Teta Wardeh

13/10/2025

This is 🧵‘Threads of Birth’ 🌿 A 10-page pocket-companion for the perinatal season, which I created for mamas who want to feel grounded, connected, and held through every stage or the journey.

🌄 It weaves practices, sensory rituals, and gentle reminders drawn from my work with mothers in Aotearoa and from my Levantine & Lebanese origins.

‘Threads of Birth’ 🌿 is now available on my website as an instant digital download which is A5 print-friendly. 🖨️
👌🏽Short, warm, affordable 👉🏽Perfect for mothers-to-be, and anyone supporting a new family.

11/10/2025

💃🏽 Maqām of Liberation | Arab Hip Flow 🎶
1 week to go!

Join us on Sunday 19 October at Dominion Dance Space for an afternoon of movement, rhythm, and connection.

We’ll start by tuning into breath and rhythm through guided movement, then carry that pulse into open, flowing dance.
A space to unwind, reconnect, and feel at home in your body.

🕘 3.00-4.30pm
📍Dominion Dance Space, 827 Dominion Road, Mt Roskill
💝Koha appreciated 👸🏻 Women-only space

Registration is a must and spots are limited - DM me for the link to register.

09/10/2025

"I checked out your website."

The teenage co-captain of the speech and debate team volunteered this the first time we met in person. As a new coach to the team, the captains were giving me a run down and lay of the land for my first day assistant coaching practice. She was confident and well spoken (shocker) and very much in charge. Up until that point our focus had been on the different students and prep for the upcoming tournament (which was last week and they were AMAZING). I was reading over the list of students that needed my help and what their events were when she volunteered that she had been to my website.

"Oh?" I looked up at her. This teen is put together and so cool. She's trendy and super smart. As popular as a speech and debate team captain can be (which is pretty high up there at this school). I wondered where this was going.

"Yeah, I got sucked in for like an hour."

"What did you think"

"Did you write all that?"

"Most of it but not all of it. There's way more info there on breastfeeding than you probably ever thought you'd want to know at this age."

"Yeah, kind of. But it was neat. Really neat. Do you mind if I ask you some questions some time on breastfeeding?"

"I don't mind at all. You also don't have to be interested in breastfeeding, that's ok too. I can talk about other topics, I promise."

"I want to. It's going to be a really long time before I have kids but you know, I think I'm going to need all that info some day and it's actually really interesting. I had no idea human milk had so much in it, that's amazing. I hadn't really thought about it before but when I have kids, I'm going to breastfeed."

"When the time comes, my website and I are here for you."

"Thanks, that's probably like 10 years from now or something but when I'm ready I'll probably have some questions."

Just then another student, a junior guy, chimed in: "I checked out your website too. Did you build it?"

"No, I didn't build it, someone built it for me and my husband does a lot of that too."

"If you ever want help with that, I'm pretty good at that sort of thing."

"Good to know, thank you."

We talked about what he charges (he says he doesn't and then we got into how he should charge) and what his skills are before he brought up breastfeeding.

"I showed my mom your site. She breastfed me and my brother. She said it was pretty cool. I didn't know how good it is for babies or how the milk is made, so... yeah. I learned something too. Let me know if you want my help with your site."

And that was it. Then we were diving into the public forum debate case (whether or not Britain should rejoin the EU- that was far more loaded than the breastfeeding convo) and I was in awe of these young humans and their amazing minds as I felt way out of my depth trying to find my footing to help coach these kids.

It wasn't weird or awkward. It wasn't a joke or seggualized. It wasn't grossed out or disgusted. There were no innuendos or wink-winks. The mixed gendered group around us didn't flinch or seem weirded out.

It was just a conversation about breastfeeding.

I've never hidden breastfeeding from kids of any age or gender. I breastfeed openly around my own children, their friends, at the playground, soccer games, theater and music performances (and rehearsals), school functions, the Christmas tree farm, out shopping, you name it. Toddlers to teens. It's never the kids that have an issue with it. Like the speech and debate teens curious about my website (of course they googled me), in my experience, kids of all ages are just curious and then... it's no big deal. Feeding a baby with your body? How does that work? Does it hurt? Oh. That's neat. I'm hungry. That's usually about it.

It's the adults that have the hangups.

In those teens that day I got to see a glimpse of what it really will be like for them as breastfeeding is more and more normalized. It made me excited and inspired to keep going with this work.

Kids these days are alright.

