Nourished Beginnings Doula in Townsville, Queensland | Medical and health

Nourished Beginnings Doula

Locality: Townsville, Queensland

Phone: +61 431 679 121

Address: Townsville 4812 Townsville, QLD, Australia

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25.01.2022 Another lovely testimonial from a beautiful mama, expressing her experience being in circle together. Love the connection and the co-creation that happens!! My experience with Tanya has been so positive! I have felt so supported and learnt so much from the Sacred Mama Circles. I feel like she has created such an enriching and beautiful space to bring mums together to reflect, and centre ourself as such important members of society. I feel so blessed that this space is prov...ided and facilitated so everyone feels heard and loved - Tayebeh Our next Sacred Mama Circle with Tanya is Wednesday 26th Aug. Event link in my bio #sacredmamacirclewithtanya #sacredmamacircles #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #maternalwellness #mothercircle #motherhood #mamarising #matrescence #communityconnection #testimonial

23.01.2022 I received this beautiful message yesterday after our Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya. My heart is full! THIS is my desire! For mothers to come together and experience a safe, loving & compassionate space, with a sense of deep connection to uplift us on our mothering journey! Thank you Ella for you beautiful words and for allowing me to share for other mothers to get a glimpse of what can be co-created together in this space! Much love Thank you for the beautiful sacre...d mama circle today. I love the realness you bring to the circle and your vulnerability and humility. You have created a safe, loving and compassionate space where we are able to explore important concepts and share our own experiences together. Even though it is over zoom and we are physically very far apart I feel a strong sense of connection with all the women. Because of this circle we have the bounty of inspiring each other and collaborating on this motherhood journey. Thank you! It is wonderful to be present together as mothers - Ella. If your interested in attending #sacredmamacircles or even attend the training to be a facilitator- reach out!! #sacredmamacirclewithtanya #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #mothercircle #connection #motherhood #cocreate

22.01.2022 Grateful Peaceful Grounded Connected Self-honouring Conscious self-care were some of the words expressed by the mamas at the end of our Circle yesterday. The focus of our 3rd circle of our Matrescence 4 week journey was: The art & alchemy of extraordinary self-care for loving & growing... We explored dimensions of self-care - the boring, the uncomfortable, the painful, the foot spas....Though we rested our focus on ways to ramp up our delicious feel good neurochemicals in everyday moments and in simple ways. We also explore our cyclic nature & moon wisdom so to harness & give reverence to our feminine potentiality in the seasons of our cycle, thus allowing greater ease & flow in our lives. We reflected on our self-care practices within matrescence, and the paradigm shift many of us are becoming aware of. The days of mama martyr is over. We can & must tend to ourselves so to be the mothers we desire to be. Of course there will be times when we must put our childs need before ours and help others, but its not the default place to be. There comes a point where we realise our constant tiredness, anger, resentment, frustration, illness is NOT how we want to feel and be. That something must shift. And its within OUR power to change this. It is soooo possible and within reach. One of the mothers expressed that we experience greater healing when held in a supportive space/community. This is sooo true. To hear each other, to be witnessed, has an incredible healing power. To receive the encouragement and celebration as we take our steps towards greater self love and care. Three weeks in, and we have witnessed amazing breakthroughs in each other. Another take home reflections that a mama expressed was noticing and being mindful where our actions of self-care come from .... a space of conscious intention or escapism. And this quote is so on point!! ....self-care isnt optional. Its a neurobiological necessity. And TRUE self-care isnt about getting opportunities to escape from your life. Its about persistently and openheartedly living a life from which you dont need to escape. @spiltmilkpsychology Artist unknown via @meghandon

20.01.2022 "I’ll meet you where you are." Today, we're reflecting on these beautiful words and powerful image from Emma of This Mama Doodles. Because new motherhood is a s...hock. It's relentless. It's painful. It stretches your heart and makes you question who you are. And it's lonely - the kind of loneliness you didn't know existed until you're awake rocking a baby at 3am or going on yet another long pram walk. Never underestimate the power of showing up for your new mum friends. In these strange times, it may not be having wine on the couch while they cry from sheer, pure exhaustion - despite how we might ache for it. It might simply be checking in regularly, holding them from afar, letting them know that you're there. It's telling them if they want to, need to, they can call and sob down the phone - and that you'll hold space for them while they do. It's saying, "I'll meet you where you are." Wherever that may be x https://www.cope.org.au

20.01.2022 In our circle tomorrow, we will explore more around self-worth and boundaries. Healthy boundaries are essential to keep you feeling well. As women we have a lot... of unconditioning to do around boundaries. The people pleasing, the martyr, or the rigidity and control. There is a continuum, how do we find the balance? Look forward to diving deeper tomorrow in our circle! Are you in? See more

