I am a Mom to four grown children, three sons and one daughter. And now also a granny to a delightful little girl too.
My first son was a planned homebirth, but due to him being breech, I had to have a Caesarean birth instead. I was fortunate to have my next three children as VBAC's (vaginal birth after Caesarean) in government hospitals with Midwives. I am passionate about helping women have a good birth experience, as I believe it is a life changing event in a woman's life. (See Hormones in Labour and Birth for more information) In fact, more so than her wedding day! If we took as much care in creating an ideal environment for birth, as we do for our weddings, we would have many more natural births and happy and contented mums. I speak to too many women who have had a bad birth experience for their first baby, and in fact some are very traumatic. With the right information, they may have avoided some of the interventions and trauma.
I trained with W.O.M.B.S. (Women Offering Mothers Birth Support) www.wombs.org.za/ in 2013. WOMBS has a very strict code of conduct and code of ethics. See these under "documents". I keep up to date by attending workshops on various aspects of pregnancy, labour, childbirth and breastfeeding on a regular basis. I hope that what I offer my clients builds their confidence in trusting their bodies to perform a job that it was designed to do. Birth is the most incredible experience to go through. Not only is a baby born, but a mother also.
I breastfed all my babies for a long time (a total of 8 years without a break, and then I had a little gap before my last baby who I only fed for 2 years). I tandem fed the second and then the third baby, and continued feeding during pregnancy. Although I never had any difficulty with breastfeeding, I love to help mums who do experience difficulty, or just need to be encouraged. The benefits to breastfeeding are endless, and I really think we've only begun to touch the surface of some of it. I've also done a number of breastfeeding courses, and qualified as a Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor with La Leche League in 2021.
I also have a Facebook group which you are free to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/SandysLabourofLove
I have also done a Rebozo workshop with Gena Kirby, who is passionate about what the Rebozo can do for mums during labour. A Rebozo is a Mexican shawl. I learnt some really simple techniques that can help in labour.
One of my favourite tools in labour is the Obstetric TENS machine. I have a couple of these wonderful devices that have been designed specifically for labour. Should you wish to purchase your own TENS, please don't hesitate to pop me a message. They are incredible for chronic pain too.
In December 2023 I qualified as a My Birthing Kit - Tools for Mindful Birthing Practitioner.
My first son was a planned homebirth, but due to him being breech, I had to have a Caesarean birth instead. I was fortunate to have my next three children as VBAC's (vaginal birth after Caesarean) in government hospitals with Midwives. I am passionate about helping women have a good birth experience, as I believe it is a life changing event in a woman's life. (See Hormones in Labour and Birth for more information) In fact, more so than her wedding day! If we took as much care in creating an ideal environment for birth, as we do for our weddings, we would have many more natural births and happy and contented mums. I speak to too many women who have had a bad birth experience for their first baby, and in fact some are very traumatic. With the right information, they may have avoided some of the interventions and trauma.
I trained with W.O.M.B.S. (Women Offering Mothers Birth Support) www.wombs.org.za/ in 2013. WOMBS has a very strict code of conduct and code of ethics. See these under "documents". I keep up to date by attending workshops on various aspects of pregnancy, labour, childbirth and breastfeeding on a regular basis. I hope that what I offer my clients builds their confidence in trusting their bodies to perform a job that it was designed to do. Birth is the most incredible experience to go through. Not only is a baby born, but a mother also.
I breastfed all my babies for a long time (a total of 8 years without a break, and then I had a little gap before my last baby who I only fed for 2 years). I tandem fed the second and then the third baby, and continued feeding during pregnancy. Although I never had any difficulty with breastfeeding, I love to help mums who do experience difficulty, or just need to be encouraged. The benefits to breastfeeding are endless, and I really think we've only begun to touch the surface of some of it. I've also done a number of breastfeeding courses, and qualified as a Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor with La Leche League in 2021.
I also have a Facebook group which you are free to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/SandysLabourofLove
I have also done a Rebozo workshop with Gena Kirby, who is passionate about what the Rebozo can do for mums during labour. A Rebozo is a Mexican shawl. I learnt some really simple techniques that can help in labour.
One of my favourite tools in labour is the Obstetric TENS machine. I have a couple of these wonderful devices that have been designed specifically for labour. Should you wish to purchase your own TENS, please don't hesitate to pop me a message. They are incredible for chronic pain too.
In December 2023 I qualified as a My Birthing Kit - Tools for Mindful Birthing Practitioner.