Diet for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers | By Sally Fallon Morell

Cod Liver Oil to supply 20,000 IU vitamin A and 2000 IU vitamin D per day, which is provided by 2 teaspoons high vitamin cod liver oil (Green Pasture brand).

1 quart (or 32 ounces) whole milk daily, preferably raw and from pasture-fed cows (learn more about raw milk on our website A Campaign for Real Milk,

4 tablespoons butter daily, preferably from pasture-fed cows

2 or more eggs daily, preferably from pastured chickens

Additional egg yolks daily, added to smoothies, salad dressings, scrambled eggs, etc.

3-4 ounces fresh liver, once or twice per week (If you have been told to avoid liver for fear of getting “too much Vitamin A,” be sure to read Vitamin A Saga)

Fresh seafood, 2-4 times per week, particularly wild salmon, shellfish and fish eggs

Fresh beef or lamb daily, always consumed with the fat

Oily fish or lard daily, for vitamin D

2 tablespoons coconut oil daily, used in cooking or smoothies, etc.

Lacto-fermented condiments and beverages

Bone broths used in soups, stews and sauces

Soaked whole grains

Fresh vegetables and fruits

AVOID:

• Trans fatty acids (e.g., hydrogenated oils)

• Junk foods

• Commercial fried foods

• Sugar

• White flour

• Soft drinks

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Cigarettes

• Drugs (even prescription drugs)

IMPORTANT WARNING: Cod liver oil contains substantial levels of omega-3 EPA, which can cause numerous health problems, such as hemorrhaging during the birth process, if not balanced by arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 fatty acid found in liver, egg yolks and meat fats.  Please do not add cod liver oil to a diet that is deficient in these important animal foods. It is important to follow our diet for pregnant mothers in its entirety, not just selected parts of it.

To read more about Sally Fallon Morell and her best-selling cookbook Nourishing Traditions click the link here.

Chocolate, Cherry, Coconut Glory Cake Recipe

Gluten free, refined sugar free, you could create a vegan option if you replace the eggs with a vegan substitute of your choice.  

CHOCOLATE CAKE  

300g (3 cups) almond meal (I make my own, I weigh out the almonds and pulse in the food processor till fine)

30g (¼ cup) coconut flour

90g (¾ cup) raw cacao powder

1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped (or a pinch of vanilla powder or a dash of vanilla extract)

200g (1 cup) coconut sugar

2 tsp baking soda

60ml (½ cup) coconut oil, melted

3 large eggs- 

250ml (1 cup) full-cream coconut milk

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of an 18-centimetre springform cake tin with coconut oil or butter.

In a bowl, mix together the almond meal, coconut flour, cacao powder, vanilla seeds, coconut sugar and baking soda.

Mix the melted coconut oil (make sure it's not too hot or it will scramble the eggs), eggs and coconut milk. Slowly add the  wet ingredients to the dry and mix together really well; you want a smooth batter.

Pour the batter  into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. It may need a little longer. If it does, cover with foil to prevent the top from burning.

When it's cooked, turn it out of the tin and leave it to cool on a wire cooling rack. Once it's completely cool, cut the cake in half horizontally and decorate. 

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

2 cups coconut cream ( Kara - coconut cream Asian grocer) 

200g dark chocolate- I use a chocolate that's sweetened with either coconut sugar, or maple syrup. 

Heat coconut cream in a saucepan on low till it’s warm. Add broken up chocolate and turn off heat, stir till it is melted and combined. Place in the fridge to thicken. 

CREATION

200g shredded coconut

300g  cherries or fresh berries - you can use any fruit that feels good to you. I find the frozen pitted cherries work great if you're in a pinch and possibly unable to get good quality fresh produce. I just defrost the cherries and pat dry before assembling the cake. 

Fresh edible flowers would also look beautiful if you can forage or find at a local market 

Toast shredded coconut 150C/300F till lightly golden.It best to keep and eye on it as different ovens can cook faster. Set to the side to cool.

Use a serrated knife to cut the cooled cake in half. 

