Your Doula

01/05/2026

Let's talk about monitoring a baby's heart rate without a CTG 🩷

Having a home birth or a birth in a facility that doesn't have a CTG machine or may not use it as the primary option? Then perhaps you're wondering about how you'll know if your baby is okay during labour...

When people think of monitoring a baby in labour, they usually picture the CTG machine with straps and wires, but that’s not the only (or always the best) option. In a healthy, low-risk labour, midwives will often use a handheld Doppler, which is a small device that lets them listen to a baby’s heartbeat at intervals without restricting your movement... And honestly, that’s one of the biggest benefits: mom can move freely, change positions, labour how and where she wants (including in water)… all the things that actually help labour progress.

What they’re doing with the Doppler isn’t just “checking a number.” They’re listening before, during, and after contractions, tuning into how baby is responding. They’re looking for a heart rate sitting roughly between 110–160 bpm, with a natural, slightly irregular rhythm (not flat or robotic), and also how quickly baby recovers after a contraction. Little dips in a heart rate can be normal, but recovery should be nice and quick, which is a really reassuring sign that a baby is coping well.

There’s this idea that only a CTG is reliable, but that’s not actually true for low-risk labours. Intermittent monitoring with a Doppler is evidence-based and widely recommended, with similar outcomes for a baby (just without the added restriction and higher chance of unnecessary intervention). CTG absolutely has its place when it’s needed, but MORE monitoring isn’t always better… APPROPRIATE monitoring is.

A Doppler not only allows midwives to keep a close, skilled ear on your baby, but it does so while also protecting the natural flow of your labour relating to your movement, position, and also location... and that balance is often exactly what both mom and baby need.

27/03/2026

Some of the things we use in the birth room include a baby doll...

Birth has a way of reminding us that we are not always in control.

Sometimes everything looks perfect for a vaginal birth...and then a baby decides to come in a way we didn’t plan for. Tonight was one of those nights. After 18 hours of determined labour, we made the decision to transfer for a caesarean section so that baby boy could arrive safely.

In moments like these, we can easily ask why this is happening.
Instead, we choose to say:
God is still good.
Even when birth doesn’t unfold the way we hoped.
Even when the plan changes.
Even when the road looks different to what we imagined.
Ultimately, every safe mother and baby is still a miracle worth celebrating!

This was my 15th birth of 2026 and my first transfer for a caesarean section this year. A reminder that birth is powerful, unpredictable, humbling & always sacred.

A big thank you to doula Natalie for her incredible work throughout the day, and to our backup obstetrician and theatre team who came out in the early hours of the morning to assist when the plan changed. Your care and teamwork make such a difference for families.

(📸 The doll we used to demonstrate baby’s position to mom during labour.)

24/03/2026

When you just need to be held - through the tears and the contractions 🩷

Labour has a sneaky way of throwing everything at you - all at once! Sometimes, you're trying to process the news of plans changing while trying to hold back the tears. Then you're trying to shed those tears while a contraction arises - at the wrong time - it can all feel so overwhelming, and that's the moment when you just need to be seen and simply held.

22/03/2026

Your birth matters; it really does.
Each woman has her own idea of her dream birth, and each woman has a right to have a team behind her to help her achieve the birth her heart desires.

It does not matter whether that birth is completely natural, with intervention, or a cesarean, what matters is that you feel respected, loved, supported, encouraged, and you have a team you can trust to bring you closer towards the birth you're aiming for.

Your birth matters. It's a deeply personal, memorable and intimate day that will be imprinted in your memory and your heart for a lifetime: it's the day you discover yourself, you meet your baby and you become a family with your partner. It's a moment that few words can describe, but your heart will forever feel.

Regardless of your type of birth; it still matters.

07/02/2026

It's the little things 🩷

02/02/2026

Hey sexy lady, how sexy have you been lately? 😜

Did you know that there is a super beneficial physiology behind intimacy and labour? Oh yes! 💪

With a multitude of intimacy techniques to choose from - from sensual massage to getting *wolf whistle* with your partner - all of these can help to prepare your body for labour.

But how?

Well, firstly, there's that gorgeous love hormone called oxytocin that your body (actually your uterus) needs for good strong contractions, and it's also important for forming deep emotional bonds 👍

Then there's those fantastic feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which help to give you that sense of euphoria... oh, so good 😌
These chemicals are actually responsible for triggering the op**te receptors in the brain, giving you a natural morphine-like high 🥳
Okay... but so what?
Well, it's all of the 'whats' actually!
Did you know that oxytocin THRIVES off of these chemicals and vice versa??? Oh yeah!!! More endorphins mean more oxytocin, and more oxytocin means more endorphins...
I'm sure you can see the beneficial cycle beginning to spin here 😁

Both of these together - oxytocin and endorphins - are really the magic trick behind that feeling of total bliss and release. Now, doesn't that sound good for the labour room?

Then there's also a whole bunch of other benefits connected to intimacy for labour such as cervical ripening from stimulation and prostaglandins (which are naturally found in semen); stress relief and tension release; deep bonding with your partner, building body confidence and great exercise 💪
So why wouldn't you want to explore the world of intimacy?

