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25.01.2022 Part 1. 432 Indigenous Australians have died in police custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991 and not a single person has ever been convicted in relation to these deaths. But why? There is a perceived normality around Aboriginal deaths in custody that has come about through subconscious racism.... Many people know more about the police and prison systems in America than they do about those in Australia because its been fetishised to the fullest extent and aired endlessly through Netflix specials that we can binge watch to make us feel better about the level of dysfunction in our own lives. But what is it that makes police brutality or prison violence any difference here, that makes Indigenous deaths in custody so seemingly acceptable? Its the fact that these deaths are often considered or perceived as a co-morbidity. This means that people will blame another condition (medical or otherwise) that might have contributed to their death. For example, an underlying heart condition or drunkenness which could impact on how a persons body can handle certain situations of stress or duress. The factor that is lost through blatant racist complacency is that if you remove the factor of police brutality, prison violence, or improper and unsafe conditions, then those contributing factors wouldnt have killed these people in that moment. People didnt die from drunkenness for example, but from total neglect whilst in a state of drunkenness. The negative perceptions of Indigenous Australians come from the ways in which people consume information that has been delivered by the media and other similar sources in a way that serves their agenda. Words like dysfunctional and disorderly are often used, which cast Aboriginal people in a negative light. This is what creates subconsciously racist attitudes in society that drive complicity and an indifference to the murder of our First Nations people at the hands of the law. Art by @coffinbirth

25.01.2022 My heart is so heavy. With grief for the lives that have been lost. With sadness as George Floyds words echo in my mind.. Mama.... With guilt for the privileged complacency Ive been living in. Unintentionally yet subconsciously contributing to the systematic racism and structures within our society. I may not be able to change the colour of my skin, but I can change the way I show up in this world and stand against racism, and in turn the ways these boys do too.

25.01.2022 Watch immediately and realise how complacent your white privilege makes you.

23.01.2022 No one should be forced into this situation because of archaic laws!

22.01.2022 The intention for todays postpartum visit was to facilitate some time for Mum and Dad to spend with big brother alone, as hes having some (understandably) big feelings this last week since his brother joined the family. He loves his new brother dearly, but its such a big and hard shift for little humans to suddenly adjust to having to share their parents. After I arrived this morning Mum fed baby and I tucked him up happily into a stretchy wrap where I knew hed be content... for quite some time. The rest of the family headed out to a local park to spend some time together and breathe in some fresh air, and I started cooking a roast pumpkin, ginger and coconut soup while they were gone (recipe in my highlights!). I love cooking in clients houses as it makes the place smell delicious, and it creates a beautiful atmosphere of love and creation and sharing. I cleaned the kitchen and washed the all too familiar dishes from a toddler, and it brought me right back to my postpartum with Easton. Im so grateful to be doing this work, because I know how badly I needed it. I will never underestimate the significance of someone leaving their newborn baby with me, and I know that takes an incredible level of trust, but Im so happy that I can be that safe space for someone. Every visit is different, and I dont know what Ill be doing until I arrive at my clients house and get a feel for what they need, but between cravings for pumpkin soup and quality time with their eldest, I think we nailed it today

22.01.2022 This photo!! By Belle Verdiglione, an absolutely spectacular human and insanely talented photographer.

22.01.2022 Part 2. The fact of the matter is that there wont be a decline in Aboriginal deaths in custody until the real issues at hand are dealt with, and thats the underlying cause for the over representation of Aboriginal folk in Australian prisons. So why are Aboriginal folk incarcerated at such a disproportionate rate?... There are two main categories of risk factors and considerations. The first being the underlying causes such as socioeconomic disadvantages, stolen generations, substance abuse, homelessness, lack of education, and physical and mental health issues. The second is discrimination that Aboriginal folk experience within the justice system, such as a failure to recognise social and cultural differences and laws, discriminatory practices whether direct or indirect, over-policing (evident in WA), punitive bail conditions, or unreasonable prosecutorial decisions made by police. The other issue with the gross over representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system is that it has an inter generational effect and we see those living with someone who has been incarcerated be more likely to be incarcerated themselves. The social and economic issues faced by Aboriginal people are intrinsically linked to previous and current generations experiences with colonisation. I believe that the issues and challenges encountered by our Indigenous population are caused by centuries of systematic racism, set in place to disadvantage them at every turn and put them in a place of vulnerability that leaves them grappling with a variety of factors, such as socioeconomic and discriminatory aspects, which lead to their incarceration. So where do we go from here? Art by @coffinbirth

21.01.2022 Part 4. A lack of understanding around criminal justice processes and what is required often sees Aboriginal people missing court dates or failing to comply with court orders, so legal education is desperately needed too. Employment and leadership. Aboriginal people being employed and/or placed into positions of leadership has a significant impact upon a persons likelihood of committing a criminal offence, and Aboriginal people are grossly under represented in positions of le...adership and secure employment. Recreational programmes. Programmes that engage young Aboriginal people in activities that not only avoid them engaging in criminal activity, but that also identify areas of special interest for young people that otherwise may feel they dont have an outlet. Mentorships through recreational programmes that see older kids supporting those that are up and coming has proven to have a positive impact on both criminal activity and sense of community. Healing programmes. Canada has introduced a model of healing lodges for offenders prone to reoffend which are based on Aboriginal culture and have largely Aboriginal staff. A lot of therapeutic healing takes place to address what has caused these people to offend in the first place, such as addiction, inter generational traumas and loss. Spiritual healing draws on the strength, wisdom and spirit of Aboriginal ancestors, Elders and the land to heal the spirit of Aboriginal people by strengthening the connections to family, community, land and culture. Singer Archie Roach and actor Jack Charles once teamed up to offer healing programmes within youth prisons. Justice reinvestment. This model is based on the evidence that a large number of offenders come from the same small communities, and therefore investing the money that would be spent on incarcerating people on instead addressing the underlying causes of the criminal activity thats so prevalent in these communities proves advantageous to all. CONTINUED IN NEXT POST. Art by @coffinbirth

21.01.2022 Not good enough. Im so angry for my friend who had the potential for a positive birth stolen from her because of these barbaric rules. #ButNotMaternity