18.01.2022 Motherhood & Irritability Why do they co-exits? @calliecoach and I will explore this in conversation Mother to Mother this afternoon, live in IGTV at 4pm AEST. ... Join us #nourishedgeinningsdoulacare #postpartum #motherhood #realconvo #matrescence

18.01.2022 @helenetheillustrator | We know that it's normal for teenagers to feel all over the place, so why don't we talk about pregnancy in the same way? There are en...tire textbooks written about the developmental arc of adolescence, and we don't even have a word to describe the transition to motherhood. Matrescence is a term coined in 1973 by Dana Raphael. It's not a coincidence that it sounds like "adolescence." Both are times when body morphing and hormone shifting lead to an upheaval in how a person feels emotionally and how they fit into the world. And like adolescence, matrescence is not a disease, but since it's not in the medical vocabulary and doctors aren't educating people about it, it's being confused with a more serious condition called postpartum depression. I've been building on the anthropology literature and have been talking about matrescence with my patients using a concept called the "push and pull." Here's the pull part. As humans, our babies are uniquely dependent. Unlike other animals, our babies can't walk, they can't feed themselves, they're very hard to take care of. So evolution has helped us out with this hormone called oxytocin. It's released around childbirth and also during skin-to-skin touch, so it rises even if you didn't give birth to the baby. Oxytocin helps a human mother's brain zoom in, pulling her attention in, so that the baby is now at the center of her world. But at the same time, her mind is pushing away, because she remembers there are all these other parts to her identity -- other relationships, her work, hobbies, a spiritual and intellectual life, not to mention physical needs: to sleep, to eat, to exercise, to have sex, to go to the bathroom, alone if possible! This is the emotional tug-of-war of matrescence. If women understood the natural progression of matrescence, if they knew that most people found it hard to live inside this push and pull, if they knew that under these circumstances, ambivalence was normal and nothing to be ashamed of, they would feel less alone and less stigmatized, and I think it would even reduce rates of postpartum depression. I'm a believer in talk therapy, so if we're going to change the way our culture understands this transition to motherhood, women need to be talking to each other, not just me. So mothers, talk about your matrescence with other mothers, with your friends, and, if you have one, with your partner, so that they can understand their own transition and better support you. But it's not just about protecting your relationship. When you preserve a separate part of your identity, you're also leaving room for your child to develop their own. When a baby is born, so is a mother, each unsteady in their own way. Matrescence is profound, but it's also hard, and that's what makes it human. See more

17.01.2022 What a beautiful uplifting circle we had this morning!! The 4 week circle journey began today! We had such a wonderful time connecting, sharing and reflecting around the focus topic of todays circle which was - Conscious Communication & honouring ourSelf. ... Some of the takeaways were: feeling the sense of support and connection through our common humanity; the experience of being able to celebrate oneself more easily than before; the value of the non-violent communication framework to use to express needs and boundaries with others. The power of this space allowing a strong sense of connection, and the inspiration of being together. We also let our creativity flow and drew a symbol or a picture of what it is like to stand strong in our innate worthiness & honouring ourSelf. It was beautiful to witness the images and the meanings behind them! I feel soo inspired by each of the mamas present! I am still buzzing & uplifted from this morning!! One mama wrote to me and shared that Wednesdays have now become her favourite day of the week! I will be offering more Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya in October after this 4 week circle journey. Keep an eye out, or reach out if your interested! Much love x by one of the beautiful mamas there today #sacredmamacirclewithtanya #sacredmamacircles #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #mothercircle #connection #innateworthiness #consciouscommunication #motherhood #journey #matrescence #meditation #creativeprocessing #circletopic

16.01.2022 Love this so much! Wow!! Sweet mama- put down the book. Stop your frantic google searches. Take a deep breath. Everything you need is already within. You are held by the great mother of us all. Her gentle winds carry your breath. Her sacred waters flow through you - cleansing tears and holy milk. Her power pulses through your veins. You are softness and strength. The universe dancing in ecstatic motion, galactical stardust in a tender, tired body. You nourish a new beginning, born into the infinite web of life, ancient wisdom coded into every perfect cell. You are mama nature and she is you.

16.01.2022 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.