To assemble, take one half of the cake and spread an even layer of chocolate frosting using half the amount that you have made. Next place half the cherries on top of the frosting, finally add an even layer of toasted coconut shards. For the second layer, place the other half of the cake on top of the layer of frosting, cherries, and toasted coconut you have just created. You will assemble the top of the cake using the other half of the frosting and be mindful that this is the top of the cake that will be seen, so get in touch with your inner artist and create something beautiful. 

Trusting the Research | By Dr Frank Springob

This past year, City Council meetings in my hometown regarding the hazards/benefits of having fluoridated water was interesting beyond the obvious level of polarisation that it created. If you were trying to be totally objective in weighing the pros and cons, you had to be impressed with the level of knowledge and research presented. I was struck by the fact that most of the best research was shared by ordinary citizens rather than health professionals.

It occurred to me that the anti-fluoride side was much better prepared in presenting actual facts and figures about the problems with adding fluoride to municipal water systems, while the professionals seemed to expect that people should agree with them just because they had a title or credentials. Today, in the age of the internet, everyone has access to Pub Med, the service that supplies published research to anyone with a computer.  In other words, we all have access to the truth if we can type in a few search words.

Personally, I spend a lot of time on Pub Med. Did you know that there are over 20,000 peer-reviewed research papers published each year? Keeping up on all of the information is impossible for any one person, even if you spent all of your free time reading the available data.  That is why I am always amused when another health professional tell me that there is no research to validate a statement that I have made. I just ask them if they have reviewed all of the 20,000 articles that were published in the past year. End of discussion.

The real issue is this—Can you trust the results of the research? After all, somebody had to write a check to pay for the study that was published, since most researchers do not work for free. Can the results of the research be tainted by the special interests of the industry that is funding the research? Of course it can!  It happens more often than the general public will ever be allowed to know. Therefore, looking at the source of the funding is paramount.

Approximately 2/3rds of the research is funded by two industries, the chemical industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Many of the research projects that are started are never finished. The funding is pulled if the data implies that completion of the study may possibly work against the industry that is paying the bills.  That information is then swept under the carpet and the public will never learn why the data was destroyed. This is particularly evident in the chemical industry, where GMO (genetically modified organism) research is often started but never completed.

Personally, I prefer to read the purer research studies published by the computer industry, for two reasons. First, they are only interested in the truth about how to create the next level of technology. They have nothing to hide from the public about studies that go horribly wrong. Secondly, they tend to model future computer technology after new research that studies the functions of the human brain. Computers have always been designed with that idea in mind.

The latest peer-reviewed research suggests that human memory is not held in the brain, or even in the body. It is held in the field of energy that surrounds the body.  The brain, the neurons and the dendrites act as antennae to read the information coming in from the field as a person recalls a memory.

As the creator of a healing technique that has pioneered the concept of reading and responding to information from the human energy field, this revelation directly impacts my communication with the health care practitioners that I teach around the country and the patients that I treat.

In the computer industry, this research has led to the development of a new type of memory chip. It is not silicon based. Since the body is about 70% water, the new computer chip utilises a lightly refined droplet of water. They can pour many terabytes of information into this new chip. As you might suspect, the data is not stored in the water. Water acts as a matrix/template to organise the data which is actually help in a field around the chip and even around the computer itself. This give a whole new meaning to the term “cloud computing”.

It is easy to see why I am selective about the research that I rely upon to provide the truth about the world around us. I tend to distrust the research that is funded by chemical and pharmaceutical industries, because they tend to withhold any inconvenient information from the public. When any “expert” attempts to convince you that you need to believe what they are stating, consider that they may be quoting research that came from an impure origin or denying the existence of research that is valid and factual.

To learn more about MFT, health tips and industry info head to Dr Frank Springob’s website.

Why is Everyone Reacting to Gluten | By Dr Frank Springob

My local supermarket recently ran a newspaper ad stating that their bakery uses only non-GMO flour in their breads and pastries.  I found their statement to be confusing, since all flour sold in the U.S. is non-GMO.

That said, there is a huge difference between the wheat that most Americans eat now compared to the wheat we consumed 50 years ago.  The amount of confusion surrounding this issue has led me to write this detailed explanation of this important issue.

