Melbourne Doula Birth Support - Julie Bell, wise-woman doula & herbalist

Melbourne Doula Birth Support - Julie Bell, wise-woman doula & herbalist A resource for birthing families, designed to be consumer-friendly, offering information, articles, links and contacts.

Visit to find birth stories, how to find a midwife or doula, research, birth & breastfeeding videos, help for birth trauma etc. Education * information * resources * support * caring * a listening ear * personalised to your unique needs * holistic *authentic * professional and personal experience * one to one * heart to heart * honouring you, your family, your journey.

25/03/2026

Birth within the veil.

Jo writes, "I actually listened to the Ancient Gates sound track through my entire labour with her, so beautiful!"

The Ancient Gates sound track is 24 tracks of anointed worship music with readings of key Bible passages; plus a bonus 18 tracks of instrumental-only music to birth by.

πŸ’œπŸŽΆπŸ’œ

Repost .real.blissfulherbs..
Jo's journey to birthing her precious Maggie.

Peace
Privacy
Solitude
Autonomy

Surrounded by Love.

She has the Ancient Gates birth affirmation cards hanging in her birth space, with inspiration quotes based around key words such as:

πŸ’œ Breathe
πŸ’œ Love
πŸ’œ Deep
πŸ’œ Strength
πŸ’œ Dance
πŸ’œ Soft
πŸ’œ Joy

Just beautiful. Congratulations, Jo. Thank you for sharing your sacred journey with the world.

πŸŒΏπŸ’œπŸŒΏ



The hyper-policing of women's bodies, sexuality, reproduction & mother is a characteristic of coercive control in high-d...
25/03/2026

The hyper-policing of women's bodies, sexuality, reproduction & mother is a characteristic of coercive control in high-demand groups.

Repost .real.blissfulherbs..
"Why is your baby so clingy?"
"You're spoiling that baby!"
"You're making a rod for your own back!"
"You need to put him down SOMEtime!"
"She's just manipulating you!"

This is about the "high-need" or "velcro" baby.

The one that wants to sleep on you, not just next to you.

The one that wants to be carried & held 24/7

I didn't experience this until #4

William & Martha Sears, the 'parents' of Attachment Parenting, didn't experience this until #7

But why are clingy babies pathologized in our culture?

Babies are wise. They know what they need.

There are many cultures where it's just normal to carry babies around until they're mobilizing independently.

It's crossed my mind that this particular little baby, somehow *knew* that her beloved mama was in harm's way, and clung to her to somehow protect *her*, as well as herself.

But even worse than unsolicited advice is when it's spiritualitized.

The mother was called up to altar to have evil spirits "broken off" her & the baby, because her toddler being so clingy was getting in the way of the mother participating in church events.

Note they didn't offer more practical support for the mother.

That is spiritual abuse.

It is also an example of how patriarchy seeks to break close bonds between mothers & daughters, and is threatened by attachments & influence that they do not understand & cannot control.

That "coddled" baby is now a superb, sentient, independent young person, still with the wisdom & empathy she had as a baby.

Let's not pathologize - or worse still, demonize - the velcro baby. Instead - support the parents.

In a society sick with separation, this stuff is radical.

Connection. Attachment. Bonding.

Weaving the fabric of community.

The velcro baby is not a problem. It's a canary. Showing us the path to healing.

If you know anyone exhausted caring for a velcro baby right now ... gather around them. Don't try to fix or change anything. Just love them, and be there for them.

πŸŒΏπŸ’œπŸŒΏ


Lotus Birth Kits!These are used when parents opt not to cut the cord at all, but rather, wait until the umbilical cord d...
24/10/2025

Lotus Birth Kits!

These are used when parents opt not to cut the cord at all, but rather, wait until the umbilical cord drops up & drops off by itself - usually around day 3-4.

Each kit includes:

🌿 Two-ply lined drawstring placenta bag
🌿 a packet of Lotus Birth Herbs (Lavender, Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Cinnamon, Clove, Lemon Myrtle, Yarrow etc) - to sprinkle over the surfaces of the cleansed & pat-dried placenta
🌿 An absorbent organic muslin cloth to then wrap the placenta in, before placing it carefully in the drawstring bag
🌿 a Goldenseal Cord Care Kit so you can gently highly antiseptic dab Goldenseal powder around the perimeter of the umbilicus - this promotes drying of the cord & inhibits infection.