15.01.2022 Desiring a bit of a reset after navigating a very intense year? Desiring some practical tools & space for reflection, to continue showing up & mothering / living in a way you deeply desire? Over the next 4 weeks we will be ‘Stepping into our feminine power’ ... Drawing from the beautiful Sacred Mama Circles flow we gather together (online ), practice some mindfulness/ meditation, explore a topic (with our workbooks), and reflect on this in relation to our mothering continuum and LIFE. Creative expression is part of this, in addition to returning to our innate design & birth rite of JOY! STARTS TOMORROW!! Grab your spot beauty Event link in bio There is already a beautiful gathering of mamas, and we are calling YOU in xx 4 spots available - reach out!! #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #sacredmamacircles #sacredmamacircleswithtanya #mothercircles #matrescence #motherhood #femininepower #risingstrong #innatewisdom #postpartum #pregnancy #onlinecircle #releasinglimitingbeliefs #confidence #self-love #calmbirth

14.01.2022 After the delightfully nourishing 'Honouring the Mother' sacred circle we held for in celebration of mothers day, and the feedback for more, I am offering more 'Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya' at the beautiful venue of @letstalkbirthtownsville ‘Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya’ is an opportunity for mothers to experience beautiful heart-centred connection with themselves and others; to experience community as we share our experiences and witness each other on our journey's thu...s sensing our common humanity; and to celebrate and feel celebrated and held during our motherhood. During online circles we will experience: Facilitated discussion and circle sharing around offered topics Meditation and mindfulness practices Movement Creative processes such as journaling & art And above all, an opportunity to connect, celebrate and refuel with other kind-hearted and like-minded mamas, like you! Happening monthly on Sunday 1-3pm.... May 30th - Matrescence: a portal to growth June 27th - The Extraordinary art of self-care for loving & growing July 25th - Honouring ourSelf & Conscious Communication You are welcome to come to one or all three! This circle is for YOU mama to reconnect, realign and revive. It’s is for mothers at any stage along the motherhood continuum. Babes in arms (non-mobile babies) welcome. If you feel the resonance - join us xx I also included the flyer for the ‘Sacred Newborn Mama Circles with Tanya’ for pregnant and newborn mothers within the first year. Monthly circles on Thursdays 09:30-11:30 am. Link in bio xxx

14.01.2022 When people say things like, I have to, this may or may not actually be true. If you want to take a commercial flight to Paris, do you have to go through ...airport security? Yes. Sorry. If a doctor advises you to have a procedure, get your labour induced or take a pill, do you have to? No. You might choose to, once youve considered all the information and weighed up the pros and cons. But you dont have to. Its not the law." It's worth being aware that, even if your decisions are being affected by what local facilities can offer and are putting in place, you still retain the right to make decisions about your own body. If you go into a hospital setting (or any other setting) to give birth, you still have the right to decline ANY procedures, tests or medication that you don't want. And it's still your decision as to whether to go there or not. Many of us talk as if we don't have agency, and that was even before we were experiencing a pandemic. "They're not allowing me to...", I've got to...", The nurse said if I don't lose weight I'll have to..." Well, its certainly true that, in times of crisis where people need to pull together towards a common goal, we have less agency than usual. But that doesn't mean we give up our bodily autonomy. This quote is from an upcoming book, and more on that at another time. For loads more information about decision making and how to navigate maternity care, please see my book: What's Right for Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth. www.sarawickham.com/wrfm #midwife #midwifery #doula #birthdoula #homebirth #naturalbirth #pregnant #birth #childbirth #duein2020 #drsarawickham #childbirtheducation #childbirtheducator #whatsrightforme #hypnobirthing #humanity #humanrights #covidpregnancy #pregnancy #birthright #positivebirth See more

12.01.2022 Dear one.... Exhale deeply and completely... Because you are already beautiful. Because you are already enough. Inhale fully Because you are already powerful. Because you are already genius. Exhale deeply and completely Because you are already blazing. Because you are already heaven. Inhale fully Because you are already holy. Because you are already magic. By Tanya Markul #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #sacredmamacircleswithtanya #motherrising #innatewisdom

12.01.2022 The brain is shaped by relationships and coregulation intensely in the first 3 years of life, the sensitive time of infancy. Our babies need sensitive caregiver...s for all of these years and way beyond into childhood. Ive experienced that our culture tolerates taking care of babies for much shorter than three years. Sometimes its weeks, sometimes its months, sometimes its one year. After a certain point there are expectations to move on. When my child turned one I was hit with a barrage of comments and expectations. They included: I wont feed at night or parent at night, I wont support naps, breastfeeding is going to stop or be just for comfort, Ill stop using my baby carrier, I will get my independence back. My baby did not get cut off of nurturing cold turkey when the clock turned to 12 months. Nor will they ever get cut off abruptly from the care they need. Now my baby is turning 2, and we continue to be in a dynamic nurturing relationship. Other caregivers have been part of a village of care and they are also responsive to my childs needs. Infancy lasts for 3 years. Nurturing changes dramatically as the months go by. It looks different to a newborn, at 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months. However there is never a day, or an arbitrary age, where we take it away. Nurture is not something thats indulgent, its needed by infants and its needed by children and its needed by adults. Nurturing throughout infancy from 0-3 years is important work as it builds healthy and resilient brains and minds. If we nurture this generation then maybe they will have different expectations when they are parents. I will celebrate 2 years of nurture this month and look forward to experiencing how it will change over the next period of infancy.

