Katie Allen Postpartum Doula

11/10/2025

If you are thinking about becoming a doula but not sure this webinar tonight is a great opportunity to hear all about what the work of a birth and postpartum doula involves and it’s hosted by my incredible trainer - Carolyn from Doula Beginnings

Register via the details below

Don’t miss out if you are ready to take your passion for supporting families to the next level!

Join us tomorrow at 6pm for 'The Doula Difference: From Comfort to Confidence'—a must-attend, interactive webinar for anyone considering birth or postpartum doula training.

Discover how doula support transforms birth and the early days of parenthood, and see the difference your care can make. We’ll share real-world insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice to help you step confidently into your doula journey.

Are you ready to make a difference? Register now!

https://doulabeginnings.myflodesk.com/vhuxj6ugfw

10/10/2025

Today is World Mental Health Day and like all aspects of life, our mental health in parenting can be a journey of highs and lows. Not everyone loves being pregnant, has those overwhelming feelings of love when their baby is born and then we through in the toddler tantrums, childhood and teenage years there is a lot to test us and our mental health.

Tonight I want to remind you that there is always someone who can listen and share the load if you feel that you need some help. Organisations that can help include:

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💓 .org.au
💓 - for current serving members and veterans
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Local services include:

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💓 - they are now in Ipswich
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And sometimes the best way to help protect our mental health is to talk to other parents. Playgroup and mothers group have always been this space for me but I know that this isn’t the case for everyone. These groups are a chance to share, laugh and take that deep breathe and think it’s not just me feeling like this.

Mental health is different for everyone of us but in the words of Strictly Ballroom:

“𝘈 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥”

So if problems are weighing on you try reaching out to one of these organisations to have a chat and share that problem.

08/10/2025

I love seeing positive stories about home and water births in mainstream media.

Check it out

Australian actress Teresa Palmer has shared intimate pictures from the water birth of her fifth child.

08/10/2025

As a professional and as a mum, my first source of information for anything related to breastfeeding is the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Every client receives information about their Helpline and Live Chat and a reminder that 24 hours a day, there is a trained volunteer at the other end of the line waiting to help you as you navigate breastfeeding.

But at the moment the annual funding that has been proposed for 2026 isn’t enough to help ABA support Australian families. So if you have ever benefited from support, now is your time to send an email to your local Federal MP and let them know how important this service is. All you need to do is click on the link below, use the email template and maybe share how ABA has helped you. The more personal stories our MPs get the better.

If you can do this it will be much appreciated.

We have one big goal: 7,000 emails to MPs.

So far, over 900 emails have been sent.

Help protect the Helpline & LiveChat that received over 57,000 calls/chats from breastfeeding mums and their families last year.

Every single email counts and yours could make the difference.

📩 Email your MP today. It takes just 2 minutes but could protect years of vital breastfeeding support for breastfeeding mums across Australia: aba.asn.au/helpline-funding.

07/10/2025

Today I had an unexpected day off and with the kids back to school 💃🏼💃🏼 and the temperature expected to hit 35 degrees I hit the swimming pool. After a long school holiday break, filled with big emotions and hormones, some swimming was what I needed. I got in the pool and swam 1.3km and it felt good. I had so much fun that I’m now trying to figure out how do I make this a weekly thing.

For a long time (over a decade), I didn’t put myself first. I wasn’t looking after me. I was talking to clients about self care but not following my own advice.

This year there has been a huge shift in me. I don’t know if it has to do with Master J starting school or I’m finally getting the message. But this is why I keep sharing my self care journey, because I want you to see that everyone is learning. No one has it all together and figured out.

So while I swam today, I enjoyed letting go of everything and feeling the sun on me and starting to understand the meaning of we can’t pour from an empty cup. My reminder to you, this Tuesday night is self care doesn’t have to be a big thing, like swimming, It is whatever makes you happy.

My challenge to you is to find time between now and Sunday to do something just for you. Share your ideas below and we can cheer each other one.

03/10/2025

Yesterday I had the absolute delight to meet Sarah from .pelvicphysiotherapy, who has just started her new business. Sarah is a women’s physiotherapist and what makes her so amazing is that she is going to be doing client visits in your home. Yes you read that right!

Now you can get the care that you need in pregnancy and postpartum in the privacy and comfort of your own home. No finding care for kids or worrying about getting kids into the car, the care you need comes to you.If you are looking for a women’s physiotherapist and live in Ipswich and Brisbane reach out to Sarah to make an appointment. For all of my clients I will be sharing Sarah’s details with you.

