Blissful Herbs in Warburton, Victoria | Shopping & retail

Blissful Herbs

Locality: Warburton, Victoria

Phone: +61 432 105 162

Address: Warburton 3799 Warburton, VIC, Australia

Website: http://blissfulherbs.com.au

Likes: 7054

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• Alternative & holistic health service

25.01.2022 Spring is here, and we need some motivation for our herb gardens.

25.01.2022 Bluey was flitting around my room and alighted on some daphne I had in a vase - and it crashed to the floor! Bluey squawked and flew down to the floor where the vase lay smashed. She started tweeting all her cutest noises, for all the world as if she was saying sorry! I've had this Wedgewood vase since I was a teenager, handed down to me by mother who was given it on her 16th birthday. I'm convinced Bluey feels bad about it. She's asleep on my lap now. . . #cutepet #smashthevasehowcliche #birdy #heirloom #ohno #ohwell #luckyyouresocute

23.01.2022 MASTITIS HELP: Blissful Herbs has a pokeroot tincture, topical balm, compress herbs and tea, that make up our Ultimate Masty-Blitz care package. . . Reposted from @goldenpathdoulas Mastitis ... When we hear of mamas battling mastitis it truly does create an ache in our hearts. Mastitis can develop for a plethora of reasons including engorgement, poor drainage, tight clothing, latch/feeding position, poor health and sleeping in one position (to name a few). It can induce fever, flu like symptoms and pain. For some, mastitis will only occur once while others will face this battle numerous times throughout their feeding journey. Some people are simply more susceptible to developing mastitis and despite the feelings of guilt and helplessness it can cause - it is never the mother's fault. Mastitis can be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications, however we have also known heating the breast before feeds and cooling after, continued feeding and expressing, change in feeding position, adequate fluid intake & a nutrient dense diet along with gentle massage to help. Herbalists often offer tea blends and a herbal compress as treatment options (we've found one via @blissful.herbs) Speaking to a lactation consultant, the Australian Breastfeeding Association or your midwife can assist with the healing of mastitis as well as offering much needed support. Have you struggled with mastitis? What have you found to work? Image via @cyclicalbody . . #mastitis #mastitisremedy #blissfulherbs #breastfeeding

22.01.2022 Grumble. Grouch. Hmph. :/

21.01.2022 A few helpful tips.

20.01.2022 For those seeking alcohol-free herbal extracts, we now have 16 herbs available as glycetracts. All the details here: https://www.blissfulherbs.com.au/product-alcohol-free-glyce

20.01.2022 I can barely contain my excitement over these. https://www.blissfulherbs.com.au/product-baby-catcher-stirl

20.01.2022 Great tips for crowning! And I have more in my eBook, A Doula's Top Tips For Looking After Your Perineum, available on the webzy.

19.01.2022 Powerful and potent words, and research to back it, from Hazel Keedle who I'm proud to say is also one of my Blissful Herbs customers.

19.01.2022 Hi Blissful Herbs peeps, thanks for being so patient as you wait for your orders. There was a thunderstorm last night and we lost power today, so the post office was closed. Tomorrow the post office will open again after a 3-day closure (weekend + power cut) so there will be a massive mountain of boxes and parcels being hauled off to be posted ... yours is most likely among them!

17.01.2022 Couldn't scroll by. I'm livid. I want you to know, there's a massive difference between obstetrically managed vaginal birth, and normal physiological birth. . . Homebirth has a roughly 90% spontaneous vaginal birth rate and an 80% intact perineum rate. It's half that in most hospitals. We just don't see these appalling birth injuries at home births. .... . So if birth itself is not producing these terrible, life-altering injuries .... what IS??? . . From Maternity Consumer Network: . . "Does anyone really believe this bullshit data used in this "study"!?! There is NOTORIOUS under-reporting in private practice. This was raised in the 2017 Australia Atlas of Healthcare Variations for 3/4th degree tears. - 11-fold variance in 3/4th degree tears across care providers - questions wer raised about under-reporting or diagnosis (more diplomatic than we are being though!) Private OBs are notorious for routinely inducing women, high routine epidurals, episitomies, instruments......all risk factors for severe perineal trauma. Consumers who don't have a clue about how data is collected and why there are variances would believe the article as truth. " . . From Janet Fraser, Joyous Birth: . . "Obstetric lobby groups will do anything to try and manipulate women into highly intervened births. The idea anyone might be considering birthing at home without their dubious services during the pandemic obviously means women should be coerced back into hospitals asap. None of this serves women, it just serves the obstetric system. Resist, women. Own your births and don't believe their bullshit."

