We all know that babies are rarely born on their due dates. But when they are born way before they are expected (before the 37th week of pregnancy), it can be the most difficult situation you will ever face. Two of my children were born early. One at 26 weeks, and one at 33 weeks. […]
I’d heard about morning sickness. So when I found out I was pregnant, I expected to be feeling sick for a couple of hours when I first woke up. I remember thinking "Big deal. I can put up with being a bit nauseous between breakfast and morning tea time for a couple of months" Famous […]
This time, 13 years ago, I was struggling to deal with my baby who seemed different to all of the others. Every time I put her down she would scream until I thought she would choke. She seemed to stay awake for hours on end. And she was so difficult to settle. It felt as […]
Losing my babies is probably the hardest thing that I have ever had to go through. I was never the same from the moment the sonographer insensitively told me "Oh yes, looks like they’ve been gone for quite a while. You’ll be getting those out today for sure" Like I was having my tonsils removed.
It’s been […]
Most of us have a certain idea of what it will be like to have a little girl. Ballet recitals. Fairy wings. Shirley Temple movies. Picking flowers. But what if your little girl is more interested in studying entomology? What if the first thing she asks before school is "Why is it dark in space?" […]
Every day in my job, I hear from women who have experienced birth trauma. They want a different experience this time around, and they are willing to try almost anything. In most cases I can help them. But first we need to overcome the biggest obstacle of all: the fear and the memory of the […]
Doulas are becoming more of a fixture in Australian maternity and labour wards. I attend around 2 hospitals per week, and have begun to meet lots of professional Childbirth Attendants going about their business. 3 years ago, when I had my son, Doulas were a rarity in the hospital system. But lucky for the modern […]
