Anna Asks

What does it take to be a birth doula, and how do you choose the right doula for you? Sarah Newling (she/her) is one of the most in demand birth doulas and prenatal yoga instructors in the Newcastle area, and has stopped by to share her answers to both those questions and more. In this interview, we cover

• Sarah's introduction to birth work
• Why she feels doula and prenatal yoga are a match made in heaven
• The difference between "head down" and "bottom up" preparation, and why one is so much easier than the other
• One of her favourite physical practices to use in labour
• What you can ask a prospective doula to see if they're the right fit for you (and how she gets a feel for if the people wanting her doula services are a good fit too)
• What systems you need in place to make the on call aspect of doula work possible and sustainable
• Is it better to meet clients where they're at, or be very selective about which births you take on?
• Why she sometimes spends her initial visit talking people out of hiring a doula
• Sarah's key tip for prospective doulas and birth workers
• What Sarah offers and where we can find her

[This episode has one or two swears right near the end.]

Sarah's website: www.yogimama.com.au

• Prenatal yoga (and postnatal yoga for prenatal clients)
• Birth doula
• Quarterly circles with Joanne Mackintosh (separate pregnancy and c-sec circles)

Anna's website: www.annacusack.com.au

• Postnatal doula services (in home and group support)
• 1:1 sessions Birth story listening sessions (specialised independent birth debriefs)
• Quarterly circles for mothers and birth parents at all stages of parenthood
• Book - "Mama, You're Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood"

Instagram @sarah.yogimama and @annacusackpostpartum

For 15 years Mel Burgess has supported parents to learn how to understand, connect with and meet the needs of their children. In this interview Mel shares how, after a brutal first four years of parenthood, she came to learn these skills herself and begin teaching them to others. We also discuss:

You can find Mel and her weekly parenting tip newsletter at www.loveparenting.com.au

Find Anna, her book, free postpartum preparation guides, doula services, mothers' and parents' circles and more at www.annacusack.com.au

You kid is sick. It's the middle of the night. What do you do?

Paediatric nursing specialist Ilana Lawrence has been on duty at many an emergency room when concerned parents and caregivers bring their kids in. Sometimes these kids need immediate care, but a lot of the time parents and caregivers could have monitored and managed their child at home. The missing piece is education, which is exactly what Ilana aims to provide.

In this interview we cover

Keep an eye out from articles and special offers from both of us in the 2025 edition of the Newcastle Baby Magazine, which will be released later this month.

CONTACTS

You can find Ilana at www.thesicksense.com and as @the.sick.sense on Instagram and Facebook.

Connect with Anna and check out her in person, telehealth and group parent support options at www.annacusack.com.au

You can also find her as @annacusackpostpartum on Instagram and Facebook

KEY NUMBERS

Ambulance - 000

Poinsons infoline - 131 126

Healthdirect - 1800 022 222

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby - 1800 882 436

Lifeline - 13 11 14

What's it like to find out you're expecting more than one baby?

How does expecting multiple babies effect the experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum?

And what do mothers and parents of multiples (and their personal and professional supporters) need to know to get through those incredibly intense early years feeling well?

As a psychologist, twin mother and host of the Fierce, Kind Mama of Multiples podcast, Dr Cristina Cavezza has the answers.

Cristina's Links

Cristina's programs and Free Resources (fiercekindmama.com)

Connect with Anna

Check out Anna's membership, other services (birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing, parent support sessions, in home doula care, custom ceremonies), public articles, and upcoming mothers' circles and events at www.annacusack.com.au

You can also find her (sometimes) on Instagram @annacusackpostpartum and grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken - Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" here: www.annacusack.com.au/book

There are over 1 million lone parent households in Australia, and the overwhelming majority of these are headed by single mothers. This doesn't mean however that single mothers are one homogenous group, all with the same backstory, immediate needs or hopes for the future. Klyne Love is a single mother working primarily with single parents. She brings her lived experience and professional insights to this conversation, shedding light on the nuances of the single motherhood experience. This conversation touches on the unique challenges single mothers face and how the rest of us (coupled parents, friends without children, older people without young dependent kids, support professionals, etc.) can show up for the single parents around us.

Content warnings - domestic violence, houselessness.

Connect with Anna

Thinking of checking out Anna's online community membership? It's $15AUD/month (or $9 for concession/single parents) and features private member-only articles, a forum, regular zoom connection calls and more.

Connect with Anna's other services (birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing, parent support sessions, custom ceremonies), public articles, and upcoming mothers' circles and events at www.annacusack.com.au

You can also find her (sometimes) on Instagram @annacusackpostpartum and grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken - Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" here: www.annacusack.com.au/book

We now know it's important to be on the lookout for signs of postnatal depression, anxiety and even psychosis in the early days, but what happens if a mother experiences a mental health crisis further down the track? In this interview, Emmeline Tyler (she/her) shares openly about her birth and blissful postpartum, and how these assisted in helping her be well. She explains how personal and societal factors influenced the unravelling of her mental health during the toddler years, which escalated into psychosis and hospitalisation 2.5 years after birth. Recorded a further 2.5 years down the track, Emmeline shares her insights into the mental health system, her path to recovery and ongoing mental health management, and how her family are seeking to build a life with mental wellness for all as their focus. We also go on a few feminist-y tangents and discuss books because it's us and how could we not?

Links

The Talia Hibbert books we mentioned:

Where to find us

You can also find her (sometimes) on Instagram @annacusackpostpartum and grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken - Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" here: www.annacusack.com.au/book