Welcome to Great Beginnings. I am so delighted you have found me! My name is Fiona Dill.  I am Bermudian but have spent much time in the UK, returning with my family to Bermuda in 2005.  I am a registered nurse by profession (BSc Hons in Nursing Studies) but after having my children nurtured a new passion for childbirth and parenting.  I completed a Diploma in Childbirth Education  (National Childbirth Trust) in 2003 and taught many groups in the UK before coming home and starting Birth Matters Workshops.  These were originally designed just for first time parents but due to demand I have now included VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) Workshops, Refresher classes and increasingly, I am doing one-to-one sessions with couples in their homes.  These workshops are for all women and their partners who are interested in exploring the options available to them during their pregnancy, labour and birth and understanding the latest research based evidence that can help them make the choices that are best for them and their babies. 

While it is recognised that every woman and birth is different there is great evidence that suggests that there are ways that you and your support team can enable you to have the best chance of a positive, satisfying birth experience, however it unfolds. Please read Katie Berry’s testimonial which demonstrates the truth of this and shows her journey from uninformed birth to informed, supported birth and the far-reaching effects it had on her experience both before, during and after the birth.  For over 16 years I have worked as a birth doula and supported over 450 couples during that time. It has been an extraordinary privilege to watch couples become families, women find a strength they never knew they had and to support partners work hard to be present and available during such an incredible experience for them both. Hard as it is, I know that it is finally time to retire only returning to support my returning clients. Thank you to everyone who has allowed me to be part of such a sacred and intimate space.

I could have done none of this without the constant support and encouragement of my husband, Nick who is the Anglican Bishop of Bermuda.  We have been married for 32 years and have six children! I am also delighted to say that I am a proud grandmother of Esme, born 15th May 2020 and Florence born 28th May 2022. My husband has helped me through each of my six birth experiences both here in Bermuda and the UK and is a very involved parent and grandparent, despite being a busy Bishop! My family are now used to pregnant women and their partners coming in and out of my house, seeing my birth charts and doll and pelvis lying around in the sitting room and all are aware of what it means  for me to be ‘on-call’ for a birth.  You will also notice that many of the parenting articles are based on my own family situations and challenges. Great Beginnings is truly a family experience – I hope you enjoy it!

On my website you will find information on the various Childbirth Education (Birth Matters) Workshops and classes that I offer here in Bermuda to give your family a great beginning. I am passionate about helping all women and their partners achieve a positive birth experience and feel confident about being parents.  My aim in all I do, is to offer support, practical skills and up-to-date information to help you make informed choices for you and your baby and have an empowered birth experience however it unfolds.

There is no one right way to give birth and it is important that you have the resources  to make the best choices for you.  As I am privileged to have attended over 450 births at the hospital, I have firsthand knowledge and experience of the options that are available there. Also available on the website are Parenting and Birth articles that I have written for the Royal Gazette and I have gathered information about other related websites, that I think are particularly good, that might be useful to you in your birth and parenting journey.

Lastly, you will find information here about the work I support in Sierra Leone, where the maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world.  I love the idea that women giving birth in Bermuda, who go through Birth Matters can have a direct impact on families in Sierra Leone. I welcome all your ideas and comments. Enjoy!