http://www.empowermatrescence.com/

Emma Snelgar - EmPower Matrescence, Perth (2026)

25/03/2026

Published!!

This is a paper that I wrote in 2024 when I did my postgraduate diploma. My brilliant lecturer Dr Anita Moyes suggested that I publish it, and then supported me through the process and co-authored it with me.

It's been a long process - rewriting it into a discussion piece, to submission, edits and then it was accepted for publication in October 2025 then finally published in March 2026, and here it is!!

It highlights the policy gap in Western Australia surrounding birth trauma, and makes recommendations - particularly for where it could count for Child Health Nurses who are receiving women into their care who have been traumatised by their birth. Better identification and referral pathways could make a big difference for so many women and families.

Will it change anything? Probably not! But hopefully it starts a conversation.

I tried to screenshot it to put the whole thing in, but it's too big for an Instagram tile. If you would like to read it in full shoot me a DM with your email and I'll send you a copy! Or you could look it up because I have a doi with my name - wild!

DOI https://doi.org/10.33235/jcyph.7.1.4-8

But guys, I'm published in an actual academic journal!! Beyond excited is an understatement.

Big thankyou to the Journal of Children and Young People's Health for seeing the value and publishing this discussion piece.

Yay!!

26/02/2026

I've had women tell me that following their traumatic birth they saw either their regular therapist or a therapist not trained in birth trauma and felt dismissed or invalidated.

It's not because that therapist didn't care - not at all. It's because birth trauma is niche and has so many layers to it.

Healing birth trauma isn't about reliving every detail. It's about understanding what or why certain things might have happened and why it still hurts, how your body responded, what you needed but may not have received, and the ongoing impact that it has on your motherhood experience.

When birth and trauma knowledge come together, something shifts. There is relief, validation, and space to breathe again.

If you have tried other types of support and didn't find it helpful, or are struggling to find the right type of support, please feel free to reach out. X

26/02/2026

Better late than never, right?

2026 has been off to a great start, and it's only getting better.

Tuesdays I'm at The Village Wellness Centre and you can book that here if you prefer a clinic space, and I'll be offering all my usual services https://thevillagewellnesscentre.com.au

Thursdays and some Fridays I'll be offering home visits or online appointments, which you can book through my usual links.

Mondays and Wednesdays I'm working with Genocare providing psychosocial support for those who get unexpected or distressing results when going through the genetic screening process. This is, surprise surprise, another area in which women have been left in the dark with no emotional support whilst navigating this journey and is an area I'm loving working in. You can read more about them here https://www.genocare.com.au/

And if you're not sure what you need, you can book an obligation free chat through my website to talk it through. I look forward to supporting you 💜🦋

www.empowermatrescence.com

04/09/2025

Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling (NDPC) is a Medicare-funded option that gives you the space to talk through any and all pregnancy-related concerns in a safe, supported and confidential way.

This includes birth outcomes and early mothering experiences, which are a direct result of pregnancy and why women up to 12 months postpartum are eligible.

You may have never heard of it before - I hadn't until I began exploring my options in how I can better support the women I work with - and there's a good chance your GP wouldn't have heard of it either! But it is there available for any eligible woman who needs it.

It is a great option if you need some quick support, and because it's not a mental health care plans, that option will still be available to you afterwards if you want more ongoing support.

I offer NDPC online and if you're in the Perth metro region, in-home. If you have any questions - please reach out 💜

12/08/2025

POV: You’re a maternity care professional working with newly postpartum women - maybe a lactation consultant, postnatal yoga teacher, postpartum doula or physiotherapist - and a woman opens up about her birth being difficult or traumatic.

You want to help… but the right words don’t come. You don’t want to minimise her experience, but you also don’t want to overwhelm her.

That’s why I’ve created a gentle, non-sweary version of my original guide “My Birth Was F*cked and I’m Not OK”, rewritten so you can confidently share it with the women you care for.

It’s called:

“My Birth Was Really Hard and I’m Not OK – A gentle and honest guide to dealing with the aftermath of a difficult or traumatic birth.”

This is a 24-page, practical, and compassionate resource that:

👉Validates her experience (in case no one else has)
👉Explains how trauma can show up after birth
👉Gives gentle next steps she can take right now
👉Lists where and how to get more help when she's ready
👉And so much more

Here’s how you can use it:
I’ve made postcards with a QR code that link directly to the free guide. Keep them on hand. When a woman opens up, simply say:
"I have something that might help you make sense of what you’re feeling" - and hand her one.

It’s a small act for you.
It can be a turning point for her. 💜

Send me a message if you would like some.

16/07/2025

My Birth Was Fcked and I'm Not OK: A gentle and slightly sweary guide to dealing with the aftermath of a difficult or traumatic birth.

This guide is for you if you’re still reeling, maybe even still bleeding, and still trying to figure out what the hell just happened... all while trying to keep a tiny human alive.

I made this guide because I know how brutal it can feel in the days, weeks, even months after a traumatic birth. When everyone thinks you should be "over it," but your body is still healing and your heart is still broken.