21.01.2022 10:06pm 29/7/17 The birth of my first son, Cohen, who turned three today! This is us after a rough and traumatic 30+ hours of induction with pretty much every intervention possible. This is me so relieved to have my baby safely in my arms even though my dream of drug and intervention free birth had been taken away. This is me, broken into a million pieces, just days or weeks before realising that this cant be the norm and that we must do better. This birth set me on the path... to becoming a Doula. I am so far beyond grateful for my son, and for the lessons I learnt in his birth and postpartum, but it wasnt what I wanted or needed. And its okay to say that. Its okay to grieve what could or should have been. Its okay to say that I was failed time and time again. This boy is the absolute light of my life and there arent enough words to describe how much I love and admire him. Hes taught me something every damn day since he was born, and Ill be forever grateful that he chose me, because hes helped me help so many other people. Happy birthday my little big kid. You are an absolute gift and the love of my life

21.01.2022 Soaking in these sweet moments amongst the hardest years of my life. Its really hard to describe to people how parenting can simultaneously be the most exhausting, depleting and taxing thing in the world as well as the most fulfilling, joyful and beautiful gift possible. The nights are long and sleepless. The emotions run wild. I feel like there isnt enough of me to go around. I often feel like Im doing things all wrong. But these little guys.. Id just give the whole worl...d for them and their happiness. They say it takes a village, but its really f*cking hard when you dont have it. Endlessly grateful to my one and only @brentogs

20.01.2022 I hadnt watched the video of George Floyds murder until this morning. I had seen snippets of the footage, but I had actively avoided seeking out the full video because I didnt think I could handle the pain and heartbreak it would bring. However, I quickly realised that this just epitomised my white privilege. Knowing that as a white woman, with a white husband and white children, I would never be confronted with this situation or the reality of being targeted due to the co...lour of my skin. Individuals in a place of privilege often avoid difficult to have conversations and difficult to watch videos because they know theyre so far removed from that reality that they can simply pretend its fiction. Its important that we check our privilege and that we sit in that discomfort and embrace it. Because the difference is that I finished watching that video and my heart felt heavy and I felt such grief, but I didnt start fearing for the lives of my children. I bet theres a black mother sitting in Minneapolis with two young boys whos terrified for what their future holds, terrified that theyll be murdered just as George Floyd was, because theyre black. It is SO important that white people are learning about and using their privilege to bring attention to the racial disparities that are rife in our society. When we dont even recognise it, we can never seek to better it. Make a conscious effort to learn if you truly dont understand, and seek that education from BIPOC folk or reputable resources that wont give you the whitewashed version of history that youre used to. Support BIPOC friends by sharing and crediting their work, tipping/paying them for the work they do and/or content they share, and hold space for them to grieve and process their trauma. What has been happening in the world is profoundly impactful, and so is living with the reality that the colour of your skin leaves you more likely to die at the hands of law enforcement, in childbirth and in this pandemic among MANY other things. Dont buy into white saviourism, just realise how damn lucky you are to not have been faced with any of these realities in your lifetime. Art by @shirien.creates

