Caitlin Dyer is an expert on thriving throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As a Mother, Registered Nurse, Certified Hypnobirthing Practitioner, and Qualified Postpartum Doula, she trusts in women, physiology, and birth. She trusts that you can birth and parent your baby in a way that feels good for you - but she also knows that trusting yourself can be tricky, and can take time.
Caitlin’s goal is to help you understand what YOUR version of a positive birth is and to help you realize that. She provides the information and tools you (and your partner) need to feel in control of your birth, as well as support, guidance and reassurance throughout. Essentially, she’s there to convince you that you can do it! Birth holds power, but so do you!
Where do you find peace in nature?
In the water. Preferably the beach but any water will do! I was a competitive swimmer from about age 8 to age 20 and the water is still my happy place. Even though a pool is not technically nature, I have found my way back to swimming and love doing laps a few times a week. I find the rhythm and the monotony of it so comforting.
And yes, I had a water birth!
What were the breadcrumbs that led you to your career?
Primarily my own experiences.
I took hypnobirthing when I was pregnant with my first, loved the course, and had such a positive birth experience. When the opportunity came up to become a hypnobirthing practitioner I knew I had to do it...I want more parents to feel really proud of themselves and to start parenthood on that high! I have been teaching hypnobirthing for over ten years now.
Unfortunately my first postpartum experience wasn't nearly as good as my birth experience. It was really rough actually. In hindsight, I didn't know much about newborns, I didn't know much about breastfeeding, my expectations around life with a newborn were very unrealistic! I was shocked. And I didn't want other parents to move from that birth high to that postpartum low. So I became a postpartum doula and worked in homes supporting new parents for a few years and then transitioned to the postpartum education space.

What is your own experience with motherhood?
This is such a hard question! It's impossible to completely articulate.
My children often show me parts of myself that I am not proud of and that I honestly wish I could just ignore...but I am a better person for being made aware of those faults and for working on them.
I think, as with most things, you get out of it what you put into it.
I try to put a lot into motherhood...but that isn't always easy.
What is on your vision board for modern motherhood?
On my personal vision board is a cleaner! Ha!
But on a more societal level, I want the work of motherhood to be recognised and ideally to be shared.
I would love to see increases in paid leave for all parents, more flexible return to work options, better breastfeeding support both initially and at the workplace, for insurance to cover things like pelvic floor physiotherapists and lactation consultants, and more accessible and more affordable childcare options.

What is a meal you’ve been nourishing yourself with lately?
Beans alla vodka - https://carolinagelen.com/beans-alla-vodka/
With crusty bread and some greens on the side.
Healthy, hearty, and the whole family loves this meal.
Plus I usually have all the ingredients in the pantry and it only takes about 20 minutes to make.
If you try it, don't skip the balsamic drizzle on top!
What are you currently working on or focusing on in life and career?
I'm actually focusing on doing less. I've been doing this work for ten years and lately I have been feeling really burned out. So I am trying to step back...not from the actual work of teaching but from all the other things that come along with owning a small business. I'm trying to cut myself some slack, not compare myself to others, and enjoy what I have rather than always striving for the next thing.

How can we all connect with you?
I love connecting with those in my community so please do get in touch!
I am MotherDownUnder on FB and IG. Every Monday on IG, I do a Q&A which is a great place to get general birth and postpartum questions answered.
My website is www.MotherDownUnder.com and my email is Caitlin@MotherDownUnder.com