16.01.2022 "Division of labour imbalances in marriage are a form of spousal abuse." That goes for mental load, relationship labour and righteousness labour too.

16.01.2022 This series of gorgeous photos from @mymidwifetia perfectly illustrate the perfect time to clamp the cord and tie on a cord tie. . . We usually wait until well afted the placenta has been released. Cord tying usually happens 2-3 hours after birth..There's no rush! ... . . From My Midwife Tia: "Are you familiar with why we wait for the white when clamping or cutting your babys umbilical cord? Its known as delayed cord clamping. If you take a look at the first couple photos youll see what your babys cord may look like at birth. At that time theres still about a 1/3 of your babys blood pumping through the cord and placenta. The latter photos show what the cord looks like after waiting a while. Physiologic cord camping allows for optimal transfusion of this blood which is necessary for your babys health. DCC results in a boost of your babys blood supply & higher iron levels, which is vital for healthy brain development and increased oxygenation for your baby. Midwives have always practiced delayed clamping and cutting while many providers clamp as soon as the baby is placed on moms chest. Policys are being updated as hospitals become more mom & baby friendly & providers are catching up on the evidence. Dont hesitate to state your desires to delay clamping the cord if you birth in a space where this isnt the norm. The time delayed varies by many providers, but a rule of thumb would be to wait until the cord is no longer pulsing. If you view many out of hospital birth photos & see the baby still attached to the placenta, this is why. Did you delay clamping and cutting your babys cord? Why or why not? #delayedcordclamping #waitforthewhite #homebirth #mymidwifetia #naturalbirth #midwife #childbirtheducation #birthprep #pregnancy

16.01.2022 Thank you Sara Wickham

15.01.2022 Australia is blessed to have this superb film. Can't wait.

13.01.2022 A cheery note to lift my spirits, at a time when I am feeling a bit like a pin cushion: "Thanks in advance for your wonderful herbal tea blends. They are the best I've had the pleasure drinking ... The quality, taste, physical & emotional effects are just lovely. I actually purchased some pregnancy supporting blends & salves for my sister a while ago. All the nurses & midwives were very impressed & were taking down your details so they could get on your website to order for ...themselves & recommend to friends! I also have recommended your products to friends dealing with moontime, pregnancy & other issues- with great feedback. Thank you so much for what you do & looking forward to my next delivery!!"

13.01.2022 It's been a theme lately. Thinking beyond birth .. not only your plans and imaginings for navigating labour and your babe's emergence ... but what about third stage, and the safe, whole release of your placenta? And beyond that, what about your 4th trimester - not only baby care and breastfeeding, but rest, nurturance, healing and adjustment for your own self? . . I do believe proper rest, help and nourishment during the first 40 days has huge positive impacts for your heal...th throughout your whole life-cycle. . . Reposted from @australianbirthstories . . Its a big question: how can we nourish ourselves in the postpartum period so we maintain an optimal level of health and vitality whilst navigating sleep deprivation, birth recovery and breastfeeding? In my interview with Dr Oscar Serralach @droscarserrallach who is well-known for his book, The Postnatal Depletion Cure I asked him to explain exactly what happens to our bodies in the postpartum period and what postnatal depletion actually means. He discusses the essential minerals and hormones that new mums are commonly depleted in and what foods and supplements are effective in restoring health and energy levels. I continue this discussion with dietician and author, Heidi Sze @heidiapples who highlights how specific foods can nourish and build strength and vitality post-birth and replenish depleted mineral stores. We chat about the significant pressure that breastfeeding places on the body, healthy snack ideas, a dinner plan for the whole family and the best foods to prepare so you can stock your freezer while youre pregnant. Im always asked if these interviews are best listened to after birth and while they are always relevant, I highly recommend you listen while you're pregnant. Consider this information vital preparation for your journey into parenthood; a very solid foundation that will help you feel at ease as you navigate the postpartum period. @modelmother