12.01.2022 Appreciate Dr Oscar Serrallachs work a lot! Check out info for this free event Posted @withregram @thedropin_ Our next #DropEvent is a MUST for all new and expecting mothers. We will be joined by @droscarserrallach - who coined the term Postnatal Depletion ( as featured on #goop ) and author of The Postnatal Depletion Cure - to learn what exactly postnatal depletion is and strategies to recover. When: 8:00pm AEST (UTC+10), Tuesday 8th September... Where: Online Cost: FREE! Registrations are essential - book your tickets via the link in our bio See more

11.01.2022 @beejohnsonillo | "Guilt, like ambivalence and worry, may be an inherent state of motherhood or part of the job description. Sometimes guilt comes from compar...ing yourself to an unrealistic ideal. But other times guilt is a clue that you should reassess your choices. It can be productive if it encourages you to reflect on your actions and make any necessary changes. While guilt may be inevitable and often instructive, shame is a different thing. Guilt is feeling bad about something you did. Shame, on the other hand, is feeling bad about who you are as a person. Shame is concluding, Im bad at this and dont have what it takes to be a good mother. Shame can make you feel trapped and desperate, so you isolate yourself from the support of other moms whounbeknownst to youare probably sharing many of the same experiences. And shame may lead to self-hatred, which may contribute to depression. Depression may make you want to be alone, which further cuts you off from sharing your feelings from others. When youre isolated from others, your sense of shame may be amplified, and the cycle continues, less a circle than a miserable spiral. People who are ashamed try to cover up what they're ashamed of. They dont talk about what theyre feeling. Their buried feelings feed their self-hatred, and so on. Whenever you identify that youre feeling shame, the first step is to remember that feeling badly about an experience does not make you a bad person. Life is all about learning from our experiences: You can always choose differently next time." See more

10.01.2022 Sis, the inability to receive support from others is a trauma response. Your I dont need anyone, Ill just do it all myself conditioning is a survival tacti...c. You needed it to shield your tender heart from abuse, neglect, betrayal, and disappointment from those who could not or would not be there for you. From the parent who was absent by choice or by the circumstance of working three jobs to feed and house you. From the lovers who offered sexual intimacy but no offered no safe haven that honored your heart. From the friendships that always took more than they gave. From all the situations when someone told you were in this together then abandoned you, leaving you to pick up the pieces when isht got real, leaving you to handle your part and their part, too. From the lies. The betrayals. You learned along the way that you just couldnt really trust people. Or that you could trust people, but only up to a certain point. Ultra-independence is a *trust issue.* You learned: if I dont put myself in a situation where I rely on someone, I wont have to be disappointed when they dont show up for me, or when they drop the ball... because they will always drop the ball sooner or later, right? You may even have been intentionally taught this protection strategy by generations of hurt women who came before you. #generationaltrauma #ancestraltrauma Ultra-independence is a preemptive strike against heartbreak. So, you dont trust anyone. And you dont trust yourself, either, to choose people. To trust is to hope, to trust is vulnerability. Never again, you vowed. But no matter how you dress it up and display it proudly to make it seem like this level of independence is what you always wanted to be, in truth its your wounded, scarred, broken heart behind a protective brick wall. Impenetrable. Nothing gets in. No hurt gets in. But no love gets in either. Fortresses and armor are for those in battle, or who believe the battle is coming. Its trauma response. The good news is trauma that is acknowledged is trauma that can be healed. You are worthy of having support. You are worthy of having true partnership. You are worthy of love. You are worthy of having your heart held. You are worthy to be adored. You are worthy to be cherished. You are worthy to have someone say, You rest. I got this. And actually deliver on that promise. You are worthy to receive. You are worthy to receive. You are worthy to receive. You are worthy. Worthy, sis. You are worthy. You dont have to earn it. You dont have to prove it. You dont have to bargain for it. You dont have to beg for it. You are worthy. Worthy. Simply because you exist. I love you. ~J. . Credit: Original image by Rising Woman, reposted from The Womb Sauna. Commentary by moi, Jamila White (FB: @inspiredjamila, IG: @inspired.jamila)

