South West Doula

01/04/2022

Attending some online breastfeeding education today (for IBCLC pre-examination requirements) looks like this 🤪

22/03/2022

19/03/2022

Happy Friday!!!!

This weekend is going to be GORGEOUS☀️

Get outside 🌳, open the windows🪟, get some fresh air💨 or even go for a walk (it will likely end in this⬇️🤣)

12/03/2022

11/03/2022

I feel this often. I am keenly aware of a post I made one Christmas captioned "all I want for Christmas is some personal space". It was quite popular, funnily enough.

Motherhood is feeling all “touched out” but craving cuddles when your baby is asleep.

It’s feeling so loved and yet so suffocated, unable to breathe under all the demands and the needs and push and the pull.

And it’s literally being wrapped in joy, hope, laughter and the biggest warmest hugs ♥️

Art by
Growupbrite

02/03/2022

I have been thinking a lot about self care lately. Not the glitzy glamorous "treat yo self" kind that is often promoted.

But the kind where I have to do hard things. Or have hard conversations. The type where it's not easy, can be overwhelming and you often want to give up.

I'm working really hard at self care this year. Not putting off or procrastinating my health. Not avoiding it. Regularly going things that promote health.

It can be really hard in the baby stage to prioritise self care, but it doesn't have to be complicated. And it doesn't have to be grand. Here's a few small things you can do for yourself in the name of self care.

01/03/2022

Culture tells us that bedsharing is unsafe and puts babies at risk for SIDS. But is this true? Let's dive into the science of safe sleep to learn more.

06/02/2022

I love delayed/optimal cord clamping! It's also super beneficial and really important for premature babies too.

LOOK AT THAT CORD!!!​​​​​​​​
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'At the moment a baby is born, a third of their blood is still outside their body. If you delay cord clamping for 90 seconds they get 60% more blood cells. They get enough iron to last them through the first year. They get white blood cells to fight infection. They get antibodies. They get stem cells to help repair their body." - Dr Alan Greene​​​​​​​​
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Delaying clamping the cord is great; what is even better is Optimal Cord Clamping - which is waiting until the cord stop pulsing and turns white. If both baby and mother is well there should be NO RUSH to cut. There are so many incredible benefits for your baby adding this to your birth preferences. ​​​​​​​​
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Incredible Photo by ​​​​​​​​
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04/02/2022

Now I am not saying any of these things are not helpful or needed, I have a number of them myself.

But... You and you're baby actually need very little in the begining. And how good would it be if companies left us alone and we were able to get what we truly need during our pregnancies. Preparation, education and support are some of the most invaluable things you can get or be given as you prepare to bring your babe into the world.

Truthfully, there were a number of items that I had sitting around for months before I could use them, or I found I didn't use at all! And once I brought my baby home and unpacked my birth, there was so much I realised I didn't know and wished I had before I had given birth that I might have had a smoother transition if I'd prepared better.

All these other helpful and handy things can be purchased/borrowed/gifted when we actually find we need them.

01/02/2022

Did you know in Australia you can generally expect at least 10 -12 visits with health professionals throughout your pregnancy! And that's an uncomplicated one.

By contrast you will generally only have 1, maybe 2 postpartum visits following birth.

I don't know about you, but when I left hospital with my first baby I felt wildly unprepared to take a little one home and then when it became clear that things weren't working well, it was really hard to find the right support.

This is why I believe it is essential to have a good postpartum plan in place before your baby comes. If planning your postpartum period is still on your to-do list, get in touch, I'd love to see how I can help you!

27/01/2022

School holidays are (essentially) over and I'm ready. Ready to nurture and support new mums.

If you'd like support as you enter your sacred postpartum period, now is the time to book in.

Contact me for my package list or to book a discovery call ☺️

19/01/2022

Hello lovely people. I am still here. We've had a very quiet and reasomnably uneventful Christmas and New Year period. It was nice. It's hard to believe the holidays are but a couple of short weeks away from finishing and my eldest starts kindergarten!

I supported a lovely client over the Christmas period but otherwise I have been pretty inactive over the holidays. Which has been nice...

BUT it's time. It's time to serve birthing and postpartum women who increasingly are finding themselves without help and support due to current restrictions. It's time to put my fears and insecurities aside about what I have to offer and offer it!

I want to know though, what sorts of things would you like to see offered? What questions do you need answered? What content would you like to see covered?

Here's to you and the next year ❤️