Maenam Doula

27/12/2024

2025 dates for Choices in Childbirth!

Come along to meet a few of the Canberra Doulas and find out more about all of your options for pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Education is power!

23/10/2024

During the second session of HypnoBirthing we talk a lot about how important it is to be aware of not only what goes IN our bodies in terms of nutrition, but what we put ON them matters too.

For those of you looking for a cleaner soap option, look no further than …. I buy in bulk and get 5kg of their off cuts at a time! This saves $ and I also get to share with friends and family. Win win!

They also include handwritten notes in your order…I love feeling that connection when you open up the box. 🥰

20/09/2024

I’ve recently begun my Body Ready Method Pro Training course….learning all about alignment today. I am so excited to bring my newly acquired knowledge and tools to the women I’m supporting in pregnancy and birth!

29/08/2024

I had my first postpartum visit with a lovely family in Dickson yesterday. They’ve just welcomed their second child and Mum is looking for some support once a week now that Dad is back at work. I brought over some red lentil and sweet potato dahl and bliss balls and then spent a good amount of time preparing food for the family. Mum was looking for some easy bite sized snacks to have on hand because she’s breastfeeding and ravenous! Zucchini slice and a sweet and spicy nut mix should do the trick. 👌 🥰

13/08/2024

There are a few spots left in my group HypnoBirthing classes starting tomorrow night at 6pm in Kambah!

Don’t miss out! Join me to learn how you can prepare your MIND and BODY for a calm, confident and empowered birthing experience. It’s your baby’s entrance into this world and your birthing day, you deserve to be informed and prepared 🥰

11/07/2024

03/05/2024

If you've worked with me in the past, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave me a Google review! Thanks so much in advance xx

Post a review to our profile on Google

19/02/2024

Whipping up some insanely delicious bliss balls for a few of my Mamas I’m visiting this week. Now I have to try not to eat them and keep my own little one’s hands off before my visit!

14/11/2023

~ Akshoo’s Birth Story : Part 2 ~

After labouring for a while, my membranes released just after 2am while the midwife was in the room and my partner saw the membranes come out intact and then break with a gush. The pushing sensation increased dramatically after this. After my arms couldn't hold myself up anymore, I moved into a side lying position to breathe my baby out. I was able to feel her head with my hands and breathed through the final pushes, birthing her head in two surges and then the rest of her at 2.52am.

I was able to get skin to skin contact immediately while the midwives waited for my placenta to be delivered physiologically. Unfortunately, I started to hemmorhage after quickly delivering the placenta. While the doctor stitched me up, they estimated I had lost 2 litres of blood and called the theatre to let them know I need to go under general anaesthesia to investigate if there were any issues further up they couldn't identify in the Birth Suite. I handed our baby to my partner as they wheeled me away and I returned back to the ward 2.5 hours later. During that time my partner was able to have skin to skin and feed baby colostrum I had collected antenatally. When I returned to the ward and put my baby on my chest she immediately started breastfeeding which was a relief.

HypnoBirthing made a huge impact on my birth. During my time in the Birth Suite I could hear other women screaming as they birthed. However, I was able to calmly breathe through my birth and use my energy when I needed to. Despite the challenges after the birth, I didn't feel scared or uncertain, but instead I was aware of all my options and confident in what I was doing. Even the midwife who sat next to me in the room as I pushed commented on my breathing and could tell that I had done a HypnoBirthing course. I would highly recommend HypnoBirthing to all soon to be mums, especially first time mums!

The timing of the course spread across 5 weeks ensured that there was plenty of space to practice between sessions. Erika was gentle and kind, and able to explain new concepts well and take us on the journey.

14/11/2023

~ Akshoo’s Birth Story : Part 1 ~

At 40+6 I woke up at 5.30am and noticed slight cramping that came and went. I assumed these were signs of early labour and figured I would be meeting my little girl in the next few days.

I spent the day doing tasks around the house and finalising the hospital bag. During this time the cramping continued so I started timing and tracking them on my pregnancy app. They were 5-15 minutes apart depending on what I was doing at the time.

