Cleaver — becoming life

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I compassionately support women through the journey of birth and new motherhood. Please take what you need from this space. You need not be anything but your real, messy, raw self here.

Sep 15

Sep 15 Cleaver

Capturing this little guy with his family was a privilege and joy.

The feeling of being around a newborn just makes you want to do it all over again.

Congratulations to Kylie and Simon, such loving, natural parents already.

J x

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Healing Birth on Earth

Jun 1, 2019

Healing Birth on Earth

Jun 1, 2019

Jun 1, 2019

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@becominglifemidwifery

I had no idea who you would be, when I found out you were coming ~ unexpectedly and yet, I knew it was right. I was scared but I said “we’ve got this, you and me”. And we’ve had this ever since.
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And then another soul was here growing in my belly, and again the timing or situation wasn’t right. And I wondered how I could ever love another baby how I loved you. I laugh at that thought now. I love you so differently, yet so the same, our own special relationships. When she was born, and it was hard, the three of us sometimes clawing and gasping our way through those early days (years). And I’m still surprised by how much more my heart grew when she came, to make room just for her.

And now again, as we prepare to welcome another babe, I know these last days of just us are so precious, and numbered. I can’t imagine what our life will be like with another little deer in our pack. Who will they be? Can I love them like I love you both? Can I still make sure you feel loved when I am pulled and tugged in three directions? How will we sleep? How will I be there for you?

I don’t know yet; but I trust that once again my heart will expand - now to triple its original size - for our new baby.

I cannot imagine life without you, and I can’t remember when my heart was as small as it was.

Thank you for changing me in every way for the better. Thank you for choosing me; the way I always chose you 🙏🏼 #firstborn #daughters #motherhood #bigsisters #howcanmyheartgetbiggerthanthis

Your womb is wise and follows the laws of nature.

The rhythms

The beats

The natural hormonal cascades of every other mammal

You do not need to manage it, or control it, or fear it

When we manage, control and fear, we disrupt the delicate cascade of physiology, and instead create a cascade of pathophysiology that needs to be further managed.

Things go wrong and we say ‘thank god the medicine was there’, yet the medicine caused the problem to begin with.

You were made to give birth just like an animal.

Dark, quiet, safety and being undisturbed are essential. Birth will not unfold normally if this is not present.

The bright lights, cold room, interference, exams, interventions, conversations with people in uniform - this all disturbs the hormonal unfolding. There is no way around it.

The inductions, breaking waters, drips, stirrups, epidurals (necessary for most women who have disturbed births as they are more painful and the body’s natural pain relief is not released), monitors, threats —- lead to the forceps, episiotomies, vacuums, c-sections and a label of ‘fetal distress’ or ‘failure to progress’. We cannot heal birth at this end. We cannot heal it at the hospital. We must heal it in our minds and hearts first.

We must know it as normal, and respect it as such.

If birth must be in hospital, the environment must shift so radically to ensure the true safety of birth - which begins with the NOT doing, the NOT disturbing, the NOT speeding up or intervening for litigation, policy or convenience.

The consequences of how we manage birth today are still unfolding.
Depression, disconnected parenting, trauma, artificial feeding out of necessity (because these hormones are also intricately linked to the birth and bonding process) and parenting from books and not intuition because we do not trust ourselves as mothers.

I believe in my bones the answer to our troubled world begins with healing birth.
When our mothers birth safely with intuition because this is simply the norm, and parent from this same place, our children will feel securely attached and emotionally healthy.

Everything heals when we are connected.

