Natural Beginnings - Holistic Health, Bodywork & Doula Services

02/04/2026

Switching off for 3 days of Vipassana silent meditation in the Blue Mountains. Happy Easter everyone. See you on the other side of tranquility. 🧘🏼‍♀️

02/04/2026

It’s terrible that this still happens to women during birth in hospitals. When 1:4 women have a history of sexual assault, obstetric violence should not be an added trauma when women birth their babies in hospitals. Men would never be expected to have a prostate exam for hospital admittance so why is this expected of women?! Well done to the woman for seeking justice and compensation which will hopefully set a precedence in Australia!

🚨🚨🚨 In a landmark case, an Australian woman is awareded $275,000 in negligence case after she was coerced into an exam during labor.

The woman's birth plan stated she only consented to exams as medically necessary. However, when she arrived at triage in labor, she was refused admission, care, and any pain management unless she consented to an exam.

Many people experience medical coercion and it's an uncomfortable and often traumatic experience. However, when one is IN labor, navigating one of the most vulnerable experiences of their lives, the lack of autonomy and control makes forced exams potentially life altering.

The supreme court of Victoria, ruled the forced exam to be battery, assault, and medical negligence. By not providing care unless a one allows an exam is coercion by withholding care.

This landmark case has the potential to change maternity care, something many can't wait to see happen.

Everyone deserves informed CONSENT, autonomy, and rights - being in labor does not negate the right to consent and autonomy.

Do you think this case will impact maternity care in AUS? Does it have the potential to impact maternity care globally?

Consent always matters, labor or not.

01/04/2026

✨🙏🏽✨

Sometimes the simplest practices can have the biggest impact.

Placing your hand on your heart while taking slow, deep breaths can calm your nervous system, release oxytocin (the love hormone), and signal to your brain that you are safe and supported.

Try this the next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed — it only takes a minute, and the effects can be profound.

31/03/2026

🌿🥰🌿

27/03/2026

Whale birth! 🐋❤️

18/03/2026

Life lessons of a doula.
I’d love to hear yours!

16/03/2026

Last week I had the pleasure of facilitating a crystal bowl sound healing journey for a woman who had come to me depleted with adrenal exhaustion (and stuffy sinuses!).

I lay her on my massage table and placed 7 of my crystal bowls underneath the table - lining each up with her chakras, and played the bowls so that her body was enveloped in these angelic sounds for an hour.

Here is her testimonial…

I have a couple of spots available before the end of March and am offering 10% off. Comment below and I’ll get in touch to book you in to my clinic in Caringbah South.

16/03/2026

Last chance today to book!
https://www.doulaconference.com.au/virginia.html

There is a long lineage of women tending women with plants. Roots, leaves, flowers and seeds gathered, brewed, infused and offered with care. In this rich and practical session, Virginia brings that lineage into the room.

“Using Nature’s Pharmacy to Support Women During Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum” with Virginia Maddock

Drawing on 26 years as a herbalist and 20 years as a doula, Virginia weaves together history, folklore, science and grounded, practical wisdom. You will explore how herbal medicines have been used traditionally in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, alongside contemporary understanding of safety and application.

This is not just theory. Together, you will get hands-on, creating simple remedies to take home. Small, supportive preparations you can use for yourself and, where appropriate, for the women you care for.

Virginia has also been teaching a Junior Herbalist Club for homeschooled children since 2024, and her love of sharing knowledge is woven through everything she does. Her work brings together her two great passions: supporting women through conception, birth and mothering, and the gentle, powerful support of herbal medicine.

Please note there is a $20 materials charge for this session.

Come ready to learn, create and reconnect with the wisdom growing all around us.

15/03/2026

This is Pikachu. I adopted her as a rescue at 7yo, 10 1/2 years ago, after my previous cat Yin Yin died naturally at 17yo. Just like Yin Yin was, Pikachu is a tiny lilac Burmese.

Pikachu was found on the streets of Nowra and picked up by the RSPCA, and a FB friend told me about her because her daughter worked there, so I was able to have her reserved for me while they tried to find her owner. I just had to have her as she looked exactly the same as Yin Yin.

Pikachu healed my heart when it was hurting from grief, and now it is time to honour her life by doulaing her into death, just like I did with her predecessor.

I started death doula training earlier this year so I could be better prepared for when my Mum will pass as she is in palliative care, but it looks like Pikachu will be beating her to it.

I’ve spent lots of time with her in the last week and today we hung out in the backyard together while I read and napped.

People are so scared of the dying process, and vets have such a big influence on pressuring people to put their pets “out of their misery”, that allowing pets to die naturally at the end of their life seems to be a rarity. But I see it as a great privilege to hold space for this love filled being during this sacred transition into the afterlife.

I pat her, stroke her, give her words of love, change her pad when she wets it, assist her weak body to drink fluids (with Australian Bush Flower Essences ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘Lichen’ to help her let go and calmly transition when she’s ready), give her potassium for her hypokalaemia, hypertension medication, and CBD oil, to keep her as comfortable as possible.

She is sleeping a lot with one eye open, and I know when her breathing changes she will be close. I pray her passing will be gentle and full of peace. 🥹😢