I’m very excited to see the impact Sarah will have for women and love what happens when women support each other and think outside the box.

Knock them dead .pelvicphysiotherapy

01/10/2025

This morning I showed up for me! My wonderful PT .females.ipswich has just opened Ipswich’s First Ladies gym and each week I do a class at 7:15am after I drop Miss S to school. But today was holidays and I had no reason to be in Ipswich but for me. So when my alarm went off early, I nearly hit cancel and went back to sleep, but I didn’t, I got up and went I’m doing this gym class for me. So once lunch boxes were made because it’s a work day for me and I headed out and moved my body. Afterwards I felt really proud.

Showing up for myself is something I’m still learning—like so many women—but I want my kids to see what self-care looks like. The bonus? I’ve had so much more energy today!

We’re all at different stages of parenting, and what showing up looks like will change over time. Be kind to yourself and don’t compare.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽.

25/09/2025

If you need something to make you laugh today this is it. It’s also a great reminder of why children should be included in all parts of pregnancy and childbirth if we can.

It was also a great reminder for me of a story involving Mr H when I Was pregnant with Master J. For Master J we had decided to not find out if we were having a boy or girl. So this conversation played out with his family daycare mum when he was 3 years old.

Family daycare mum: Mr H what’s mum having?

Mr H: She’s having a baby. We won’t know what it is until after it comes out her va**na and went back to playing.

Just like the child in this story a straight and matter of fact answer.

I would love to know your kids funny pregnancy and childbirth stories or if you are a teacher what you have heard.

The “Middle Wife”

(As told by a second-grade teacher)

I’ve been teaching for about fifteen years, and while I’ve heard hundreds of stories in my classroom, nothing — and I mean nothing — compares to this one.

Like most kids, my second graders love show-and-tell. Usually, it’s harmless stuff: pet turtles, baseball gloves, seashell collections. I don’t put boundaries on it. If they can carry it in and explain it, it’s fair game.

One morning, a bright, confident little girl named Erica waddled to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. The kids perked up immediately. Then she held up a photo of a newborn baby and proudly announced:

“This is Luke, my baby brother. I’m going to tell you about his birthday!”

And with that, the performance began.

She explained:
“First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love. Then Dad put a seed in Mom’s tummy, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.”

(At this point, she’s patting the pillow belly and I’m biting my lip, praying for a camcorder.)

She continues:
“Then, a couple Saturdays ago, Mom started going, ‘Ohhh! Ohhh! Ohhh!’”

Erica clutched her back, did a full-on duck walk across the room, and groaned dramatically. The other kids watched, wide-eyed and speechless.

“Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn’t have a sign on her car like the Domino’s man. They got Mom to lie down like this—”

She flopped against the wall to demonstrate.

“Then, POP! Mom had this bag of water in there, just in case Luke got thirsty, and it exploded everywhere like pssshhheeeew!”

(She’s now miming water spraying all over the classroom carpet. At this point, I’m trying not to collapse in laughter.)

“Then the middle wife kept saying, ‘Push, push! Breathe, breathe!’ They started counting, but they didn’t even make it to ten. All of a sudden, my brother came out! He was covered in yucky stuff from Mom’s play-center. I think there are lots of toys in there.”

The class gasped. Erica wasn’t done.

“And when he came out, the middle wife spanked him—for crawling up in there in the first place!”

With that, Erica straightened her sweater, gave a deep, theatrical bow, and sat down like a seasoned Broadway actress.

Needless to say, I applauded the loudest.

From that day forward, I made a new rule for myself: on show-and-tell day, I always bring a camcorder—just in case another “Middle Wife” story shows up.

24/09/2025

Some very helpful tips to help navigate biting with your baby. The wet face washer was my favourite teething trick for our three but I didn’t know the pushing your baby in closer.

Hopefully these tips will help anyone navigating this stage.

Help! My baby has his first two teeth and he has started biting when I breastfeed. How can I stop him biting or will I have to wean him?

24/09/2025

Remember anywhere anytime!

Thanks for sharing this picture of Kiara Bowers. Such an important image to remind women that breastfeeding happens in all places



Actual super mum 💪🏼

Kiara Bowers with 21 tackles & 23 disposals during the game to breastfeeding her son straight after 💜