love

And just like that, we’re in March, already! There’s already a shift happening in the weather; another season starting to transition. Those of us with children are watching them grow up in front of us faster than we ever imagined. Those of us with growing baby bumps are watching our bodies grow and change constantly. And although we can’t slow any of this down, we can draw out some of these moments to last a little longer by making them more real: by bringing our awareness and consciousness into how we experience these extraordinary, ever-changing movements in our lives, and of everything around us. It’s Human Rights Day this month, on the 21st March. It’s also World Doula Week from the 21st-28th March. Two markers on a calendar of dozens of other entirely random, and sometimes poignant dates that draw our attention to mark historical events, or to celebrate or acknowledge others for their meaning. Both speak loudly and urgently to me at this particular moment in the world, where we are so in need of greater humanity, and the healing that acts of humanity have the potential to bring. And, while this is something we want for all those we care about – for the children we’re about to bring into the world, and for the children and families that we’re already raising and nurturing, humanity is what we want to experience for and towards ourselves too. As a doula and birthkeeper, and as a mom, and a woman, I am part of a groundswell of thousands of other women around the world advocating for the human rights of pregnant women. For their access to humane and dignified healthcare; for their physical and emotional support before and after they birth; for their right to feel safe in the spaces

\”Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action.\” – Mother Teresa February has been, and probably always will be, associated with love. Whether you celebrate it or not, Valentines Day is difficult to ignore with it\’s commercial presence. If you are pregnant or have children use this time to look at how you care for yourself this month. And, how you care for your unborn baby and/or children. Care can take many shapes… nutrition, exercise, meditation. What can you add to your life that will add value and not noise? Noise is all the ‘stuff’ that is a waste of your time – precious time, valuable energy and it takes away from doing what you really want to be doing. Being on your screen, watching TV, worrying about what could happen, creating anxiety, been concerned with what other people think of you, having too many things to do. What is the noise in your life at the moment? It can change, you have the ability to change it. Make time for you to find out what do you really want to be doing with your time and your life. Find someone who can guide you and shed light on what stands in your way. I am available to any women who are wanting to do their life differently, with more awareness, presence and less noise. Nurturing starts with how we are nurturing yourself, children learn for what they see and what they experience not from what they are told with verbal instruction. We need to be what we want our children to be, without the guilt and shame. Doing our best on any given day. Remembering that our best is different every day, depending on how much