Heal birth love

09/05/2021

Here is an offical list of pricing for and description of my Doula Services.
Any questions please don’t hesitate to send me a message and let’s have a chat!

02/05/2021

Attn. Hon Mark McGowan
Dear Premier,
Over the last twelve months, the people of Western Australia have demonstrated resilience and
adaptability to frequent change. For the most part, decisions have seemed reasonable.
But there is one group of people who have been disregarded in policy and decision making.
One group of people who are already vulnerable.
One group of people who until now, have accepted what they have been offered as the best that
could be offered.
But enough is enough.
We have heard you preach over and over again.
Mark McGowan, make it make sense.
People giving birth are permitted ONE support person. And in public hospitals, that person had
to leave after the birth, NOT permitted to return.
We have empty birthing wards.
We have vulnerable people, who have given birth, alone in these wards. In some cases, they
have experienced trauma. In some cases, they are struggling with the adjustment of having a
new baby, sometimes experiencing the onset of PND and other mental illnesses. All
compounded by being forcibly isolated from their support networks.
And the amazing thing is, most risks can be managed and mitigated.
We are asking you to consider our requests. To listen and to truly hear us. This is your
opportunity to ensure support for new parents. To prioritise mental health.
Thank you for reading. And please know, we will not stop until we are heard.


Roger Cook Simone McGurk MLA ABC Perth 7NEWS Perth
9 News Perth10 News First Perth

01/05/2021

30,000 people can attend a football game but only 1 person can support a birthing person and then they are kicked out and the birthing person is then on their own.
Please sign this petition and help Mark McGowan realise how awfully unfair these rules are.

133 signatures are still needed! Allow support for Birth!

27/04/2021

Such a beautiful affirmation set up 🤍

Did you use affirmations during your labour and birth to empower yourself?

I wrote up some like the below, and stuck them on a wall in my home quite a few weeks before my due date. I would look at this wall a few times a day and read my affirmations while doing my stretches. Something I really recommend to all my birthing besties!

16/04/2021

10000% yes.

06/04/2021

You can say no.
You can say yes.
You can ask for more information.
You can say you need more time.
But... you cannot ask for permission. Why? Because that’s not how it works. Your care provider must ask for YOUR permission. Your body, your baby, your choice.

17/03/2021

A doula’s job is not a ‘one size fits all’, we are here to support you no matter your circumstances and choices!

06/03/2021

Very excited to share that I currently have ONE heavily discounted offer up for grabs. This offer is my Prenatal and Birth Attendance Package. The investment is $200 and during our time together there will be 4 prenatal visits where we will work through your birth preferences map, any fears and emotions, and talk through things like pain-coping strategies, birthing and labour positions, breastfeeding or formula feeding options (whichever suits you and your family), as well as care packages of herbal goodies and nourishing food.
You’ll need to be located Perth-Yanchep area, and around or less than 15-20 weeks pregnant. Please flick me a message if you’d like to chat or have any questions!

03/03/2021

When I went to my check ups in my postpartum period for a tear that would not heal, my at-the-time doctor spoke to me about birth control multiple times. Despite telling me to not have in*******se because of the unhealed tear she literally just looked at 🤦🏼‍♀️

I was in pain, struggling with breastfeeding, struggling with PPD, battling the weight of my sons health issues, and yet all I was being asked about was my birth control plan. In all honesty, our child health nurse was a bigger help than my doctor.

The ‘6 week’ guideline is BS. A lot of women do not feel ready to ‘return to normal’ - AKA s*x, exercise etc, after 6 weeks. And that is completely okay.

The postpartum period was a lot harder than I expected. I found it very tough to look after myself. I wish I had asked for more help when it came to dropping off meals for us. Some days the only reason I ate was because I had meals from my doula and mum. I wish I had gotten into counselling a lot earlier. I wish I had reached out for more breastfeeding support but felt discouraged once I was laughed at.