01/10/2025

🌿 Introducing Threads of Birth 🌿

A 10-page pregnancy, birth & postpartum pocket guide (PDF) created to be short, warm, and practical.
Unlike long manuals, this A5 printable booklet is an intimate doula companion you can keep on your night table or phone.

Inside this digital guide you’ll find:
✨ Gentle grounding practices
✨ Partner/companion tips for the birth space
✨ Breastfeeding insights for the first 48 hours
✨ A Levantine herbal tea recipe for postpartum nourishment
✨ Reflection prompts to honour your story

This birth support PDF is designed to be affordable and easy to use, whether printed A5 or read on your phone.

👉🏽 Download now from anywhere in the world, via this link: https://www.itsevamaria.com/resources/p/threads-of-birth-pocket-guide

25/09/2025

23/09/2025

♥️ This past Saturday, I had the honour of accepting the invitation of the wonderful Catherine Griffiths and the amazing ladies behind the Stitch for Palestine initiative .kate.farry and Haifa 🧵🪡 at a public stitching event - at Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery - where I got to tautoko their beautiful mahi with some Palestinian and Lebanese songs 🎶🌿

Such a grounding activity and such an act of solidarity to meet and be together around the Palestinian flag (cleverly made of Kaffiyehs), sending our thoughts and aroha to the people of Ghazza and Falasteen,
🌊 as well as holding our 3 brave fellow Aotearoa people (and the accompanying crews) aboard the Global Sumūd Flotilla in our hearts and prayers. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia mawanaui .aunz

🤩 I also got to try my hand at some embroidery too - see my half-done yellow flower 🌼 somewhere in the slides.
I feel responsible for that wee flower and am looking forward to going back and finishing it.

💚 If you/your group are interested in hosting a stitching event🧵 in your community, get in touch with and the ladies to organise it. They’d love that!

📷 Photo and Video credits:
- Stitch for Palestine collective, Dorita Hannah and Emma Farry
-
- Yours truly, Eva Maria

18/09/2025

Early bird rate extended until Sept 30th 2025!

Breastfeeding & Lactation: What Every Doctor Needs to Know

Did you know that knowledge about the functioning breast is often learned more through personal experience than formal medical training?

Studies show 60–70% of doctors rely on their own parenting experience to guide breastfeeding care. Confidence among specialists is low, and many want more formal training.

Join us for a full-day, evidence-based program designed for doctors in a friendly, collegial environment. Learn how to:

• Manage common clinical breastfeeding situations
• Separate fact from myth
• Access the best resources for informed decision-making

Give your patients the care they deserve and uphold the principle of Primum non nocere — “First, do no harm.”

Improve your knowledge, improve patient outcomes.

Register today: https://forms.gle/ocpHz6uBDfvQCGqM6

18/09/2025

📃Policy vs Rights in a birth room 🤰🏻

This is Part 4 or my autonomy-in-birth mini-series.
We’ve talked about:
1️⃣ The dangerous “We’ll just…” phrases in the birth room
2️⃣ How to actually say No during labour
3️⃣ What “policy” really means (and what it doesn’t)

🤓Now let’s get nerdy; because understanding your rights matters.
📍In Aotearoa New Zealand, your rights are protected by the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. This guarantees that:
♦️You can decline treatment, even in pregnancy or birth
♦️You can withdraw consent at any time
♦️You have the right to be fully informed about risks, benefits, and alternatives.

🌏 Globally, WHO and international human rights frameworks affirm the same thing: your body, your health, your choice. Non-consensual medical treatment is a breach of human rights.

So when you hear “it’s policy” in the birth room, remember:
🔹 Policy is written for staff
🔹 Rights are written for you
🔹 Policy is not permission
🔹 Consent is yours, always.

As a birth doula in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland, I walk with mothers who want to prepare for birth with clarity and confidence; whether that’s doula support, consults or Healing Birth sessions.

Free 30-minute consults available through the links in my intro.

17/09/2025

💃🏽 ‘Maqām of Liberation’ is a women’s-only gathering I host every month here in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland.

🎶 It’s a space to dance and flow to Arabic music and beats, to shake off the heavy, reconnect with the body, and move with intention and without judgement.

✨ Women who’ve joined say:
“I left feeling lighter.”
“The energy in the room was warm and welcoming.”
“I can feel my hips tension loosen with every session.”
“Finally, a soace to move and reconnect with my body without judgement.”

🎒What to bring:
• A scarf for your hips
• Comfortable clothes
• Water bottle
• Yourself, just as you are.
☝🏽 You can bring your baby/child provided you inform me when you register.