10.01.2022 HEAD BANDS ON BABIES Sarah here (paediatric nurse & CPR Kids founder). Let me tell you a (true) story. I was shopping at the supermarket a little while ago (pre...COVID) when I saw a mum shopping with her young bub. All I could see was bub's legs and body, the hood of the pram was covering her face. I noticed that she was kicking her legs furiously, which I thought was a little strange so I ducked down a bit to look at her face, from an acceptable distance that a stranger should maintain from someone else's baby! What I saw sent a shock of adrenaline through me - I jumped straight over and grabbed mum's arm (she was just browsing the shelves, one hand on the pram) and at the same time flipped back the hood - the head band that the baby was wearing had slipped down over her nose and mouth, and she was turning a dusky purple colour. Mum and I seemed to simultaneously reach down and pulled the head band off her nose and mouth, and bub immediately let out a huge cry. It's a bit of a blur, but I remember mum being stunned about what was happening. She picked up her baby who continued to cry for a bit then settled down, perfectly fine after the ordeal. Mum wasn't so fine. Mum was crying, saying that she knew not to let bub sleep with the headband on, but didn't realise there would be any danger from having the headband on whilst awake. However, just head movement or rubbing can move a headband down over the face. They are fine for a photo or while being held by someone, but please don't leave a headband on a baby if they aren't close, awake and in direct active supervision. And of course, NEVER when sleeping. Also be aware of any embellishments that an older baby or toddler may pull off and put in their mouth #choking . please note the picture below is a stock photo, not of the child in the story. . #newborn #newbornphotography #newbornphotographer #infant #babies #babiesofinstagram #baby #newbornbaby #parenting #pregnancy #family #parenthood #mumlife #breastfeeding #maternity #motherhoodunplugged #pregnant #mother #thatsdarling #babybump #motherhoodrising #motherhoodthroughinstagram #babyshower #babyboy #babygirl #preggo #newbaby

09.01.2022 These are the themes we will be exploring together over the next 4 weeks! Conscious communication & honouring ourSelf Release of limiting beliefs with courage & confidence The art & alchemy of extraordinary self-care for loving & growing... Together we rise; the emerging YOU All of these themes are linked into our transition and journey of motherhood. Our matrescence. Are you ready?!

08.01.2022 Betty had a pretty rough ride during her birth. Physically she feels well now but she is finding it difficult to mentally process the fact that she had a major... haemorhage a couple of hours after the birth which came completely by surprise. Her partner had been told to go home due to covid 19 restrictions within an hour of the baby's birth so she was alone when she began to bleed heavily. She lost 2 litres of blood and ended up in the operating theatre to stop the bleeding.The hosital staff were great, supervised her baby, gave her medication to control the bleeding and arranged a blood transfusion for her. She had no support from her partner because he had reluctantly gone home. When he was summoned to return, he was met by his partner hooked up to various drips and was handed his baby by a stranger. He too was in shock and worried for his partner. Betty was exhausted. She tried to breastfeed several hours after the haemorrhage but felt too weak. Her iron levels were extremely low. She was discharged over a couple of days and spent most of the time feeling detatched from her baby and replaying the events over and over in her mind. Family and friends arrived and heard her birth story. The response was "the main thing is that the main is healthy" Of course Betty was overjoyed that she brought home her baby alive and well but noone asked her if she was ok. Betty doesn't want to have any more babies. She doesn't want to go through that again. She hasn't spoken to anyone and now feels she may have postnatal depression. Betty has birth trauma Betty matters too It's birth trauma awareness week. The birth trauma association support parents who have suffered from a traumatic birth @birth_trauma_association_uk . . #birthtrauma #birthtraumarecovery #birthtraumaawarenessweek #btaw2020 #journeyfrombirthtrauma #dontsufferinsilence

07.01.2022 Posted @withregram @shebirths Always Was. Always Will Be. NAIDOC 2020 . We acknowledge the hundreds of Nations and cultures who covered this continent. All were managing the land - the biggest estate on earth - to sustainably provide for their future.... . Indigenous women have been birthing on this land for 65,000 years and while Australia has some of the lowest mortality rates worldwide there is a significant discrepancy between the child mortality and life expectancy rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. The Australian Government Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2018) found that Indigenous children were 2.1 times more likely to die during early childhood. This report highlights that the Gap is widening. We don't need to 'fix' the problem and perpetuate the patriarchy, we need to listen to what our Indigenous sisters are asking for. . "Continuity of midwifery led care is evidence based as the safest form of care for pregnant women. For our First Nations communities, the definition of continuity of care should be broadened to encompass and consider continuity of place, continuity of birthing in the same country our ancestors did, where we can feel them. . Continuity of connection to spirit, to community, to birthing practices and knowledge, and to supportive indigenous birth-workers. We need to dismantle the reductionist view that you can separate these elements and have no impact on birth outcomes and mothers health and postpartum experiences. We need to expand the definition of continuity of care to encompass the interconnection of country, mind, body, spirit and kin that is necessary for healthcare for all. " Words @indigenous.doulas . . Art @earth.blended . . . . . . #birth #pregnancy #shebirths #shebirthsonlinecourse #antenatal #birtheducation #pregnancycourse #nadinerichardson #betterbirth #positivebirth #empowermentthrougheducation #healthypregnancy #happypregnancy #shebirthsapp #soulmamas #theshebirthsshowpodcast #doula #doulas #prenatalyoga #yoga #podcast #doula #birthmatters #matrescence #mumsmatter #birthdiversity #decolonisationofbirth #alwayswasalwayswillbe #NAIDOC2020 See more