13.01.2022 Oh my goodness. Only understand this with your heart. Let your mind sit this one out, and rest.

12.01.2022 MANAGING MASTITIS . . Reposted from @earthmamaessence Mastitis you're a real fun thief. I love the metaphysics behind mastitis Milk flows - when our tears flows ... In no particular order / these are some natural ways to support Mastitis. ~ try & lie with baby as long as possible, skin to skin, allow unrestricted access to the breasts, rest as much as you can. Also changing position of holds ~ true mastitis cold packs to the site ~ Heat before expressing:feeding. While feeding massage the affected area towards the nipple ... massage in the shower morning & night massaging lumps and or area towards the nipple ~ Feed every 2 hours for the first night making sure the breast doesnt fill/become engorged. Breastfeed as often as possible, but DO NOT neglect its friend (the opp breast) . Offer the breast with mastitis first for most feeds, allow baby to completely drain that breast until offering to the other side. Obviously be careful not to create over supply making sure breast is draining ~ double Probiotics (qiara) ~ Pokeroot, Echinacea & Calendula tincture @blissful.herbs ~ bella donna homeopathics ~ massage Clary Sage, Lavender, Geranium & Patchouli into affected area giving enough time between feeds to absorb ~ take high dose vitamin c ~ Mastitis Blitz tea, compress herbs & massage balm @blissfulherbs ~ apply semi-frozen cold grated potato directly to the affected breast. Don't get freezer burn! ~ cease placenta tablets until it subsides ~ drink a heck load of water I added lemon juice to support flushing of the body

11.01.2022 Gorgeous tribute to The Cranberries and only highlights how unique Dolores' voice was.

10.01.2022 The time has come.

10.01.2022 This is so important to understand. Homebirth is awesome, but sometimes, maybe around 5-10% of the time, the wise thing to do is transfer for a bit more help. That's not a failure, that's a warrior. . . Don't let fear of transfer put you off planning a homebirth. If it happens, your beautiful homebirth team will be by your side, for every step, every question, every challenge. .... . Letting go of your homebirth dream is hard. But with support, love, patience and respect, caesarean birth can be beautiful. . . Reposted from @midwifejohunter . . This is such a powerful story. It tells another homebirth story that people often dont share. The story of a necessary transfer to hospital and the strength, surrender and courage it takes for women to go to the place they least wanted to go and have things done to their body that they did not want, for the safety of their baby. . . . . Kate Randall has done a beautiful job of very sensitively telling this story through her photography. Babies also have their own journey and sometimes, despite all the work and all the planning, the baby decides differently. This is not a failed homebirth, its a successful homebirth. . . Romi, you are magnificent . . @comanche_eagle @soul_birth @kate_randall_photography

10.01.2022 FRIENDS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA! Boy, are we thinking of you right now. You ARE going to get through this, and we Victorians will be the first to cheer your good success when you do.... It's going to feel like crap some of the time - but remember New Zealand. And remember Victoria. I'm married to an American, and there isn't a morning lately when we haven't woken feeling very stressed about our people there, and very relieved not to be there right now. We have some advantages here: Australia is an island, and, our institutions haven't been *as* de-legitimized and under-mined quite as much as disinformation in USA has done. Hang in there, lovelies. Being free to exercise, travel, visit, entertain and conduct business normally feels great when you're doing it *after* the virus has been beaten down to manageable levels - instead of *while* it's running amok. I hope your lock down will be much shorter than ours was, because of the "go early, go hard" approach borrowed from those canny Kiwis. And - we have masks, ear-savers, hand sanni, immune tonics, stress support and all the things you need to help you through this. Use the code 'weloveyouSA' to snag a 5% discount for cart totals over $30. https://www.blissfulherbs.com.au/category-coping-with-covid

