Doula Wisdom Blog

Thank you to Bobbi Lockyer, Aboriginal artist and photographer, for allowing me to use her beautiful photo. 

During my Clinical Science degree at Southern Cross University I studied two units from the College of Indigenous Peoples (Gnibi). As uncomfortable as it is learning about history of invasion of Aboriginal nations and the health crisis facing our Indigenous communities,...

Having more knowledge about the signs of labour will help you to have a better birth experience.

How do you know when labour is starting?

There are many ways that labour can begin. You may have a show (lose your mucus plug), you may have diarrhoea, your waters may break or contractions may just begin with cramps and/or back pain.

In early labor you may like to try to rest and...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all face-to-face antenatal classes got cancelled. But don’t worry, you can still learn all you need to know.

Enrolling in the online course, Map to Birth and Beyond means you can watch and re-watch the classes as many times as you like. You can even watch the classes in your pyjamas at a time that suits you.

And, you still have access to me… AKA your...

In today's video you will learn what the cervix does BEFORE it starts to dilate and then helpful things to do to help you reach 10cm dilation.

You can boost your confidence even more by checking out The Map to Birth and Beyond online antenatal course.

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,...