Grace and Ivy Birth

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Australia
Warragul, VIC
Grace and Ivy Birth

Birthkeeper & Biz Coach - I support pregnant women and birth workers to step into their ‘F*ck Yes’! I love what I do, it is a true calling.

Hey Beautiful Human,
I'm Jenine
Birthkeeper, Space Holder, Energy Healer, Doula and Placenta Lover! As your Doula, your sacred Birthkeeper, I will walk beside you on the intuitive journey to meet and welcome your darling baby. Using ancient wisdom, evidence-based information, heart-centred support and genuine connection, I will help you prepare to birth in your full power. When your birthing day arrives you will know deep within yourself that birth isn’t a scary medical event and that your body isn’t broken. You will whole-heartedly understand that by believing in yourself and tapping into the sacred spiritual relationship between you and your baby, your body will know exactly what to do to bring your little one earthside. My passion for reproductive wellness and bodily autonomy have guided me to offer support during the full childbearing year including Womb Wellness offerings, Hypnobirthing, Energy Healing and full Postpartum Support. I believe in energy and intention, crystals and chakras, somatic healing, mantras, tarot and most other ‘alternative’ healing therapies, but don’t consider myself ‘crunchy’ and will only bring that to our relationship if you feel connected as well. Otherwise, I am just your average, proud Q***r Doula, passionate about supporting all birthing people, not just ‘Mamas’. Remember, everything you need to birth is within you! 🖤

09/09/2023

Hey, my lovelies 👋

I wanted to update you on some changes happening on my end. Life and business have been quite the whirlwind lately 🌪️, and while I've enjoyed every minute of it, I've realised the importance of stepping back and breathing. 🌿

I'll be taking some time off for a bit of self-care and recalibration. My plan is to be offline for at least 3 months, though I'll be playing it by ear. 🌊

It's crucial for me to make sure I'm at my best so I can continue to serve all of you authentically, and holding space has become increasingly more difficult lately. 🌟

To my current clients...I will remain fully available for you during my break. 💕

However, please note that my books will be closed for new clients for at least 3 months. 📚

While away, I encourage you to continue exploring, trusting yourselves, and believing in the power of birth.

🌺 I can't wait to come back refreshed, with new perspectives and even more to offer.

Till then, take good care and be kind to yourselves. 🙏
I look forward to reconnecting soon. 💕

Love and Blessings,
Jenine xx

01/09/2023

Okay, okay...maybe we don't plant or harvest rice in our modern, urban lives, but the wisdom behind this age-old adage is gold.

In traditional rice-planting cultures, the focus is on the community's long-term health. It starts by honouring the mother's need to heal because the whole community knows that if the newly-birthed mother isn't given time and space to heal and nourish herself properly, the rest of the community will need to pick up the slack for her, come planting or harvesting season.

In our modern culture, we live in a world that's always "on"; we're obsessed with bouncing back...but, our bodies haven't got the memo. They still operate on ancient wisdom. They need time to heal, restore, and rejuvenate after the depletion of birth. They need the time to nurture mamatoto (the mother-baby diad).

After the incredible journey of birth, our body and soul need time to adjust, recover, and rebalance. We might not be planting rice, but the metaphor remains - when you don't take the time to heal and nourish yourself properly, you can't fully show up in any area of life...whether it's mothering your baby, looking after yourself or tending the fields.🌟

Embrace the 'rice planting wisdom'—slow down, focus on nourishment, and allow yourself the grace of recovery. ✨

If you would like to discuss how to put together a nourishing postpartum plan jump into my DMs. I'd love to have a chat.

31/08/2023

Being called "weird" for wanting a free birth?

Wear it like a badge of honour! 🌟

The Old Scottish and English roots of the word weird are tied to destiny and fate. So, when someone calls you 'weird,' they're unknowingly acknowledging that you're in tune with your destiny. ✨

Your choice to have a free birth is as deeply personal as it gets. It's not about being contrary; it's about aligning with your intuition and taking charge of your own fate. 🌿 So if that's 'weird,' then so be it!

30/08/2023

I hate the latest buzz words, and "healing birth" is the latest in a long list, in my opinion.

But let's get down to brass tacks: what the f*ck is a 'healing birth'? 🤔

Here's the plot twist...it's whatever you need it to be, and it doesn't have to align with anyone else's experience, judgements, or beliefs. 🙌

For some women, the path to healing may mean opting out of the system entirely. Saying a hard 'no' to institutionalised medical settings that strip them of their autonomy and choosing, instead, to birth on the loungeroom floor with their partner and the cat as witnesses. ⛔️

For others, it might mean inviting that very system into their home on their own terms. 👊

And let's get this straight - sometimes, healing doesn't mean 'fixing' a previous birth experience. It means embracing it as a part of your journey without feeling the need to rewrite history.