Around 1970, a new type of wheat was quietly put upon public supermarket shelves.  It was the first crop to be genetically engineered.  From that time forward, food in America would be forever changed. The general public was never told of this change; in fact, a great deal of time and money has gone into keeping these changes secret.

So, what is the difference between a food that has been genetically engineered (GM) and a food that is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?  GMO’s are the result of a process of gene-splicing from virus’ and bacteria to create new seeds. There has been a slow, methodical creep of this kind of technology into American food over the past 5 decades.  

You are no longer eating your grandfather’s wheat, corn or soy.

When I was a child, most people had never heard of of gluten intolerance.  That is because largely, it did not exist.  Today, gluten-free products are readily available and many people complain about negative reactions to wheat.  

Why has the wheat changed and how have those changes effected the digestive health of America?

As with most of the newly created problems with our food and environment, the answer is “follow the money.” Wheat was altered with the goal of increasing the yield per acre.  The plant was genetically engineered to grow shorter with a bigger diameter around the base so it would not blow over in the wind.  During harvesting, more upright plants meant a larger yield.  Therefore, it provided more money to the commercial farmer.  That in itself does not sound bad, but there were other consequences.

Changing the plant also changed the gluten.  Although it was probably an unintended consequence, the fact remained that a new grain was created.  It contained much more gliadin, a type of gluten that causes inflammation in the intestines.  A secondary problem with gliadin is that it binds to opiate receptors in the body and creates cravings for people to eat even more.  This combination of factors has contributed to a snowballing-effect of digestive issues over the past 4 decades.

Unfortunately, it does not end there.  We now have an additional problem with commercial wheat: Roundup. They recently added a new step to the harvest of the wheat: it is sprayed with Roundup/Glyphosate just before the harvest.  This is done to kill the crop so that it can be plowed-under earlier before the onset of winter.  An additional advantage to the commercial farmer is that it dries out the grain.  Good for the farmers, but again, bad for the consumer. Non GMO-wheat is still genetically engineered and unless it is organic, it is still laden with herbicides that are toxic to the human body. The Roundup/Glyphosate increase has been scientifically correlated by researchers at MIT to the increase in many diseases, including Autism and Celiac.

The good news is that organic heritage wheat is still available to the consumer.  You can purchase this from your local farmer’s market or health food store.  If supermarket chain bakeries are interested in attracting an informed health-conscience consumer, it would be more helpful to ensure that organic heritage wheat flour is used in their breads and pastries.

To learn more about MFT, health tips and industry info head to Dr Frank Springob’s website.

Your Personal Energy Field and Your Diet | By Dr Frank Springob

The Morphogenic Field, or M-Field, is the field of energy that radiates in all directions from the human body. It is a classic torus energy pattern, and is the cumulative energy of each cell, tissue, organ, and organ system in the human body.  While words such as Morphogenic and torus may be new to many people, everybody has an M-Field, including the reader of this blog.

The Morphogenic Field Technique is based upon the premise that a large and balanced M-Field is the greatest indicator of a person’s total health. The size and symmetry of the M-Field is determined by multiple factors which are mainly environmental, including the food you eat. The formation and behavior of cells depends heavily upon what nutrients are available to them. Therefore, we assert that diet is most important factor in creating a large and balanced M-Field.

One cannot accurately address the issue of diet without acknowledging the poor quality of the food supply in America. Over the past 150 years, large commercial food processors and big agribusiness have corrupted our food. Done in the name of convenience, this degradation has been unrelenting and seems to be accelerating.

We believe that empowering people to choose the right food by acknowledging its effect on the Morphogenic Field may create a tipping point for this trend. As consumers demand better food, we can push back against this trend and replace “food products” with actual food.

To learn more about MFT, health tips and industry info head to Dr Frank Springob’s website.

M-Field Signature Matching® | By Dr Frank Springob

What does it mean to match the energy signature of your body to the energy signature of your food?

The science of quantum physics exists to explain the phenomena of the smallest pieces of structure known to man. At the core of all structure is energy. The human body consists of many “systems” of physiological function such as the digestive system, the nervous system, the circulatory system, etc.

