Empowering women in pregnancy and birth…
After developing an intense fear of childbirth (following chronic illness in my twenties), I spent 5 years diving into birth education and women’s health from a holistic perspective. Now, after birthing my first child and having lived the experience of pregnancy and birth, I’m ready to share my knowledge with others. Along with my own experience, I bring years of studying natural birth, women’s health, herbal medicine and somatic work, to the table.
I had a beautiful mostly “wild” pregnancy, with minimal external monitoring and intervention. It was not always smooth sailing, but I navigated the journey by tuning deeply inward and addressing any complicating symptoms that arose with herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle.
I then had a drug-free, uncomplicated 8hr labour — the first half of which I chose to experience completely alone, the latter with my husband and then birth team and midwife during pushing. It was empowering, intense, and beautiful — and I want you to have that too.
Of course it must be acknowledged: even with all the prep sometimes things may not go to plan, for birth is unpredictable like that and nothing is guaranteed. We can, however, set ourselves up physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually to have the best experience possible and to pass through this rite of passage feeling empowered — no matter what happens in the end.
My Story and Background
In my early twenties when suffering chronic health issues, I developed an intense fear of pregnancy and birth — I was afraid of all the changes my body would undergo, and given all the health challenges I had suffered from, I was afraid of anything setting them off and becoming chronically unwell again.
But, knowing that I wanted to become a mother one day, I began educating myself about birth, which led me down a path of unravelling many misconceptions, diving deeper into women’s health from a holistic perspective, reconnecting with my own body, and ultimately preparing for my own pregnancy and birth long before I even conceived — 5 years earlier, in fact.
My education and preparation has been multi-faceted, ranging from herbal medicine and diet, to somatic preparation and releasing trauma stored in the womb and pelvis (as to this I am trained in craniosacral therapy and Mayan abdominal massage), and understanding the sexual nature of birth. I have completed numerous birth preparation programs including Debra Pascali-Bonaro’s “Orgasmic Birth”. I also studied elements of indigenous Mayan midwifery and for my own birth, prepared jungle medicines for supporting natural birth and preventing postpartum hemorrhage.
Over the years educating myself, I realised that birth has the potential to be a truly empowering and beautiful experience for women and families. But unfortunately as I learnt, these days, the current medical model of birth usually treats it in a way that interferes with our biology, disrespects women, and creates all sorts of complications.
Before I go further, I want to make clear that I by absolutely no means am against birthing in hospitals or medical intervention where that is necessary, because it can indeed even be life saving at times. However, many procedures which should be used in exceptional circumstances have become normalised, with a cascade of consequences impacting all involved – not to mention the deep psychological effect of disempowering women instead of supporting them through their profound rite of passage into motherhood.
My goal, through tailored mentoring sessions and education, is to support women reclaim their power in pregnancy and birth, so that they may enter motherhood feeling happy, healthy and confident. I bring together the myriad information I have gathered over the years, as well as my embodied experiences, to help you navigate your journey.
How I can support you in your pregnancy and birth preparation…
I provide support across a broad range of topics to support you holistically throughout pregnancy and birth. I can also begin providing assistance pre-conception.
- Dietary recommendations for optimum health during pregnancy, navigating pregnancy symptoms, and preparing the body for birth. Includes dietary preparation to reduce water-retention and inflammation in the uterus – important for creating space for baby, and reducing the risk of birth complications.
- Herbal recommendations and medicinal preparations for the three trimesters of pregnancy, to prevent/manage/address symptoms and potential complications. Includes suggestions for herbs for nausea, optimising nutrient absorption, toning the uterus and softening the cervix to prepare for birth, and gentle natural remedies to support commencement of labour if baby is at term. I can also prepare and supply tincture for reducing risk of postpartum hemorrhage, to be taken at birth.
- Physical prep and optimal fetal positioning: I will equip you with simple exercises you can do, as well as supply further resources/refer you for further support depending on your needs and, if at a late stage of pregnancy, baby is not optimally positioned.
- What to expect during labour?: education to prepare you for the physical process of birth itself, information on comfort techniques to use during the different stages of labour, uses/risks of drugs, tips to prevent tearing during birth.
- Mental, emotional & spiritual preparation, including hypnobirthing techniques: birth is not just a physical process, it is important to mentally and emotionally prepare, including navigate and address fears in advance. I can also support you with meditations and self-hypnosis techniques for you to call on during labour, to manage pain and intensity.
- Understanding medical testing during pregnancy, complications, and birth interventions: education on these topics, to help you navigate your pregnancy care and set you up well-informed for birth so you know your options and when to accept/seek intervention.
- Addressing trauma: if you have experienced trauma (e.g. assault), it is important to address it prior to birth – this is because trauma is stored in the body, and can often come up during birth, manifesting as blocks/complications in labour. I offer talking therapy as well as somatic exercises to support you releasing trauma. My work is trauma informed and I myself experienced sexual trauma and worked to address this prior to my pregnancy.
- Birth preferences/plan: helping you prepare a birth plan to ensure that your preferences are respected by your provider during labour.
- Placenta (uses, traditions and rituals): if you have the option to keep your placenta (which I recommend doing), consider how to honour this sacred organ which accompanied your baby through their journey in the womb. There are medicinal uses for the placenta or you can return it to the earth. This is also an opportunity to reconnect with your ancestral roots and/or the lands where you birth, and can have important spiritual significance.
- Postpartum planning and support: information on what to expect postpartum, tips for womb and pelvic floor health & healing, meal-planning. Depending on location, I also offer 1-1 visits to support you with postpartum care, including meals, massage, and herbal support.
- Birth story integration: no matter what birth ends up being (because it often doesn’t go to plan!), postpartum integration is important for emotional wellbeing. I am here to listen to your story, witness your transition to motherhood, and provide emotional support in this tender time of early postpartum.
I offer 1-1 60min sessions at $90 or a package of 10 sessions, for me to accompany you throughout your pregnancy at $800. I can offer discounts to women in financial need. From March 2026 I am available to attend births & offer postpartum visits depending on location — for an additional fee.
During sessions, we address topics that you desire support in, and I am here to listen in confidence and provide emotional support throughout the pregnancy journey. I can also offer guided meditations and guide you through somatic exercises for relaxation, connection to baby, and healing.
Ten Moons Project — Publishing women’s voices
Ten Moons is a publications project born from two of my core passions in life: creative expression and women’s health & wellbeing. It developed out of my desire to be in greater service offering support and guidance in the holistic health field — whilst wanting to do so from a more subtle standpoint, facilitating the unlocking of each individual’s own inner wisdom. Above all, I also desire to facilitate community growth and connection. Storytelling was traditionally a very important part of tribal and ancient cultures: a means of gathering, connecting and imparting wisdom across generations.
The idea for Ten Moons itself was born during my pregnancy, at a time when I was reading and watching birth stories daily to help my birth preparation. However I also realised pregnancy stories could be really beneficial. I enjoyed talking regularly with my friend on the other side of the world, also pregnant, sharing our experiences. Pregnancy itself is such a profound journey of intense emotions and physical changes. Why not share stories from this time in addition to birth stories, to support others navigate their way through?
Contributors to an anthology will have the chance to: get their work published and voice heard, receive editorial guidance and support for their writing, earn a share of royalties from sales… all whilst supporting other women through their pregnancy journey, who can then read the published book! The process of writing your story can also be healing and support personal integration of your own experiences.
Anthologies will feature approx 10 stories from 10 women, 1,000-3,000 words per entry. Participation fee to join: sliding scale/range $100-350.