I have new stock of Lotus Birth bags coming any day now, but thought I'd post these so you can see what's still currently available.

The first slide is gorgeous satin material - the second is velvet - hard to see in the photo, but it's so gorgeous & soft to the touch.

Did you do a Lotus Birth? How did it go? Please share in comments!

πŸŒΏπŸ’œπŸŒΏ








21/10/2025

I just love her joy!

Would that every birthing woman, regardless of her choices regarding venue of birth & chosen attendants, would be so loved, honoured, supported & respected, that she could give full expression to her joy & exhilaration.

πŸ’“πŸ’œπŸ’“

Ever seen a woman smile through contractions? ✨

This mama was birthing in the shower, surrounded by her midwives, completely in her zone.

When a woman feels safe and supported, her body can do what it’s designed to, release oxytocin, relax, and even find moments of joy between surges.

Video credit via



100% free birth information.
19/10/2025

100% free birth information.

19/10/2025

Aww πŸ₯ΊπŸ˜­πŸ˜

I just love this!

That's TWO superhero women, right there.

She literally gave the SHIRT OFF HER BACK to wrap the baby in!

As someone who once gave birth in a shopping mall food court, and had kind strangers step up in the moment, this touches a chord. πŸ’œπŸ’“πŸ’œ

So if *you* come across someone about to give birth imminently, what should you do?

πŸ’œ remember, most fast progressing births go uneventfully, stay calm!
πŸ’œ slow your breathing - that will steady your voice - AND the woman you're helping. Co-regulation!
πŸ’œ Hands & knees is an ideal position for a fast birth - but, go with whatever SHE is comfy with
πŸ’œ Find a jacket or some such, to create a soft landing patch for the baby
πŸ’œ Most likely the mother will catch, but "catcher's mitt" your hands just under hers, just in case - newborns are slippery!
πŸ’œ You don't need to tell her to 'push' 😜😎 Just say, "You've got this! Doing fine!" etc
πŸ’œ Watch the cord. Most likely there'll be no issue. Help the mother gently unwrap the cord if it's around the baby. And just watch if it's quite short so she can't really bring the baby all the way up to her chest yet (so there's no tugging on the cord before the placenta has detached fully)
πŸ’œ Keep mother & baby skin-to-skin and both warm as possible. Watch that the baby has air flow in front of their face under the wraps.
πŸ’œ You don't need to cut the cord! The placenta will release & plop out when the mother is ready. By now, most likely, help is on the way.
πŸ’œ If the mother or you are concerned about bleeding, encourage her to firmly massage her own uterus.

πŸŒΏπŸ’œπŸŒΏ

Repost ..
New mum Lucy is remembering the heart-stopping moment she was forced to give birth outside a hospital, and the stranger who helped her through it. Charley, who happened to be passing by, literally gave Lucy the shirt off her back to bundle up the newborn. In the chaos of the dramatic delivery, the two parted ways without even exchanging names. 10 News+ was there for the emotional moment they were finally reunited.

For the full story, click the link in bio.

18/10/2025

This was a tough birth for them both.

Notice:

πŸ’œ Baby is skin-to-skin on mother
πŸ’œ Cord is kept intact
πŸ’œ Parents are talking to their baby & touching him
πŸ’œ Mother & baby are smelling each other & sharing pheromones
πŸ’œ Caregivers are closely monitoring their condition

All this enhances safety during a baby's slower'thsn-usual transition.

And finally - the sound of his cry πŸ˜­πŸ˜πŸ’œπŸ₯Ί

Repost ..
A mother's intuition is something that should always be trusted. She leaned into her faith and prayed openly over her son.

After a long pushing phase, this little guy presented with should dystocia and needed some time to transition.

The momma knew he was ok the whole time, you can hear her reassure her husband.

The midwife continued to rub baby minutes after he was born to get him to fill his lungs with air and finally let out a big, healthy cry.

Birth is an ordinary miracle. It happens every single second, of every day, all over the world, and yet every single precious baby that joins this world is a Miracle to behold.

My baby is having a baby!So pleased, proud & excited for my hunni .hunter11 As a doula & herbalist, it is a natural thin...
18/10/2025

My baby is having a baby!

