Sonja Newton Doula & Massage

08/03/2026

This cord is still full of blood.

Blood that belonged to the baby.

Blood that was meant to finish transfusing back into the newborn after birth.

Instead, it was cut short.

The placenta and cord hold up to ⅓ of a baby’s total blood volume.

That blood carries oxygen, iron, stem cells, and immune support that the baby is supposed to receive in the first minutes of life.

When a cord like this is clamped too early, that transfusion is interrupted.

And the baby simply loses it.

The question we should be asking is: Why are we still rushing the one transfusion every newborn is born waiting for?

This blood belongs to the baby!

Not rushed systems.

Not protocols.

Not “this is how we’ve always done it.”

Not “30 seconds is long enough.”

Imagine interrupting someone’s blood transfusion after 30 seconds and calling it ‘standard practice.’

Babies need their blood!

Photo taken by: Shannon Serrano

𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐙 / 𝐁𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 ©

16/02/2026

Very true! 🤣

😄 How true is this!?!

🌸Leila

📷

31/01/2026

✨ Before I get to comfy in 2026, I thought I had better recap 2025….a year of personal achievement, milestones for my family, and continuing to show up wholeheartedly for my Doula families.

I was blessed to hold 21 families as they welcomed their babes. 13 homebirths, 7 hospital births and 1 cheeky babe who came so fast and as I ran through the front door.

6 repeat families and 8 first time parents. 5 VBACs, 1 ceserean, chosen mid labour by a very empowered Mumma.

Longest gestation - 42+6 weeks
Shortest - 34 weeks
Longest labour - 42ish hours
Shortest labour - 40 minutes
The biggest babe - 4.45kg, smallest - 3.2kg
Longest attendance from me was 52 hours Shortest support - 11 hours.
6 postpartum families, cooked hundreds of meals, and who knows how many massages 🤷‍♀️

I travelled to Tassie for training in Scar Release Therapy and am thrilled with the results clients are getting.

Ella and I travelled with .action.abroad to Nepal in April/May. Ella used the trip as part of her year 12 and I rekindled my love for Nepal after a 20 year hiatus. With pride and sense of purpose I accepted a position on the .action.abroad Board of Directors, and went back to Nepal in Dec/Jan to research women’s health issues and to develop ‘Women2Women’ health programs in partnership with Nepali health providers, professionals and women.

With Michael away for work for at least half of 2025, there were challenges while parenting solo and living an on call life. I couldn’t have got through the year without the kids being so understanding and flexible and my tribe of ‘birthy’ women who always back me, check in and hold me.

2026 has began. I’m humbled to be booked out into September for birth support. I’ll also be building AAA’s health programs and striving to do to my best with the many hats I wear…mother, wife, doula, board member, friend, mentor….and hopefully I’ll do more relaxing, gardening and drinking tea.

❤️

21/01/2026

🌿 Doulas are the specialists in continuous, hands‑on, emotional, physical, and informational support during labor.

Not medical care.
Not clinical decision‑making.
But labor support? That is their entire domain.

Midwives are experts in physiologic birth and clinical care.
Doulas are experts in supporting the birthing person through the process itself.

Their skill set is unique:
Comfort measures
Positioning
Coping techniques
Advocacy support
Partner coaching
Trauma‑informed care
Continuous presence (something no other provider offers)

And the research is rock‑solid:
Continuous labor support from a doula leads to:
Lower C‑section rates
Less need for pain medication
Shorter labors
Higher satisfaction
Better outcomes for parents and babies. No other role in the birth room is trained specifically and exclusively for this.

18/01/2026

Then the day came for me to leave. Thankfully an 11pm flight allowed me time to go slow, say my goodbyes to special people and to enjoy my last Dahl Bhaat meal. To be honest on my final day I felt so much confusion in my body. Wanting to go and see my family, but wanting to stay. A whirlwind 16 days didn’t feel anywhere long enough!