🧷 Women-only safe space
👩🏻‍💻 Registration is required (details always posted here before each session)
💝 Koha is welcome, never required.

The next sessions dates will always be announced on this page. 👉🏽 Follow along if you’d like to join us.

16/09/2025

How many times have you heard: “It’s hospital policy” during pregnancy or birth? 🙄

☝🏽Here’s the truth: hospital policy is written for staff, not for mothers and it’s mainly to avoid litigation.
Policy is not law. It cannot override your rights or your consent.

As a birth doula in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), I see how often women are made to feel like “policy” equals permission. It doesn’t.
👉🏽Your rights remain the same: to receive clear information, to hear alternatives, and to say Yes or No in your own time.

Policy is not permission.
Your body. Your baby. Your birth. Your choice ✌🏽

In the next birth-related post, I will post the needy bits about the Code, WHO and human rights ➡️ Policy vs Rights

09/09/2025

✨September’s Maqām of Liberation✨
🌿Spring Equinox 🌸 Solar Eclipse 🌞

🗓️ Sunday, 21 September
🕒 3.00-4.30pm
📍Dominion Dance Space, Mt Roskill, Auckland 1041

Breath 🍃 Rhythm 🎶 Renewal

DM to register | Koha appreciated

14/04/2025

This photo from Hello! Canada might make your stomach do a little flip.

A baby sleeping on their side, covered in a blanket. A parent nearby, seemingly asleep. A set-up that (if it is as it seems) is unsafe.

This is what happens when exhausted parents are left without support.

When “sleep when the baby sleeps” along with "DO NOT share a bed with your baby." Are the only words of advice on offer.

When the village is nowhere to be found.

**Sidenote: I suspect this photo might possibly be staged. Baby might not really be asleep. She, the blanket and mum may have been placed carefully to make it look like a snapshot of newborn exhaustion. (A baby will stay still for longer on their side than on their back, and you can hide open eyes with this position.)**

But, ignoring the possible set up for the shot - here’s what I see:

I see a tired mother.

I see a baby tucked up close by. (And I wonder if some safer sleep 7 guidance around bed sharing might be helpful or safer here. Does this baby not settle in the cot unless placed on their side with something soft over their face, for example?)

And I see an opportunity to ask meaningful questions for all of us to consider:

How do we support families so they don’t end up in unsafe situations?

How can we start meaningfully showing up for exhausted parents on social media?

What if the response to a photo like this wasn’t just criticism, but also compassion?

I understand and support the need to educate and inform when we see unsafe sleep practices - especially something as public as this. But I *also* think when we jump into comment sections and join a very long list of other commenters ONLY pointing out the dangers, we make it harder for parents to ask for help. We make this set up in someone else's home a shameful secret instead of opening up a supportive dialogue around "What happened here and why?"

Unsafe sleep isn’t a failure of love. It’s often a failure of support or information. It can also be a sign of "black and white" messaging around infant sleep. If you've been told your baby must not share a bed with you, but they won't settle on their back and you haven't slept for more than 2 hours in as many days... and if you don't sleep you're going to drop baby or fall asleep feeding them... What do you do if you haven't been given a plan B and a plan C?!

We can do better as parents and advocates than JUST listing the risks over and over again without offering compassion and support as well.

My suggestions?

- Read up on the safe sleep 7 so you can decide if it's something that is less risky than the current situation.

- Ideally, get some more support at home so you can nap. Parents? Partner? Friend? Next door's baby loving teenager? A doula? (I believe accessible funds exist for doula support if money is tight.)

When you have the energy, keep trying to settle baby on their back (picking them up when they cry - PLEASE respond if YOU are safe to do so!) You will likely find that over time you learn that baby will settle for 20-30 minutes perhaps in the morning. (Or some other pattern you can work with.) There are a couple of methods you can look up - the seated settle and the side to sleep (then transition to their back) technique. YouTube has some videos you can look at. ❤️

As always - rule out feeding issues. A squirmy, unsettled baby might be hungry or have a tummy ache.

And to be VERY clear - yes, if the baby is asleep in this image it is NOT safe. Even if she's awake and unsupervised, it's NOT safe. I am not advocating for "letting mum practice unsafe sleep." I am saying it's an opportunity for a discussion around how these things actually happen in real homes and how social media can help or hinder.

(Credit for the original post from Hello! and for the photo by Cecily Strong are both in the image below - whenever I try to directly share posts here it won't upload!)