19.01.2022 This is a long read, but hopefully worth it. I think one of the most toxic and insidious pieces of gaslighting I see in the world today is society utterly faili...ng to support women to birth their baby the way they want, feed their baby the way they want and parent their baby the way they want. Then, instead of taking responsibility for that catastrophic public health failure, society turns round and tells women it was their own fault. Their weak, incompetent female bodies just aren’t capable of their basic bioloical functions, so aren’t they lucky there’s some clever alternative on hand for them. Women’s bodies routinely fall through the cracks when it comes to public health awareness and education, in every conceivable way. Many of us come out of our sex education lessons not knowing the difference between a vagina and a vulva. However, most people could tell you the difference between a penis and a set of testicles. So let’s not pretend that teaching correct names for our anatomy is somehow too hard. Menstruation is seen as something taboo, dirty, embarrassing, shameful, something to be hidden away at all costs. And I mean at all costs, as in women with abnormal vaginal bleeding end up being too embarrassed to go to their GP, so if it turns out to be an early warning sign of cancer it gets missed. This nonsense has a death toll attached to it. When we talk about ‘any cost’ we’re talking about it costing lives. And breasts are even more confusing. Breasts are beautiful, right? Obviously. And men like them, and because obviously the primary function of a woman’s existence is to be pleasing to the male gaze, she should show them off, right? But not too much because if you show them off too much then you’re practically asking to be sexually assaulted. So, you should also cover up. And, my God if you show the barest millimetre of female areola or nipple (areola is the bit that surrounds the nipple- again something people don’t know the word for) then you want locking up immediately for public indecency. Your great Uncle Ted whose fondness for cream cakes has left him sporting a cracking set of C-cups though, he can walk around shirtless at the beach, showing off his male nipples till the cows come home. It’s all a bit ‘Women! Know your place!’ isn’t it? And remember, as a woman you can never actually like your own body. No, the moment you do that people will start talking about how vain, and conceited, and full of yourself you are. So you must exist in a permanent state of thinking you’re too fat, too thin, your hair is too dark, too blonde, your breasts are too big, too small, the wrong shape, you’re too tall, too short, your thighs are the wrong shape. You must eternally purchase a small fortune's worth of products to try and make your body more appealing to the male gaze, but spoiler alert, you’ll never actually achieve the perfection you seek, because society will invent new imperfections to keep you insecure and spending money. Imagine how many companies would go out of business tomorrow if every woman in the world woke up actually loving her own body? Giving birth and breastfeeding are no different. By the time a woman gets round to the point of giving birth, and feeding her baby she has already been emotionally conditioned from her earliest childhood to feel like her body isn’t good enough, and that it's almost certain to let her down. This message, sadly is reinforced even more strongly during pregnancy when women are often bombarded with horror stories about labour, delivery, and breastfeeding. Imagine, for a minute, if boys and young men were told, just coming into sexual maturity were bombarded constantly with messages that their penises were very prone to failing, and that it was best to put their faith in technology and keep a box of viagra in their back pocket at all times. Do you think that would help them feel at ease, and confident in their bodies, or do you think at best the added stress and anxiety would negatively affect them, and at worst lead to outright sexual dysfunction? It’s little wonder then, isn’t it, that women go into pregnancy, labour and birth almost with the expectation that their body won’t be capable of birthing, and feeding their baby. It’s not surprising that when women suffer sore nipples they believe that that’s normal and it’s just something wrong with them, they just need to try and push through it, maybe it’s because they’ve got a low pain threshold, or they have fair skin or red hair. If her baby isn’t gaining the correct amount of weight it must be because there’s something wrong with her body. Women have been bombarded their whole lives with the message that their body is incompetent, and wrong, so if she has problems breastfeeding the natural next step is to blame herself, and her body. On top of that because our misogynistic, patriarchal society has decreed that women’s health issues, including breastfeeding are totally unimportant there is often little to no help to be found. We spend more money researching erectile dysfunction than we do on breastfeeding research. It is unimaginable to us that a man could walk into a GPs office suffering erectile dysfunction only to be told ‘Ah well now, Bob, you’ve successfully been having sex for over 10 years now, that’s a pretty good innings. That’s a lot more sex than some people get, so you should be proud of yourself to have been able to do it for this long. Don’t worry about it, it’s not that important in the grand scheme of things. I tell you, if I lined 100 men up in a room would you be able to tell me which ones were having sex, and which ones weren’t? Of course not, so what’s the big deal? At the end of the day your wife can just order herself a vibrator, and get pleasure that way. If anything it might even be better for you because you’ll know she’s definitely getting pleasure, and you can even have a rest while she uses it.’. But that’s pretty much how mothers with breastfeeding problems get fobbed off, all the damn time. ‘Don’t worry about it, it’s not important, just use some formula, it doesn’t matter.’ Now, obviously there are some women who genuinely cannot breastfeed. That’s very real, it’s valid, and those mothers matter. However the mothers we’re addressing in this essay are the 80% of mothers who are forced to stop breastfeeding in the early weeks, who not only wanted to continue, but feel they could have continued if they had had access to the right support (figure from Public Health England). Those mothers, and the number adds up to hundreds of thousands of very real women, who were left alone, stressed, anxious, in pain, bleeding had their reproductive rights, their freedom of choice to breastfeed stolen from them by a society that simply doesn’t care enough to provide them with the support they needed. This leaves them at far greater risk of developing a post-natal mental illness, for which again there isn’t nearly enough help and support available. Oh, and on top of all this the leading cause of death in new mothers is suicide. So once again women are dying because society just doesn’t deem their health issues worth caring about. So why is breastfeeding so important to women? Right well first of all women don’t owe you an explanation of why breastfeeding is important to them. Women do not have to justify why breastfeeding matters to them. If a woman wants to breastfeed, if it matters to her, if it’s important to her then that’s all you need to know. We’re not asking old Bob with his erectile dysfunction at the GP’s office to quickly write out a 2000 word essay outlining why sex is important to thim now are we? We just accept it. Women deserve the same. But since you’re here there are a number of reasons why breastfeeding is important to mothers. The health benefits, the bonding experience, for some it can help them recover from a traumatic birth, some abuse victims find that it helps them to reclaim and reconnect with their bodies, for some women breastfeeding has enormous cultural significance. And the health benefits in particular are something that most women are informed of during pregnancy. We spend 9 months telling women that ‘breast is best’. And then, in an act that can only be described as wanton cruelty, society utterly fails to support them. Telling a woman to breastfeed, and then failing to support her to enable and empower her to do so is despicable. Our hearts all go out to the contestants on The Great British Bake Off when Paul Hollywood sets them a particularly difficult technical challenge, and they have no idea what they’re supposed to be baking and the deliberately vague recipe just says ‘bake a cake’. But that’s literally what society is doing to new mothers when it comes to breastfeeding. Actually it’s worse than that because a lot of us might have a vague idea on how to bake a cake, maybe we had cookery at school, or our Nan’s baked, or we watched a cookery show once. No-one anywhere, ever taught me a thing about breastfeeding. The first time I actually saw a woman breastfeeding was me trying to feed my first child. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. And just to add yet another little twist to the knife, we’re told that breastfeeding is easy, breezy, natural. Yes, breastfeeding is natural, but it’s not natural like breathing, which almost all of us can do automatically without effort or thought. Breastfeeding is natural like walking, something almost everyone can do, but a skill that needs to be taught, and that takes time and practice to master. When we’re learning to walk and we fall down we don’t take that as a sign that we can’t walk, but when we hit a bump in the road with breastfeeding and fall down a lot of women think that means they just can’t do it, because no-one has ever informed them otherwise. So where is the support? Well our front line of support is supposed to come from our extended family and friends. Humans are an aggressively social species, we became the dominant species on the planet because this system of community helped us thrive. New mothers aren’t supposed to do this on their own, they’re supposed to be able to relax and recover, while their community looks after them, brings them food, takes care of chores etc. For the most part we don’t have that any more, it’s now rare for mothers to have a village around them, so new mothers find themselves in the position, sometimes days or even hours after giving birth of trying to get to grips with breastfeeding, a brand new skill she and her baby need to learn together, while trying to stay on top of housework, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping etc. And any village that might exist has been poisoned by decades of misinformation about how formula is just as good, if not better than breastfeeding, babies should only feed every 4 hours, if you hold your baby too much you’ll spoil them and they’ll never be independent. My village felt like it was sponsored by Nestle, they were so insistent that switching to formula would solve all my problems, my baby would sleep more, I wouldn’t be so stressed, elves would descend from the heavens and clean my house while I slept...Great Aunt Galdys over there giving it all ‘Back in my day’ Aye well, Gladys back in your day smallpox was still a thing so let’s not pretend the good old days were all that good. So maybe we can at least turn to health care professionals? Hmmmmm maybe. Now I don’t want to malign health care professionals as a whole because there are some absolutely wonderful, wonderful midwives, health visitors and doctors out there who are incredibly well informed and absolutely supportive of breastfeeding. However I’m also not going to pretend that there aren’t also healthcare professionals out there who are sometimes giving out damaging misinformation due to a lack of knowledge and training. And on top of that due to a lack of funding and resources many health care professionals are being left carrying absolutely eye watering case loads, so they simply don’t have the time to effectively help with breastfeeding. With the best will in the world you cannot fit adequate breastfeeding support into a 10 minute appointment. But hey there’s always the voluntary sector providing breastfeeding support, right? I mean yeah, there are breastfeeding helplines, there’s a wealth of information on-line, and that’s great, but there are breastfeeding problems that require face to face support. Not only that but a big part of the reassurance provided by breastfeeding support drop ins is mums seeing other mums going through the same thing they’re going through and coming out the other side. But remember how society doesn’t value breastfeeding, or women in general? Yeah. So the government decided that what it would do was to delegate the responsibility for providing breastfeeding support to local authorities. Sounds good on paper right? The support needed in Harrow might be very different from what’s needed in Hull? But then the government decided it would cut funding to local authorities so their budgets were reduced resulting in breastfeeding support services being cut, and the government did absolutely diddly squat to ensure that local authorities upheld their responsibility to provide breastfeeding support.. The end result? Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us and playing for the postcode lottery! Yes that’s right, now your postcode will determine what level of breastfeeding support you can access. When we’re up against all that it’s no wonder that so many mothers feel they ‘couldn’t breastfeed’ what’s a true wonder is that some actually manage it in spite of all that. For the vast majority of mothers in the UK, hundreds of thousands every single year you did not fail, you were failed. You were lied to, you were misled, you were let down, and then society turned round and told you it was all your own fault. And I’m so, so sorry. It wasn’t you, or your breasts or your baby, or your milk, it was government, industry and society. You are not responsible for a societal and public health failing. You deserved better. Every day women are having their reproductive rights, their freedom of choice stripped from them because society fails us. If you’re not angry then you’re not paying attention. Lisa Marie O'Sullivan and Hannah Cresswell