We headed to the hospital for our postdate appointment and baby and I were monitored on the CTG for half an hour during which time it detected uterine contractions. When the midwife conducted the cervical exam she let me know that I was already 6cm, which they'd usually only expect of someone in active labour. The midwife gave me the option to head home, but given I hadn't felt the surges that got me to 6cm I decided to stay on the ward even though home was only a 15 minute drive away.

My partner got me comfortable in the room and headed home to grab a few last minute items. He got back to the hospital at 9pm by which time I was feeling more intense surges but still not in the way they had been described to me (movements from the top to the bottom of the uterus). Mine were quite low and across my lower back. As soon as these increased in intensity I instinctively moved onto my hands and knees and practiced my surge breathing. I stayed in this position for a few hours till around 11pm where they increased in frequency to 3 minutes apart.

I started feeling the urge to push so my partner pressed the yellow call button which got several midwives rushing to the ward to move me over to a Birth Suite room. I stayed on my hands and knees as the surges got stronger. My partner sat on a chair near the bed as I clenched his hands and breathed through them. With the rush into the room we didn't get a chance to set the scene but I was able to have some white noise in the background. However, I was in my own head and not aware of what was happening around me much. I was physically exhausted from being on my hands and knees and occasionally drifted off.

02/11/2023

For hire: Postpartum Doula. Will wear your baby for you so you can have time for YOU without a baby strapped to your chest!

Both of my girls loved being close and at times it felt like they lived in the carrier. It was wonderful, but exhausting. If I had known about postpartum doulas when I had my first I would have hired one for sure! If only I knew then what I know now….my postpartum periods would look very different.

10/09/2023

The Connected Mother circle seriesWe are not made to mother alone. It’s time to reconnect. Rediscover the power of motherhood in communityA three-part series for mothers to connect with themselves and each other. It’s your space to be present, heard, held and to belong.Starting on Sunday 8th Oct...

17/08/2023

Last session with my beautiful mums and their birthing companions tonight.
We’re diving into the final act of birth and bonding!

And yes I’m holding a breast and very excited about it 🤣

We’ll discuss the first feed after birth and the importance of self attachment as well as the 4th trimester and how to prepare as best you can. 🥰

10/08/2023

From the Birth Time team... "There is currently a New South Wales Parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma - it's big - the first of its kind. Originally, only people from NSW could share and submit their story, but now everyone from WITHIN AUSTRALIA can send their birth trauma stories to the inquiry. This all needs to be done before August 15 - so this is an URGENT request to everyone.

No matter where you live, send your story about a traumatic birth you have experienced or witnessed - including obstetric violence - which means not just from obstetricians, but from any type of birth worker.It can be simply two sentences, an opinion or your experience or a story you know of.
The more birth trauma stories that are submitted the louder it will become for parliament to get the TRUE story.If the inquiry does not receive many stories and Submissions, it will show them that birth trauma is not a major problem and, therefore, it needs no recommendations for changes to prevent it. We know different. Our voices need to be heard. Please, if you have experienced a traumatic birth or know of anyone who has, submit your story before this Friday 11 August."
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/listofcommittees/Pages/committee-details.aspx?pk=318

I also highly recommend the teams other great work, including the Birth Time docs and this recent recorded evening event about women's birth experiences in Australia https://www.birthtime.world/event-the-best-results

09/08/2023

Why would you not hire a doula?!

Parenting: How parents can benefit from doula support during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Review of evidence from 16 recent studies.

08/08/2023

All ready for my birthing parents to arrive…diving into Module 4 tonight!

We’ll be discussing:
•How do you know it’s real labour and not practice surges?
•What to expect during the thinning and opening phase
•Arriving at your place of birth & setting the scene
•Birth Companion’s role
•Labour comforts
•What to do if labour slows/rests
•Labour misconceptions
•Options to consider before accepting augmentation
•Hallmarks as labour advances
•Birth rehearsal imagery

My next HypnoBirthing International group class begins 17 October at Transform Parenting in Kambah!