Pregnancy & Birth Support
When I view my role in the birth space, I see myself as being invited into the most sacred of spaces and moments in time. This doesn't come lightly and is something I hold with reverence. I also see you, the Woman, Person Birthing, as the one and only expert of your birth and your baby, and I am there to purely serve you and your family.
Childbirth is a challenge like no other. A marathon without knowing how long you'll be running for or when the finish line is approaching. One of the hardest journeys you'll go through. A mental, spiritual, and physical feat second to none.
Just as you would with an actual marathon, preparing your body, spirit and mind before you start is imperative to give yourself the best chance to finish, and finish empowered. So while childbirth will be no walk in the park, we will do the work in the months leading up to it so you can enter that birth portal confident and excited for your journey ahead.
I will walk beside you offering gentle guidance, support and a safe space to explore your inner self and find your own empowerment.
I'll ask some hard questions. I'll provide you information and education. I'll be your cheerleader. I'll provide long warm hugs. I will be your safe space. I'll be there for you if you're feeling a bit wobbly.
I'm not here to save you. When you're in the depths of birth, there's only one way out, and only you can make that journey.
But before reaching that crossroad. Before you enter into the birth portal, we will do the work. We'll explore the inner depths of yourself. And you will reach that crossroad with a head full of knowledge, a body that is prepared to be pushed to its outer edges, and a soul that is fiercely ready to be opened up to the incredible Rite of Passage you're going through. To meet your baby. To witness your true power. To feel like an incredible strong warrior.
BECAUSE YOU ARE.
Of course I'll be there for you in the depths of fire to feed you coconut water, to squeeze your hips, and to remind you of your true power. But at the end of the day, you have everything you need inside. When all the external help and distractions fail, what you have to get through the next part is within you.
When all else fails, you have you, and that's actually all you need.
When all else fails, you have you, and that's all you need
Pregnancy Birth Preparation Sessions
In each of these sessions, I meet with you and your partner (if applicable) in the comfort of your home, and we will deep dive into the world of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and truly preparing your soul for this Rite of Passage you're about to journey on. Some sessions will include your partner and some will be 1:1 sessions just with you.
We will explore a huge array of information to help you feel informed and truly prepared. We will dive deep into your soul, your Menarche experience (first period), your own birth, your relationship with your body, and so so much more.
If relevant, I'll work closely with your partner to ensure they fully understand the role they will play in the birth space, and providing them with a toolkit to best support you through it all. I'll guide discussions through upcoming relationship dynamic changes, and also the huge shift it is to become a parent, even if you haven't physically given birth.
These sessions will be there as a springboard for you and your partner to continue on in the inner and physical work we start, and are priceless in the benefits you'll receive by working on yourself.
Your Birth
I'll be on call for your birth from 38 weeks gestation. When you're in labour and you feel you want me in your space, I'll come to you.
Just as every person is different, every birth is different. What you need may vary, and I'll be there to work with whatever you need. Above all the logistics of what I will offer you, I will hold space for you. You will be held safely to traverse the deepest darkest moments with a complete trust in the wisdom of your body. You will never be questioned and you will always be supported. That's my promise to you.
Once your baby has arrived earthside, I'll only leave you once you're nourished, hydrated, comfortable, and securely inside your oxytocin filled bubble.
"There are not enough words to articulate how grateful I felt to have Jane at my side during such an unknown and epic experience. She is a true angel."
Postpartum
The postpartum period is one of the most vulnerable and important times you and your body will go through in your life. The time after you are pregnant brings forth an entirely new blend of hormones, physical changes, emotions, life alternations, and challenges that need to be nurtured with warmth and care. As many different traditional medicines will say, the first 40 days of your postpartum will directly set you up for the next 40 years of your life. And it's absolutely true.
While our current society doesn't prioritise this time for mothers and families, I truly believe it is a requirement to have true care, connection and rest in early postpartum if we are to reclaim the vital role mothers play in our society. This is not just a 'nice thing to have'. This shouldn't be a luxury. This is a NEED and a REQUIREMENT every woman journeying through postpartum needs to strive for.
I want to be there for you during this period, but even more than that, I want to help you create a postpartum time that is supported by your community so that you feel fully cared for in all aspects of your being.
Postpartum Planning Session
Just as it's imperative to prepare for the birth of your baby, it's just as if not more important to prepare for your early postpartum period. During this session we will sit down together and talk through the different aspects of postpartum, what you can expect, and how you can best set yourself up to be supported in all ways.
Some things that we might discuss could include the importance of nourishing food, calling in and/or creating your community, setting boundaries, normal infant sleep, food preparation and filling your freezer, breastfeeding, educating those around you, babywearing, body work, physiology of your postpartum body, practical ways people can help you, and so much more.
The goal of this session is for you to come away feeling completely informed and with a plan of action to set yourself up with a well supported and nourished postpartum period.
In-Person Postpartum Support
I will arrive at your door with flowers, bearing gifts of nourishing food, drinks and snacks that I will pop away into your kitchen and prepare for later. I'll ensure you have a warm drink beside you and that you've eaten something. From here, how the next few hours looks is completely up to you and what you need in that given moment on that given day. It will be different for everyone and there is no templated version that you have to stick to. No right or wrong way to do it. It will be whatever you need it to be and that will be perfect. Some very limited examples of this might include...
I could do some light housework to reduce that mental load.
We could sit together and safely debrief your birth experience.
I could care for your newborn baby while you take some protected sleep or soak in a bath.
I could cook your dinner for you so it's ready to go right when witching hour hits.
I could prepare a herbal foot bath while massaging your tired joints.
We could work through breastfeeding challenges and try different things to help.
You could sit in a sitz bath allowing your perineum to heal.
I could play with your older children or take them for a walk to the park for a moment's peace.
We could discuss and have a look at babywearing options for when the time comes to implement it.
We could literally just sit together, drinking tea, chatting about anything and everything, being held with reverence.
