Doula Wisdom Blog

I know that a lot of people are thinking about switching from a hospital birth to having a homebirth because of everything that is going on with COVID-19.

I recently spoke with homebirth midwife, Bronwyn Moir (Holistic Midwifery) so she could answer some common questions that are coming up. She has noticed an increase in homebirth enquiries. Not so much because people think they will catch...

Kegel exercises help to strengthen our pelvic floor muscles. It’s something we know we probably ‘should’ be doing, but how many of us are actually doing pelvic floor exercises? And if you are doing them… how do you know if you’re doing them properly?

Let’s start with WHY Kegels are important

Having a strong pelvic floor means you’re better able...

Covid-19 is a new disease, so there is still a lot to learn about how it spreads and how severe it can be. We are learning more everyday.

While information is limited, pregnant women should be considered a vulnerable or at-risk group. According to advice from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pregnant women do not appear to be more severely unwell...

Humans have been breastfeeding for millennia but for many people, it doesn’t come easily. Some research has shown that only one in three mothers are meeting their breastfeeding goals. Too many women find themselves struggling and end up weaning their babies sooner than they had hoped to.

So how come something that is natural, doesn’t come easily?

Today many people enter motherhood...

This may come as a surprise to you but you’re most likely wearing the wrong size bra! Due to outdated measurement techniques, up to 80% of women are walking around with ill-fitting bras.

Back in the 1930’s, bra sizes only went up to a D cup (and that was considered BIG). Now cup size measurements can go as high as N (which is equivalent to a British JJ). There tends to be a big...

Even though your mother or grandmother probably birthed in a hospital, did you know there are other options of where you can give birth?

Where you choose to give birth will have a big impact on your experience so it’s important to make an informed choice. Labour is usually shorter and flows more smoothly when women feel safe and undisturbed. The best environment for labour is private,...

Pregnancy and new parenthood is a time of huge transition and massive adjustments. No one comes out ‘the other side’ unchanged. The unusual thing is, is that people want this adjustment to be ‘quick’ and there’s a weird phenomenon of wanting to ‘bounce back’ and ‘get on with things’ much sooner than anyone is ready.

This goes for the new...

Welcome to the final part of 'The birth alphabet' series! Today you can learn more about umbilical cords, vernix, water birth and pregnancy yoga. Did you know your baby might be covered in a creamy white substance when it's born? Do you know why it's good to wait to cut the cord? Are you aware of the benefits of practicing yoga in pregnancy and birthing in water?

What is the umbilical...

It’s VERY natural to seek pleasure and avoid pain. In everyday life, feeling pain is a signal that something needs to change. In fact, it’s essential to our survival to fix a pain that is life-threatening.

HOWEVER… in normal labour, strong sensations are to be expected and don’t necessarily need to be ‘fixed’ or numbed.

Many people hope to have a natural...

This week we continue with the birth alphabet (Q-R-S-T) to help you feel more knowledgeable about what questions to ask during birth, why rainbow babies are so special, how swaddling can soothe your baby and why the TENS machine is a great option for pain relief.

Q is for Question Asking

There are a lot of decisions to make during pregnancy, birth and into postpartum. Knowing what your...