‘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‘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‘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‘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‘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‘So slowly over time I have practiced this feeling of FOMO, this shift to not being where I thought I wanted to be, often staying home with the kids while I live vicariously through my friends and their cool insta stories. And it has faded, dimmed, that feeling that I'm missing out. I started to focus simply on what I was doing and all the loveliness in that.’
Read More‘Girls naturally mature quicker and grow up faster anyway but now they are being bombarded with the wrong kind of messages during the soul searching part of their journey, they are having to deal with things they are not emotionally ready for. They are becoming confused and lost. Body image is a BIG issue.’
Read More‘It is impossible for me to support a family in this intimate way without loving them. It’s not like loving your spouse, child or friend but it’s definitely love. It’s an emotional, private, personal and incredibly special time for the family and I get to be a part of it.’
Read More‘Giving someone time says, 'I care about you'. I care what you have to say, what you're feeling, what you're going through and I care about all the little details of your life that you only really hear about when you spend time together and the generic conversation openers have all run out.’
Read More‘Imagine what it would feel like to totally and utterly believe in yourself? Imagine how you would behave in the world? Confident, beautiful, strong, powerful, decisive, life grabbing, fearless.’
Read More'Pregnancy hormones soften the brain and body and allow right-brain activity to dominate. If a woman is nurtured during her pregnancy and allowed to surrender to this state, her whole body will act better during labour. Although medicine can help some women, it also hinders this particular opportunity; because of it's risk-reductive approach to childbirth it keeps women in a left-brain state of mind.'
Read More‘You can't afford to get caught up in all the usual high expectations you have placed on yourself. No, you won't be able to have everything together all the time and always finish that to do list. You won't be able to be the perfect wife, daughter, sister or friend.’
Read More‘I can't beat myself up forever but I can make sure I never feel like that again and so that's what I did. I became a doula and had an amazingly healing second birth. I'm not saying everyone should run out and train as a doula, although the experience has been life changing for me, but I would say, forgive yourself, go gently and get the right support for next time.’
Read More‘Her ‘surge’ passes and she eventually calms down and returns to her Zen-like state. Maybe it was just a tough one. In my relief I briefly think about offering paracetamol as a joke but don’t take the risk. She pads back to the bedroom and I return to Bourne.’
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