Beyond Birth, Lilydale (2025)

25/09/2025

It feels a little strange speaking into this space again after being away for so long. I’ve been quite removed from this part of my life, but I wanted to come back to share where I’m at and express gratitude to all the incredible women I’ve supported and who have supported me in this sacred rite of passage.

It’s been two years since my second and final baby, Sid, was born. Postpartum took me fully, and only recently have I felt myself returning, or perhaps becoming a new version of myself. In that season I shifted from being the ‘nurturer’ to being nurtured, leaning heavily into support and love from those around me.

I didn’t feel the call to return to doula work, but I did feel pulled toward something new. This year I stepped back into work, still walking alongside mothers, but in a different way. I’ve been supporting families as they prepare for their children to transition to school. I offer a listening ear, learning resources, encouragement and help mothers connect with their children and their community. It’s been a very organic shift from supporting mothers with babies, to supporting mothers with young children.

I’m not sure if I’ll return to doula work one day, but I know I’ll always be connected to women, whether that’s through my work, cooking for community in times of need, being a supportive friend and ally or modelling for my children the importance of honouring and holding mothers.

I’m so deeply thankful for everyone who has supported me over the past five years. What started as a tiny seed after my first daughter’s birth blossomed into such a beautiful community. To the women who welcomed me into your homes and lives during such tender moments, being there with you was the greatest honor.

Bye for now 🤍

02/12/2023

2024 Annual LBC Celebration Dinner tickets are now live!

Everyone is welcome to attend this fun night, where we celebrate birth.

Come along and hear some birth stories from local couples, learn more about how the LBC supports couples here in the North of Tasmania, while enjoying the amazing food from Timbre.

Thursday 22nd February
$55 (including booking fee)
Please arrive at 6pm for drinks on the deck, the evening will commence at 6.30pm.
Drinks to be purchased on the night from the bar.

The Launceston Birth Centre is Australia's first private birth centre, founded in 1983. We are run by a consumer committee and serviced by a dedicated team of private midwives.

The LBC's ethical and professional foundations are built upon a belief in the immeasurable benefits of natural and family-centred childbirth. We proudly furnish this belief with our midwives' many years of experience, versatility of care and safe practice.

The birth centre itself is a not-for-profit organisation and we run a fundraiser every year to go towards daily running cost and maintenance.

*We are looking for donations for the silent auction too, if you would like to contribute please let us know. launcestonbirthcentre@gmail.com

Tickets here - get in quick, space is limited!
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/767963889667?aff=oddtdtcreator

21/10/2023

What a fabulous way to support each other during pregnancy ⭐️

10/10/2023

And a little parting gift, Sid’s birth story, for those who wish to read 💘

05/10/2023

An ode to my midwife

My mentor, my friend.
Who always believed in me, my body and my baby.
Who spent hours listening and many more loving.
Who educated and nurtured my family so they could be my best cheerleaders.
Who took a back seat and let me lead.
Who tooled me up with the knowledge to make my own informed decisions.
Who invited me to be vulnerable, present and soft.
Who helped me move through self doubt when I questioned my limitations.
Who held me with tenderness at my most vulnerable and watched from the sidelines at my most powerful.
Who brought out the lioness that was always within me ✨

“Birth Matters... It matters because it is the way we all begin our lives outside of our source, our mother's bodies. It's the means from which we enter and feel our first impression of the wider world. For each mother, it is an event that shakes and shapes her to her innermost core. Women's perceptions about their bodies and their babies' capabilities will be deeply influenced by the care they receive around the time of birth” - Ina May Gaskin

31/08/2023

We welcomed a beautiful baby boy Sidney (Sid) last week in what was a beautifully ordinary day. Birthed the morning after his sisters third birthday; peacefully, undisturbed and born en caul. I can’t wait to share more of his birthing journey when I’m ready 💘

Captured by the wonderful Sheridan Nilsson (Tasman Birth Stories)

20/08/2023

Last December Caitlin, Gabe and Kai invited me into their home two days after the birth of their second son Mentari (meaning sun), so that I could guide them through making prints with their recently birthed placenta.

This was a first for me. When encapsulating or making placenta art, it usually begins with a text from the birth support person informing me that mama is in labour, a swift collection soon after birth and returning the magic once complete.
The birth parents and I are very often like ships passing at night and more often then not I don’t ever meet the birth parent.

