Doula support
*3 prenatal doula visits covering:
~childbirth education
~antenatal testing
~birth mapping / planning
~Optimal Maternal Positioning / Spinning Babies
~natural pain management
*Support during labour, birth and the 1st hours after birth
*Postnatal visit for debriefing and assessment for further support
PostNatal Doula Support
My PostNatal Doula package may include any of the following:
~Serving you like you’re a guest of honour in your own home
~Birth Debriefing
~Cooking delicious healthy, vegan snacks or meals to nourish your body and breastmilk
~PostNatal Massage
~Closing The Bones Ceremony
~Womb Steaming
~Holding your baby so you can toilet, shower or bath
~Being an empathic listening ear to your worries and concerns, and/or your joys and triumphs. Talking to another adult who has gone through the newborn period is such a gift when you’re in the haze of that new baby bubble!
~Breastfeeding help or referral to trusted care providers
~Grocery shopping, laundry or tidying up
Holistic Pregnancy Bodywork
Virginia uses a holistic approach to pregnancy care by utilising different bodywork techniques such as Mizan therapy pregnancy massage, Birth Healing, Holistic Pelvic Care as well as Optimal Foetal Positioning techniques (ie Spinning Babies and Maternal Optimal Positioning), to help align the pelvis, reduce common pregnancy discomforts and to create space to help baby get into optimal position for birth, thereby reducing the chance of caesarean and the associated risks with this major abdominal surgery.
Holistic PostNatal Nurturing
A Holistic PostNatal Nurturing session with Virginia takes around 3 hours and involves the following:
*Birth Healing
Resetting your body to align your pelvis and abdominal muscles using techniques learned from Women’s Physio Lynn Schulte at The Institute of Birth Healing. This can remove pain and resolve some physical issues that may have been sustained during childbirth.
*Mizan Therapy
Belly and Sacral massage to increase fresh blood flow and circulation to the pelvic organs, muscles and ligaments. On an emotional level, it reconnects women to their womb and allows the release of stored emotions, which may be especially needed after a traumatic birth. It can also help with caesarean section scarring, to help prevent adhesions. It feels really divine to have this therapeutic touch to a part of your body which is usually ignored in other massage techniques.
Included in this bodywork session is either one of the following, or both/all can also be arranged:
*Womb Steaming
This is also known as vaginal steaming or yoni steaming, and is a relaxing, healing and cleansing way to infuse warmed herbs into your womb space. You will sit on a special stool with a pot of freshly simmered herbs under you and a blanket around you. The aromatic and healing herbs depend on your situation and may include: calendula, chamomile, comfrey, lavender, motherwort, rose petals, and rosemary. While you are having your steam, you are invited to relax and meditate, or read, until the steam cools down. A guided womb meditation or relaxing music can be played if you choose.
Or…
*Closing The Bones Ceremony
A traditional postnatal ceremony originating in Central America to assist in postpartum recovery. It acknowledges the profound changes a woman goes through during birth, transitioning from maiden to mother. It celebrates her journey, honours and gives gratitude to her body for the vitally important work it has done, and it allows her to feel peace, calm and grounded.
A number of Rebozos (traditional shawl from Mexico/Ecuador) are used first to gently rock the body, and then wrap the body firmly so the pelvic bones are assisted to stay in alignment. This makes the mother feel coccooned and secure. Each body part is also given the gratitude it deserves for allowing the baby to grow and be born. When the mother is unwrapped it is like emerging renewed, like a beautiful butterfly from a cocoon.
Or:
*Holistic Pelvic Care
Intravaginal trigger point release by direct contact with the pelvic floor, plus pelvic bowl clearing.