‘The initial twelve hours was ok pain wise because I had lots of pain relief from the surgery, thank goodness but the restriction in movement, a catheter and being bed ridden with a new tiny baby was not easy at all.’
Read More
‘I’m usually a morning person and can’t wait to have breakfast, but on this day I felt a bit odd. The cramps wouldn’t go away, so I decided to just have a bit of water and hold on with breakfast until later that morning.’
Read More
‘So in honour of Birth Trauma Awareness Week, I thought I would share what I have learnt from having a traumatic first birth with my son (trigger warning for this post - please read with care). I wasn't a doula six years ago and I truly thought having a relaxed, go with the flow attitude was a good thing to do. It wasn't.’
Read More
‘The decision to be induced is truly, the most important part of the process. Often missed out completely with women thinking that the induction isn’t a choice. Firstly, induction is ALWAYS a choice, even if the medical reasons are very real, everything to do with your body and your baby are your choice. It may not always be presented like a choice but it is.’
Read More
‘The pool was amazing and allowed me to get on my hands and knees during contractions. I was sick at one point but I remember telling Jenna I felt like I was at the spa with the water and my twinkly lights and affirmations everywhere!’
Read More
‘So exhausted parents all over the world, feeding their babies, cuddled up in bed, feel that natural urge to fall asleep together and some do. In lots of cultures it is common place and considered completely safe and in others it would be seen as neglectful to sleep separately from your child. And in others it is used to actively promote healthy development. So where did our fear of co sleeping come from?’
Read More
‘It’s not easy to relax on demand is it?’
Read More
‘What I personally love about home birth is that you’re keeping all of your options open.’
Read More
‘So with everything that’s going on right now and it seems it might get a bit worse before it gets better, I thought I would share some calming techniques with you to counter the stress you might be feeling.’
Read More
‘But what no one ever really talks about is the joy. Of sleeping together, the closeness, the oxytocin, the snuggles, the reassurance and the safety.’
Read More
‘For eight years I’ve been in the pre school trenches. I’ve been pregnant or breastfeeding for most of it and I’m just used to having little ones at home. Motherhood for me has been so life changing and transformative, it’s kind of obliterated whatever was before them. Yes I’m still me but I have learnt so much having my heart explode, twice.’
Read More
‘Women are deeply sensitive to the attitude of their caregivers, and this should not be underestimated.’
Read More
‘But I can't step in, I can't take it away,
the only way to learn the incredible journey of motherhood is to live it’
‘I forgive you for not knowing all the things you didn’t know in those early weeks, months and years as a mother. ‘
Read More
‘I know the system is letting you down. Midwife means ‘with woman’ and I see how this has been taken away from you, how you have been stripped of the very reason you would have got into midwifery in the first place, to be with women.’
Read More
‘When Spud started pre school I knew I was going to listen to that Mama gut of mine (why do we ever doubt it?!) and I had an idea...’
Read More
‘I’m celebrating five years as a doula this month so I took a trip down memory lane…what a journey!
Here’s a 150 things I’ve done since becoming a doula…’
Read More
‘Birth is a physiological AND emotional process. Simply put when your oxytocin levels (the love hormone - think how you feel when you’re really happy - that’s oxytocin) are high enough that your contractions can start... your baby will begin making their journey earth side. So how do oxytocin levels get high? You need to feel joy and lots of it.’
Read More
‘...we can plan and plan and plan but we just can't know... and not knowing needs to be part of the plan too. Finding a way to be ok with that is important. Antenatal prep should be more about finding your voice to speak up when your intuition is giving off warning signals, helping you let go so you can ride the waves of motherhood and grounding yourself into a calm space so you can handle the overwhelm.’
Read More
‘Accepting that, while there might be magical moments, birth may also be surprising and, at times, even mundane, we can begin to have a more realistic view of what is ahead of us. In fact, it’s pretty good practice for parenthood! Having some plans in mind but accepting that there will be much we can’t control sets us up brilliantly for our mothering journeys too.’
Read More