She Holds More Doula Service

17/07/2026

Respectfully, this isn't good enough. One clinician cannot meet the needs of an entire region, and Townsville is simply not accessible for many Mackay families. Community-based support services have always, and will always play a vital role alongside clinical care, and local parents deserve access to both. Prevention, early intervention, and connection should be funded, not overlooked.

I reached out to the QLD Government a little while ago to talk about funding The Held Project and The Mum Hub. I explained what we do, the benefits of what we do, and all about what our mums have gotten out of the service we provide for the community.

Unfortunately, QLD Health has rejected our proposal due to a few reasons - one being that we have a perinatal clinician on the Mackay hospital team, and the other reason being that we have services available in Townsville for mums who are struggling.

Our hospital perinatal clinician is part time, and we have mums reaching out to us who are still yet to be seen. And the last part... Let that sink in... The Qld Government expects us to drive FOUR HOURS to Townsville in order to receive care and support. They have zero interest in supporting a Mackay initiative for our Mackay mums. They expect us to drive.

To say I’m devastated is an understatement. We are filling the gaps here in Mackay that are lacking with our existing services. The team and I work so SO hard, and we are struggling every day to get support, all our grant applications keep being rejected, and honestly I feel so hopeless right now. I know it’s only been a year of The Held Project, but surely people can see it’s value by now?

Unfortunately, the government does not. Their solution is for mums to get in the car.

There are so many huge organisations in this area, but we often never hear back when we reach out, or get rejections. Every grant I apply for seems to be a no. It’s getting really, really hard to keep going when we can’t get any substantial amount of money behind us. And then on top of that, there’s the loss of my income which means my husband has to bring everything home. I never expected to be paid when I started this, but it’s certainly not motivating to keep hustling for free when things get REALLY disappointing (like now).

* continued in comments

14/07/2026

14/07/2026

Wearing the badge, doing the work, and continuing to learn. 🙌🏼🫶🏼✨

13/07/2026

A powerful reminder that the impacts of pregnancy and birth don't end when the baby is born. Investing in quality maternity care matters 🙌🏼

12/07/2026

Pregnancy asks a lot of your body, and while not every discomfort or complication can be prevented, many can be reduced or managed with early support and good information.
Staying active within your abilities, eating well, keeping hydrated, learning about your changing body, addressing concerns early, and building a supportive care team can make all the difference.
Small steps taken consistently throughout pregnancy often have the biggest impact later on.
Whether it’s preparing for birth, understanding your options, supporting pelvic health, or learning comfort measures, investing time in your wellbeing now is an investment in both you and your baby.
Prevention isn’t about perfection—it’s about giving yourself the best possible foundation for a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey 🫶🏼

10/07/2026

This NAIDOC Week, I acknowledge the strength, wisdom, and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whose traditions of caring for women, babies, and families have existed for tens of thousands of years.

As a student doula, it is a reminder of the importance of culturally safe care, listening to community voices, and ensuring every family feels respected, heard, and supported throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey 🫶🏼

🖤💛❤️
 DoulaSupport BirthSupport

08/07/2026

Many people only realise afterwards that they weren’t given the information, time, or opportunity to make an informed decision. It can take days, months, or even years to recognise that what felt like “consent” may have been compliance in the moment. That realisation can shape how someone feels about their experience long after the event.

Next week I am excited to attend the Better Births with Consent workshop to learn about the most up to date information on the laws and human rights that govern maternity practices, aiming to reduce birth trauma. More on this to come! 👏🏼

Respectful maternity care is built on partnership, not assumption. Every person deserves the information and supports they need to make decisions that align with their values, preferences, and circumstances ✨

04/07/2026

A baby is born. A mother is born. And a father is born too.

While mum is doing the incredible work of bringing their baby into the world, fathers and birth partners are often silently carrying a lot themselves.

They’re watching the person they love most move through something intense, powerful, and sometimes frightening. They see the pain. They hear the sounds. They witness moments of vulnerability, desperation, overwhelm, and complete surrender. At the same time, many feel a deep responsibility to make it better.
But what do you do when the person you love is hurting yet there isn’t anything to fix?
So many dads are left wondering: Should I touch her? What should I say? Am I helping? Am I in the way?

Fathers can most certainly do an incredible job while feeling completely out of their depth, but don’t deserve to feel that way. Supporting dads isn’t separate from supporting mums—it’s part of creating a stronger support system for the whole family.

02/07/2026

Expecting a baby soon? Spaces for our next class are filling fast!🤰💫

Tick off your 'before baby arrives' checklist and feel confident about feeding from day one!

Join our Breastfeeding Education Class where you’ll learn:
💬 What to expect in the early days
👶 How to read your baby’s feeding cues
💛 Ways your partner can support you

📅 Next class: Saturday 4 July 9am - 12pm
📍 Location: The Neighbourhood Hub, 4 George Street, Mackay
🎟️ Book now: http://tiny.cc/zh64101

01/07/2026

Thinking about having a doula by your side but not quite sure where to start?
Pop me a message and let’s chat. No pressure —just a chance to explore your options, ask questions, and see whether doula support feels right for you 🫶🏼