Rise N Shine Doula Support

01/09/2025

A recent and extra precious “Collaboration” 🌈🎨🦋🌻

29/06/2025

Yesterday this memory popped up from 9 years ago. This message and cake was made for me by a dear friend of mine as I was packing my life into a suitcase, about to leave Perth for good and make my way to Europe.

She was a first time Mum, with a partner who was working away in the mines for two weeks at a time, very few friends living close enough to offer support and all of her family also in New Zealand.

I didn’t even know what a Doula was at the time, but it seems as though this was my first (unofficial) role as a Postpartum Doula 🥰

10/10/2023

It was wonderful to finally meet some of the beautiful Doulas of Auckland in person, after many years of only seeing them online 💞 I’m looking forward to catching up and connecting with more of them at the next one

02/09/2023

Your beliefs create your reality.

However beliefs are not facts.

Have you ever held a firm belief in something, only to discover some new information which lead you to question your current beliefs or perhaps even form a new belief altogether?

There is always more to the story than meets the eye and it would be ignorant to assume that because you have believed something for a long time that your beliefs are warranted if you don’t have all of the information, or at least be willing to listen to an alternative perspective.

Ignorance really is bliss. Some people choose to walk around thinking their own 💩 don’t stink, and stop to consider how their ‘well meaning’ intentions, beliefs and actions affects others around them.

Each to their own 🤷🏼‍♀️ but I believe when you are either
- In a profession working with people who are more vulnerable than you
- Simply trying to do your best for humanity out of the goodness of your own heart
- Leading a small community, or even just within your own circle of family and friends who you love and care for.
It is your duty to protect them from harm.

Get curious, educate yourself, ask better questions to gain a wider perspective and challenge your beliefs.

Ask yourself is this belief something I have inherited from somewhere else or is it something I have developed and refined over time with life experience?

Instead of going to your regular sources for information and getting trapped in a positive feedback loop or going down a rabbit hole that reinforces your beliefs, seek out alternative and even opposing opinions so you are able to make a truely informed and holistic decision based from a variety of philosophies.

Continued in comments…

04/08/2023

04/08/2023

Here’s a little tip for one of those days when you’re feeling exhausted and don’t have time to stop, or you can’t ‘switch off’ and take a proper nap.

I sent this to a Mama who feels like she’s at the end of her tether while her baby is going through a 4 month sleep regression.

“Prioritise your own rest as much as you can, and keeping your own emotional ‘cup’ as full as you can. If you’re able to lay on the floor with your feet up the wall (or at least elevated) at any opportunity you get, even if it’s only for ten mins will do wonders for how rested your body feels. Also as an extra you can listen to some soothing music or close your eyes and take some slow intentional breaths - inhale the good s**+, exhale the bulls**+”

Swipe ➡️ for the blooper

06/06/2023

I love the Stained-Glass effect when you hold a dehydrated umbilical cord up to the light 😍😍😍

27/05/2023

Energy Balls made by yours truely 🙋🏼‍♀️

27/05/2023

That Hold 🥹 #

24/05/2023

Pregnant and don't have time (or money) to do a hypnobirthing course?

What else could you do to help prepare for a positive birth?

🌸Here's my FIVE top tips:🌸

💓1. Surround yourself with positive birth stories - head to Spotify to listen to The Positive Birth NZ podcast full of a variety of positive birth stories. https://open.spotify.com/show/7er3FvRE9wJEYH5qCVvrQ4.
and read the 26 birth stories in the Positive Birth in NZ book

💓2. Read all about natural birth - my top book recommendations are:
Positive Birth in NZ (available here: https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/book-positive-birth-in-nz/) Also you can ask your local library for a copy (if they don't already have one)
Ina May Gaskin: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Sarah J Buckley: Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering

💓3. Create some positive affirmations for yourself - you can find a great list in the Positive Birth in NZ book (link above)

💓4. Practice Relaxation and breathing - all the tools are detailed in the Positive Birth in NZ book (link above)

💓5. Engage your partner in conversations of how they can best support you in birth (see/listen to Be the Best Support person chapter on my website here:https://www.positivebirths.co.nz/book-positive-birth-in-nz/
or read the chapter in the Positive Birth in NZ book)

But of course the best, and most comprehensive way for both YOUR AND YOUR PARTNER to both get on the same page about your birth and to fully prepare (for any and every situation) is to enrol in a Hypnobirthing course. My next classes start in June - online and in person (St Lukes). Check out www.positivebirths.co.nz for more details.

I'd love to fully support you in your journey.

xxH

10/05/2023

We are very excited to announce HolisticBaby is now a West Auckland agent for mybreastpump.co.nz.

If you are unsure if you want/need a breast pump, you could look to hire a Medela Symphony Hospital-Grade Breast Pump from mybreastpump.co.nz.

10/05/2023

🌸✨NEW PODCAST EPISODE RELEASED TODAY✨🌸

💦🌺Emma's home waterbirth at 43 weeks to Poppy 🌺💦

A big baby, a pregnancy that went until 43 weeks and shoulder dystocia. Sounds like a nightmare, but oh noooo this was very much a positive birth experience that Emma wants to inspire other mothers with.

"Every baby comes in their own time, some are ready earlier, some are ready later" are the words that Emma's midwife reassured her with as she crept past that 42 week mark.

Poppy was also a very healthy size and Emma talks us through her experience of Shoulder Dystoica and how this was quietly and efficiently managed by her midwives and she never felt this was any type of medical emergency.

Listen to the Positive Births NZ podcast on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/7er3FvRE9wJEYH5qCVvrQ4