18.01.2022 When you get me, you get all or nothing. You don’t get to pick and choose which parts you like or when you’d like me to be strong and outspoken or not. People love that I’m such a strong advocate, until I’m advocating for something or someone they don’t like. They love that I call out injustices and shitty behaviour until that shitty behaviour is their own. I have spent my whole life disagreeing with the masses and being vilified for it. I’m used to this feeling. I’m used to ...pissing people off and going against the grain, and your attempts at censoring me won’t work. The thing is, this is what makes me so good at what I do. Because I don’t shy away from the difficult conversations, from the confrontations, from standing up for myself and for those I love and believe in. Don’t use one hand to feed me compliments on my strength whilst the other stabs me in the back for standing up for my beliefs. My personal views don’t need to align with yours perfectly for us to have a meaningful and valued relationship, and I will always be able to put differences aside for those I care about. But I won’t tolerate people trying to guilt me into an opposing viewpoint. I don’t need anyone’s approval but my own.

18.01.2022 So women and birthing people are lacking the support they need due to hospital restrictions, but its okay for this many people to cram in for a good photo op with a new mum without practicing social distancing, wearing masks etc? Just checking.. yeah, cool.

18.01.2022 Babywearing is a universal language Have a look at these stunning images and powerful parents!

18.01.2022 I am passionate about bodily autonomy and the right to choice above else, and I believe the topic of abortion is at the crux of this. Ive recently supported a friend through a medical termination and it affirmed for me something thats been playing on my mind for some time now, and thats offering services as an abortion Doula. I dont yet know exactly what these services will look like, but Im putting this idea into the universe and trusting that the pieces will fall into ...place. We need better education around abortion, more awareness, support before, during and after. Whether its at a distance, or whether its taking people to and from appointments and then tucking them into bed afterwards and nourishing them with food and love. Abortion is still considered taboo and women are expected to go through the process in silence and without support because its shrouded in shame in the eyes of society. Something needs to change. Abortions have happened since the dawn of time and they will continue to, regardless of whether or not people can access them legally or safely. So its high time that society stops projecting their opinions onto people who choose to end a pregnancy, and instead respect that choice and care for these women that so desperately need it. Bodily autonomy is all encompassing, so I cant be passionate about it in birth and not advocate for it when it comes to abortion, to me they are one in the same.

17.01.2022 Babywearing Dads are the best kind! Sam practicing wearing baby Sylvie in their ring sling today. This little lady is always so content snuggling with her Dad

16.01.2022 Im having a miscarriage. I had reached out in my stories to ask for others experiences as I really wasnt sure, and I was blown away by the support I received and by how many people shared with me. After talking with multiple people I was quite sure that it was what was happening, but I was doubting myself as my husband has had a vasectomy and the chances of getting pregnant are so low that it just couldnt have been that.. right?... I ended up going to the ED on Saturday night as I was having huge amounts of pain, had been vomiting and feeling faint. I was happy for my body to do its thing if it was miscarrying, but I was worried about infection. My bloods were clear but did show very low levels of hcg so I have been pregnant recently. The doctor said it was likely an incomplete miscarriage that started with my last bleed that was really unusual and is finishing with this bleed. Im grateful to have confirmation as I was doubting myself so much because of the vasectomy. I think what really hurts is that the chances of falling pregnant after a vasectomy are supposedly 2 in 1000, and to then lose that baby seems overall so impossibly low. We werent trying to get pregnant, and were happy with our two boys, but its really hard when something is taken away that you didnt know you kinda wanted. Im sharing this because I had no idea how many of you have been through this yourself. Because early pregnancy loss happens so often yet is so rarely discussed. And so that you know that Im a safe place to have this discussion. No one should have to go through this alone, because it feels heartbreaking even with the amount of support Ive received. Thank you to everyone that has reached out to me, shared stories, given their love and support and held space for me. I appreciate it beyond words. Id like to thank for @wild.womb.witch not only reaching out with words and love that made me feel so held, but for inspiring me to share this very personal experience. Lani has shared all of her early birth stories and it is such a powerful thing to do that I can see brings people together through lived experience, so I hope to do the same. Thank you all, I love you

15.01.2022 PSA for anyone following this page. TW: gross homophobic and transphobic language. Please do not support businesses that spread hateful messages like this. Find ones that support inclusivity, because this is vile.... With that said, my unwavering faith in Him and my desire to please Him gives me the boldness to staunchly proclaim the following: * Life begins at conception. * Abortion is murder. * Homosexuality is sin. * There are only two genders. * Only women can give birth.

