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Lactivists and breastfeeding supporters are often criticised for forcing the issue, or ‘guilting’ mums in some way.  They may even be accused of having some sort of agenda.  It is important to see through this emotional ‘debate’ to the facts beneath it.  Breastfeeding is biologically normal. The lactivist does not stand to benefit personally from …

Understanding ‘Fed is Best’: Information and Marketing (3 facts and a warning) Read More »

Many women ask about how to avoid tearing during birth.  Midwives pride themselves on achieving ‘intact perineum’. This post looks at why tearing occurs and whether or not it is possible to avoid. Some women describe a Ring of Fire during the final moments of birth.  At this point, you body is saying ‘slow down’.  Pant, actively …

Protecting the Perineum Read More »

The ‘vogon day’ happens to us all, maybe you have had a vogon week, your throat is sore, your voice is lost – you want the earth to open up and take you – you may as well be invisible..You would not stand for someone else speaking to your kids or behaving so in front of them…but there …

Is Motherhood doing your head in? Read More »

​​You have probably heard of ‘The Cascade of Intervention’.  It is the idea that once an intervention occurs, the rest shall follow.  This is considered a ‘Slippery Slope’.  It is, however, more nuanced than a cascade and there is more than one slope.  If we think of physiological birth as a flowing river, there are …

The Flows of Modern Birthing Read More »

Our child does not have to be trained to speak. They learn to speak by copying, by listening, by being spoken to. Once this skill is achieved, it leads to reading, and writing.  Language is a gift, absorbed through immersion.  It is the result of a literacy rich environment, with loving guidance and modelling, opportunity and growth. Our child does …

The Obsession with Sleep Read More »

updated post​Scientific Birth is birth as nature intended, without intervention. Technological Birth relates to the interventions. Understand both. Determine for yourself whether or not a technological aspect to your birth is necessary.  Go with the Flow or pack a Paddle?​Who you birth with (care provider and non-medical support) will influence how technical your birth will be, so if a scientific birth is important to you – align your support with the less technical care […]

Informed Birth Preparation puts you in the drivers seat.  You get to determine the route, including any detours.  You choose the music, the companions and guide the conversation.  Taking the drivers seat takes some responsibility.  And it gives you immense power.  In this post, we explore what it takes to have an informed and positive birth, and discover the benefits of taking the effort and stepping […]

I have invited Emma Park to share with us her program The First 1000 Days and to tell us about herself and why the microbiome is so important.  Thank you for being so generous in your time and information Emma – over to you: My name is Emma Park and I’m a Holistic Nutritionist specialising in Gut Health & The Microbiome. I’ve been in private practice for 8 years and have helped thousands of clients […]

Frozen II is a tale of Power, of Leadership and of Change.There are many layers to Frozen II.  Elsa’s journey of self discovery weaves through a tale of transformation for each of the main characters.  The story throws the spotlight on the destructiveness of the patriarchy, showing us the differences between Authoritative Dictatorship (familiar to us all) and Peaceful Leadership (a pipe dream, perhaps only seen in New Zealand?).  Frozen II is about Journeys and Love.In […]