Each of these systems is made up of organs. Organs are made up of tissues, which are made up of cells. If you go even smaller, you discover molecules, atoms and sub-atomic particles, which are comprised of packets of energy wholeness known as the quantum.

Energy Signatures

Each level of matter and each level of life has an “energy signature” that is unique. Your personal energy signature is the sum of all of the trillions of energy signatures that go into your makeup. Your energy signature is greatly influenced by your immediate environment—what you eat, your level of emotional stress, toxins that have entered your system and hundreds of other factors including your genetic make-up. In other words, your energy signature today is different from what it was last year, last week and even yesterday. It varies based upon your diet, sleep, stress and toxic exposure.

Your energy is represented by a field that constantly surrounds your body in a recognizable pattern call the “torus”. In our work, we call this the Morphogenic Field or M-Field. In a healthy person, it is a large and balanced field that radiates off the body to approximately 5-7 feet, based upon the MFT method of measurement. People with a large M-field are usually healthy, vibrant individuals. People with a small or distorted M-Field usually have some level of health challenge and are lacking in personal energy.

This torus pattern is found consistently in all scales of matter, from the atom to humans, to planets and even galaxies. Food also has an energy signature. The same torus pattern can be seen in the cross section of an apple or an orange. In MFT, we consider the torus to represent the energy signature of the atom, the fruit, the human or the planet. We use this, in combination with the science of muscle response testing, to match-up the energy signature of food with the energy signature of the person.

The food is presented to a person’s energy field with the intention of learning whether or not the food is an M-Field Signature Match to that person. If it matches, the food can be considered acceptable to that person. It the body rejects the food, we conclude that this food will not provide the body with the nutrients that it needs at that given time. We contend that “matched food” is nourishing to the body and “mismatched food” is a hindrance to that person’s health and wellbeing.

Our purpose in presenting this concept is to educate and empower people to seek food sources that will expand their M-Field and thus become healthier and more vibrant. If consumers seek food that nourishes and fuels the body, it goes a long way toward developing a supply-and-demand situation where the people who grow our food will move away from their current trend of degrading our food supply with processed and genetically engineered products.

M-Field Signature Matching consistently reveals that only the energy of organic whole food truly matches the energy signature of the body. This system is offered at 4-hour seminars throughout the country at regular intervals. For information regarding these classes, visit seminars.

To learn more about MFT, health tips and industry info head to Dr Frank Springob’s website.

GMO Sugar Beets | By Dr Frank Springob

The United States has agencies in place, created by President Teddy Roosevelt, that exist to protect the integrity of the American food supply.  In the early 20th Century, President Roosevelt witnessed a consistent degradation of the food. So, he oversaw the creation the Pure Food and Drug Administration, to ensure that our citizens would always have access to the best quality food available.

Sadly, within one administration, that agency was infiltrated by the very industries that Americans needed to be protected from.  When that happened, the adjective “Pure” became problematic, so it was removed.  Today we have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) claiming to protect the interests of the American people with regards to the food supply.  Their job is to regulate changes to the growing of our food, before the public is exposed, to insure continued quality and safety.

GMO Sugar Beets are an example of a dismal failure of this regulatory process.  GMO sugar beets were thrust upon an unsuspecting public several years before they officially approved.  Added to that, the approval process initially only considered what the new beets might do to the immediate farm environment.  They did not consider possible danger to the humans that consumed the end product–the white sugar.

You see, the government was being put under pressure to prematurely approve the beets.  This maneuver was done by the chemical company that had created the GMO sugar beets.  Monsanto, the chemical company, did not offer an approved alternative to the new beets, so the farmers had nothing else to grow.  Fearing a sugar shortage, the government allowed the sugar to be released without completing the legal approval process.  Americans have now been eating sugar from this source for over ten years.

So, is the sugar safe or not?

Forgetting for a moment that, in general, sugar is bad for you, should you be consuming the sugar that originated from GMO sugar beets?  The energy signature testing we do at Morphogenic Field Technique says:  No, you should not be eating this sugar if you care about your overall health.  It tests very badly, as you may have observed if you have attended any of our live presentations.  It makes almost everybody’s muscles incredibly weak when tested.  

