This article was first published elsewhere in November 2023.

The day breaks.

In the dim light I can make out knuckle dimples, wrist creases, that curve where you can’t quite tell where cheek ends and neck begins.

Eyelashes, unfathomably long, rest peacefully on the roundest of cheeks. I marvel over the form sprawled beside me as it rises and falls with breath. I made that body inside my body, and now it’s here and it’s beautiful.

The tiny creature animates, piglet-like, eyes shut and searc…

Please note there are content warnings for suicidality and psychosis on this article. If mention of these topics is too much for you right now, you may like to come back to this later. That said, it may also be exactly what you need to read, so I’ll leave it to you.

Overtime on an Unpaid Job: Hard Truths on Parenting Kids Who Hate Sleep

Pop culture tells us babies will sleep in the corner of…

Most parents have their sights set on baby's arrival, but postpartum presents its own challenges. As a postpartum doula I can help with many of these, but not all of them. I like to be upfront with my clients and let them know what my scope of expertise is, and if my skills can’t tick all their boxes, assist them in connecting with the right provider to address their unique concerns.

I began writing this document some time ago. It provides a list of, and links to, the types of services and prof…

EIGHT MONTHS POSTPARTUM.

A time also known as: Oooft, Dear Lordy, WTF, Why? What is sleep? and alternatively, Send help.

By far, no question, without a doubt, 8 months postpartum was the hardest time for me. This is the primary reason why my single session/SOS doula day service extends beyond the newborn period to when baby turns two years old!

I’m not the only one, and I can see why so many hit rock bottom at that age. Here’s what’s going on for many mothers and birth parents in Australia at…

Planning on using a portable cot this holiday season? Here are some things you should know:

The most recent Australian/New Zealand standards (AS/NZS 2195:2010) for portable cots were set in 2010. Worryingly, these are OPTIONAL for manufacturers.

The mandatory standards (AS/NZS 2195:1999) were set in 1999, and do not specify the use of breathable fabric at all relevant zones around the sleep surface.

This means cots that are retailed as “meeting Australian standards” can still be a suffocation…