A coaching service to help you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared for your pregnancy, in labour, at birth, and as a mother.
When a woman becomes a mother, she goes through what is called matrescence. This is a transition that every woman will travel through as she transforms from being a single entity to a woman with child. Much like adolescence, it can be a confronting period of change. Shine Birth is a coaching service created to support this transformation.
You don’t have to do it alone…
I’m Louise.
I’m the founder of Shine Birth.
As a Registered Midwife with over 18 years of experience, I’ve had the pleasure of working with women birthing in hospital and at home.
My role as a Matrescence Coach is to help you reflect, resolve and move into motherhood feeling fully consolidated, positive and uninhibited – and therefore able to engage fully with the experience.
Shine Birth aims to fill an ever-present gap I see in my work as a Midwife. Finding a way to have pleasure in mothering starts well before the birth. In doing this work early, you may find you’re able to surrender more fully into the birthing experience and into the significant transformation to motherhood.
I am so passionate about the experience one has during this time of profound transition in life, and it is my greatest privilege to sit with you to help facilitate navigating that which is most important to you. I have a warm, approachable nature and will listen intently without judgement, support your choices and be present to your needs.
Shine Birth is all about you!
Pregnancy offers a unique opportunity to identify and reflect on your beliefs and expectations, your self-worth and confidence, your traumas or fears, your relationship dynamics and support systems, and how you yourself were parented. Together, we can navigate this profound transition.
We give so much attention to birth…
Birth is often seen as the ‘main event,’ particularly with social media and the like. In reality, the birthing is a 'short and sharp' experience within the context of being a mother.
I see the enduring challenge for women is their matrescence: the period of time from maiden to mother, which can last for many years. I am now 42 years old and still in my matrescence! My husband Colin and I, with our 4 children, are continuously learning and maturing on this ever-changing journey.
What Shine Birth is offering is the opportunity for the physical part of birth to be made smoother through exploring yourself and your emotions, establishing support systems, and beginning to integrate the many bio/psycho/social changes to your whole that are set to take place in your life.
In beginning this early work, you may find you’re able to surrender more fully into the birthing experience and step into motherhood more readily, and with self-autonomy.
What shine stands for:
Support
Shine Birth is a support system that makes space for that which matters most to you personally through this transition. Learning your story is how I help you navigate your unique path to motherhood.
Honour
Honouring your needs is respecting your mind, body and soul. Shine birth aims to prioritise your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being in the experience. This means respecting your limits, boundaries and acknowledging your capabilities. Birth is worthy of honour and reverence.
Inform
Rather than to inform, I wish for you to be informed. I’m guided by you and what you need, to unblock any areas of doubt or confusion that might be standing in the way. Being informed is the only way you can properly consent and own your experience.
Nurture
Through listening to your needs, I can work together with you to put you in greater touch with yourself, so you can remain engaged with the whole experience – no matter how it transpires.
Empower
When we understand and trust our physiology, individuality and voices, we gain power and agency. All women deserve to go through pregnancy, birth and postpartum feeling empowered, so they can emerge from each phase feeling physically and emotionally safe.
During our sessions we might…
Unravel concerns and false beliefs that are getting in the way of you feeling calm, positive or connected to your baby, body or experience
Strengthen your mind and self-worth to feel emotionally more prepared
Identify and establish support systems
Find ways to build trust in your body and self
Discuss ways you can advocate for yourself and own your birth experience
Talk about what being a 'good mum' means and what that looks like for you, and be intentional about what is truly important to you and your life now that you’re a mother
Services:
Coaching
My coaching is the practice of helping you align with your values and meet your own needs. Through one-on-one consultations, either in person or by phone, I can provide as much support as you need through pregnancy, birth, and as a mother.
Debriefing
I offer support for mothers who want to overcome an unresolved birth experience, regardless of how many months or years have since passed. It's never too late to heal.
Workshops
These will be launching in future. Please sign up to my newsletter to get notified of new developments.
Please note that these are not Medicare subsidised or private health insurance approved services at this time.
