Read moreMy children were beautiful. I had a beautiful life. I had a beautiful birth. Why did everything feel so heavy? I recognized the signs, it was the same as last time (after Charlie was born) but this time I acknowledged that it wasn’t normal to feel this way. This was not how mothers just feel. This was not circumstantial depression. This was intense postpartum depression and anxiety. My usual ‘just do it’ attitude slipped away, and I was a shell of my usually charismatic self.
The recipe that will get you through this winter... Immunity Broth
If there was one recipe that truly made my heart sing, for both its simplicity and deliciousness AND as a side note, its health benefits… this is THE one.
Read moreNourishing Chicken and Corn Soup
There’s something really special about a meal that is both nourishing and quick …and that everyone in the family will actually eat! Soup is quick and easy to make in the cooler months and perfect for nourishing bodies that are both growing babies and recovering from birthing them.
Read moreMy Journey into Postnatal Doula Work and how it could change YOUR LIFE
“When you imagine what being a mother looks like, what is that picture that pops into your mind?”, and you know what? No-one ever says that they picture themselves cleaning and cooking, being exhausted, overwhelmed and isolated…. and yet that’s what most mothers reality is. They all (myself included) imagine all the warm fuzzy stuff, and the feelings of love and contentedness. Imagine the disappointment though when that wondrous time comes along and it looks nothing like what you imagined!
Read moreBreastfeeding: What YOU need to know
Photo Credit: Leandro Cesar Santana via unsplash
Read moreDid you know that two thirds of mothers don’t reach their breastfeeding goals? Given that there’s 1 baby born every 1.48 minutes in Australia, that is A LOT of mothers who are not meeting their goals.
The Birth of Naz
Photo credit: Jess White Photography
Read moreAs time went on I started focussing on her heartbeat and tuning into that was all the music and relaxation I needed. I felt myself able to fully relax and get a rest between surges and when they came I remained calm in the knowledge they would be over soon.
The Importance of Postnatal Planning
Many couples spend a lot of time planning and preparing for birth (and rightly so) but they forget to plan and prepare for the postnatal period, when things can be most challenging and overwhelming. Whether your vision for after birth looks joyous or overwhelming you will benefit from preparing for this time by ensuring you have the support and encouragement you need to achieve the postnatal period YOU WANT and DESERVE.
Read moreIf one more person tells me I'm never going to sleep again, I'll scream: Coping with sleep deprivation
In the words of one of my clients (I changed it for the title because I was worried threat of violence might put people off! haha):
“If one more person tells me I’m never going to sleep again, I’m going to punch them in the face! We didn’t choose to have a baby without knowing it was going to affect our sleep!”.
I get it, its frustrating when people make remarks without backing it up with any tips or tricks to actually be helpful. But thats what this blog is about today.
The Space of 'Unknowing'
Babywearing was a life saver for me in this time of unknowing.
Read moreI truly believe that all mothers, given the space, support and encouragement to do so, really truly know how to nurture their babies the way they need to be nurtured. That if they are supported in this space of uncertainty and encouraged to try different things that feel right to them, a mother can flourish and ignore the outside advice of ‘experts’.
Date Milk - the perfect accompaniment to breastfeeding
‘A new mum should be treated with massage, warm baths, a specific diet and herbal drinks that prevent infection, promote vitality and alleviate vata’ Charaka, father of Ayurveda
Read moreSTAYING WARM WHILST BREASTFEEDING THROUGH WINTER (without freezing your nipples)
Photo by tatyana_tomsickova/iStock / Getty Images
Breastfeeding through the colder months (especially overnight) can be really tricky.There’s the battle between trying to stay and also having accessible breasts without lifting and lowering layers and layers of clothes. Here, I share my top tips and secrets to surviving winter breastfeeding without getting cold and frustrated.
Read more