06.01.2022 Some periods of our growth are so confusing that we dont even recognize that growth is happening. We may feel hostile or angry or weepy and hysterical, or we m...ay feel depressed. It would never occur to us, unless we stumbled on a book or a person who explained to us, that we were in fact in the process of change, of actually becoming larger, spiritually, than we were before. Whenever we grow, we tend to feel it, as a young seed must feel the weight and inertia of the earth as it seeks to break out of its shell on its way to becoming a plant. Often the feeling is anything but pleasant. But what is most unpleasant is the not knowing what is happening. Those long periods when something inside ourselves seems to be waiting, holding its breath, unsure about what the next step should be, eventually become the periods we wait for, for it is in those periods that we realize that we are being prepared for the next phase of our life and that, a new level is about to be revealed. ~Alice Walker Sacred Wild Woman Medicine Artist~Shanna Trumbly

06.01.2022 Maternal wellness is community wellness Nourish the mother, we nourish the world. When mamas feel heard and held, and bear witness to others on their journey, it can be a potent catalyst in cultivating a deeper sense of appreciation, love, compassion and self-connection as a MOTHER and a WOMAN! ... Its as if the emotional and mental load is shared a little, lightening it - even if its momentarily when gathered. Ultimately there is a ripple effect of rising another, which essentially means we each rise within the collective. Mamas are the game changers. The pavers of a new paradigm. We need to gather together and cheer each other in our greatness. Im offering Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya online. Event link in comments. Next taster circle is this Wednesday 26th August 09:30-11 AM AEST. This will be leading into The 4 week journey circle series in September. Limited spaces! Grab your spot now Stunning Artwork by @spiritysol #sacredmamacircleswithtanya #sacredmamacircle #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #matrescence #circle #connection #innatewisdom #motherrising #maternalwellness

06.01.2022 These aren't modern crazes we've taken up. They aren't terrible habits we've gotten ourselves into, that need to be stopped asap before they ruin our babies. Th...ey are ancient parenting practices, and they are the blueprint on your newborn baby's brain and what they expect from you as soon as they are born. This is why the work that I do with families antenatally, and with newborns up to 6 months is purely about setting expectations for normal newborn sleep, feeding and creating secure bonds, and looking after yourself as well. Sometimes just knowing what's normal is enough and you can carry on following that ancient intuition that was always within you

06.01.2022 All screening tests have downsides. They may lead to overuse of intervention. And every time we use technology like this, we are undermining womens own knowled...ge. The constant use of technology implies that our bodies arent capable of growing, birthing and feeding babies without a shed load of expensive machinery. And thats not just true. I spent last week chatting with a wonderful, passionate group of midwives, obstetricians, doulas, childbirth educators, hypnobirthing teachers and other birth workers from around the world, and this came up - again - as a key theme that so many of us are experiencing. It's so important to keep sharing positive messages about the awesomeness of the female body. And to remind people that we did this for millions of years before the machines came along. If it hadn't worked, none of us would be here today. If you'd like more information, see www.sarawickham.com where I have a whole information hub on screening as well as more than 500 pages of information. #midwife #midwifery #doula #decisionmaking #decisions #whatsrightforme #book #bookstagram #childbirth #childbirtheducator #childbirtheducation #hypnobirthing #pregnancy #pregnancyyoga #women #birthrights #trustbirth See more

06.01.2022 Agree with this totally. Thanks, Heather Shumaker Writer

05.01.2022 The focus of our 2nd circle of the Matrescence 4 week journey was: Transforming limiting beliefs with courage and confidence We explored some of our limiting beliefs that dont serve us, beliefs which particularly have come to light on our mothering journey. Some of these beliefs are so deeply rooted, interwoven into many aspects of our lives. Exploring and bringing to the surface these belief patterns can feel uncomfortable, even shameful. Though, this experience of b...eing able to explore this in a circle of mothers, were many of the limiting beliefs shared were oh so relatable, made this process lighter, less lonely, and allowed for a deeper sense of compassion towards ourselves AND each other. We explored how to reframe these limiting beliefs, rewriting them into a positive way, reviewing with repetition and elevated emotion so to rewire. So powerful! This rock is from one of the mothers, who wrote her limiting belief on it and planned to throw it into the ocean, with the intention to let go and release this belief thats not serving her. When we have the courage to walk into our story and own it, we get to write the ending. - Brené Brown We tapped into the feeling of courage and spoke to what we would do and how we would feel if we had courage and self confidence! So fun!! We left more connected, lighter and stronger #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #sacredmamacircleswithtanya #sacredmamacircles #matrescence #mothercircle #courage #limitingbeliefs #rewireyourbrain #sacredscience #motheringfromtheheart