I’d said goodbye to Deki Sherpa, she has become very special to me and I can’t wait to see her again. Laxmi Kumar Rai and Tendi came to the guest house to chaperone me to the airport. Before leaving we completed my final khada ceremony. Featuring the Ashtamangala (eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism) or mantras, khadas are believed to carry blessings from deities and offer protection from negative energies. The offering of a khada signifies a spiritual or social connection between the giver and the receiver. They used on a variety of significant occasions in both Buddhist and Hindu communities in Nepal, one being greetings and farewells. They are offered to arriving guests as a symbol of welcome and to departing loved ones for a safe journey.

Then off we went to the airport, the last time experiencing the tooting horns and weaving in and out of traffic.

As the plane took off I stared out the window, heart aching as I stared at a country that I love and has very much become a part of me. The little lights of the city sparkling at me reminding me of our family Christmas tree…a beautiful symbol of good times, connection, sharing, giving and receiving, love, family and friendship…which is exactly what Nepal is.

🇳🇵

18/01/2026

I had to part ways with the last of the Community Action team as they flew back to Australia. We enjoyed their final dinner with Momo in a little quaint Nepali restaurant. This also marked the beginning to my leaving. The following nights were spent shopping, and sipping milk tea with shop vendors who I had come to know. On my last night I mentioned to Ram and Manuka, who I buy my blankets and pashminas from, that I wanted to buy some traditional material to bring home to make cushions. Menuka excitedly offered to take me shopping into the local market areas to buy some. An offer I could not refuse, we took off together on a shopping adventure, leaving Ram to mange their shop. Menuka took me to a traditional Topi tailor. A topi is the traditional hat that married men wear. The tailor was happy to hear I wanted to buy some material and happily rolled out many many samples of material to choose from. With Menukas advice I chose one that was very traditional….4 metres costing me $12 was a bargain, and will be a pleasure to turn into cushions for the sofa in our pergola.

18/01/2026

I also enjoyed ‘me’ time In Bhaktapur…the concept of me time seemed strange having not really experienced it in years. But I was determined to allow the feelings of relaxing and slowing down to enter my nervous system. I walked the winding alleys, chatted in broken Nepali to market stalls, enjoyed the fun of bartering prices and laughed at the fun and common sales pitches performances that come with it. ‘Okay cheap price for first sale for the day!’ ‘Oh no not possible, okay okay just for you!’ ‘Oh you drive hard bargain!’ I sat in the Durbar Square and watched the locals come and pray, ring bells and take many photos in front of important shrines. Children peering at me from behind parents legs, quickly waving and smiling. Some even been brave to come and chat with me in English. I also found a little 3 storey tea shop that overlooked everything. So I sat with a pot of tea, sun shining on my face and watched the world go by below me. It was a moment of exhale and delight, rest and being totally in the moment.

I meandered through pottery square, analysing the feel of many tea cups in my hand to find the perfect one. A potter watched me for a long time and asked me if I needed help, he laughed when I said I was waiting for the right cup to choose me…I found one that just seemed to fit my hand perfectly and happily purchased it with money Liam had given me for Christmas with the intent of me buying something special for myself in Nepal.

A visit to Bhaktapur isn’t complete without sampling Juju Dhau (yoghurt) which in Newari translates to King of Yoghurt. It’s a traditional, delicious, creamy, sweetened custard, pot set in a clay cup. For 60 rupee it’s a cheap delicacy and so tasty.

18/01/2026

Day 12-16 waking to the familiar sounds of squeaking breaks of delivery trucks, shop roller shutters being opened with vigorous excitement for sales that may come and Om Mani Padme Hum playing over steet speakers, my last days in Nepal were a mix of meetings, stopping to soak in the privilege of being here, sipping milk tea with shop vendors I have come to know well and shopping for my loves.

