Rachael Boterhoven - Photographer

CALLING ALL PREGNANT MUMMAS 30WKS +

https://vickihobbs.com/vbac-workshop-for-couples-in-perth-with-dr-hazel-keedle/

VBAC Workshop for Couples in Perth with Dr Hazel Keedle | Vicki Hobbs Vicki Hobbs from Back to Basics Birthing is proud to be hosting Dr Hazel Keedle with her VBAC Workshop for Couples planning their next birth after caesarean. Dr Hazel Keedle is a Lecturer of Midwifery and completed her PhD in 2021 at Western Sydney University, Australia. Hazel has more than 25 ...

If you're a new mum, a mum-to-be, or a mum-to-be-again, you don't have to feel alone. The first few weeks of having a newborn can be very emotional for many reasons and I just want you to know that I see you, I hear you, I feel you, and I am here to support and hold you if you need me.

If you would like to know more about me, plesse head to my website linked in my bio ☺️

Labour Day 💫

In the lead up to my 'due date' I made sure my birth pool was ready, my affirmations were up, the birth room was calm, pretty and waiting.

What I didn't anticipate was the fact that I couldn't or wouldn't leave my bedroom until a few minutes before the birth.

When contractions started, I was on the floor between the wall and my bed in a safe little nook. This is where my body felt safe.

Moving to the birthing room didn't even cross my mind, and the only place I moved to was to the toilet and back to my bedroom.

My doula .thedoula noticed that I had started pushing when I was on my bedroom floor and quickly checked with my CMP midwife if the pool was ready for me. (Everything was so quick the pool was still being filled which I didn't even realise).

So off I went in to the beautiful room that I had planned to labour and birth in, and hopped in the water and within 10 minutes my baby girl was earthside.

My body knew where it was safe and knew what to do. Not a moment crossed my mind of uncertainty or doubt. I felt safe, calm and ready with the support around me and listened to my body.

Tip: when birthing at home, always prepare other area's of your home for the potential labour and birth of your baby because your body will know where it feel safe despite the rooms that have been set up 💫

Beautiful photo by .capturingbirth

Happy Friday 😀

I just wanted to jump on and share my website link as I have been working on it and making the information more current. So if you haven't already - please check it out and pass the link on to anyone who you might think may benefit from having a postpartum doula.
Much love, Rach xo
https://www.rachaelboterhoven.com.au/

Home | Rachael Boterhoven - Doula Hello there, welcome to my page, and congratulations for making it this far in what could soon be one of the most positive and beneficial decisions in your pregnancy and birthing journey!A little bit about me. My name is Rachael, I was born and raised in Perth, WA. I am a wife, a mother to three gi...

Postpartum Support, also known as Fourth Trimester Support, and why I believe it is important 👇

I believe that regardless of being a first time mum, or a fourth time mum, you become a new mum each time you birth and/or prepare to birth. For mothers who already have children, you may be anxious about how you may divide your time or how your child/ren may adjust when the baby arrives.
Or maybe the way your birth plan is going may be deviating from how you invisioned it to be at the beginning. There are so many scenarios and factors to consider when preparing to bring a new tiny human in to the world and I just want to help make that transition easier and calmer for YOU.

In my Fourth Trimester Support Package, I offer 1x postpartum support planning session which is where we can talk about previous birth stories, past traumas, fears, hopes, relationships and how you want to feel during your fourth trimester, for I am YOUR BIRTH COMPANION.

Following the birth, we have 5x postnatal sessions which are spread across the first 12wks.
During these visits, this is your time to debrief your birth story, to ask questions, for me to help fill in the gaps, to find additional support if needed. My main focus here is YOU - and your mental status. If you want me to sit with you and hold the baby whilst you shower, that is fine, to make you a tea so you can drink it whilst it's hot, I got you. To do puzzles or activities with your other children, walk the dog, put the washing on or stack the dishwasher (I take dishwasher stacking seriously) then that is what I'll do.
My goal and hopes is to support you mentally, emotionally and physically, whatever you need me for, I will show up, and when I do show up, I will do with yummy extras in hand 🍩.

Sometimes just knowing that extra support is lined up for you and is already 'booked' in, takes the ease out of feeling the need to ask for help when you're not up for visitors, bottling things up or are just bad at accepting help when offered. All your feelings, emotions and reasons are valid - and I am hear to listen 🌼

Taking fourth trimester clients now ----> head to my website for more 🤗

📷 of the stunning

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdnaQ8h9/?k=1

Proof your body knows, and is capable of what it is made to do. Listen to your body and dont be pushed in to doing things you dont feel comfortable with. Perfect example here.

