What is a Woman?

She is biologically bound to womanhood. Her endocrine system is wired to the ancient wisdom of the womb - the house of humanity. Her anatomical parts are a hidden sacred world of life wielding, blood shedding, grounded, powerful potential. She has a vulva, vaginal canal, cervix, uterus, ovaries. She holds Grandmother eggs, created within the body of her Mother, as her XX chromosomes forged her physical being into the body of a baby Girl.

She has breast tissue and mammary glands, nourishing, she nurtures seed into full bloom. She is Medicine, pouring liquid life to soothe her baby's cries. Her milk shifts like the tide, delivering a medicinal concoction for what her baby requires. Spoken through the language of scent, touch, taste, desire, her urge to connect, to shed and walk through the fire. She is a warrior walking the embers of the lineage of Women. She glows in the stars of a fertile moon, plump with the ecstasy of eros within her veins.

She aches, she pains, she rains the salty red dirt of the earth from the lips between her thighs. Her flesh moves with the seasons, she cries with the tides and howls into the night. Her ley lines lead you to the mystical Mother mountain side of her tender gazing eyes. Shedding a waterfall of tears into the expanding pool of life. Maiden, Mother, Maga, Crone. She is a Lunerly dance upon sisterhood’s throne. She oozes, her potent gooey fluid, her pheromones are a pungent perfume. She is wet, wild, fierce, she is a hurricane and it still spring afternoon. She has not forgotten who she is. She cannot forget, the red thread interweaves her blood stream.

The Matriarch, fecund, big breasted wide wombed goddess - she is etched in the walls by the ancient ones. Never to be erased, no matter how hard they try. She is Woman. She is this and so much more. She is more than the sum of her parts.

She didn’t choose woman.

WOMAN CHOSE HER.

A Stars Descent

She was a wildfire caught by the breeze, headed toward the shimmering mountain peak. Burning fiercely through rushes, bending deep into her knees, groaning down every squat and lean. Her flame nearing the break of a flowing river stream, dancing with her reflection in the wonder of her dreams. She jumped right in, as smoke she ascended. She was of the stars and sky. Seeking, expanding, in silence she surrounded the spirit of her son, descending to the other side.

A Poem for Abbey and Kyron – A Stars Descent.

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The final hours of Abbey’s three-day labor, after days of weaving her way through the labyrinth of birth that was preparing her for her journey to come, as a mother to her son. Her doula by her side, on the birth sling pacing, pondering, showering, resisting and releasing her maiden, she birthed. Persistent despite a long journey. She listened and learned at every twist and turn through the winding of her birth labyrinth. Fear, trust, angst, frustration, grace, surrender, rest - Birth.

Suggesting to Abbey for her lay down for a while - “You are going to need to rest before this final stretch, you are so close, but you are absolutely exhausted.”

“It f*cking hurts when I lay down… I am going to have shower.” She groaned her avoidance, patiently supporting her into the shower, where heat rained upon her body and her wild tones deepened even more. Finally finding her way to the bed, she collapsed down, trembling as she rode the face of a few more waves and then… silence.

For two hours maybe more, the only thing to be heard were gentle breaths, smalls snores with the early Monday morning birds. A tap on my skin awoke me from my shallow sleep, “Something is happening”.  

Returning with her partner to the bedroom, Abbey was coming down from another world. I stood behind her, on all fours she roared, “I feel like it’s coming out of my ass.” A glossy globe began to slowly stretch her open. “Your baby is coming my love, use your hand, you will feel him. You are so close now.”

Rush after rush baby Kyron emerged from her sacred gates, en-caul, his head submerged in the muddied water of life. Slippery, he slid between her thighs to be embraced by her warm, fumbling hands. A mother, her son, reborn. Together in a new way, unbreakable and wild.

 REST. It was rest that supported Kyron to gently make his way down the birth canal. It was rest, that gave Abbey the final burst of strength within her powerful resilience to breathe and sound her baby into this world.

I loved this experience because it was such a contrast to the jarring instruction and coached pushing of the hospital births I have witnessed.

She was inspiring, a woman birthing in her sovereignty, owning her freedom and trusting in the knowledge of her own inner world, seeking nothing but loving support from her external world.