Supported by Babu Kaji Shrestha from Global Action Nepal and fellow AAA board of director, I met with the Rector (Director) of Women and Maternity Services and Professor of Community Services at a hospital in Patan, as well as the Director of the Kanti Children’s Hospital. We shared lovely conversations about my recognisance trip, AAA focus on women’s health and developing partnerships with the hospitals to enable Australian health workers to travel to Nepal with AAA to undertake observational and sharing placements with both hospitals, followed by experiences in district hospital in Besishahar and then rural health posts and home visits. The conversations were positive and lengthy, with benefits to Aussie and Nepali health workers and the women in local and regional areas. Collaborative partnership and the development of MOU’s based on sharing, learning and empowering eachother and the community were so exciting. While it means a lot of work when I return home I know it will pay off.

18/01/2026

Day 11 Saying goodbye to the group and leaving Bhulbhule was an experience that even days on I find words hard but tears easy.

The night before felt heavy. The community action team and myself were leaving. Our group was breaking up…I don’t like breakups!! My last group dinner, last Dhal Bhaat from Thurong La Guest House, last black tea with milk on the side that Narayan always gets for me at night.

I struggled to sleep. It was like my brain didn’t want to miss a single thing so kept me awake. Like most mornings I got up early, but this time stopped and took in the morning. I stood listening to the sound of the river that had soothed me to sleep each night, I heard the roosters welcome the morning, and watched the dogs slowly wake and begin their morning stretches. I felt the cold crisp air on my face and breathed in deeply before slowly exhaling. In that moment I felt the difference between just being in Nepal and Nepal being in you.

I hung my last Malas on the tree, and went to say my usual good morning to Baje, only this time getting emotional and saying ‘I’m not ready to go’.

Then I saw Narayan and the tears started again. It’s amazing that a bond so strong can develop with someone that you didn’t even know 1 year earlier. My last two trips here have been made even more special for getting to know him. He holds a special place in my heart. I wrapped one of my rebozo’s around his neck and said to him to wear it like a warm hug. Since leaving I have received photo evidence that he is wearing it daily.

After breakfast it was time to leave, but in true Nepali style it’s impossible to sneak out. As time grew closer to leaving more and more locals gathered with their Khadas and gifts of flowers to bless us on our way. It’s a beautiful ceremony to be a part of. It’s spiritual and you feel the love with each Khada received and embrace given. As soon as I saw Narayan in the line I burst into tears. The eye contact between us as he put the Khata around my neck and the embrace that followed said more than words ever could.

Then, we set off on our 9 hour trip back to Kathmandu.

18/01/2026

Day 10 was really special. We went back to the Ngadi health post to spend time with and distribute period packs and some baby packs of clothing and blankets to young mothers. Many underage mothers, of between 15-17 years. This area is an example of where law and cultural practices collide. Marriage is illlegal until 20 across the country however in this area and many other rural areas, young girls are married younger.

It was also lovely that Steph and Chloe from the Architect team joined me to be a part of the day. We have a wonderful group women in Ballarat who make our period packs. Steph came to my house to collect them and she and Chloe (and Annie) carried them over to Nepal in their luggage to be handed to these women. . What a difference they have made to the women they met today.

Working with midwife Sangeeta was a privilege. She was born to be a midwife. She is very protective of the women and works tirelessly for them. She supports most to birth in the health post birth centre where she supports active birth, consent and gives a lot of love and respect to the mothers. I felt very blessed to be invited back to her home for tea and to meet her husband (a Nepalese army soldier) and one of her two children. Being invited into a Nepali’s home is an honour and the kindness bestowed you is something that we rarely experince to the same level in Australia. Sangeeta is a very special woman and I look forward to an ongoing relationship with her personally, and through Aussie Action Abroad.

A lovely way to end my time in the Lamjung region. I head back to Kathmandu in the morning. I feel heaviness in my heart to leave such a beautiful part of Nepal. The last few days have meant saying goodbye to some special people. Tomorrow will be the rest of the group and our guides. Narayan Gurung holds a very special place in mine and Ella’s hearts. It’s been a pleasure to see him while on this trip, and the thought of saying goodbye makes me really sad. We sat and had tea tonight. Something so simple but with so much connection and love. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s not goodbye, it’s see you next time, or in Nepali Phēri bhēṭaulā.

🇳🇵