05.01.2022 62 days before this photo was taken, I was in crisis. Thats when I made a vow. I vowed to stop pushing myself through a very difficult time; I vowed to love my...self through it. Loving myself through crisis looks like this: To rest when Im tired, even if it's just a few minutes To cry when Im sad To say, I love you, when my heart feels it To say, Im scared, when fear grips me To consume more water; carry less tension To read more books and reduce my screen time To write down worries and blessings in the colors of the rainbow To express appreciation to the sunrise, the birds, and the trees To look up more into peoples eyes, into blue skies, and into what could be. Because of those loving practices, it did not surprise me that stepped in when my 5-year-old niece said she did not want to go to the pool with her brothers and cousins while visiting our home that weekend. Because of those loving practices, I could see this was not a time to teach her how to PUSH through a difficult moment when exhaustion was setting in; it was a time to teach her how to LOVE herself through it. Would you like me to stay home with you, Kate? We could get in bed and read books and rest," I asked. Kate nodded tearfully, as a visible exhale released from her small chest. We read three picture books and talked about how good it is to rest when we are tired. She commented on how much she loved the feel of the fuzzy blanket and the cool pillow. We decided wed close our eyes for a few minutes. Soon, Kate fell asleep. I texted her mom to let her know all was well. Stacie thanked me and told me I didnt need to stay beside Kate if I had other things I needed to do around the house. My brain began rattling off a whole slew of things I could get done in an hour, but I chose to stay beside my sleeping niece and read my book. When Kate woke up, she smiled and thanked me, as did my heart. Its good to listen to our body when it tells us what we need, I reiterated to her, but also to me. I am learning, just as she is learning. Somedays, its hard to remember, so I just look at this picture. The peace on my face says everything I need to know about loving myself through times of pain and crisis. Its the opposite of what I spent my life believing. Thank goodness, its not too late to embrace the truthfor me for Kate and for you. Right now, we have a chance to create new, loving responses in a culture thats conditioned us to push, power, compete, compare, and consume through crisis. This is how we'll create change not just in our hearts, bodies, and minds, but in our relationships, our communities, and in future generations. We can start today by vowing to love ourselves through this day. And so that when its time, well have the strength to step in and advocate for someone else. Rachel Macy Stafford 2020 My friends, Id love for you to be among a special group of people who won't miss out on a new session of #SoulShift, my supportive 8-week online series. This round is called Soul Shift LIFT because well be focusing on personal and relational tools we can use to lift ourselves and those we love during these difficult times. This self-paced journey with hand-in-hand guidance from me can offer real help and real encouragement to you right now. Instead of pushing ourselves through the hard days ahead, lets learn how to lift & love ourselves through them. Sign up here > https://my.handsfreemama.com/

05.01.2022 An important series of papers relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been published in the journal Medical Anthropology Quarterly. One of them concerns women's r...ights in childbirth. "Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic ... stories have emerged ... of women having their labor induced, being forced to have cesarean sections, giving birth alone, and being separated from their babies immediately after birth. Current responses to the pandemic in maternal healthcare and the acceptance of these measures on the basis of necessity not only imply serious infringements of human rights but also present a serious risk that the precarious status of womens rights in childbirth will become the new normal." The paper was authored by Drandi & van Leeuwen (2020) and you can read it in full at http://medanthroquarterly.org//covid-19-a-watershed-momen/ Loads more birth information at www.sarawickham.com #midwife #midwifery #women #womenempowerment #womensrights #birthrights #covidpregnancy #doula #birthdoula #womancentred See more

