I’ve wanted to share something from Emma since we first met, because she is just one of those special souls—full of empathy and compassion for everyone she meets. Her offerings come from a place of deep love, and I am delighted to shine a light on her beautiful work.

Mary’s story illustrates how the three step rewind approach helped her move forward, release the weight of her past birth, and approach her second birth with clarity, confidence, and calm.

I asked Pinar if I could shareher womb poem here on Her Place. For too long, we women have not been encouraged to honour our wombs ourselves. This poem may inspire you to explore the stories held deep within you.

Sharing our stories can be helpful in removing stigma or shame attached to issues surrounding childbirth and parenting so thank you, Rose for sharing your family’s story. If awaiting the imminent birth of your baby may prefer not to read it just yet.

I met Alissa initially at my pregnancy yoga class during her second pregnancy. Here she shares her own breastfeeding experience and what she wished she’d known before motherhood. I believe it will be helpful to all new mothers, regardless of the choices they make.

Lyndsay shares beautifully with us here, her experience of the early months of motherhood, and how during these extraordinary days she found a way back to herself and creativity as she discovered her way to mother within the backdrop of nature.

When I saw the call for this exhibition I felt drawn to submit works as collage was my ‘thing’ when I was a practising artist. Here, I share a little more about my transition from Artist-Mother to Yoga Teacher | Space holder and how I hope to allow both to coexist.

A mother’s touch, eye contact, voice, and body language all come into play as she bonds with her baby. As she feels her baby relax in response to her touch and observes her baby smiling, she, in turn, relaxes and smiles too. Oxytocin begins to flow between them both.

Grace’s story does include a brief description of her challenging birth experience which those of you awaiting the imminent birth of your baby may prefer not to read just yet. Sharing our stories can be helpful in removing stigma and shame, so thank you, Grace.

Victoria came to my pregnancy yoga classes and over some years I observed her experiences of becoming a mother for a second time. Her story is inspirational in how she turned the most difficult of experiences into her strength and superpower.

This time last year, I was just about to take my first class on Zoom, a medium that like many of you I had not used before! This would also be the last class I taught in the beautiful space that was the Active Birth Centre.

A little of my own journey from independence into motherhood. This is a time of transition for us all on becoming mothers and can transform life as you have so far known it.

In July 2019 my first grandchild was born. Those early days and weeks were filled with awe and wonder. Slowly a love for this little new being that began tentatively grew and grew, now 8 months on my heart feels like its about to burst when I set eyes on him.

Breastfeeding Week is a time for us to think as a society about how we can support new mothers and their families better.