Controversy alert 🚨: Some women will never find another birth that 'heals' a previous one, and guess what? That's okay. Healing can also be saying, "This is my experience, and it doesn't have to define me."

So, whether you're a second-time mum wary of the hospital policies that failed you the first time or choosing to birth on your livingroom floor, your idea of a 'healing birth' is valid and has nothing to do with anyone else...it's yours to define.

Let's jump on a call or DM me if you'd like to explore this further. I'm here to support you in your birth journey.

29/08/2023

Never let anyone tell you women aren't strong and powerful.

If you have ever watched a woman give birth, you will see what we are truly made of...a strength and determination so fierce that men can but watch in awe!

📸 ❤️

28/08/2023

Ready for some more truths you didn't ask for?

Most of my clients aren't first-time mums—they're on baby #2 or #3 and are done with the conventional system.

🤰Swipe left to dive into why this matters. 👈

⓵ So, you might be picturing a certain "type" of mum seeking alternative birth methods—perhaps someone you'd describe as "crunchy" or "hippy." The reality? Most are everyday suburban women, just like you and me.

⓶ They're not the extreme homesteaders or hardcore activists. They're women who have been through the grind of the healthcare system and are saying, "No more." 🛑 They've felt disempowered, dismissed, or rushed through previous birthing experiences and are looking for something different.

⓷ Here's the clincher: They're fed up with how they've been treated in hospital settings. They're tired of feeling like just another 'case' on the conveyor belt of medicalised birth. 🏥

Are you nodding your head in agreement?

Then you're probably one of the many women who recognise that birth can be reclaimed, redefined, and respected in a whole new way.

💪 It's not about where you live or how "natural" your lifestyle is; it's about wanting the autonomy and respect every woman deserves. ✨

Are you to join the quite revolution of ordinary, everyday women who know birth is best when undisrupted and unhurried? Jump into the comments or my DMs. Let's chat xx

**t

27/08/2023

Monday morning truth bomb:

You are PERFECTLY designed to give birth!

Yep. Your body, your spirit, and your very essence are crafted by nature to birth new life into this world.

I know society tells us otherwise. "You need this test, that monitor, these drugs." But what if we peeled back the layers of institutional bias and profit motives? What would we find? The raw, unfiltered essence of birth, just as nature intended.

Now, don't get me wrong.

Of course, there's a place for medical interventions when lives truly depend on them. After all, that's why they were initially developed...to save lives. Never to manage birth. But the overwhelming majority of births, when left alone, unhurried and unobserved, never require intervention. Your body knows its task, your baby knows its journey. Nature and evolution don't get it wrong.

Intuition is your compass. Your birthing space should be a sanctuary where you tune in and listen to your intuition. If you're in a situation where intuition is being questioned or overridden, and you feel disempowered, it might be time to reassess and reclaim your space.

No one knows your body better than you do. You are responsible for every choice related to it. You also have everything you need to tap into the ancestral wisdom buried deep within your cells...the knowledge that will guide you through an intuitively driven birth.

If you're interested in a space to unpack your conditioning and tap into your intuition, I offer a 1:1 session just for this; DM me for more info! Otherwise, let's continue this discussion below.

**t

26/08/2023

You will never see me use a disclaimer like this on my posts. And here's why.

Birth is not a medical event!

It's a physiological function of the human body, as natural as breathing, eating, and taking a s**t.

Society and the industrial medical complex have conditioned us to see birth as a medical event bordering on emergency. But in its purest form, it is neither of these. It's a natural event that the body instinctively knows how to handle. It's a personal journey, a potent display of strength, that should be private and unwitnessed.

So, when I share information and wisdom, insights, and guidance about birth, I don't see it as giving medical advice. I see it as sharing knowledge about a natural process that my ancestors would have shared with me if the wheels of patriarchy had not distanced us from our wisdom and traditions.

So, if you've ever found yourself taken aback by the absence of this disclaimer on my content, I invite you to take a moment and reflect. Why do you think birth is a medical event? Is it the lens you're viewing it through, or do you need to connect with your inner wisdom?

Ultimately, birth is about trust, power, connection, and stepping into the vast unknown to bring forth life. It's about you.