13.01.2022 Sitz baths A sitz bath is a warm, shallow bath for cleansing the perineal area. They can be used at anytime, but are especially beneficial following vaginal childbirth as the warm water promotes circulation and healing which can assist with tearing, episiotomy or general aches and pains. Sitz baths are still beneficial for those whove had belly births too as its a gentle way of bathing yourself without interfering with your incision. In the early days, its recommended to ...have a sitz bath several times a day for 10-15 minutes at a time. If you have any stitches you dont want to be soaking in water for an extended period of time, and postpartum bleeding can be intense so frequent bathing and cleansing of the perineal area is important for optimum healing. You can add almost anything you like to a sitz bath mix, but the basis of my recipe is this: Epsom salt - contains magnesium which helps to relax muscles, regulate the nervous system, and boost blood circulation. Magnesium is readily absorbed through the skin making epsom salt baths an effective way of boosting your magnesium levels. Himalayan pink salt - helps to heal and bring relief to irritated skin, as well as being a detoxifying agent which leaves you feeling refreshed. Calendula flowers - they are an anti-inflammatory, lymphagogue, vulnerary (promotes wound healing), antibacterial, and antifungal agent. The medicine is strongest in the green base of the flower heads, so try to source whole flowers and not just the petals. The combination of these ingredients creates a soothing and healing blend. I place all the ingredients in a muslin bag to avoid having to cleanup the calendula petals, and steep it in the bath like a giant teabag. Sitz baths are a beautiful way or carving out time alone to focus on yourself and healing your body after childbirth. I encourage my clients to stick with the routine of taking a slow and warm bath and spending longer in there as they progress through their stages of healing. The calm that a soothing bath can bring is so valuable, and it serves as a reminder to fill your own cup so that you can fill that of others.

12.01.2022 Reasons parents choose to circumcise their sons and why they're incorrect: "Its cleaner." - Actually no, its not. The foreskin is fused to the glans until pub...erty leaving nothing to clean whatsoever until 10-12 years old. When it does detach around that time, you wash it like the rest of your body. "It reduces the risk of UTI'S." - The risk reduction is LESS than 1%. Not significant enough to amputate healthy functioning tissue. Not to mention, that reduction only applies to infancy. Not adulthood. As adults, intact and circumcised males have the same risk of developing urinary tract infections. *Allowing a circumcised bleeding penis to heal in a diaper full of urine and feces increases risk of infection. "It reduces the risk of penile cancer." -Aside from the fact that the American Cancer Society has already spoken out about that not being true, let's pretend for a minute that it is. Penile cancer is already so rare, that your son has a better chance of developing breast cancer than he does of ever developing penile cancer. Penile cancer includes the shaft and glans. The foreskin makes absolutely no difference. "It reduces the risk of STDs and HIV" - The only thing that prevents STDs are CONDOMS. Not circumcision. In actuality, the foreskin has been shown to have cells that act as part of the immune system in protecting against STDs. "His penis should match his dad's." - Ew. No it shouldn't. Your son will never notice a difference in his and his dad's penis unless your family is keen on whipping it out at thanksgiving and comparing. "Circumcised penises just look better." - All penises look the same when erect, intact or not. Aside from the fact that the glans on a circumcised male is keratinized and "dried out" therefore looking smaller than it really should. Not to mention pushing your sexual preferences on your son's body is pedophilia. Now let's look at the facts: A baby boy dies every 2 days as a direct result of a non medically necessary circumcision. Thousands of men will suffer long term complications including meatitis, erectile dysfunction, painful erections, diminished sexual pleasure, rough jack-hammering sex on their partners to achieve orgasm and more. Over 250,000 men in the US are currently restoring their foreskin and wish they had been left intact from birth. Countless men as adults have sued their parents and practitioners for performing their circumcision without their consent as babies. The lack of foreskin will affect every circumcised male and their partner's intimate life. The glans are supposed to be moist and covered, not dried out and keratinized. ....Still think it's a good idea? If anyone has any questions and would like more information, feel free to message me. This post is not meant to shame circumcised males or parents that made the decision to do so. It is meant to raise awareness & inform others of the risks. You can regret making the decision and share what you have learned so the cycle stops. Most women and men are screaming womens rights but yet cutting off their little boys body parts, where are their rights? Who will stand up for them? As mothers of boys, it's your responsibility to be their voice! Huge thanks to Tiffany Maillet and David Candela for putting this together!

12.01.2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folk are advised that the following post contains an image and the name of someone who has died. Say his name: David Dungay Jr. David Dungay was a 26 year old man who suffered from diabetes and schizophrenia and who died in police custody in Long Bay jail in November 2015.... David was dragged from his cell after refusing to stop eating a packet of biscuits and was dragged forcefully by no less than five guards to a new cell where he was held face down and sedated. He screamed I cant breathe twelve times. In the footage from his murder one of the officers can be heard saying if youre talking, you can breathe. Whilst being pinned down by five officers face down, David eventually lost consciousness and died. His murder was captured on body cam and yet no one has been charged or convicted in relation to his death. It was ruled by a coroner that David did not pose a security risk nor was it necessary to change cells as there was no accute condition warranting the transfer. However he did not recommend the guards be disciplined as their conduct was limited by systemic efficiencies in training and was not motivated by malicious intent but was a product of misunderstanding. The simple fact is that if the use of force had been taken out of this situation, David Dungay would still be alive, and so would George Floyd. David Dungays family have understandably struggled with the likeness of these two deaths and David and Georges final words. Following Davids death, the coroner made recommendations to the prison on ways they can improve their practices.. thats it. An Aboriginal man loses his life and the five men that killed him get told that next time they probably shouldnt take it that far #notgoodenough #daviddungay #aboriginaldeathsincustody

