Maternity Nursing

I have been assisting families for nearly two decades now to help integrate their newborn(s) into their new family dynamic. I intuitively always practiced ‘Gentle Parenting’ which was how I approached motherhood with my own two children, both of whom are now in their late teens.

In recent years, over a two-and-a-half year period, thanks to the power of the internet, I have had the privilege to formally train under the mentorship & tutelage of Holistic Medicine & Maternity Practitioner (guru) Dez Dorman, the founder/owner of ‘Sleep-Time’ & ‘Nurture-Me-Naturally’ .

The slogan of ‘Gentle Parenting ~ Creating An Environment For Your Baby To Thrive’ ~ coined by Dez back in the ‘80’s ~ is an ethical & holistic baby-centric approach based on the individual needs of the baby that really does address every aspect of baby-, and child-care, and child-rearing.

I concentrate on establishing good feeding and sleeping habits from the start. Whether mum’s would prefer to breast-, or bottle-feed or tandem feed, this is all approached ethically and with great consideration to the baby, as well as the mum.  Establishing sound baby-centric habits ~ in the absence of props ~ ensures stability for the infant as well as for the siblings’ & parents. I also focus on age-appropriate brain gym & stim developmental games & toys to develop & potentialise the baby’s concentration span & language development.

Contract duration is flexible depending on the individual families’ requirements as is the structure within the framework of any specific contract. Based on in-house research, what has proved to be most effective, is the following framework. The initial 4-6 weeks postpartum phase comprises a 24/6 or /7 structure, with daily breaks of 4-5hrs each morning and weekly breaks ranging between 12 or 24 hours, which is be broken down over daytime hours [6am-6pm]. What this effectively means is I do 7 nights a week. This tried & tested method is especially effective for establishing a 24hr routine during the early weeks as it offers continuity for the baby and assists the mum’s post-delivery recovery. Thereafter, to ‘wean’ the baby as well as the mum off the round-the-clock resident maternity care, we suggest reverting to a couple/three weeks of nights-only [6pm-7 or 8am season= dependent], which ultimately gets the mum & baby through all the ‘fussy feeding days’ & growth spurts of the fourth trimester. That said, I am amenable to longer contract terms, or extending an existing contract should it be mutually convenient.

As mentioned above, my Sleep-Training techniques are aligned with those of Sleep-Time & Nurture-Me-Naturally Protocols as I have been mentored by Dez Dorman personally, who formulated the Sleep-Time Sleep & Independence Training Protocols in the early 80’s and has ~ over the course of four decades ~ refined and adapted the protocols to be done effectively in-house by the Sleep Trainer, and during the last decade refined the process to be conducted professionally by an online distance-support program namely ‘The 14-21 Day DIY Email Feedback Sleep & Independence Training Protocol’. Typically, this can be implemented from 16 weeks old, to recalibrate the baby’s circadian rhythm and eliminate any poor feeding and/or napping & sleeping habits, as well as any ‘props’ preventing the baby from achieving deep continuous sleep between 7pm & 7am. Please note, our Sleep-Time techniques are baby-centric based on ‘Gentle-Parenting’ and not the ‘Cry It Out’ method!

Prior to commencement, a full, in-depth history of pregnancy, labour & delivery, early life is taken and analysed to ascertain where the nocturnal or daytime issues or may have arisen.  Once a plan of action has been established and committed by the parents, the sleep training process commences.

Bath & Massage time is by far the baby’s favourite time of the day, which I gently incorporate into the baby’s routine as a light oil rub in the early days, and eventually a bath & full body massage once the umbilicus has exfoliated. The Sleep-Time Massage Techniques which Dez has developed, incorporates a few different systems of baby massage, namely Ayurvedic, Hindu, baby Yoga, incorporating Cranio-Sacral therapy and foot reflexology for soft tissue, visceral & bio-mechanical release as & when necessary. Baby massage goes beyond just a soothing touch but also nurtures your baby’s brain-, & midline, eye-hand coordination and concentration span. I provide personal practical hands-on (and written techniques) to parents and/or nannies a few days prior to completion of the Maternity or Sleep Training assignments.

I offer the full service of both versions of Placenta encapsulation, namely ‘raw dried’, & ‘CTM steam-dried’ methods of encapsulation, as well as the full range of tinctures (ø) and herbal balms. The Umbilical ø which contains the highest concentration of a baby’s polymorphic stem cells, can be used for any malady from teething issues to chronic illnesses. The Placenta ø is for the mum during times of hormonal & emotional change (stress, moving house &/or menopause, etc). A variety of Matridonal homeopathic remedies can also be supplied (compiled by Dez Dorman who is a Homeopath). I offer a collection service of the placenta from the hospital shortly after the birth, and delivery of the finished products to your home, in the event that I am not be present at the birth and/or overseeing your post-partum care.

To view my portfolio and certifications, please contact me.

Due to privacy, I can only post images that have parental permission.