24/08/2023

There is so much to see in this beautiful image.

Immediately I notice the ease...the whole family is relaxed. There is no rush, just the ease of time. You can almost sense the co-regulation of nervous systems through the screen.

Mum has the time to land back in her body...rehydrate and breathe, while babe is safely nuzzled at the breast savouring the familiar taste of mum and her nurturing essence. Mother and baby both replenishing after their journey.

Dad is there as his best supportive self, a protective hand on bub and the other helping guide his babe to breast.

Placenta cocooned safely in it's bowl, floating peacefully, job done, waiting patiently to be released from it's spiritual twin.

And for me...the cherry on the top of this joyous image (there are actually two)...big sister in the birth pool gently caressing the toes of her baby...so much love in that simple action. (...zoom into the writing on mums cup 😂)

This is what birth should be about...family, love, trust and easeful transition.

Incredible 📸 :

23/08/2023

If you've spent any time on my page at all you will realise I curate a space where we leave sugarcoating at the door.

I share and discuss the realities of birth - raw and unfiltered. I expose the system's pitfalls, and bring light to its shadows. But understand, it's not about pointing fingers or assigning blame. It's about informing, motivating, and breaking free from a pattern that no longer serves us - blindly accepting that birthing in hospital is normal.

I understand my words might stir emotions. I'd be a liar if I said that wasn't sometimes my intention, but if my information causes discomfort, anger, or shame, please recognise it as what it is...trauma bonding.

Trauma bonding is an attachment that develops from a cycle of trauma followed by positive reinforcement. Sort of like a traumatic pregnancy and birth experience in a system that convinced you they saved you and your baby would have died without them.

Remember, if you had birthed fully in your power, others' words or opinions wouldn't cause such distress. They wouldn't trigger you, because you'd be grounded in your truth, experience, and strength.

Feelings are complex, fluid, personal. They are not facts but reflections of our inner world, shaped by experiences, beliefs, and fears.

If my words unsettle you, I invite you to explore these emotions further. Instead of pushing them aside, lean into them. Understand their roots. Is it fear? Is it past trauma? Is it uncertainty about what unfolded in your birth?

Navigating these waters isn't easy, but it's a necessary step towards reclaiming your power, unpacking trauma, and rewriting your birth narrative.

No one can make you feel anything without your consent. Your emotions are yours, and yours alone. It's time to take responsibility and allow these feelings to guide you towards growth and understanding.

My commitment to sharing the unfiltered truth won't waver. Only some people are ready to hear it, and that's okay. I'm here for those ready to listen, to question, to grow. Is that you?

Reach out; let's walk this path together.

23/08/2023

The biggest misconception about hospital birth is if you stand your ground, learn to say "No" and educate yourself, you can avoid the downfalls of the system and get the birth you have so lovingly planned...but let me tell you, it's just not that easy!!

Given that we KNOW (and there is no argument otherwise) that hospitals operate under a heavy veil of policies, protocols and timelines, and in that environment, intervention-free birth takes a backseat to ticking boxes and meeting metrics, how exactly do you think you will be able to avoid everything they throw at you and still be connected with your body enough to ensure your birthing physiology unfolds and plays out accordingly?

I will give you a little hint...it can't. It is physically impossible to be in defence mode, with adrenaline coursing through your body and still produce enough oxytocin to drive birth.

So let me ask you that million-dollar question: If you're dreaming of an intervention-free, physiological birth, why are you choosing to birth in a hospital?

Does it make you feel uncomfortable when you read it? Or does it tickle a little question inside you like..." Yeah! Why am I birthing in a hospital?"

Now, I'm not saying hospitals are 'bad'. They're life-saving for certain circumstances. But, let's face it, they also work against women and birth.

So why do we keep going back there? Is it fear? Is it the perception of safety? Or just because we think that's the 'normal' place to birth?

Perhaps it's time to challenge the narrative, the system, and the norms. Maybe it's time to consider the alternatives to what we've been told we need to accept. If your heart longs for birth without interference, where you're in control, it may be time you started digging deeper.

👇🏼👇🏼 Continued in comments cos I'm a chatty bi**ch today!! 😂

21/08/2023

This week, 34 years ago, I was 42 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. My OB told me they wanted to induce me if I didn't go into labour naturally in the next two days. I was mortified because I absolutely did not want any interventions. Not that I had the strong physiological birth mind frame I have today, but because I was deathly scared of needles, and the thought of an induction triggered my phobia like nobody's business.

