Nurtured by Nancy

23/04/2026

This week didn’t quite go to plan.

School holidays, a stretch of being unwell, and everything slowing down more than expected.

And while it wasn’t intentional, there’s something about being reminded—again—how important it is to pause when your body asks for it.

Especially in the kind of work I do, where care and presence matter so much.

Starting to feel like myself again and gently easing back into things over here 🤍

If you’ve been thinking about reaching out, I’m here.

21/04/2026

A 2025 study published in AJOG adds powerful, up-to-date data showing associations between doula care and improved maternal and newborn outcomes.

Key Maternal Outcomes:

More vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC): For every 100 patients who received doula care, there were 15 to 34 additional VBACs compared with those without doula care.

Higher postpartum follow-up attendance: 5 to 6 more per 100 received postpartum office visits.

Key Neonatal / Infant Outcomes

Increased exclusive breastfeeding rates: Babies whose families had doula support were more likely to breastfeed exclusively.

Fewer preterm births (and early preterm births): Doula-supported births showed a reduction in preterm birth rates.

In short, the study links doula care with improvements in birth outcomes — across birth mode (more VBACs), infant health (less prematurity), and early infant care (breastfeeding, postpartum follow-up).

Read more: https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2025/11/evidence-for-doulas-new-ajog-study-finds-doulas-improve-outcomes/

08/04/2026

This week looks a little different over here.

School holidays, a change of pace, and some time away with my son.

It feels important to let things be slower when they can be—especially after big seasons or transitions.

This kind of space is something I think about a lot in my work too. Not just support in the big moments, but having room to land in between them.

Holding both over here 🤍

04/04/2026

There’s something about a long weekend that invites a different pace.

A little more space.
A little less urgency.

For a lot of the women I work with, that kind of pause can feel unfamiliar—especially in pregnancy or early motherhood, where everything is changing so quickly.

Sometimes the most supportive thing isn’t doing more, but having space to slow down, to be held, and to take a breath.

However you’re spending this weekend, I hope there’s a moment in it for that 🤍

02/04/2026

Wollongong, I’m back! After volunteering in Indonesia for so long it feels really good to be here.

This season has been a big one. A lot of life, a lot of learning, and a quiet deepening in the work I care about most.

For those who are new here, I’m a birth and postnatal doula, pregnancy massage therapist, and yoga teacher. I’ve been supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth and those early postpartum weeks for over 10 years now.

I’m based in Wollongong’s northern suburbs and slowly opening my books again for doula support and pregnancy massage.
If you’ve been here for a while—thank you. And if you’re new, I’m really glad you’ve found your way here 🤍

More to come soon.

29/03/2026

MORE CHOICE FOR MOTHERS | Women in the Blue Mountains who have previously given birth by caesarean section now have greater choice for future pregnancies, with Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital introducing the option of vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).

The new service allows women to give birth locally with the support of the skilled and compassionate Blue Mountains midwifery team, removing the need to transfer care to Nepean Hospital. It enhances access to safe maternity services closer to home and reflects Blue Mountains Hospital’s commitment to personalised care for women and families.

Mount Riverview resident, Stephanie was the first woman to have a VBAC at Blue Mountains Hospital when she welcomed her second son.

Opting for a VBAC at Blue Mountains Hospital over another caesarean section, Stephanie says, "It was an experience I didn’t get to have with my first birth."

“The midwives made it so easy. They were very level-headed and it was a smooth and wonderful birth.”

“The care I received at Blue Mountains Hospital was phenomenal. The staff were amazing. They were always caring and supportive,” says Stephanie.

Read more: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nbmlhd/news/stories/more-choice-for-mothers-vbac-now-available-at-blue-mountains-hospital

Pictured: Stephanie, husband Daniel and their two sons.

27/03/2026

03/02/2024

Saying thank you and goodbye to the flower crown made for me by my wonderful women at my Mother Blessing 7 years ago.

Thank you and goodbye beautiful x

29/11/2023

I'm sitting here on my lounge room floor having just listened to the 2-part season finale of the Towards Connection podcast (which I just happened to feature in!). I listened to both episodes back-to-back and laughed and cried and felt like I was taken on such an intimate journey (which as a doula is what I get to do every time a family chooses me to walk alongside them).

The interviewer (Kai) is on a journey searching for the meaning of - and the formula for - getting more meaning and connection out of life. They’re pregnant and we're taken on a journey through their birth; we hear audio from a session at 38 weeks pregnant, from the actual labour and birth itself and debriefing the birth with me at 17 days postpartum. It's a wild ride (and such an entertaining listen!)

We also discussed my personal journey through becoming a mother to Edison and how I couldn't be anything but a birth doula after he died.

I feel a bit shy sharing something so personal and vulnerable but what's the point of all the work if no-one listens right? 😂 So I'm being brave and vulnerable and hoping you listen and share. Maybe listening to this could be a powerful opportunity to help someone else understand birth, or grief or vulnerability a little bit better and be able to show up for themselves in a way that invites more meaning and connection into their life x

Go over to and there’s a link in bio or find in the usual podcast places.

(My mum just called and told me she accidentally listened to part 2 first. I would recommend listening in the usual order. 1 before 2 😂)

When you've listened, connect with me and tell me what came up for you x

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28/09/2023

My favourite hospital - and maybe I’m a little bit biased 🫣 - is holding a fertility webinar, open to everyone.

Interestingly, one of the presenters is Dr Bill Ledger who Charlie and I paid a ton of 💰to in 2015 for fertility investigations. Before we knew it we were pregnant with Edison ❤️

Here’s their blurb:

“We're excited to announce our first fertility webinar, Fertility 101 with The Royal's Dr. Rachael Rodgers and Dr. Bill Ledger.
This free conversational webinar will be held on Tuesday 17th October at 6:30PM AEST
Dr Rodgers and Professor Ledger will answer questions around fertility options, the (dreaded) biological clock and facts and information around fertility preservation.
More information and sign up: https://www.royalwomen.org.au/event/fertility-101/home”

04/09/2022

Best non-dairy infant formula?? ⬇️