Labor isn’t something you just endure—you can actively make it easier. A birth course like Birth Different teaches you powerful tools like breath work, movement, and relaxation that help you work with your body instead of against it. If you want to feel prepared, confident, and in control during birth, investing in the right birth education is the game-changer you need.

Most people enter labor feeling more fearful than prepared—but it doesn’t have to be that way. A birth course like Birth Different gives you the tools to manage contractions, understand what’s happening in your body, and approach birth with confidence. Whether you’re planning a hospital birth or a home birth, the right birth education can transform the way you experience labor.

The first time around, it’s all about cute outfits and prams with coffee cup holders. The second time? You’re booking a doula and prepping postpartum meals. But here’s the thing—you can have both. Let’s get you ready for a confident birth and a well-supported postpartum.

Water is one of the most powerful (and underrated) tools for pregnancy and birth. From easing back pain to helping you relax in labor, it’s a total game-changer. As a Central Coast doula, I’m all about practical, no-nonsense support—so here are 7 simple ways to harness the magic of H₂O for a more comfortable, confident birth.

When it comes to spending money, girl math is all about turning a perceived splurge into a savvy investment—and hiring a doula is the ultimate example (promise I’m not biased!). Sure, doulas provide emotional and physical support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but here’s the secret sauce: they also can SAVE you serious cash. From avoiding unnecessary purchases to cutting hospital costs, investing in a doula isn’t just self-care—I like to call it savvy financial planning.

When my baby cousin announced her pregnancy, I couldn’t wait to celebrate her journey into motherhood… not just as her doula but as family!!!

But as I thought about what gift to give, I realized that she’d likely be inundated with adorable onesies, blankets, and baby toys. I wanted to gift her something different—a gift that would support her emotionally, offer her encouragement, and feel truly personal. So I decided to create a DIY Affirmation Kit: a box full of love, inspiration, and tools to help her feel empowered during pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

For modern mama’s, resting postpartum can be one of the hardest things to do. Why? Because we’re wired to constantly be going, to be hustling, to be managing the house AND to be working at the same time. Often, when you’ve just had a baby, without solid support, you will find yourself cooking meals for toddlers (or yourself), cleaning up bits and bobs (because you can’t stand the mess) or running around doing errands (because who else will do it?).

I am very privileged to work in a network of incredible humans who are all dedicated to supporting women and their families through the unique transitions of pregnancy, birth & postpartum.

Below is a list of local practitioners and service providers who I wholeheartedly recommend on the Central Coast.

I first tried Date Mylk in my own postpartum with Lola, and my WORLD was changed. This drink is like a hug in a mug. Creamy, sweet, soft & warms the insides leaving you feeling on cloud 9.

I now make this for mama’s I’m caring for postpartum, not just because of reasons already stated, but because there are also huge benefits to consuming dates in the days after birth:

If you’ve done your any private birth education, you’ll know exactly what I’m taking about when I say “use your BRAINS” in pregnancy and birth. Of course, I don’t mean your actual brain, although, that is often helpful. I mean the decision making acronym B.R.A.I.N.S that will help you decide if something is a HELL YES or a no thanks. Not only this, it will help guide conversations with your health care providers so that you can fully give informed consent for anything that is done to you or your baby.

I think it’s about time we re-branded Due Dates for good. Due Dates are not only totally out of date (no pun intended), but they are inaccurate 96% of the time and usually do more harm than good by putting unnecessary pressure on mums.

So… how did we come to getting these EDDs (estimated due dates)?

I feel that the idea of a doula is misunderstood in so many ways. In fact, I even named my business The “Modern” Doula because I felt that we needed to modernise the type of care women and their partner’s receive in birth, as we now birth in systemic places like hospitals, instead of the home where traditionally, circles of women and birth keepers would be present.

Perhaps I’m too far ahead of myself though because, let’s be honest, most people don’t even know what a doula is. If i could direct those people here, I would. In the meantime, here are 5 things I wish more people knew about doulas.

I know that you’ve researched the shit out of what you should pack in your hospital bag. I know this, because I was once you too. When I was pregnant, I watched a million YouTube videos, signed up to a few hundred mailing lists just to get the free packing checklist, and devoured every single piece of content around hospital bags that you could imagine.

I always love a good chia pudding, but I’m forever googling trying to work out the correct chia to liquid ratio and never end up using the same recipe twice. I reckon I’ve finally worked it out, and to make sure I never lose it again, I’m sharing it here!

Chia seeds are incredible little guys, and are an amazing source of fibre. I love including chia in my postpartum meals for mama’s as they are delicious, easy to prep the night before for a fuss-free breakfast, and keep you fuller for longer.

My favourite part of being a doula is helping women get out of the passenger seat and into the driver’s seat of their pregnancy and birth. Most of the time, women don’t even realise they’re in the passenger seat, but after reflecting on their journey, realised they had ended up there, feeling like that was the only option.

Partners have a huge role to play on “game day”. So to take the pressure off, I’m sharing my top tips for birth partners to ensure you feel like you’ve got your shit together and you’re ready to take on whatever happens on the day.