So I went home and had a stern chat with my baby, informing her that she had overstayed her welcome, and it was time to get her butt into gear and get out.

I don't know if that chat made a difference, but she was born the next day without any interventions...just as I had requested of her.

Tomorrow, my baby girl turns 34. Her birth was the last thing she was ever late for because, unlike me, she is a serial early bird.

She became a mother herself last month, giving birth to her baby boy. The swell of love and pride is overwhelming when I look at them together, and when I consider that when I was carrying her inside my body, she was carrying the genetic material that is in him today...my mind is blown! 🤯

🎉 Happy birthday, beautiful girl. No matter how many of your babies you hold in your arms, you will always be my baby xx

Love you ❤️

20/08/2023

Choice - it’s the dividing line between having your voice drowned in the noise and having it heard, respected, and honoured. It’s the difference between standing on shaky ground, feeling lost and overwhelmed, and standing tall, feeling empowered and in control.

In birth, your choices play a pivotal role. What kind of birth do you envision? What support do you want by your side? Who do you want to guide you? What tests, procedures and interventions are you willing to endure? Where do you feel safest birthing?

These are your choices to make - no one else’s.

Remember that you’re the protagonist in the unfolding of your birth story. Your body, your birth, your baby - your choices. They are yours to claim, yours to make, and yours to voice. Don’t let anyone diminish your voice. Don’t let anyone take that power away from you.

Because choice is more than a word, it’s your right. It’s your power. And it’s time to claim it back.

19/08/2023

Can we let the cat out of the bag? 🐱

Yep, you read that right: YOU can check your own cervix.

This might seem a tad overwhelming at first, but it's all about connecting with your body, learning to navigate it, and trusting in its power and wisdom.

Before you freak out, let's unpack it.

Your body is yours. You have every right to know it inside out, including your cervix! You're not only capable of understanding what's happening during your birth, but you're also the most qualified one to do so.

So, let's clarify a few things...this isn't about assigning a number to your cervical dilation or turning birth into a race to 10cm. It's not about medicalising your birth process at all.

It's about tuning in, really feeling your body, and observing its changes. It's about noticing whether your cervix feels more open than the last time you checked. Has it moved forward? Can you feel any changes? Or, is it disappearing (completely dilated) and ready for the next stage?

So what do you need to check your own cervix...surprisingly very little.
A calm environment, patience, clean hands and some l**e for comfort. You may also need some creative positioning to reach your cervix, but believe me...it is worth the effort.

If you think you would like to check your own cervix in labour, you can practice throughout your pregnancy. As a matter of fact, it's a lovely way to connect with your body and your baby, all while growing familiar with your cervix, so you know what is normal for you when in labour.

But above all, this is another way of taking conscious control of your birth journey and understanding that you're in charge.

18/08/2023

This mama birthed her baby in a hands-and-knee position with an in situ.

Yep, that's right, with an epidural, she was able to get off her back and birth her baby in an upward forward-leaning position...with the help of her support team.

What sort of witchcraft is this? Right?

More than 40% of labouring women in Australia will have an epidural, and I have supported many of them...yet I have never seen a woman with an epidural onboard birth any other way than on her back.

I mean, I educate them all that it is a possibility should they want it, yet in the birth space, it is never actually an option...why you ask?

Because in every I have attended where mum has chosen an epidural
has been called, and doctors have advised that baby needs to be born immediately.

This leads to a rush of adrenaline by everyone in the room. Mum is suddenly being yelled at to (always on her back); informed that she needs an episiotomy/forceps (with very little information given) or maybe even a (again with little discussion).

So...this is why this image of a mum with an epidural birthing on hands and knees feels so foreign. Because from my experience as a birth worker in the Australian hospital system, I have never seen a birth calm enough where a mum with an epidural onboard would have the option, time or space to decide which position she would like to birth in.

This is always taken away from her because of "fetal distress" or "unfavourable heart tones".

There is a bigger debate to be had here about whether it is the epidural that causes fetal distress or whether it's diagnosed as a result of over-monitoring and overzealous cautiousness around fetal heart tones. After all, we know that a baby's heart tones are affected during the pushing stage of labour...I mean, my heart rate would fluctuate too if I was in the grip of a vice...but this seems to be overlooked as being normal and used to speed up (medically manage) birth.

I would love to hear about your experiences, both as a birthing woman and a . Have you witnessed an with an epidural onboard?

📸

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71 Lovell Drive
Warragul, VIC
3820

Website

http://graceandivy.com.au/

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