03.01.2022 Grounded Calm Content Peaceful At ease... Feeling able to navigate anything in the chaos In my body, out of my head... ....These were some of the take aways from yesterday mornings circle. We began the 4 weeks circle series ‘Stepping into our Feminine Power’, with the first theme in the series: ‘The art & alchemy of extraordinary self are for growing & loving’. A common thread noted was how matrescence had actually pushed us into honouring ourselves with self-care - which isn’t just the fluffy bathrobes and foot spas - it’s also the uncomfortable - like setting clear boundaries, making needed shifts for healthier relationships, and valuing our own needs as important as well. Self-care pertains to all aspects of ourselves - our bodies, minds/intellect, emotions, & spiritual growth. We explored practices that positively impact our biology and neuro-chemicals, which can shift us into higher brain states and help alter your perceptions. We touched on our cyclic wisdom as women and how we can harness where we are at within our cycles for deeper self-care and love. Little by little, day by day we can create practices of self-care so we can live from a place of deeper authenticity and presences - as a mother, AND a woman. Celebrating how far we have come on our journeys and excited to see how far we will go!! We finished off with a lovely body-gratitude self-massage leaving us feeling grounded and ready for the day. ....put your self-care first, and do that every day. From that space, everything gets clear, and you find yourself the protagonist in the adventure of your most beautiful life. The path gets ever simpler and easier when you commit to your self-care. You shed what needs to go because the pull toward your most authentic self becomes too great. You find out where you have been donating your much-needed energywhat old constructs of safety have been leaching parts of you that are required for full integration. Kelly Brogan #nourishedbeginningsdoulacare #sacredmamacircles #sacredmamacircleswithtanya #mothercircles #matrescence #motherhood #femininepower #risingstrong #innatewisdom #postpartum #pregnancy #onlinecircle #selfcare #gratitude

03.01.2022 So much of mothering is about raising ourselves! Because, once a child is born so is a mother! We are often catapulted into motherhood, and we are challenged and stretched to our limits over and over. It is also through our experiences that we are invited to re-examine so much about ourselves. How do we do this?! How can we raise ourselves during our profound change and upgrade through matrescence (which has no end!)?... One of the proven best things to support us especially during this crazy time of the planet is to have CONNECTION with like-minded and like-hearted mothers. It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to raise a mother! This is why I am offering Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya a 4 week journey! Its an opportunity for mothers to experience beautiful heart-centered CONNECTION, speak to our experiences - giving us such a sense of common humanity & COMMUNITY; to CELEBRATE ourselves on our journey; AND explore ways to intergrate self-care practices into our everyday moments. Starting TOMORROW Wednesday 2nd September 09:30 AEST. Two spaces left!! Be sure to book your spot now via the link in my bio! These are the themes we will be exploring together over the next 4 weeks! Conscious communication & honouring ourSelf Release of limiting beliefs with courage & confidence The art & alchemy of extraordinary self-care for loving & growing Together we rise; the emerging YOU All of these themes are linked into our transition and journey of motherhood. Our matrescence. During this series of weekly circles we will experience: Facilitated discussion and circle sharing Meditation and mindfulness practices Movement and dance Creative processes such as journaling & art Above all, an opportunity to celebrate, connect and refuel with other kind-hearted and like-minded mamas, like you! You will also receive work sheets to accompany the series. For the purpose of cultivating the Sacred Mama Circle vision of CONNECTION, CELEBRATION and COMMUNITY, there needs to be a commitment to the 4 sessions. Are you ready to give to yourself in this way?? Any questions reach out beautiful one x

02.01.2022 When we choose to support each other rather than compete with each other.. Incredible things happen. Let's grow together! .

02.01.2022 So sweet!! The experience of support and care

02.01.2022 The seasons within mothering Eteching into summer now with my eldest. Amazing to feel this. Its beautiful to see the seasons of mothering in this way. Thank you Rachael Flack

01.01.2022 Mothering is an intellectual activity. It is valuable work. It is a practice.... It is a verb. It is something we DO. It is a discipline. This is what Ruddick conceptualizes - that mothers are engaged in a practice of maternal thinking. This EXPERIENCE of motherING is distinct from the INSTITUTION (social structure) of motherHOOD. We can elevate our support of women in their motherING, when we understand the construction of motherHOOD that they live within.

01.01.2022 Thank you @calliecoach for sharing this song with me - The Art of Letting Go by @thisisfiamusic These lyrics - wow The more I struggle and fight... Trying to get it all right I push away the very thing I want Thinking it's all up to me Deciding how it will be Forgetting that I am guided by the One So I forgive mySelf over again Cause I am doing the best I can And there are no mistakes I learn every day And the Universe is showing me the way But sometimes the ego-ged mind Is strong and making me blind Oh I run around Believing all the lies When choosing love over fear A lance thats so bright and clear All this here is nothing to be found So I forgive mySelf over again Cause I am doing the best I can No there are no mistakes I learn every day And the Universe is showing me the way And I am giving up the need to know it all before I am mastery the art of letting go Yes I was put here for a reason I feel it in my bones There is a purpose on this earth for my soul.... This song is divine. Goosebumps the whole time listening. So potent for motherhood- giving it up to something greater than us. To rest into community as we navigate and forgive ourselves over and over as we do the best we can. ‘Sacred Newborn Mama Circles with Tanya’ and ‘Sacred Mama Circles with Tanya’ start next week, Thursday 09:30, and Sunday 1pm respectively. Link in bio

01.01.2022 I dont know if two sentences have ever made me feel more affirmed. #smashthepatriarchy