Why does this happen?  Here are our observations:

1. GMO Sugar Beets are created using a process that we consider to be dangerous, the insertion of viral and/or bacterial genes into the seeds. Universally, our energy signature testing for anything created using this process has had a negative outcome.

2. The beets and the soil that they are grown in is sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, with residual chemicals staying with the beets after harvest and processing.

3. Beets are super-absorbers.  If it is nutritious, the beet will absorb it.  If it is toxic, the beet will also absorb those things as well.

4. The result:  A toxic, genetically engineered beet, growing in toxic soil and eventually turned into a toxic product called white sugar.

Interestingly, our Morphogenic Field Technique testing procedure often demonstrates aberrant liver energies on people who have tested positive for GMO Sugar Beet energy.  

Solutions?  

1. Avoid eating sugar, especially if you do not know the source.  If you must have sugar, buy and use only organic cane sugar products.  (Most commercial cane sugar is also sprayed with pesticides and herbicides).

2. In our Morphogenic Field Technique classes, we like to energy signature match the “problem energies” to the “solution energies”.  In our home-testing classes, we offer 4 possible homeopathic “solution energies” that you may find valuable to expand and balance the M-Field when correctly matched.

3. If you feel that your personal health concerns warrant a professional evaluation for more specific truly-natural protocol development, you can locate a trained MFT Professional at an event or on the MFT website here. 

Remember, the only stated goal of Morphogenic Field Technique is the expansion and balancing of the human energy field, the M-Field.  Years of experience have taught us that a large and balanced M-Field will move a person toward greater vitality and health, while a small or distorted M-Field usually means health-related challenges over time.

To learn more about MFT, health tips and industry info head to Dr Frank Springob’s website.

How to do life better with meditation

Meditation has become quite a buzz word in the wellness world as a remedy to the busy mind, but before it became trendy, meditation was something more personal - mostly limited to close knit circles and for practicing yogis. Meditation can be worth its weight in gold: supporting a reduction in stress, improving sleep routines, increasing energy levels, helping us to feel calm, and supporting our general, emotional wellbeing. In a world that is changing and evolving so rapidly, harnessing your inner calm is of the utmost importance, and worth taking the time to explore.

When I talk to people about meditation, I often hear things like “I can’t sit still, let alone in silence’ or I don’t have time for that.’ While I completely understand these sentiments (and have even felt them from time to time!) I know that this mindset can be overcome, leading to amazing growth and the development of a wonderful meditation practice. Stemming from my studies in the field of Morphogenics, Kundalini Science, and Energetic Nutrition, my focus lies in helping my clients to find balance within all aspects of their lives, learning about their bodies and ways to amplify their energy and vibrations; I deeply believe that meditation is absolutely key to health and wellness. I have seen and felt first hand that carving out time to meditate daily will allow your day to be more productive and enjoyable. I want to show you how accessible and customizable a meditation practice can be, so that you can begin to feel how it can create changes within your body. Creating a daily practice can be easy, and I want to help you get started. After all, creating a deeper self-awareness so that you can learn to trust yourself is the greatest form of growth!

Meditation is a technology designed to create a mental shift through the use of breath, movement, and sound vibration. The various forms of stress and anxiety that many people are experiencing reflect the need to recalibrate our minds to adapt, synchronize, and evolve with the world around us. The key is to use meditation as a tool to strengthen our physical, emotional, and spiritual natures so that we are not only able to survive, but thrive, in our circumstances. It’s a tool to reduce anxiety and the stress response - it’s the ultimate upgrade. Just like when we upgrade our phones and apps to become more efficient and up to date, each time we meditate we upgrade our brains and biochemistries to live life to its fullest potential. The calming nature of sitting down to meditate (whether that’s with music, guided or silent) allows the body and mind to rest. This deep rest allows the body to release the stress it’s holding and use that energy for innate healing and rejuvenation. If our mind is like a phone, too many apps open causes the phone to slow down, to be less efficient, and to force the battery to run out quickly.  Closing down the apps allows it to work better. Similarly, meditation can help your brain preserve power, be more efficient, and become more focused.