09.01.2022 I have seen Christians, Muslims, birthworkers, natural health practitioners and conscientious people of all sorts swayed by this seductive delusion. We need to be aware of that the origins come from far right fundamentalists getting played by Russian troll farms exploiting Big Tech surveillance capitalism. Let's outwit these bad actors aye. Love, unity, compromise, moderation, mercy, community, de-escalation. . . Reposted from @seanecorn ... "The above message is a joint statement written in collaboration with various leaders in the wellness community. I do not support QAnon and their underlying message of hate, fear and division. They are an alt-right movement of conspiracy theorists working to spread misinformation, confusion and paranoia. They are deliberately and strategically targeting the wellness communities appealing to peoples interest in alternative health practices and mistrust of the government. Please dont tell me to do the research. I have. Please dont tell me that I dont care about the eradication of child human trafficking. Of course I do. Sex trafficking is not a new phenomenon. There are many global organizations that have been doing this work for countless years who reject QAnons manipulative messaging. Please dont tell me COVID is a hoax. Not when almost 200,000 people in the US have died. Please dont tell me Donald Trump is a light worker. Not when his words, actions and policies stoke fear, hated and injustice. Please dont tell me about the great awakening or a paradigm shift. That comes from within. I care deeply about the yoga and wellness communities and dont want to see anyone exploited or manipulated by an organization that has its roots in white supremacy culture. Too many folks, including many of my dear colleagues, have bought into their divisive and outrageous messaging. Please be aware of QAnons ill informed, sensational and exploitative posts on your feed and educate yourself about QAnons history before you share these posts with others. To learn more about the mash up thats happening between alt-right conspiracist and the wellness world then check out the podcasts Conspirituality & Rabbit Hole." . . #truth

09.01.2022 New look for the After Pain-ease Tincture. Photo by my beautiful #2 girl.

09.01.2022 These words by Midwife Jo Hunter are everything I want you to know about a gentle, unrushed, physiological third stage: . . Reposted from @midwifejohunter ... . . When in the 2nd stage of labour during normal physiological birth, catecholamines are released - adrenaline and noradrenaline which activate the sympathetic nervous system for the fight or flight response. When women feel fear these hormones can be overproduced and inhibit the production of oxytocin. However, during trusted, supported, physiological birth, normal values of these hormones are released which ensure the mother is alert but also ensure the baby is alert, present, connected, eyes wide open. . . Meet eyes wide open MARY still attached to her placenta having received her full blood volume, resulting in increased iron and brain myelin which are important for early life functional development. Photo by @jerushasutton #Repost @jerushasutton Mary and her placenta, connected by her white, floppy cord after it has transferred the last of her blood volume to her, post birth. Leaving the cord intact until after the placenta is born feels like an energetic completion of the physiological process. The placenta has now truly done its job. #physiologicalbirth #placenta #birth #waterbirth #homebirth #birthphotgraphy #sydneybirthphotographer

08.01.2022 I have never yet attended a twin homebirth! Breech, yes, 11+ pounder, yes, baby #13, yes - but so far, no twins! Isn't this beautiful. . . From Home Sweet Homebirth:... . . . Twins have such a stigma about no being able to be full term and that is simply untrue. I gave birth at 39+1 after a home induction with my midwife. She is literally the reason I made it to full term and the reason this was possible. The placentas were fused at the membranes and my di/di twins arrived safely at home. One boy and one girl!Thanks for always being the push I needed to have the birth Ive always wanted. Mama: @whirlswirll Midwife: @mamasmidwife Photo: @milkandhannah . . #twins #didi #placentas #babies #birth #waterbirth #homebirth #birthstory

08.01.2022 I absolutely pour my heart into each and every product, and each and every order. And I LOVE my work like an platypus in a stream. I have the most amazing customers, who I really value. My service is slow, but genuinely personalized. . . But I have learned, when you're in small business, despite your best efforts, roughly once a year, you're going to get a disgruntled customer who you just can't please. .... . That always dampens my spirits a little. Please go easy on small business sole proprieters in lockdown, juggling supporting school aged kids learning from home with working from home. We're affected by super slow delivery of supplies too! And all the same pressures. If you can't be kind ... at least don't be rude, aye? . . But then, something like this arrives in my inbox: . . "Hi Julie! I have been meaning to message you for so long now (baby is 8 weeks old now ) but I just wanted to say your products are incredible!! I used the Postnatal Bliss mix in the bath following birth and used the after pain ease tincture. Both truly helped contribute to the beautiful postnatal period that I had!! We also used one of your cord ties on our little boy and it was the best thing ever. Im a midwife so am used to seeing the plastic hospital cord clamps but I must say the cord ties are sooooo much better and Im so glad we used it! Thankyou, I couldnt love your products more." And then this, from one of my darling birthy clients: "The best help during labour, most importantly: You! Doesn't matter what equipment I would of had to help. You were the one that from pregnancy, birth and now 7 years on helped me. You left those moments etched in my heart and spirit as uplifting and empowering. What a great tool to give a young woman. And, your girls have also had you as their mum! You're a huge gift and as a say to first time mums, essential through your first pregnancy/birth at a minimum." . . That really made me blub. . . Everyone needs encouragement and I really appreciate the feedback I receive from you. And thank you for your patience when something is missing or mixed up.