12.01.2022 Some people seem to be under the impression that Im anti cop because Ive shared numerous posts in regards to Police behaviour and brutality that needs to be called out. Id like to clear this up. Im not against Police. Im against individuals who abuse their position of power and bring harm to people by doing so. Im against institutions that encourage systemic racism. Im against the idea of defending your colleagues purely because of your profession, and not their beha...viour. In the same way, Im not against midwives. But I am against those that act against a birthing persons wishes. Im against those that pathologise birth and instill fear in women and birthing people. Im against those whose behaviour traumatises women and birthing people with no regard for the lasting impacts this has on that person and their ability to parent. Im not against teachers. But I am against the one who told one of my best friends in high school to get over the death of her brother. Im against the teachers who targeted me because I had gay parents. Im against institutions that turn a blind eye to the bullying and harassment that goes on within their schools. I will never pretend to understand what its like to work in law enforcement, or as a first responder. I can only begin to imagine the horrors that Police witness on the daily. However, me calling out shitty behaviour doesnt make me anti cop the same way Im not anti midwife, or anti school. Police are a crucial part of our society, but theres no denying their shortcomings at times. The big difference here is that I can and have talked to midwives and teachers who are in full agreeance that their colleagues are lacking in XYZ way, and that changes to these behaviours would be beneficial to all. The second you mention anything bad about a cop, it makes you an asshole thats against all Police and that will never sympathise with their experiences. I guess all that remains is this: if youre triggered by me discussing the Aboriginal deaths in custody, ask yourself why? There wasnt a Royal Commission for no reason. If youre triggered by me supporting Black Lives Matter, ask yourself why? Dont come at me with Blue Lives Matter, because you can take that badge off and no one will ever know. You cant just clock out from being black, you choose to be a cop, you arent born into it, and you arent forced to live with the consequences of being a cop if you dont want to. Black folk dont have that luxury. Just stop and ask yourself why you get so upset when someone calls out shitty behaviour, instead of seeing that theres room for growth. I wont stop speaking about the hard to swallow topics, regardless of how many abusive and threatening messages I receive because of it. I wont be scared into submission, for fear that I might offend someone. Because Im fucking offended that the reputation of the Police matters more than the lives of those who are suffering at their hands.

11.01.2022 Following on from my last post.. SUPPORT BUSINESSES LIKE THIS!!

10.01.2022 Im stepping back from social media this week. I need to create some boundaries for myself and a safe space for my brain away from the heartache that is all consuming. Trust me when I say I know just how privileged I am to be able to do that, to step away from racism when it hurts too much. Ive shared a lot of incredible resources over the last couple of weeks, and poured my heart into writing about Aboriginal deaths in custody. Right now Im done trying to defend my stance ...on police brutality and the systemic racism that is law enforcement. Im done listening to people say they had no idea it was so bad. Im done being a sounding board for justifications of racial biases. I need to step away for a few days, because the anxiety inducing state that is my social media right now serves no one. Im wrapping up with one beautiful client tomorrow and on call for a homebirth that Im so incredibly excited for, and Im cherishing this time with these clients and they deserve my focus above all else. Ill never stop advocating and educating, but I need to collect my spoons and recharge so that I can do that effectively and with impact. I encourage every single white person I know to go within and to ask themselves what they can do to action change. Stop looking for answers from other people, therefore holding anyone but yourself accountable.

09.01.2022 I wont be posting any content this week as I join forces to #amplifymelanatedvoices which was started by @blackandembodied and @jessicawilson.msrd to amplify black voices. This is not me disengaging, and I will continue to shed light on current events and share resources in my stories. I am muted but listening, muted but not silent.... #mutedbutlistening #blackouttuesday #listenandlearn (Please refrain from using the Black Lives Matter hashtag on these posts as useful resources are being lost as a result)

09.01.2022 Warming breast pads that help alleviate the symptoms of vapospasms, blocked ducts and mastitis - made by me! Thanks Rebecca

09.01.2022 Between 1987-1991 the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody took place. The Royal Commission was appointed by the Australian Government to explore the social, cultural and legal aspects and issues surrounding the deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in custody at such disproportionately high rates. The Royal Commission investigated 99 deaths that occurred between 1980-1989 and it was ruled that none of them were due to police violence. It was said tha...t glaring deficiencies existed in the standard of care afforded to many of the deceased. However no one took responsibility or was charged in relation to these deaths. The Royal Commission also addressed the disproportionately high number of Indigenous Australians who are incarcerated. Aboriginal folk currently represent 3% of the Australian population but make up more than 29% of our current prison population. 48% of juveniles in custody are Aboriginal. In 1992 one in seven prisoners was Aboriginal, that number has now risen to one in four. In December 2019 the rate of Aboriginal prisoners was 2,536 per 100,000 of the Aboriginal population, compared to 218 prisoners per 100,000 of the non-Aboriginal population. 56% of the people who died in custody were either on remand, fleeing police or during arrest, or they were in protective custody. Therefore none of these people had been found guilty of a crime. Most of these individuals were suspected of non-indictable offences which would award them a jail sentence of less than 5 years, and yet theyve paid with their lives. Members of the Stolen Generations are twice as likely to be arrested and those who have been removed from country and disconnected from their land are more likely to experience conflict with the law. White Australia has turned a blind eye and is casting judgement on America for the ongoing murders of BIPOC folk at the hands of the law, when we have blood on our hands at a rate that far exceeds anything thats ever happened over there. Image: red paint poured into the hands of the Serve and Protect sculpture at Salt Lake City Public Safety Building.

08.01.2022 I’m clearing out stock and creating space, so my knitted boobs need to go! $30 including postage Australia wide, international quoted on request. Multiples available. Comment below or DM me to purchase! xx

08.01.2022 I haven’t been posting for a long time, because our families had a lot of struggles over the past few months and it hasn’t felt right to share that. First of all because I didn’t want to seem as if I was seeking attention or sympathy, because it actually makes me quite uncomfortable. I also didn’t want to bring others down by only posting what feels like negative content. What I’m realising is that it serves no one pretending that things aren’t hard. People wonder where I am ...when I’m not posting and I feel totally disconnected from a huge community of people that I deeply care about. That said, I’m very conscious of who my followers are, and I encourage everyone to protect their energy. If anything feels too heavy, I won’t be offended if you need to unfollow. But I’m definitely here for those who need someone who can handle the heavy conversations! Right now it’s been two weeks since I got home from hospital for my back. I have to take endone every day just to get by, but I’m really stressed about what happens when the doctors stop prescribing it. I’ve been using a walker that whole time and have only just managed to walk to the bathroom and back without it. I’m endlessly grateful for our family that’s been cooking meals for us, it’s such a huge help and teaching me many lessons in accepting help. I’m awaiting news on when I can get in to see a specialist, but you know how public health is. So yeah, I’ve basically been in bed for two weeks and feel like I need some sunlight 2021 might not feel like it’s off to the best start, but that won’t dictate my year. I know it’s going to be amazing in so many other ways Hows everyone else travelling?