The benefits of meditation are endless. Researchers at John Hopkins and Stanford have scientifically validated its benefits: it boots your immune system, decreases anxiety, increases social connections and emotional intelligence, increases our brain growth, and rejuvenates is in order to improves productivity. We have control over our thoughts and the way we respond to the world. Using meditation as a tool for managing these things allows us to become aware of our existing thought patterns and stress management techniques; it allows us adapt to the world around us. Meditation keeps you real; it allows you to gain perspective, helps you process the stories that you play in your head, and helps you release anything that no longer serving you. Keeping a daily practice should never feel like a chore - it can be something you look forward to every day. It’s about teaching your body that you are worth showing up for, and that time for yourself is important. Ultimately that’s when true magic happens, right? 

We are all unique, so the way we meditate will also be unique. There are infinite options and many different practices to choose from - I know this can feel intimidating. The key is to start by choosing time limit and style of meditation that feels comfortable to you. Start small and easy, then work your way up if you feel so inclined. Below are my tips for getting started. 

• There is no such thing as a completely quiet mind. When you start, just allow the thoughts to come and go, fighting them will only intensify them.  

• Find a comfortable position to sit in, could be in a comfy chair or outside on the grass. Best to be seated rather than lying down, as you may fall asleep. If you are using meditation to help you fal asleep, lying down is fine.

• Meditation can work for you in any time increment - you can start with five minutes or go all the way up to two hours (or more!)! I personally love meditating when I wake up so I start the day feeling centered, but any time of the day works just fine. It’s all about finding what’s right for you. If you immediately meditate when you begin to feel the first signs of stress, you can prevent the nervous system from entering a heightened state and maintain a calm energy for dealing with your stressors.

• Focus on big, slow breaths from the belly. As you breathe in, the belly should extend outward - inflating like a balloon. As you breathe out, the belly should deflate and return in, unless instructed in a guided meditation to breathe with a different pattern.

• There are many different types of meditation; there’s no such thing as doing it the wrong way. For guidance, you can attend classes, follow an app, subscribe to a video or audio series, or simply search on youTube for a guided practice. You can search for any of the following to kick off your search for the practice that’s right for you: Kundalini Yogic Science (RAMA school of applied technology is my personal favorite), Transcendental Meditation, Mantra Meditation, The Art of Living Breathing, Headspace App, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Yoga Nidra, Ziva Meditation, or Charka Tuning Meditations.  

• It’s easy to say we don’t have time to meditate, but if you think about the amount of time you spend scrolling through Instagram (we all do it!) I think you’ll find that if you reprioritize, you can find time to squeeze in a 10 min meditation that will change the way you look at your day. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Meditation is the greatest gift we can give ourselves, and the best part is, it doesn’t cost a thing! You have absolutely nothing to lose. You will  learn to upgrade your mind and body to transform your approach to everything you do. Our minds our powerful! Let’s give them the tools to become self aware, to listen to our bodies, and to set ourselves up to be successful, mindful members of our communities.

The most successful person in any given room is the most relaxed. - Guru Jagat

If you’d like to check out some further resources, please see below!

Immunity

Anxiety

Social Connections

Brain

Productivity

Navigating the First 40 Days Post Birth with a Doula

Addison sat down with the editors at The TOMCO to chat about life after birth. You can read the full interview below or on the TOMCO website here.

Addison Landry is a Melbourne-based postpartum doula, energy nutritionist and chef helping women navigate their way through one of the most redefining moments of their lives — motherhood.

You could say she is your modern-day Mary Poppins, albeit more relaxed, grounded and dressed in light, airy linen.

We sat down with the founder of Uplifted Collective to learn more about her work and what all women can learn from putting themselves first. Addison Landry is a Melbourne-based postpartum doula, energy nutritionist and chef.

WHAT IS A POSTPARTUM DOULA, AND HOW CAN THEY HELP NEW MUMS?

Motherhood, whether you’re having your first baby or, second, third, fourth, it changes you every time. Doula’s bridge the gap between the mind, body and spirit and how all of these aspects transform after birth.

Postpartum doulas are somewhat like Mary Poppins. We’re intuitively there to support the mother in her transformation and adapt to the needs of every family’s situation.