You won’t find a five-step recovery plan or fluffy affirmations here. Just real talk, gentle support, and a reminder that you’re not crazy, broken, or alone.

This is for the mothers who aren’t okay and need someone to say, “What happened to you matters.”

Grab your copy here and it will be delivered straight into your inbox↩
www.empowermatrescence.com/mybirthwasfcked

27/06/2025

I'm so excited to *finally* announce that I have my Medicare provider number and I can officially offer some Medicare rebates!!

I can now offer the Medicare item Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling, and women who are pregnant through to 12 months postpartum are eligible for a rebate for up to three sessions.

Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling is a space for you to talk about anything to do with your pregnancy or postpartum (including birth).

Two of my services would fit under this umbrella - my Healing Birth service for birth debriefing after a difficult or traumatic birth, and my Holding the Mother service, for a broader opportunity to talk about anything within your postpartum experience - if you're having a difficult time in your matrescence or transition into motherhood, you have breastfeeding or sleep trauma, you're struggling with a lack of support - anything you need to talk about.

What you’ll need: a GP referral for Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling, using the item number 81010 for an in-person home visit, or 93026 for a Zoom appointment.

The current Medicare rebate is $70.85 per session. Sessions are paid in full at the time of booking, and after each session, I’ll provide you with an invoice you can submit to Medicare to claim your rebate.

If this sounds like the kind of support you’ve been looking for, I’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me a DM.

You're not alone in this, and support is here when you’re ready.

20/06/2025

Sometimes the biggest shift begins with a quiet moment of being heard.

Sharing your story - especially after a traumatic or overwhelming experience - can feel vulnerable. But in the right space, with someone who listens with empathy and without judgment, it can also be deeply healing.

I also want to say this: for some, the experience might feel too overwhelming to speak about - even in a safe space. If this is you, please know there’s no rush. Your silence doesn’t mean you’re broken. Sometimes, not talking is a form of protection, and that’s okay too. There are still ways to begin healing, gently and at your own pace.

If you're carrying something heavy, you don’t have to hold it alone.

10/06/2025

Have you ever felt like your birth story wasn’t something you could share?

Maybe it felt “too much,” “not traumatic enough,” or like no one would understand. Maybe you tried once - and felt dismissed, or worse, judged.

This is the reality for so many women who carry the invisible weight of a birth experience that left them hurt, confused, or alone.

When birth doesn’t go how we hoped or needed it to, it can leave wounds - not just physical, but emotional and spiritual too. And often, these wounds come with shame.

Why shame?
Because somewhere along the way, we were told:
– “At least your baby is healthy.”
– “It’s just how birth goes.”
– “You’re lucky - it could’ve been worse.”
– Or worse still, we weren’t told anything at all.

We internalise these messages and begin to question ourselves.
Did I fail? Did I overreact? Should I be over this by now?

This is how shame grows - in the quiet spaces where our pain feels unseen or invalidated. But shame doesn’t belong to you.

🦋Being truly listened to - without interruption, without fixing, without judgment - can be incredibly healing.
🦋Validation is powerful medicine.
🦋It’s not about re-living what happened - it’s about having your experience seen, heard, and honoured.

You don’t have to explain or justify your feelings, and you don’t have to carry this alone.

As Ann Voskamp reminds us, “Shame dies when stories are told in safe places.”

If you’ve been holding your story quietly inside, know that you are welcome here -exactly as you are.

My Healing Birth sessions are available for anyone looking for support through this, link in usual places. Medicare rebates will also be available very soon.

13/05/2025

Welcome to the Peer to Peer support scheduling page.

07/05/2025

Hypervigilance is where the brain and body is constantly on alert, is extra sensitive to your surroundings, and constantly feeling under threat.

It can really impact sleep, and when sleep is already so precious, it can really mess with you. Lying in bed at night when baby is fast asleep and you know you should be too but you just can't.. It's exhausting. It's overwhelming. I've been there.

Hypervigilance can stem from anxiety and some other medical conditions, but also can be a sign that there is trauma present.

Speaking to your GP is a great place to start if you feel like you need some support. Getting a full blood screen to rule out other health issues (like a thyroid issue) can be really important, as well as addressing your mental health concerns.

If you are struggling with hypervigilance or any else at all, please reach out to someone. You do not have to struggle alone.

Some helpful numbers if you're not sure who to speak to:

For When 1300 24 23 22
Panda 1300 726 306
Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758

24/04/2025

Birth trauma can feel incredibly isolating - especially when it’s not recognised by the systems meant to support you or by the people closest to you.

When your experience isn’t named or validated, it can feel impossible to make sense of what you’re feeling, let alone to find the right support.

Awareness is growing - slowly (so slowly!) - but not fast enough for the many who are living through this right now, quietly wondering if they’re the only ones.

If this is you, please know that you’re not alone.
You deserve to be heard, supported, and cared for.

Please reach out if you would like to know more about how I can support you.

Emma Snelgar - EmPower Matrescence

25/03/2026

26/02/2026

26/02/2026

04/09/2025

12/08/2025

16/07/2025

27/06/2025

20/06/2025

10/06/2025

13/05/2025

07/05/2025

24/04/2025

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