08.01.2022 I was going to take a break from social media.. but the October long weekend always feels like it marks a shift in my year that’s worth recognising. It usually lands on or around my birthday (Tuesday) the weather is always beautiful, and daylight savings begins, bringing longer days and more opportunities to be out and adventuring with my family. I love this time of year, and I love ticking off another lap around the sun, another year of lessons. It feels like a fresh start, ...like my own personal New Years. This year I’m focusing on protecting my energy, and standing in my power. Not apologising for things that aren’t my fault, or that are simply beyond my power. Putting my needs and my families needs first. Leaving behind negativity and soaking up every ounce of juicy goodness that I can. I’m done with toxicity and those that have time for it. Loving those that have stuck by me through thick and thin this year, I value you all endlessly.

07.01.2022 Nursing strikes. A nursing strike can happen for many reasons, and its often mistaken for a baby or toddler weaning from breastfeeding. My 15 month old Easton has just gotten over a 2 week long nursing strike where he wouldnt feed from me unless he was asleep. He had all 4 incisors come through at once and he was in pain. He would pull at my top as if he wanted to feed but would instead just bite me. He wouldnt even try to latch, just bite.... I was heartbroken, thinking this was the end for us. Thinking I had failed as I gave him oat milk during the day when he was tired and grizzly and wanted warm milk to drift off. It brought up all sorts of feelings from my first breastfeeding journey. But I sought support, I told myself it would get better and I took the stress off. I got to a place where I was okay with him having oat milk during the day and just getting everything he needed from me at night (reverse cycling - a topic for another day!), and I gave myself permission to stop pumping for childcare. I was suddenly enjoying breastfeeding a whole lot more. Then something changed and suddenly he pulled at my top and actually started feeding when I offered him my breast. And it feels like he hasnt left since. Hes making up for lost time and it now feels as if hes permanently attached to me, to the point Im experiencing nursing aversions! Oh breastfeeding toddlers are fickle beings. Children under two years of age are extremely unlikely to naturally wean without an external influence. This can include bottles, dummies, large amounts of solid food, self settling, pregnancy and more. Its easy to mistake a nursing strike for self weaning, so please reach out for support if you think youre experiencing this and would like to continue breastfeeding.

07.01.2022 I had the very best of intentions with my last post, but it seems that #amplifymelanatedvoices has been manipulated and is now having the total opposite effect. So instead, this week I will dedicate my feed to drawing attention to the Aboriginal deaths in custody so that people can help to understand how Australia has even more blood on its hands than America does when it comes to racist acts at the hands of the law. I remember writing an essay in year 9 for Australian Studie...s, it was a free choice essay. I wrote about the Aboriginal deaths in custody as my mother prompted me to bring light to the issue. My teacher was blown away that one of his students had addressed this. Im disappointed in myself though because Ive known about these atrocities for 15 years and Ive done nothing. Sure, Ive had lots of difficult conversations with people around racial disparities in Australia, and Ive always made an effort to support indigenous businesses and incorporate the beauty of Aboriginal culture into my childrens learning, but thats nothing that Ive gone out of my way to do. Those things come naturally. Im disappointed because Ive not turned up to the rallies. Ive not stopped in the streets when Ive seen police harassing Aboriginal teens. Ive not said anything when it really matters or when it will really make a difference. What does it matter that Ive known a lot about the deaths in custody for 15 years if I havent done anything about it? My silence serves no one, so it stops now. Art by Emma Constance

06.01.2022 Today I had my final visit with this beautiful family, two months after Sylvie was born at home. Being a part of this journey was an honour, and I feel beyond blessed to have been welcomed into this home and this birth. Ive never worked with a family who Ive gained so much from, and for that Im so grateful. Invoices paid early to help us when Brenton had his car accident, time when I needed it after Eastons surgery and my miscarriage. The kindest words and space held for ...me to discuss that experience. Deep conversations with both Molly and Sam that had me sharing things I havent shared before, and feeling safe to do so as we found familiarity in our shared experiences. I felt guilty for what seemed like burdening them with my stuff when I can now recognise that we just wholeheartedly showed up in full honest authenticity for each other from the moment we met, good and bad. They knew that being their doula didnt mean that life stopped for me.. and boy has it been piling on. All of that aside, theyre a truly special couple. Molly worked harder than anyone Ive ever seen to achieve her dream birth. She leant into every part of her pregnancy, every challenge, every doubt. She released so many fears and learnt so many lessons in surrender. She finally let go of her fears and trusted that her baby knew what they were doing, even if it cost them their homebirth, only to go into labour hours later and give birth at 42 weeks. Molly has had the most beautiful, slow, supported postpartum and asked for what shes needed when shes needed it. Shes honoured herself and her daughter, and Im so incredibly proud of what shes achieved. And Sam, well hes the finest example Ive seen of a dad thats breaking cycles to be the best father he can be, and hes a fucking fantastic one. This man adores his family above all else and is doing everything he can to be the best version of himself. I hope hes proud, because its so special seeing devoted dads loving on their kids as hard as he does. And so much love to my fav sassy toddler who required constant refreshments while her Mama laboured. Thank you guys, Ive genuinely loved every moment Ive spent with you

05.01.2022 A day late, but... A hell of a year. These precious boys grew more than I knew was possible in such a short period of time. We’ve spent a lot of time this year fixing up this house so that we can move onto something bigger and better, and hopefully that will all happen in the coming weeks.... I got to witness a magical homebirth this year, and support two beautiful families in their postpartum. This all wrapped up when I was supposed to have my spinal fusion surgery in September. I stopped taking on clients so that I could recover, but my surgery was delayed. It was then supposed to be January and now it’s looking more like April. I haven’t worked in months waiting for this surgery that could happen at the drop of a hat. I’ve finished the year off with an ambulance ride, hospital stay and being discharged with a walker because my back is so bad right now that I can barely walk. I’d love to say this year has been magical, but it’s been hard for our family in so many ways and things have been really difficult and uncertain for a long time now. I’m forever grateful to @brentogs who I quite literally wouldn’t survive without. These boys are what get me through Wishing everyone the happiest New Year, and hopefully a fresh start with 2021. See more

