Earthside - Pregnancy to Parenthood

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Earthside - Pregnancy to Parenthood

Birth & Post Partum Doula based in Manawatu. I am also a Childbirth Educator & Babywearing supporter. "Doula” means to serve women, and this is what I do.

I support you to become informed throughout your pregnancy, labour, and birth by offering emotional, mental and physical support. My goal is to help expectant parents move themselves into a position where they feel informed and able to advocate for themselves and their baby. I offer a standard package that can be tailored to your individual needs. Labour & Birth can be unpredictable, while I can’t guarantee how your birth will turn out, I can promise to be there for you, supporting you in a way that meets your and your families unique needs.

10/02/2026

Doulas do not replace partners/support people during labour & birth, actually a key part of our service is helping partners offer the best possible support they can.

Birth preparation is important in setting partners up for success, hiring a doula to guide this process is a great start, but there are other things you can do to prepare for your labour & birth.

Enroll early in a Childbirth Education Class and attend together - knowledge is power and having conversations before being in the intensity of labour leaves you both prepared with what to expect and what you can do together to manage the intensity.

In the Manawatū we have lots of options for antenatal classes:

Barnardos Bumps to Babies - https://barnardos.org.nz/our-work/bumps-to-babies

Entwined Parenting

And me if you would like some 1:1 antenatal sessions tailored to exactly what you need as a couple, because we are all on different journeys.

30/01/2026

We have an amazing new resource for the Manawatu, Horowehnua & Tararua, its called Pēpe Ora and its designed to support the wellbeing of whānau from pregnancy through to the first 1000 days

Basically this means it provides information to help you find the right services for you and your baby in the rohe. If you are looking for anything Pregnancy to Parenthood you should find it on there - You can find me on the Taha Wairua page.

Check it out and if you notice anything missing let me know and ill pass it on:

https://manawatu-horowhenua-tararua.pepeora.nz/

27/01/2026

Well its been a minute between updates that’s for sure, a lot of my focus last year went on navigating the balance between my doula support and my new job teaching child birth education classes.

I am happy to say that I got to support some amazing mammas at their birth had some amazing firsts:

A women only birth – mum, photographer, nana, midwife and me (the vibes where vibing in that birth space for sure.

Return client (that was a pretty special milestone) and

Support of a special whanau with their unexpected stay in hospital in a postnatal doula capacity.

I missed my usual Christmas update as the family an I where on a long overdue family holiday to Japan, as always I was attracted to all things birthy and found the pagoda, shrines and their good luck charms dedicated to childbirth. I have attached a few photos of the birthy things I found.

Looking to the year ahead, I'll continue to support families as their doula as well as getting back into workshops, these took a backseat last year but this year the plan is to provide a space to learn about practical birth skills, VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) and birthing at home. I’m looking forward to working with whanau in 2026.

20/01/2026

Newbury Sunflowers is opening in next few days and we couldn't be anymore excited !

Don't forget our Sunflower - Family mini shoot on the 26th January, we will have the sunflowers to ourselves and will be able to make use of all the great spots that have been created - did you see they have a shiny red tractor.....

As always:

$30 to book a spot and this includes one digital photo of your choice.

During each 10-minute booking we can shoot a mixture of family, sibling and parent shots - whatever you would like.

Additional digital photos will be available for purchase and cost $20 per photo or $100 for the entire digital gallery.

Send an email on threadandfilmnz@gmail.com to book or with any questions

11/11/2025

Home Birth Awareness Week 2025 has passed and I'm a little late with the post, however I did get to support a whanau during Homebirth Awareness week at home so that was pretty special.

Maternity Services Consumer Council created these slide celebrating Home Birth and I couldn't have said it better myself !

Home Birth is not for everyone but its a pretty great option for those who wish to utilize it.

04/11/2025

📷 Student Midwife Studygram

Have you seen or heard of peanut balls ?

They are a swiss balls weird cousin that’s been a bit squished, but they come in quite handy during labour by holding your body in positions that help pēpi move through the pelvis. They can be especially helpful if you had an epidural and your ability to move around is a bit more challenging.

There are plenty of benefits of using a peanut ball during your labour and birth, and the research is saying that:

🤰They can reduce labour pain (this is a personal experience)

💜They can help reduce length of labour by improving labour progression

🤰They can increase maternal satisfaction and your sense of control

💜There are no safety or obvious adverse effects

Great news, there are peanut balls with instruction sheets available at the Palmy Hospital and Birthing centre, you just may need to ask for them and if you are birthing at home you can purchase one online or if you hire me you can borrow mine.

21/10/2025

Love a subject who’s keen to give anything a try, and that yellow dress was almost as stunning as the infamous tutu 💜

15/10/2025

As part of my other role, Im hosting this weeks parent group this Friday 10 - 12pm Im the Banardos Bumps to Babies room and would love to see you there.

If you would like some help with babywearing bring what you have along and we can explore your options.

09/10/2025

Baby Loss Awareness Week is the 9th to the 15th of October.

This special week culminates with The Global Wave of Light, an international celebration that takes place on the 15th October, International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. On this day, bereaved parents, whānau and friends around the world light a candle at 7:00pm in memory of their precious baby or babies. We begin the wave of light in Aotearoa, setting off a continuous wave of light and aroha that wraps around the globe.

Sands Manawatu-Horowhenua is planning a local in person Wave of Light and you can find details on their page.

Sands New Zealand is going to run an online service and they can light a candle in memory of your baby or babies - see their page for a link to details of this remembrance event 💜🧡

04/09/2025

During labour & birth mindfulness practices have been shown to lower our perception of pain , fear, and increase our feelings of having our preferences respected even when birth gets intense and plans fall apart.

Some mindfulness tools you might like to try:

1. Practice noticing, not fixing.
When you notice fear or tension, notice where that feeling lives in your body or what story is playing in your mind. Rather than reacting you are aware of what is happening your body.

2. Model breath with your whole body.
Instead of telling yourself “Just breathe,” teach your support person to slow their own breath and become your mirror. You will be able to follow along by coping them and can help your nervous systems to co-regulate.

3. Use a scale to name intensity.
Ask, “On a scale of 1–10, where are you now?” Then, “What helps you move down just one number?” You are reframing by coping in the moment—not a passing or failing a test.

If you practice these mindfulness skills outside of your labour and birth as a team, its likely you will be able to use them efficiently as coping practices when you really need them !

02/09/2025

If you do not have any current family photos taken within the last year or so, take this as a suggestion to book in with Thread and Film's next shoot under the cherry blossoms - short and sweet sessions to capture the family and your vibe.

Email us at: threadandfilmnz@gmail.com to book a spot or ask any questions you have.

14/08/2025

I didn’t become a doula because birth is easy.

I became a doula because I saw what happens when whanau feel informed & supported during their pregnancy, birth and beyond and I knew I could be of service.

Please get in touch if you would like to feel more informed and supported in your journey.

Address

Palmerston North

Website

http://www.earthsidepregnancytoparenthood.com/

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