Your Doula, Dionne x

Immunity Pumpkin Soup

Nourishing Recipe for your winter season, menstruation or postpartum: (see below for recipe)

How is does recipe support the immune system?

Let’s take a deeper look into the properties of a few of the ingredients:

• Turmeric and pepper - Both turmeric and black pepper have key active ingredients that contribute to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and disease-fighting qualities. Why together? Turmeric and black pepper each have health benefits, due to the compounds curcumin and piperine. As piperine enhances curcumin absorption in the body by up to 2,000%, combining the spices magnifies their effects.

• Cordyceps (mushroom) - Cordyceps mushrooms may help maintain open airways, enabling free and easy breathing. They hold the potential to be effective supplements for shortness of breath and other respiratory issues.

• Oregano - Oregano contains chemicals that can help reduce cough, aid with digestion and with fighting against some bacteria and viruses. You can also use oregano for wound healing, parasite infections, and many other conditions

• Celery seeds - During ancient times, Indian Ayurvedic medicine used celery seed to treat colds, flu, water retention, poor digestion, different types of arthritis, and certain diseases of the liver and spleen.

• Cumin - Cumin contains compounds called flavonoids that work as antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants can help neutralize unstable particles called free radicals that cause cell damage. By neutralizing these particles, antioxidants can help prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

• Echinacea - Studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects.

• Nasturtiums - Both the leaves and petals of the nasturtium plant are packed with nutrition, containing high levels of vitamin C. It has the ability to improve the immune system, tackling sore throats, coughs, and colds, as well as bacterial and fungal infections.

Just how Incredible are our kitchen herbs!

When I make this recipe I call on my intuition for measurements and ingredients so please use this recipe as a guide so you can do the same

With love and nurture,

Hailey xx

To download this recipe click HERE

Trauma in Maternity Care

A select committee in New South Wales has been established to investigate the experience and prevalence of birth trauma, after 30 women lodged a formal complaint against Wagga Wagga Base Hospital to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commision (HCCC). The Upper House Committee consisting of nine members will be chaired by Animal Justice MLC, the Hon. Emma Hurst. This gender-based violence against women is a systemic issue affecting more than 1 in 10 Australian women.

The investigation aims to report on the short and long term physical, emotional, economic and psychological impacts of birth trauma affecting not only mothers but their families and health workers. The investigation will explore ‘the availability of, and systemic barriers to, trauma-informed care being provided during pregnancy, during birth and following birth’. Evaluating the prevalence of obstetric violence, barriers to continuity of care, and the impact on minority groups such as First Nations people and young parents.

“Obstetric Violence results in a loss of autonomy and leaves a woman feeling confused and disempowered because they are conditioned by society to trust in the caregiver’s authority and knowledge.” When medical malpractice is involved in this power dynamic, women are more likely to experience higher rates of postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This isn’t just a feminist issue, it is a family issue, a societal disgrace and total disregard of human rights. In an Australian survey women reported sexual assault, non-empathic care, coercion and bullying, with open text comments stating “I felt dehumanised,” “I felt violated,” and “I felt powerless.” This is a problem beyond the borders of NSW.

While this investigation is a New South Wales initiative, one may be hopeful that it ignites a fire within women Australia-wide to tell the stories of their own birth experiences within our maternity system. One thing is for sure, we will not be silenced. Birth is a sacred, intricate process that requires a respectful, evidence based, woman-centred approach. It is not good enough that the medical system continuously traumatises women in ways that are absolutely avoidable without accountability. It is my hope that more voices being are heard will influence a wave of collective change to maternity care and direct its trajectory toward safer, empowering and empathetic medical practice. Women’s birth experiences should, more often than not, be a positively influential introduction into parenthood. Such a memorable moment in a family's life should not be left behind as trauma. #enough

Your voice matters.

If you feel safe to share the story of your experience within the maternity system, follow this link or visit our website to share your story with us!

Mothers from NSW, the link to lodge a formal submission with the Upper Parliament committee is available here, Lodge a Submission (nsw.gov.au).

With love, your Doula,

Dionne