More than a Midwife

24/08/2025

I get asked this question a lot. Which breast pump should I get?

The first question to answer - what are you using it for? Are you planning on pumping a lot, or the occasional, where will you need to do it - at home or out?

It’s helpful to have parts that are customisable, as the right fit will improve the output.

You often get what you pay for also.

22/08/2025

What a sad day for the birthing community.
However, the impact you left will keep you alive forever. 🩷

We are saddened to hear news of the passing of Michel Odent, whose vision and writing reshaped the way we understand human birth.

Michel Odent reminded us that birth is not a medical procedure to be controlled, but a primal rythm to be respected. He advocated for home-like maternity units, warm water births, protecting the birthing woman's privacy and honouring her instincts, undisturbed contact between mother and newborn; he was among the first to discuss the importance of the microbiome, and question many of the practices that had (and have) become normalised in overmedicalised maternity systems globally.

Michel Odent's legacy lives on in every dimmed, quiet birthing room, and in every midwife his words and work inspired to join our profession.

Thank you, Michel, for your passion, vision and committment to women and newborns.

Photo: Xavier Caré / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA

21/08/2025

For all you new mummas xx

👶 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆! 👶
Spots fill up very quickly, so don’t miss out!

We’re inviting Townsville’s newest little residents and their families to a heartwarming celebration at our 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆. Each participating family will receive:

🌱 A native plant
📜 A personalised certificate
🎁 A gift bag full of baby goodies

This special event is held in conjunction with the NQ Babies & Kids Expo, so you can enjoy market stalls, entertainment, and more after the ceremony!

📅 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
📍 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺
🕗 Sessions at 𝟴.𝟯𝟬𝗮𝗺, 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟭.𝟯𝟬𝗮𝗺

✨ These ceremonies are incredibly popular and places are limited - secure your spot today!

👉 Register and find out more: https://bit.ly/3VYedB1

17/08/2025

Say it louder .dahlen

16/08/2025

What happens in Sydney, stays mostly in Sydney 😅🩷

15/08/2025

Midwifery isn’t easy. Not when we are really good at it. Not when we use the best evidence to support the education we provide and the care we give. Not when you support women in their power to make decisions that feel right for them!

We will not be broken. We will rise together.

27/07/2025

Celebrate your breastfeeding journey for world breastfeeding week 😍🥰🩷

Join us for a fun breastfeeding photo shoot

26/07/2025

Why do kids shout “Mum!” when Dad is standing right there... doing nothing...
while Mum is halfway through dinner, folding laundry, answering a work message, and thinking about school lunches?

Because somewhere along the way, Mum became the default.
Not just the nurturer, but the knower.
The finder of things.
The rememberer of birthdays, appointments, socks that feel right.
The one who can sense the fever before the thermometer reads it.
The one who holds it all — even when she’s not holding anything physically at all.

And most of the time, she does it without being asked.
Without being seen.
Without being thanked.

Because she knows no one else will.

This post isn’t a complaint. It’s a mirror.
A moment of truth for every mother wondering why she feels so tired, even when “nothing big happened.”

It’s because the weight isn’t visible.
But it’s there.
And it’s real.

To the mother making five decisions in her head before she even opens her eyes...
To the one who can’t remember the last time she sat down without being touched, asked, needed, or interrupted...
To the one who answers “Muuuum!” even when she’s running on empty —

I see you.
And you’re not alone.

Tag the mum in your life who answers the call before anyone else even hears it.
And if that mum is you — send this to yourself. You deserve to feel seen.

I know this because this is me. I have found myself going WHY ME! several times today alone.

*Note this is not about partners/husbands/supports not doing enough - because there are some super amazing partners out there - I am pretty lucky to have one. But, this is still so real for so many of us! So please, this is not complaining that we need anything. But to simply acknowledge the mental load of being a mum. The constant MUM... that happens.

24/07/2025

In this video, I discuss the new VitalTrace device, a continuous scalp lactate monitor that measures fetal lactate levels rather than oxygen levels. It's crucial to clarify that high lactate levels indicate fetal compensation in low oxygen situations, not necessarily distress or harm. While this dev...

23/07/2025

Heard the word asynclitism during labor and felt overwhelmed?
Here’s what it actually means — and why it doesn’t mean your body is failing.

Asynclitism is when your baby’s head enters the pelvis at an angle, instead of straight on.
It’s super common — and often part of the body’s normal dance toward birth.

The head may be tilted slightly to the side (ear toward shoulder), or the crown might not be the first part presenting. This angle can make descent and dilation take longer, because the head isn’t applying even pressure on the cervix.

🤍 But here’s the part no one tells you:
Asynclitism doesn’t mean something is wrong.
It just means we might need to give your baby — and your body — more time, space, and support to figure things out.

How You Might Know It’s Happening:

Irregular or very strong contractions with little change
Back pain or pelvic pressure that doesn’t feel symmetrical
Exhaustion from a labor that’s not following a predictable rhythm
Being told your baby is “high” or “not engaged” yet
A sense that something just feels off

What Can Help:
🌀 Changing positions (side-lying, hands and knees, lunges)
🌀 Rebozo or belly sifting
🌀 Staying upright and mobile if possible
🌀 Bodywork during pregnancy (osteopathy, chiro, myofascial release)
🌀 Patience. Space. Support.
🌀 Reminding yourself: your body is not broken — your baby is just navigating

Final Message:
If you’re in labor and hear the word asynclitism, here’s what I want you to know:

You didn’t do anything wrong.
Your baby is still working with you.
And with the right support, many babies rotate beautifully on their own.

Birth isn’t a straight line — and your body doesn’t need saving.
It needs space to do what it knows.

Save this post for your pregnancy prep.
And if you want care that helps you feel informed before you’re in labor — I’m here.
DM me to chat about what your options could look like.

18/07/2025

Birth trauma isn’t rare - 1:3 women in Australia describe their birthing experience as traumatic, and approximately 1:10 birthing partners will also feel the effects of birth trauma.

It’s just not always recognized.
Or worse — it’s dismissed as “a healthy baby is all that matters.” And this is the story we are often sold.

Trauma doesn’t only come from emergencies.
It comes from being ignored.
Dismissed.
Rushed.
Cut open without consent.
Touched without explanation.
Told to stay quiet when every cell in your body was screaming to be heard.
Not given the alternative options.

If you walked away from birth feeling broken, confused, or silenced — that wasn’t your fault.
You didn’t fail.
You were failed.

Birth trauma can happen in any setting.
It’s not about strength or weakness — it’s about how you were treated.

You deserve to talk about it.
You deserve to name it.
And most of all — you deserve care that centres your voice.

This week — and every week — I’m here for honest conversations.
If your birth still echoes in your body in ways you haven’t been able to explain, you’re not alone.
My DMs are open, always.

We see you.
We hear your stories.
We are here to fight for empowered birth experiences.

Held in trust. Born in power.

13/04/2025

Let’s be honest — birth support isn’t always about doing more.
It’s about doing the right things.

If you’re a partner, support person, or dad-to-be wondering how to help… start here:

💛 Stay present.
💛 Don’t take over.
💛 Be her calm, not her coach.

And here are 5 things that actually help in labour — straight from a midwife who's seen what works:

1. protect the space 🚪
2. offer comfort without asking ✋🏻
3. hydration and snacks 🍶
4. match her energy 💕
5. remind her she is safe 🛡

💬 Tag your birth support person.
📌 Save this for your birth prep.