Georgiefromgeorgieandzac on TikTok Pushed for 13 mins 😭 + only came out with a second degree tear 👏🏼

Let's talk Positions, Let's talk Gravity👐

Just because you may be birthing in a hospital, it does not confine you to the bed, or to be on your back.

Just because you might have multiple monitoring equipment such as a pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff or CTG, does not confine you to the bed or to be on your back.

Just because you might be hooked up to an IV drip, does not confine you to the bed.

Especially for first time mothers, entering a birth suite can be very daunting. When equipment is being attached, you may feel as though you've become trapped.

You need to find your voice. There are a number of ways around monitoring, and majority of the equipment are on wheels, which mean, they can move with you!

Laying flat on your back is not only known to slow progress, but it can promote more pain.

If you are unable to walk around, sit on a fitball, or get to the ground, then do this 👆. Beds also move! Find what is comfortable for you, play with the buttons. Gravity is your friend in labour and in birth 💫 Also, why having a doula is great 😉

Cord Burning

Using a flame to burn through the umbilical cord has been around for 100s of years, said to protect against infection and bleeding post birth. It also allows the baby and mother to stay connected and bond without unnecessary separation and the baby to receive all their cord blood.

This process can take anywhere between 5 to 20 minutes and is generally carried out at homebirths as hospitals don't allow open flames.

My friend Justin made my cord box specifically for my birth. Those who know me and my story, know that this birth was all about doing things differently and being open minded so this process was something that I was looking forward to. (Our candles burnt out and we ended up cutting the final bit though...doh)

I always envisioned Indi being a part of this and it turned out exactly how I imagined 🥰

Cord burning. Using a flame to burn through the umbilical cord has been around for 100s of years, said to protect against infection and bleeding post birth. It also allows the baby and mother to stay connected and bond without unnecessary separation and the baby to receive all their cord blood. This process can take anywhere between 5 to 20 minutes and is generally carried out at homebirths as hospitals don't allow open flames. My friend Justin made my cord box specifically for my birth. Those who know me and my story, know that this birth was all about doing things differently and being open minded so this process was something that I was looking forward to. (Our candles burnt out and we ended up cutting the final bit though...doh) I always envisioned Indi being a part of this and it turned out exactly how I imagined 🥰 #birthjusthappened #homebirth #cordburning

We need to start normalising birth and remove the fear of pain. Fear creates pain which is why having a doula is so special in a birth space. To remind the birthing mother to release any tension and eliminate the fear, but to also remind them that they are able to birth physiologically, the woman's body was made for this and as women, we are strong 💪 #perthdoula #homebirth #birthworker

BREASTFEEDING. (•)(•) I recently conducted a survery on what resources would have helped support women in the lead up to their breastfeeding journies as well as resources that would have helped them in the early stages of their breastfeeding journey and establishment and majority of women wanted honesty! Honesty that breastfeeding can be god damn HARD! Going in to my first pregnancy (more so the lead up to labour and having a birth plan with the hospital) was so much as: Midwife: "do you plan on breastfeeding?" Me: "yes, if I can". Midwife: *circles breastfeeding in the booklet* Breastfeeding is a skill not only the mother needs to learn, but baby too. And when two people who are new to a task, it doesn't always go smoothly, easily, naturally or pain free-ly. It can be exhausting, it can be emotional, it can be hard, it can be constant and can be physically and mentally exhausting and it's demanding. I was told, aim for 3 months...it's the hardest during the first 3 months... but by golly is 3 months a long friggen time to aim for. Something I recently learnt was, just aim for the first 6 weeks. It takes 6 weeks to establish breastfeeding (and to do this as easy as possible is to avoid the introduction of dummys or bottles). Doesn't 6 weeks seem so much more achievable than by giving yourself this huge goal of 3 months!? Did you also know there are three stages of milk production in the first 6 weeks?! So just when you think you have nailed the art, oop here's another milk...baby needs to adjust, your b***s need to adjust, time and feed durations adjust...then you establish that and oop, it changes again. Who knew this, I didn't!? So don't be so hard on yourself and think you can't do it, or you're not giving baby enough, or that you're even doing it wrong. Because I guarantee, with a little education and support surrounding breastfeeding, you are doing it right, and you are all your baby needs, its just understanding the changes that come along with breastfeeding...it's sure not easy, its complex af! But I do still stand by fed is best for a healthy mum, but I also do preach that education and support is key too! #breastfeeding #newborn #newmum