So to stand back and watch Caitlin, Gabe and Kai mere days into their new life as a family of four, creating art together was such an honour.

This moment was made even more special as both Caitlin & Gabes mothers were present for the art making process.
Three generations marvelling at their beautiful new ‘Suns’ tree of life and creating new memories together.

I’ve reflected on this moment so many times this year and am forever grateful for the invitation to facilitate this and to have spent the following months supporting this beautiful family 🥹💜

08/08/2023

Holder, grower, birther of life 💫

My wonderfully talented friend popped by to capture me on film recently

02/08/2023

Please share 🤍

15/06/2023

Postpartum support

Doula Fund - this is a biggie. I’ve had to do a lot of unlearning to learn how to ask and accept help. This time around we have Hala organising us a doula fund for our postpartum support. A space where friends and family can contribute monetary donations to help us have a supported postpartum. It’s obligation free, but there for the people who were planning to get us or babe a gift. This to us is the greatest gift of all!

Doulas - I will have Hala from and Ayla from popping by during the first 6 weeks to hold, nourish and nurture me (and other practical help of coarse).

Family - we will have family from the mainland popping in and out intermittently in the first two months to spend time with Maggie and our dog Gus and to help where help is needed.

Meal Train - we plan to have Hala or Ayla organise a meal train for us for the later weeks when Alby returns to work

Bodywork - alongside massages from Ayla during her visits (she’s also a remedial massage therapist on the side 🙌) I have an abhyanga appointment with Dr Gangashree Nair and will continue to see my superstar osteo Liz at Bodyfocus and Rose at Launceston acupuncture when required.

Self Care - self abhyanga, daily belly binding, yoni steams, herbs, nourishment and gentle movement when ready.

I feel so at peace knowing I have all these supports in place this time around so I can focus on healing and bonding with our final babe.

Are YOU planning for a supported postpartum? ✨

08/06/2023

My postpartum support - learning how to ask and accept help.

I want to share with you some of the postpartum supports I have in place for this final postpartum of mine. I will do so in my next post, but first I want to touch on accessibility in postpartum and learning to ask and accept help because this a big part of my journey and the supports I will have in place.

But first, let’s speak to the people who do have a little bit of cash to splash.

How much money did you invest in your pregnancy or birth? I’m not talking about birth education, I’m talking about expensive cots and equipment, baby showers, or cute overpriced jumpsuits?

And how much did you invest in your postpartum?

The answers I hear seem to be pretty linear and this right here is our biggest issue. Society doesn’t recognise or value postpartum, a wombans biggest transitional journey in life.

As Bee from The Great Birth Rebellion said - you never regret spending money on your own health. This couldn’t be more true. However, it’s important to note - not everyone has an abundance of money accessible to them, especially today - my family included. So let’s talk about that.

You DONT need money to have a supported postpartum. You need community and to practice asking and accepting help (and helping in return when you have the capacity to do so). That’s the beauty of community! I know I harp on about village building, but community is vital. In times of hardship and transformation, we have our biggest asset at our fingertips that is under utilised because of how we are conditioned and what we are conditioned to believe is important.

So here’s one way you can have a supported postpartum, for free:

A friend contacted me last year asking me how she could gather donations for her friends postpartum and if I could facilitate that and be their postpartum doula. I thought it was a brilliant idea, so I got creative and set up a webpage for friends, family and colleagues to donate monetary contributions (obligation free) to this mothers postpartum fund.
I soon realised that people LOVE HELPING! If you are transparent with people and tell them what you need and what will support you best, people appreciate this. It takes the pressure off them otherwise having to think of a gift to give which likely wouldn’t have been beneficial to you anyway.
The doula fund was a huge success, so successful that I was at capacity and had to say no to any further contributions sent my way - so with the remaining money that was still being donated, this family engaged in birth support and professional photographs to keep forever. Incredible right!

This is exactly one of the tools we will be utilising in our postpartum to afford the support we require. We’ve been working with our postpartum doula to create a fund for our family and friends. All donations will be used towards creating a peaceful and supported postpartum journey.

Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll list all my supports in place this postpartum; the supports we have invested in, the supports we hope to have donated and the supports we will have for free (that you too can do for free) 💜

Beyond Birth

25/09/2025

02/12/2023

21/10/2023

10/10/2023

05/10/2023

31/08/2023

20/08/2023

08/08/2023

02/08/2023

15/06/2023

08/06/2023

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