So pleased, proud & excited for my hunni .hunter11

As a doula & herbalist, it is a natural thing for me to make up labour care kits for my clients- and ESPECIALLY my most special client: my daughter!

I've included:

🌿 Medjool Dates
🌿 Lemon Balm Lip Balm 🌸
🌿 Vegan organic chocolate (you do get hungry in labour!)
🌿 Raw honey to go with her herbal teas
🌿 Raw honey lollipops (it feels so good to suck on something in labour)
🌿 An acupressure birth comb (you hold it tight & it helps with pain relief) 🌸
🌿 Contraction Helper roller ball, with Clary Sage, Lavender & Jasmine 🌸
🌿 Soft organic bamboo cloths (great for warm or cold compresses, & later, for baby wipes) 🌸
🌿 Eco-friendly compostable underpads 🌸
🌿 Birthing Bliss Tea, in handy tea bags 🌸
🌿 Birth Boost Tincture (boosts your energy, & your contractions, during a long or tiring labour)
🌿 Electrolyte rehydration drink sachets by Hydramama .co 🌸
🌿 Hair ties & clips
🌿 Ancient Gates birth affirmation & Scripture cards (already up in her birth space) 🌸
🌿 BRAIN mnemonic: Benefits/Risks/Alternatives/what does your Intuition say/ what if we do Nothing & wait a bit longer
🌿 Labour Progress mnemonic: Keep Breathing/Moving/Eating/Drinking/Peeing and Rest when you need

Everything marked with 🌸 is available on my website www.blissfulherbs.com.au

And if you would like a similar Labour Care Kit made up for someone YOU love who is about to have a baby, please message me or email Julie@blissfulherbs.com.au

I can also email you the printable BRAIN & Labour Progress mnemonics.

I have some great package deal options on my website- but you are welcome to work with me to tailor something really cute & special & suited to the person you have in mind.

Please do get in touch & it will be my absolute pleasure to work with you to curate something really unique & special.

πŸŒΏπŸ’œπŸŒΏ









06/10/2025

Feeling fear whilst contemplating *you* actually *giving birth* to an actual *person* seems pretty normal & sensible to me.

But ... a certain amount of fear & apprehension is just the *start* of the story.

It's not where the story ends.

Fear can paralyse you, stop you in your tracks.

Or fear can help *move* you to where you need to go.

Fear is a good servant, but a terrible master.

Use your fear! Let it prompt you to explore new places, try new things, learn new skills.

But don't let fear be the boss of you.

Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's working with it, acknowledging it, and pressing on regardless.

πŸ’œπŸ’“πŸ’œ





Repost ..
If I wouldn’t have ever let myself feel fear, I would’ve never learned how to surrender. If I didn’t learn how to surrender, I would’ve never showed myself just how truly courageous I am. Everything I wanted for my baby and his birth, I went through the darkest of hours to get. But it all. started. with. FEAR.

06/10/2025

Here's a beautiful FTM First Time Mother birth story.

Repost :

✨My birth story✨ God was so gracious in the way He showed up during this birth story. These are definitely intimate moments to be sharing publicly, but I think it’s so important that we erase the fear narrative surrounding birth. Birth doesn’t always have to be scary and painful and chaotic. It can be intimate, peaceful, and dare I say painless.
γ…€
At 41 weeks and six days pregnant with my first baby, I was so afraid my story would be like the countless other first time moms I knew. Needing to be induced in the hospital, unable to handle the intensity, getting an epidural when I didn’t want one, and possibly even getting a C-section that I was trying to avoid.
γ…€
I heard God ask me in my pregnancy what I wanted for my birth experience? He put Ephesians 3:20 on my heart over and over again: our God is able to do far more than we ask, or imagine. I felt ridiculous, even admitting that I had specific wishes for how this thing would go, but I felt him press me to ask boldly, and so I did.
γ…€
He delivered.






06/10/2025

It's just so peaceful!

πŸ˜πŸ’œπŸ’“πŸ’œ

Repost ..
One week ago ✨

A whirlwind labour, an intimate space, the strength of a mumma surrounded by love, belief & complete trust!

There were no bright lights, no doubts, no time pressures.
Just a mother honouring her body, surrendering to birth through all the unknowns.

What an honour to be in this space with you

The home birth set up of our dreams ☁️

πŸ₯Ή

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Warburton, VIC
3799

Telephone

+61359665980

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