition, mindfulness, and even postpartum care. The course is designed to be highly customisable, allowing parents to use the best tools.
3. Hypnosis and Visualization Techniques:
Calmbirth:
While Calmbirth uses visualisation and relaxation techniques to promote a calm mindset, it doesn’t expressly incorporate hypnosis.
She Births®:
She Births® includes hypno-visualizations as a critical component, with a unique body-based approach developed by Nadine Richardson. These techniques are designed to support the body’s natural birthing process by holistically integrating the mind and body.
4. Support for Birth Partners:
Calmbirth:
Calmbirth includes the birth partner in the process and provides them with tools to support the birthing person, but the focus is mainly on the mental and emotional aspects.
She Births®:
She Births® strongly emphasises the role of both parents, providing extensive resources and tools for the birth partner. The program ensures both parents feel empowered and prepared for the birthing experience and early parenting.
5. Scientific Validation:
Calmbirth:
Calmbirth is evidence-based, with research showing positive outcomes such as reduced intervention rates and increased satisfaction with the birth experience.
She Births®:
She Births® is the only childbirth education program that claims to be scientifically verified. Research supports its effectiveness in reducing intervention rates, increasing positive birth outcomes, and enhancing overall satisfaction.
6. Customization and Flexibility:
Calmbirth:
Calmbirth is generally structured with specific techniques that all participants learn.
She Births®:
She Births® offers a broader and more flexible curriculum, allowing parents to pick and choose the techniques that resonate most with them, providing a more
personalised approach.
In summary, while both programs aim to empower parents for a positive birth experience, Calmbirth focuses more on the psychological aspects of birth, particularly through relaxation and visualisation. At the same time, She Births® provides a more comprehensive, holistic toolkit that includes physical, emotional, and spiritual preparation, with a unique emphasis on both parents’ roles.
She Births® vs. Calm Birth: Embracing Empowerment and Transformative Birth Experiences
Expectant parents have many options when it comes to birth preparation. Two popular methods, She Births® and Calm Birth, offer distinct approaches to childbirth, each grounded in its unique philosophy. As a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and a believer in the transformative power of birth, I find highlighting the differences between these two approaches essential. Understanding these distinctions can help parents-to-be make informed decisions that align with their values and birth aspirations.
The Philosophy: Empowerment vs. Inner Calm
She Births® is more than just a birth preparation course; it is a holistic approach that empowers women and their partners. Founded on the belief that birth is a sacred, transformative experience, She Births® offers a comprehensive toolkit that addresses childbirth’s physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. The method encourages women to connect with their inner strength and intuition, embracing their bodies’ powerful potential to birth naturally and confidently.
In contrast, Calm Birth emphasises cultivating a deep state of inner calm and relaxation. It draws heavily on meditation and mindfulness practices, helping parents-to-be access a tranquil mindset that can ease the intensity of labour. Calm Birth teaches that by creating a peaceful internal environment, women can reduce stress and anxiety, leading to a more harmonious birth experience.
Techniques: Holistic Integration vs. Focused Relaxation
She Births® is known for its integrative approach, combining various techniques to support birthing. From yoga and acupressure to breathwork and visualisation, She Births® equips women with practical tools to navigate labour’s physical demands. The course also emphasises the importance of birth partner involvement, providing them with the skills and knowledge to offer practical support.
Calm Birth, on the other hand, centres its teachings on specific meditative practices. It introduces parents to guided meditations designed to foster relaxation and mental clarity. These practices are intended to be used throughout pregnancy and labour, helping women maintain a serene state of mind as they bring their babies into the world.
The Experience: Transformational vs. Tranquil
The She Births® experience is often described as transformational. By empowering women to trust in their bodies and their ability to birth, it creates a sense of agency and strength that can be life-changing. The course also encourages women to embrace the unpredictability of birth, teaching them how to stay grounded and resilient, no matter how their labour unfolds.
Calm Birth offers a different kind of experience—one of deep tranquility. For those who resonate with meditation and mindfulness, Calm Birth provides a pathway to a peaceful birth. The method helps women focus inward, creating a calm mental space that can soften the intensity of contractions and bring a sense of peace to the birth process.
Conclusion: Choosing What Resonates
Both She Births® and Calm Birth offer valuable tools and philosophies for birth preparation, but they cater to different needs and preferences.
If you seek a holistic, empowering approach that integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual practices, She Births® may be the ideal fit. On the other hand, if you are drawn to the idea of cultivating inner calm through meditation and mindfulness, Calm Birth could be the path for you.
Ultimately, the choice between She Births® and Calm Birth should be guided by what resonates with you and your vision for birth. Both methods honour the beauty and power of bringing new life into the world, and whichever path you choose, it will be one that supports you on this incredible journey.
In this blog post, I’ve sought to encapsulate the essence of She Births® and Calm Birth, reflecting on how each approach can uniquely serve expectant parents. By understanding the distinct philosophies and techniques behind these methods, you can confidently choose the birth preparation that aligns with your desires and aspirations.
We are proud to offer the world’s first and only scientifically verified childbirth education program, with 98% of our mothers describing their birthing experience as beautiful.
Founded in 2008 by Nadine Richardson, a seasoned mother, prenatal yoga instructor, and doula, She Births® was born out of the need for a comprehensive course that truly supports both parents through birth and early parenting.
After extensive training in various modalities, Nadine recognized their limitations and created the most holistic antenatal education available. For the past 15 years, couples have been empowered to create their own beautiful births using our diverse range of tools and techniques. While over 97% of families engage with all our methods, they often find personal favourites along the journey, benefiting from our broad toolkit.
Our course has included hypnosis and calming techniques from the very beginning, but what sets us apart is our body-based approach. Birth, after all, happens in the body—not just the mind. We offer a variety of hypno-visualisations for pregnancy, birth, and early parenting, all uniquely developed by Nadine as part of her Body-Mind Integration Technique.
Explore our full curriculum here and sign up for our Free Holistic Pregnancy Guide if you haven’t already.
For any further questions, feel free to call us at 1300 101 SHE (743).
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