07.01.2022 In this strange "post-truth" age of 'fake nyoos', 'alternative facts', disinformation wars, surveillance capitalism, and the de-legitimization of institutions, leadership, science, evidence and reality testing, here is a man who has loved, studied and observed our world for decades. . . He is a voice I trust. .... . Reposted from @davidattenborough . . David Attenborough has spent a lifetime travelling, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Hes also witnessed the damaged caused. Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will. Thats why we want to share this message on Instagram. Because there is hope and together, we can inspire change. Social media isnt Davids usual habitat so while hes recorded messages solely for Instagram, like the one in this post, we're helping to run this account. In case youre wondering, we are Jonnie and Colin and we worked with David on A Life On Our Planet. So, as well as sharing the messages hes recorded especially for this account well also post some exclusive clips and behind the scenes content. Stay tuned. . . #planetA

07.01.2022 This is a classic "talking to myself" post, just saying. To every overstressed, over burdened, under-supported mother out there, feeling absolutely horrible about herself and her mothering, feeling self-condemnation reading this as you re-play the last time you yelled and realise how much you're yelling ... I just want to give you a massive hug. And just lift all judgement off you. This pandemic is HARD. It doesn't matter what approach your nation or state decides to take or... not take - it's still hard. More lockdown, less lockdown, more masks, less masks, more deaths, less deaths, more financial & social repercussions or less ... regardless, IT IS STRESSFUL. And some parents, some families - and some singles - are getting way less support than others. It's taking its toll. And the toll sneaks up on you. And it affects your kids. And it affects your partner - if you have one. So please don't beat yourself up, when life is already beating us all down quite a bit right now. And next time you catch yourself taking a breath, slowing down, choosing a softer answer, hugging your kid, reading them a story .... May the words, "You are bloody amazing. You are doing a wonderful job" reveberate in your head for a little while. Love from a chronic-yeller-trying-not-to.

06.01.2022 I wonder if this might be helpful for someone. I've never felt like I was someone who "has anxiety". But that first box describes me as a child, quite a lot. And there's nothing like a pandemic and a bit of lockdown and a heck load of uncertainty for past mental health issues to rear up again. Or does it feel like whack-a-mole - you get it sorted over here, then it pops up in a different way over there. Below I will post some of our herbal allies for supporting ourselves through stress and anxiety. And please post anything you've found truly helpful through PERSONAL lived experience.

06.01.2022 Caring for your perineum. . . It smells amazing, and is so moisturizing and enriching for your skin.... . . This gorgeous blend of oils such as Calendula, Rosehip, Evening Primrose, Wheatgerm and Vitamin E is also just perfect for stretch marks, C Section suture line, and as an all-over massage oil. . . Did you do perineal massage towards the end of your pregnancy? What did you think of it? . . I did once, with my first babe. My view is, you absolutely do not *need* to. Your body is perfectly designed to stretch, and it WILL. . . But where it was helpful in my case, is that it helped me realuse just how tough and tensile and stretchy my vulva really is, and that built my confidence in my birthing body. Also, it helped me to not interpret the intense sensations of stretching as*pain* or *damage*, and it was helpful to practice breathing into and relaxing into those intense sensations. So as as a first time mama, that's how perineal massage helped me prepare for birth. . . I didn't bother with my subsequent births though. As a birthy veteran, I figured I was good to go eh! . . #perinealmassageoil See more