05.01.2022 #worldbreastfeedingweek Ive been waiting to post something until I could get a nice photo of me feeding Easton, but the week is up and I have a slew of selfies that reflect our reality.. even when its not pretty. Today, unshowered, 90 minutes into trying to get this kid to sleep when his teeth hurt and f*ck knows what else is bothering him. Feeling like hes about to rip my nipples off because hes been feeding ALL day and simultaneously trying out for the Olympic gymnastic...s team. Doesnt sound like the dream you want it to be, huh! But you know what? It is. Because Im everything he needs, and if hes that unsettled when Im able to feed him, I can only imagine how rubbish hed feel without breastfeeding. Its not always glamorous, or easy, or even satisfying, but its important as hell and Im so damn proud of every human out there who is or has breast/chest/body fed their babes, because sometimes you have a day like today where it all just feels relentless and lonely and like you want to be done with it.. but then you see their little smile when they start feeding and its just worth everything. So this years World Breastfeeding Week post isnt about statistics, or all the reasons you should choose breastmilk. Its about solidarity. Its about knowing that were in this together and fighting an epic fight with every feed as we work to #normalisebreastfeeding So just know that I see you. I feel you. I know what youre going through and Im going through it with you, and I promise its worth it

04.01.2022 So I planned to detox from social media for a few days, and left for a whole damn month. And its been GOOD! Seriously, the first couple of days were weird, and I kept grabbing my phone to aimlessly scroll, but I soon didnt want to. Now Im actually pushing myself a little to be on here. I love the connections I have with people on social media, but I hate the habits I had created around using my phone. Safe to say Ive learnt and changed a lot this month. Aside from boycott...ing online spaces, Ive done a bunch of really special things this past month. Most notably is finishing up caring for this little guy and his beautiful family, and attending my first homebirth nearly a week ago. Showing up for my clients wholeheartedly and above all else is always my main priority. Its been so good stepping away from the gram and not feeling guilty about it because I know the importance of how Im showing up in person right now. Being back on social media brings with it some big boundaries around how I interact with people and spend my energy, so dont be offended if I dont reply to messages or engage in conversation on certain subject matters. It just means I dont have the emotional energy to spend on it, and thats nothing against you. Im excited to share more from my time with the family Im currently working with, as well as other life updates (like we have fish now!), but that will come as it feels good. If youve ever considered taking a time out.. DO IT. It feels so refreshing

03.01.2022 I had the absolute pleasure of facilitating a Mother Blessing for one of my clients today. It was, as always, so beautiful and profound to sit in circle with women and connect on such a deep level. Celebrating an expectant mother or birthing person in this way is so special. I just cant wait for this homebirth, and to support family

03.01.2022 One year ago today I witnessed my first birth as a Doula and it changed me forever. I will always be forever grateful to Lauren and Nate for inviting me into this space, and for trusting me to care for them. Lauren fought so hard to have the intervention free birth she dreamed of, and ignored external pressures during her labour and truly went within and found a strength that is impossible to match outside the birth space. It was beyond amazing to witness.... I learnt so much from this birth and this family, and whilst every one of the babies I witness enter this world hold a very special place in my heart, this first one brings up such strong emotions for me. I remember sobbing as I witnessed this birth and for weeks after as I recounted it to people. It felt so surreal that this was a thing I was going to be able to do and a feeling I was going to be able to experience time and time again. Happy first birthday Thea, and happy birthing day Lauren - all my love.

03.01.2022 Amazing. Check the first hashtag

02.01.2022 Part 3. So how can the over representation of Aboriginal folk in our prison system be reduced and rectified? In so many ways, but first up with the commitment from white Australia to recognise the impacts of colonisation and to recognise their own racial biases that continue to perpetuate a colonial mentality towards Indigenous Australians.... Research shows that Aboriginal people are more likely to go to prison if theyve had a limited education, and those whove been excluded from school are more likely to engage in anti social and criminal behaviours. So finding an alternative to school suspension or expulsion as a form of discipline is fundamentally necessary. Community empowerment. One of the most powerful ways of reducing Aboriginal prison rates is through empowering Indigenous communities to help themselves. In Aboriginal communities, leaders and elders play a role in resolving disputes and breaches of law. By cooperating with and respecting existing practices within Aboriginal communities, police are able to step in when relevant and not just based on the racial biases that currently drive many arrests. After release care. Once a person has been conditioned to life in prison it can be incredibly challenging to adapt to life outside of this system. This often results in a person either reoffending or dying from alcohol related harm, preventable health conditions or suicide (compared to overdose in non Aboriginal people post release). Aboriginal parole officers, Aboriginal mens and womens circles for those released from prison, and elder engagement in prison programmes have all been successful in facilitating a safer and healthier transition out of prison and back into a community. Adequate legal representation. Many Aboriginal people are remanded for an extended period of time without contact from a lawyer due to their remote community location, and the Aboriginal Legal Service takes time as its lawyers and advocates are working through a government agency and not just directly with their clients. CONTINUED IN NEXT POST. Art by @coffinbirth

02.01.2022 Happy 29 laps around the for me! Honestly, this year has been exhausting and it’s tested me beyond my wildest dreams. But I can tell the next one is going to be huge in all the best ways. Here’s to personal growth and uncomfortable change

01.01.2022 Part 5. For example if drug and alcohol problems are a result of poor parenting or domestic violence, then services are put in place to address these issues and prevent the illegal activity that might otherwise follow. Other examples are the redevelopment of abandoned housing, mental health treatment and support, and transition to employment. Justice reinvestment has proven to be the most effective way of decreasing the number of Aboriginal people being incarcerated and there...fore over represented in our prison system. White Australia has subjected Aboriginal folk to unspeakable acts since colonisation. But despite some poor efforts at apologising for those behaviours, we continue to expect Aboriginal people to assimilate to our way of living, and to disregard their own rich culture and way of life. The way forward is by understanding that assimilation is not the answer, but that a reverence of our First Nations people and their culture is vital in addressing any perceived problems that white people might think there are, and how that creates the racial biases that see the gross disparities in everything from incarceration rates to health issues, birth outcomes and life expectancy. White people need to stop and realise that the problem never started with black or Indigenous folk, but with us and how we treated those from whom we stole land, children and lives. Art by @coffinbirth