As a doula, my job is to help restore a mother’s energy after giving birth, helping to rebuild her energy reserves, so she has the strength to continue to move forward.

A big part of that is the emotional support. Often, new mums want to share their experiences and let you know how their birth went and how they’re feeling. What I get asked quite frequently is ‘how can I create new boundaries?’ Women are redefining their lives while navigating new territory as a mum. My role entails a lot of listening and directing them back to themselves, allowing them to regain their power in a way that’s respectful to what they’re going through.

"How a mother can build her strength after birth is indicative of the next 40 years of her life, in terms of health and energy."

IS THERE AN OPTIMUM TIME TO ENLIST THE HELP OF A POSTPARTUM DOULA?

The first 40 days are significant for the bonding of the parents and baby, but also the health of the mother moving forward. I want to make sure we build up her energy, whether that’s cooking nourishing food, tidying up, minding the baby so she can rest or have a shower, or doing some healing such as reiki or a light massage. I aim to guide her to a place of balance and empowerment, so she feels like ‘she’s got this’. How a mother can build her strength after birth is indicative of the next 40 years of her life, in terms of health and energy.

When I meet with parents, I always say to them it’s a good idea to have a conversation about how you can support each other in the postpartum period. It’s important to discuss the needs you have as individuals and ways in which you can build a team to help you – because ultimately the support you need will vary, and may not always be available from your primary support person. A team in which you feel safe and heard is key to a nourishing postpartum experience.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GO-TO RESOURCES FOR NEW AND EXPECTANT MUMS? 

I have so many! The One Commune Empowered Birth Course is incredible. They go through everything from anatomy to nutrition and emotional support. Ina May Gaskin’s books about spiritual midwifery and her guide to childbirth are a must-have resource. Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen (co-founder of Loom) is all about female power, pregnancy, and postpartum care. If you’re in Melbourne, connect with MAMA Australia — they’re an excellent resource for birth and pregnancy and have lots of knowledge to offer. Jan Ireland, the founder, was my mum’s midwife for the birth of my brother. 

Being prepared and knowing what your options are and how you can support yourself is vital. This preparation for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum empowers you to make choices that are right for you, and your family. You’re empowering yourself because ultimately, it’s your body, it’s your baby and your choice. Always. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ALL WOMEN TO EMPOWER AND NURTURE THEMSELVES?

Always come back to things that bring you joy. That means something different to everyone and what it comes down to is, ‘what will calm my nervous system?’. My suggestion is always to start simple. That could be taking yourself out of the room, listening to music, getting some fresh air, calling a friend or reaching out to a care provider. Danielle Laporte talks about writing a ‘what I trust’ list. This brings us back to what we know is true and takes us away from that sensation of fear and anxiety.

YOU’RE ABOUT TO HOST MELBOURNE’S FIRST POSTPARTUM EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP. TELL US ABOUT THIS.

This workshop is all about sharing, discussing, cooking together and building our resources for nourishment and healing, so that mums feel confident and empowered after birth. We’ll cover nutrition, self-care rituals, boundary setting, baby care and emotional support. My goal is to create a safe space where we can come together as a community, supporting each other and connecting through shared wisdom and stories.

I love being able to share what I know and be able to offer that so other people can help themselves. The workshop will include ancient techniques to support the mother post-birth, such as belly binding. It’s an ancient Malaysian technique using natural fabrics that draws the bones, muscles and ligaments back into the centre of the body, supporting natural healing and alignment.

"I feel pregnancy has become more of a baby-focused journey, and we’ve lost the art of nurturing the mother. I want to support and guide women to reclaim their power and feel as confident as possible during their transition into motherhood." 

DO YOU HAVE TO BE PREGNANT TO ATTEND? 

It’s open to all: anyone in the birth scene, women wanting to empower themselves (pre or post-birth), husbands, partners — we’re in this together. It all begins at birth and during the postpartum period, so the more we can support the art of nurturing the mother, the more we can empower future generations. 

I believe that life’s about giving your energy in a way that’s helpful to the world. We can do more of that by learning to take care of ourselves so we can be the best versions of ourselves for the ones we love.