06.01.2022 Normal, physiological, spontaneous, large mammal birth. . . Unless there is uncontested privacy, gravity, mobility, autonomy, time and space - .... . it is far less likely to unfold. . . Reposted from @bellamamanz Normal Birth Promoting and facilitating normal childbirth is considered an essential component of the role of the midwife. However with hospital protocols, regulatory bodies and public opinion to consider, the promotion of normal birth can be a difficult subject to navigate. Over the years, birth has become much more medicalised. However, when asked, lots of women say they would prefer a normal birth. Additionally, lots of maternity services are now working towards a vision of a safe and personalised service which focuses on continuity of carer and physiological birth. But with a healthcare system which is predominantly risk-averse, alongside contention over the use of terms like normal birth, can midwives balance the desires of women with the policy and guidelines they must adhere to, to safely and sensitively promote normal birth? In #ThePractisingMidwife Journal we have introduced a brand new series all about advancing practice for normal birth. This fantastic 10 part series seeks to revisit the midwifes role in supporting physiological birth, providing both a re-cap of A&P information alongside the latest evidence, while offering practice tips throughout. The first article in the series, which is beautifully written by Evony Lynch, explores the concept of normal birth and its contentions. Evony (@cornwallmidwife) explores: The growing tide of medicalised birth The contentions surrounding normal birth The hopes women have for their birth vs the reality of the care they receive How we can overcome negative perceptions and enhance the publics view of the safety inherent in physiological birth : @gentleseeddoulas #All4Maternity #TheStudentMidwife #midwives #midwife #midwifery #studentmidwives #studentmidwife #normalbirth #physiologicalbirth #physiology #birthphysiology

05.01.2022 THE SOCIAL DILEMMA - Big Tech needs reform, capitalism needs a conscience. . . I watched this Netflix doco and and I saw hard working, creative, intelligent people, who used their brilliance to create products with intent to do good in the world. .... . Who are now broken, grieved and dismayed at the unintended consequences of the behemoth they have created, and how unfettered, rapacious capitalism has bastardized what they believed was an elegant tool in service to humans .... . . ... into a terrible force of destructiveness .... . . And now they are desperate to put the brakes on a runaway train. . . A very distilled summary: . . - surveillance capitalism means truth is boring and disinformation sells - and is more addictive than the worst opioids pushed by Big Pharma. What Big Tech is selling is creating mass delusion that is destroying the fabric of society, escalating polarization and imploding democracy. . . In a profit-before-people unethical business model, the product is even worse exploitation than rain forests or fossil fuels or trees or whales that are worth more dead than alive. . . The product being sold is people: their attention. Their lives. And the incremental changing and warping of what they do, what they think, and who they are. For sale to the highest bidder. . . Including nefarious actors who can weaponize these highly addictive, manipulative, seductive products to spread disinformation, propaganda & conspiracy theories to delude people, warp culture, manipulate public opinion and undermine democracy; using 4th generation warfare psy op techniques of deception, confusion, division, disorientation, distrust and the de-legitimizing of governments, fact, evidence, science and institutions in order to make it easy to take over and usher in authoritarian fascism without ever invading or dropping a bomb. So reform is needed to make the technology more humane. . . In the meantime: . . - turn off notifications and DE-ESCALATE! . . #thesocialdilemma #coronavirusdisinformation #qanon #powerfuldelusion #fascism #authoritarianism #russiantrolls #whitesupremacy #hateforprofit #humanetechnology #bigtech

05.01.2022 *** TESTERS NEEDED*** Do you know someone who needs a bit of help with their acne? I need one or two testers for this new product. I'm super proud of it, as it incorporates the soothing cleansing of a witchhazel toner with the potent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of herbs like Oregon Grape, Manuka and Pokeroot, with the soothing effects of Aloe Vera. My daughter has had good results with it, but I would like a couple of others to try it out too, and provide candid feedback. The first two people to PM me with a postal address and the promise of a short feedback report, will receive a bottle in the mail. Thanks in advance! More details about the Acne Blitz Herbal Toner here: https://www.blissfulherbs.com.au/product-acne-blitz-herbal-

04.01.2022 Perfect, perfect large mammal birth . . Undisturbed birth, and undisturbed peak flow of birth hormones, facilitates this. .... . Reposted from @lindseymeehleis . . #birth #waterbirth #homebirth #birthstory

04.01.2022 TECH HELP! Does anyone know why Instagram appears to have spontaneously changed so that the button in the middle that used to be for uploading photos now just has a bunch of random irrelevant videos?? And a shopping thing?? Has yours changed too??