This post is not intended to scare anyone about the postpartum period. The earlier you start planning, the better. This means asking your friends and family members if they'd be available and willing to help you cook and clean when you need it (if their not, you need to surround yourself with better people!). This means asking your partner to be aware of signs that your mental health may need some attention. This means looking into prices for a Women's Health Physio should you need it. This means finding a IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) in your area if you need assistance with breastfeeding.

And this is what has driven me to become a doula. Women need and deserve more support. We are bleeding, healing, feeding, and learning a new normal. We shouldn’t have to worry about cooking, cleaning and sh*tty doctors. You deserve more after growing and birthing another life 🙌🏼

24/02/2021

Hollywood’s Influence on Birth and Fear

If you’ve ever seen a birth scene in a popular movie or tv show, it’s likely that the birthing person (BP) and their ‘support person’ come rushing into the hospital in a big panic, the BP is told to lay on their back, in a room with bright lights, beeping equipment, they’re sweating and screaming, doctors and nurses are rushing in and out, everything seems tense and stressful… seems like a nice birthing experience, right?

If these scenes have panicked you, you’re not alone. I thought that was going to be my reality unless I had a scheduled c-section, because those always seemed a bit calmer. I remember in Year 10, our male history teacher told us birth is actually a ‘very dangerous’ thing, and thankfully much safer thanks to modern day medicine. Ok buddy 🤡

There is certainly a time and a place for the need for medical assistance – my own baby needed it. But for many birthing people, their bodies are perfectly capable of birthing without it. It is often our minds and others’ experiences that stop us (aka, Hollywood, horror stories from your aunty, your neighbour saying ‘just get the epidural!’).

Don’t take this the wrong way – I’m absolutely not shaming c-sections, or epidurals, or any other way of birthing. The problem is, birthing people are often pressured and influenced by external sources to make these decisions. I’m incredibly grateful that I researched my options and found my voice when I was pregnant, because my birth was, for the most part, the calm and blissful experience I hoped for.

Birth is unpredictable, and things may not go the way you hoped, but what’s important is that you’re prepared, confident, and supported no matter your choice. It is YOUR body, YOUR baby, YOUR birth.

Photo by hobbs_birthandfilm (instagram name) with added sparkle to abide by Facebook photo guidelines (free the nip am I right)

06/02/2021

And today on Birth Nerd 🤓
✨Oxytocin & Intimacy✨

Oxytocin plays a very important role in labour, as it is the hormone responsible for stimulating contractions. We also produce oxytocin when we kiss, hug, embrace or have s*x/orgasm - and this is why some Midwifes and Doulas will suggest closeness with your partner during labour, and s*x, or***ms and ni**le stimulation during those last couple weeks of pregnancy in particular (however, for high risk pregnancies, s*x may be advised agaisnt. Always check with your health care team if this is safe for your pregnancy).

An added bonus of or***ms is that it can help strengthen uterine muscles and reduce stress. And, if your partner has a p***s, s***m contains prostaglandins which can help soften the cervix.

If you're having a vaginal birth, after you delivery your baby, your medical team may offer you an injection with Oxytocin to help deliver your placenta quicker. However, if you plan on breastfeeding, allowing baby to latch as soon as they want will trigger a big release of Oxytocin to help build up milk supply, but also to assist the uterus to release the placenta and slowly begin to shrink back to it's original size.

Oxytocin production can be inhibited by stress and emotional discomfort, so this is why it's so important to try and create a birth space that you are comfortable in. This could mean music, water, affirmation cards, dim lights, asking your support person to massage you, and asking your medical team to keep their voices quiet and gentle. You have every right to ask for the birth you desire!

Photo Credit to .Bridgewater on Instagram

01/02/2021

If you’re about to birth, or your newly postpartum, these times of uncertainty can be amplified.

Take a deep breath. Unclench your jaw and loosen your shoulders. You’ve got this. You can do this.

Doulas can still be of service during this time. We can drop food to your door, or chat with you over text/phone. We can help you brainstorm affirmations. We can help you practice breathing techniques.

But you are strong enough to get through whatever is thrown your way, with or without us. I know it doesn’t feel fair, and you’re allowed to feel angry and confused. But you got this, mama. You really do.