Hello World 👋🏻 If this isn't the happiest baby to be earthside, then i don't know what is 🥰 Cesarean Section ~ Do you know your options? Have you heard of Maternal Assisted Cesarean? This is where the surgical curtain is lowered when the baby is ready, allowing the woman to help lift their baby out of their own womb and up onto their chest for instant bonding and cuddles (given it is safe to do so). For many mothers, this is an opportunity to have more control and involvement in their birthing process and enables immediate bonding, especially if this birthing route was not their first preference. #knowyouroptions #firstcuddle #newborn

A Doula is NOT a substitute for the birthing womans partner. A Doula supports both mother and partner during the prenatal period, labour and birth, and postpartum. A Doula works with the partner to help educate, guide, and support them during the birthing womans labour, ensuring they are not left feeling helpless (which is often how the partner is left feeling). This extra support encourages and boosts oxytocin in the room which helps with the progress of labour and brings couples closer together in the lead up to birth. 📸 @mikayla_pengelly #doulalove #birthsupport #birth

I came in to my third pregnancy with so many expectations. 1. I was going to enjoy it. 2. I would homebirth. 3. I will have a doula, midwife and photographer all of my choice. 4. I will relax and take time to focus on my pregnancy and birth. 5. I will be positive. These are just a few... And because of my expectations, 1. I haven't enjoyed it as much as I would have liked. 2. I'm still fighting for my homebirth regardless of entering my third trimester. 3. My midwife has now changed, I am yet to meet new midwife, meanwhile I may not even be approved for homebirth anymore which means I may not be able to have my additional support people that I have planned as part of my healing journey. 4. I've done no inner preparation because I don't have a clear plan to focus on. 5. I struggle to stay positive when other people are dictating my rights...plus I have new stretchmarks appearing which is a sign I've not been taking as much care of myself as I previously have. I'm really struggling to understand how others have the power to make decisions about your life and your future because they have a title that is more 'superior' than yours. I'm going to keep fighting for what I want, what I feel is right, and what I know I need for my rite of passage in to motherhood, and to heal my past. #rawmotherhood #honestmotherhood #pregnantbelly

Hello 👋🏼 It has been a while and I have been getting quite a few enquiries of late, so I wanted to do a post. I am so close to finishing off my diploma of nursing and (almost) knee deep in prac, we are still renovating our new house with SO much still to do. I am planning my girls joint birthday (no they are not twins, and yes it is still months away 😆) and I have been turning clients away based on my availability and ability to commit to them as much as they deserve. So i have decided to not take on any clients for the rest of 2021. Instead I am going to concentrate on finishing my studies, my house, my family and also completing my Doula Training Course from Nov... So that also means by 2022 I will have more knowledge, more skills, more time and more availability to be that birthing companion women seek. In closing, bring on 2022 🌟

What do we know about Rite of Passage?
Check out my IG page for more 👇

What is a Rite of Passage? @midwifethinking describes childbirth as a significant rite of passage that transforms a woman into a mother. For me personally, my current journey from Maiden to Mother had been a more spiritual and special period in my life as I once again transition from pregnancy, in to motherhood. Rite of passage allows me to share parts of my pregnancy experience as well as reflect and focus on the insights from my previous birth stories enabling me to grow, heal and make informed choices which are right for me, and my baby. #riteofpassage #homebirth #hearmeroar

Rachael Boterhoven - Doula updated their website address.

So many unnecessary interventions being made before mum even gets to meet or hold her own baby 💔

How does this image make you feel? Do you know the pro's and cons about hands-on and hands-off delivery? Here is just ONE fact about how hands-on can negatively impact the delivery of your baby. 1. To stimulate a baby to check it's reflexes after birth is carried out by touch right? So imagine your baby is crowning, you're a few contractions away from delivery...but you have hands touching your baby's head, trying to encourage and ease baby out... the head is now out, hands are still touching your baby's head, trying to force the shoulder rotation, but wait, the baby has been stimulated now causing it's first response is to throw their arms and hands up which can cause a delay in the delivery of the rest of its body. The hands and arms can become stuck which cause more intervention, more pulling, higher risk of tearing and hemorrhaging leading to post natal trauma... Your body knows what to do, trust in your body and your baby. Know your options, get a doula 🌻 #perthdoula #handsoffbirth #freebirth