#theriseofconsciousness #healingbirth

Not long to go now hey? Ummm I’m actually only 25 weeks 😳🤯
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Wonder how much bigger this wonder tum will get? It’s definitely true what they say about third babies - it all happens so much quicker! .
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I’m seriously waddling around like a third trimester mama already, and very very nervous to sneeze if I’m not braced for it 😂
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But apart from that, gosh I’m so enjoying being pregnant. Who else fell in love with their curvy pregnant body and wanted to take alllll the photos sans clothes? Capturing this magic time that won’t come again. .
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I could not be more excited to give birth to this little monkey, but am in no rush as this pregnancy really is a dream 🏹🕸🌙
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#bumpwatch

This doesn’t really need words. An incredibly intimate moment to share with you, of when a mama and papa met their long awaited baby. Of when baby entered the world. Of my last birth experience before taking leave for clarity + birthing my third baby.
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Just wow. The energy in that room was so peaceful, so soft, so respectful. Every wish honoured. It truly was a privilege to witness. And to get to capture a moment like this? Life surely loves me.
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This mama hypnobirthed her way through a medically necessary c-section. Her poise and trust was incredible.
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This is birth too, this is informed consent too, this is empowerment too, this is respect too, and as a student midwife and birth advocate - that’s all I ever ask and wish for every single woman 🙏🏼
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#gentlecaesarean #hypnobirthing #firstmoment #meetingbaby

When I asked “how?” the universe said “leave that to me now”, and when I finally could, angels in earth suits rose up all around me with arms outstretched.
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I am growing into receiving the overwhelming ‘enoughness’ being handed to me. I can barely believe the support holding me. Those who have offered me so much, please know, how grateful my heart is that you are manifesting as those around me at this time. How much I promise to continue to give forward, and serve, as directed by the universe.
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If you need support right now but don’t have the means to access it, and it’s something I can do, please give me the honour of serving you (photos, birth preparation, yoga, birth support as doula, help postpartum with emotions/trauma/bonding or practical things), or you know someone who needs my love, please let me know via DM. I will never turn away someone because of money, I am here. I have extra time right now. Let me hold you, the way life is holding me so strongly now 🙏🏼🏹
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#weareone

Trusting your body in birth begins long before labour. Long before pregnancy. Long before puberty.
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It begins with seeing our mothers and grandmothers trust in theirs. It begins with seeing them so connected to their bodies, the cycles, the moon. It begins with seeing them not suppress nature, but embrace it and nurture it.
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Once we reach puberty, it begins with a celebration of menstruation rather than an embarrassment. It begins with a curiosity and not shame. It begins with open conversation about fertility, cycles, hormones and changes that happen cyclically for women. It begins with connecting feelings, sensations, mucous, to the ebbs and flows of the month. Knowing you are connected so perfectly to the universal tides gives trust.
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It begins when your body conceives, and week by week you feel the magic unfold in your own body. You don’t question it’s intelligence, any more than you questioned the intelligence to ebb and flow with the cycles your whole life. You trust and celebrate and enjoy.
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It begins when those first waves of birth begin in your body, and you know - you are connected to every woman before, and after and always. Life is carrying you now, and there is nothing to do but let go and let it all come through you. You don’t question it’s intelligence because you never have. You know it in your body, because you have always known your body.
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This is why I’m so excited for the generation of our daughters, because this is what we model, teach and make normal for them now.
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Just imagine what they will expect (demand) from care providers at birth because quite simply nothing else will make sense.
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#fullcircle #makinghistory #goddessrising

In 6 short months I can hardly believe what you’ve already taught me. .
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I can only imagine what I’ll learn in our lifetime together in these bodies. .
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For now, snuggle in, grow stronger, rest, be ready. I am so enjoying this time so connected to you.
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For when you arrive I already I know it will be with 🔥, with a strong purpose, and with more love and compassion than anyone I’ve known on Earth.
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My special rainbow baby, you’ve come to heal us all (us all 🌎).
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Ps. You won’t need to do anything special for this, just simply be you baby boo. .
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#6months #24weeks

Have well and truly resorted to wearing pyjama shirts as daywear 🐳 .
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#fashion #23weeks

Meeting baby Henry

Nov 24 Meeting baby Henry

Podcast Episode 2 - Mama Monday with Aleece Thompson

Apr 9 Podcast Episode 2 - Mama Monday with Aleece Thompson