04.01.2022 So true, thank you amazing Lori Barklage

04.01.2022 Notorious Ruth, . . There is a groundswell of mourning over your loss. The world is a poorer place without you in it.... . . But I knew that it would only be a matter of a rising and a setting of the sun before your foes would consider this a threat to their culture war. . . They are calling you a witch, Ruth. . . Thats what they say about me, too, because they cannot control my mind anymore than they could control yours. Because a mind, connected to heart, connected to conscience, is not easily suppressed. . . They are saying that you destroyed marriage and destroyed family values, Ruth. . . Thats what they say about me, too, when I stand up for equal rights and shared responsibilities in marriage, for intimacy versus hierarchy, for affirmation of unique talents instead of rigid gender roles. . . And I look at you and your Marty, gazing at each other with such pride & devotion and I only wish more women could have a man of the calibre of Martin Ginsberg, William Booth, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and my own Doug McGowan championing their cause in a swans romance. . . They are saying that the blood of unborn babies is on your hands, Ruth. . Thats what they say about me when I say I am for policies that bring abortion rates down to 5:1000 instead of supposedly pro-life policies, steeped in misogyny, that instead drive the rates higher than 13:1000 even tripling them up to 30:1000. . . And I remember how you said you were tired of being told that you support abortions and you listed the things that in fact support abortions: Not having a living wage. Not having affordable healthcare. Not having parental leave. Not having food security, or housing security. Not having childcare. And not having a church that truly engages with the least of these". . . Theyre saying you were "deceived" and "did much harm to your nation", Ruth. . . And I look at the polarization, the prejudice, the extremism, the deception and the dysfunction that these fundamentalists condone as being godly", and I only wish I cpuld be half the woman you were, speak the truth with as much grace as you, and honour God with my life as you did. . . RIP, RBG. . . #RBG

03.01.2022 Need more herbs ....

03.01.2022 He's 9 now I survived. Facebook memory from 5 years ago: "It's not the Terrible Twos. It's the Terrific Twos! Two year olds are amazing people. They know so much more and feel so much more than they can express. They are passionately loving and quick to forgive. They know what's important in life - fun, friendship and food! Not necessarily in that order! They know how to assert their boundaries. They are eager to please. And they are perfect teachers to help us learn how valuable the arts of validation, communication and empathy are in relationships. I know - because I am blessed to have a two year old at our house."

02.01.2022 Plan for a peaceful post partum! . . Reposted from @tiredglitterco ... . . What is your favourite part of the pregnancy/postpartum/motherhood journey? Mine has always been the first few days and weeks after the baby is born when you're in that newborn bubble, flooded with lovely cuddly hormones and babe just wants to feed, sleep (sometimes) and be close to Mum I know the postpartum period can be a miserable time for a lot of women, especially when you take into account afterbirth pains, breast engorgement, feeding issues, sore or cracked nipples, baby blues, traumatic/complicated birth experiences, sleep deprivation and the many changes our bodies go through (my postpartum tummy for example), but each baby has given me a little more experience and this time around I made sure I was planned ahead. The freezer is stocked with wholesome meals that are free from any colicky triggers for the first few weeks (both previous babes have taken me on a wild ride with food intolerances and upset tummies!), and @ice_ice_booby ice/heat packs which have been a freaking god send before bub for haemorrhoids and since the birth for sore nipples and swollen boobs! I'm supporting my health with extra supplements including ashwaganda for stress and energy, triphala to prevent constipation, extra vitamin D, iron and placenta capsules (thanks to @blissfulbeyondbirth). Plenty of coconut water, electrolyte drinks and herbal teas (my faves are the iron boosting tea and breastfeeding tea from @blissful.herbs) are keeping me hydrated - and trying to ignore the fact that I'm craving coffee And even though sleep deprivation comes as part of the package, I've found that keeping baby close to my body and feeding on demand has made life so much easier and both of us much more content . . #fourthtrimester #babymoon #postpartum #mothercare