Now, how sexy is too sexy? No such thing! 🙌 so get your sexy suit on, you wild woman you, and have yourself one jolly good time 😉 baby belly and all 😁

11/01/2026

Every birth room deserves to smell nice - with a twist of therapeutic benefit too 🤩

If you're ever unsure on what scent to diffuse in your birth room, here's a nice and simple blend to help you out... and you're welcome to enjoy this blend from 36 weeks, too.

The lavender brings a soothing relaxation that calms the nerves and relaxes the body, along with Clary Sage, which also works on the uterus as a mild stimulant. Frankincense brings a depth of grounding and slower rhythm that works to promote deeper breathing while heightening a sense of euphoria by deepening relaxation.

These 3 oils come together harmoniously in a way that not only provides such helpful and welcome therapeutic benefits but is absolutely beautiful too.

03/12/2025

So beautiful 😍🤩 God's work is so amazing!

"You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14

19/11/2025

There’s something profoundly special about a surprise-gender birth that words can’t quite capture. And if you’re on the fence about having one - I can most certainly recommend it.

When I fell pregnant with my son, I decided that I wanted his gender to remain unknown - even to us - until the moment of birth. Our first two babies were known ahead of time, but because this was likely our last, I wanted to do things differently. And honestly, it was perfect.

There’s a unique kind of wonder that fills you when you see your baby for the very first time and discover in that sacred moment whether you have a son or a daughter. It’s indescribable. There’s a holy stillness and a soul-deep joy hidden in that instant that no explanation can adequately convey. It was like a reverent and holy "soul" moment... it's so hard to describe! But it felt so right.

After my son’s birth, I felt a bittersweet mix of emotions - a deep joy in the reveal, and a small grief knowing I couldn’t go back and experience that same fullness of wonder with my first two births. But it’s also important to say: a surprise-gender birth isn’t for everyone. We live in an age where science and technology are so deeply woven into maternity care, and stepping away from what has become “normal” to embrace a more traditional, primal approach can be challenging for some women. And that’s okay. You’re not broken - you’re simply familiar with a different rhythm, and stepping into the unknown can feel strange.

But if you ever decide that a surprise-gender birth is for you, or something you want to do, I always keep a pair of these sweet little announcement disks in my bag for that first precious photo when you share your baby’s arrival. So if you can, consider embracing the surprise… you may find yourself more moved than you ever expected.

25/10/2025

With so much misinformation and mixed advice, I decided to finally spend my days compiling all of the scientific clinical data relating to essential oils for nausea during pregnancy and labour, and to present it in an easy to understand article for all - pregnant/birthing women and birth workers alike.

I pray this article will help to properly inform you on the right choice when practicing aromatherapy during pregnancy and in the birth room!

🩷 🩷 🩷

Discover the science behind peppermint vs lemon essential oil for easing nausea in pregnancy and labour. Learn which oil works best and why.

19/10/2025

This was such a fast and intense labour, as we all welcomed a beautiful 3.75kg baby girl into her mother's arms 🥳

God at the centre ❤️

"When you work with a friend, every moment is fun."
(Also, who else am I going to talk about birth with? 😂)

So blessed to be able to serve moms alongside special friends! Jesus, friends, and coffee - that's what makes the dream work 💪🏼 Go team!

I had planned to leave for holiday on the 18th of October (my daughter's birthday).. A full week away with my family after a long, beautiful, busy season of births. I had one mama still due, and I was so sure her little one would be here before we left.

But at 41 weeks and 4 days, there was still no sign of baby, so I started dealing with the fact that I would not be the one to deliver her baby.

Then, while I was packing, just after midnight - the exact day I was meant to leave - my phone lit up:
“My water just broke.” 💧

Of course. God’s timing, not mine.
I felt such a calm come over me - the kind that only comes from trusting Him fully. Just one hour before I had to leave, her precious baby arrived safely and peacefully. I got to be there. I got to support her. I got to witness God’s perfect timing once again.

I am so deeply grateful for this calling and for the people who walk alongside me in it. A huge thank you to who was a gem as always, supporting during labour &
Sister from , who cared for this beautiful mama during the postpartum period and ensured she was held with the same love and gentleness. Teamwork is everything in birth work, and I am blessed by the women who serve alongside me.

This journey reminded me again:
We can plan our days, but God orders our steps.
Birth unfolds exactly when it is meant to - never early, never late.

Heart full. Holiday officially started. God is good. 🤍✨

Shout-out to , another amazing woman serving families, for this beautiful photo from another birth. There were no pictures taken during this quick birth! 🤣

16/10/2025

🥳 GENESIS OPEN DAY 🥳
9 November 2025
10h00 to 15h00

I am so excited to be a part of this big and eventful day; meeting new families and having a blast!
Come and see the venue, gain some amazing insights and resources, meet me in person, and meet some incredible midwives too 😁

Can't wait!!! I hope to see you there ⭐️