Awwww. I live in a regional city where feminist practitioners kinda cross paths everyday. I’m so delighted that the world was so -small?- 15 years ago when my delicious kiddo was born as my colleague researched the spirituality of birth ❤️ May the circles of wise women continue to influence Mamamia’s work for now, and many years to come 🙏 

Holly W, I simply love your writing. I love the way you shape the sentences and paragraphs. I love the way you see the world and the way this shapes the article. This was a cool read.

@maree I hear you and send love.

Um... it takes a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg to connect up to begin the process of creating a human child. Where is the man’s responsibility in this? What about the power differential between women and men ( a man refuses to use condoms; women’s vulnerability to abuse if she insists on this)..? Women actually ARE NOT in charge of their bodies in every case because women live in a world where other women are abused for not meeting the needs of men. The sex drive argument? Oh dear. Please, please ‘walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins before judging’.

Ah Holly I just loves ya guts! The swimmers look fabulous and seeing you in them looking so happy and real has inspired me to get a pair. Thanks thanks thanks from far North Queensland (highest rates of melanoma in Oz).

Thank you. I cringe over 'ladies', 'girls' and 'guys' to describe women. I am more than happy to quietly discuss 'why' with my colleagues/ friends and family. Provided I'm careful to discuss my thoughts about the power of language without shaming or hostility I've found others are willing to explore re my reactions. So grateful for this piece 🙏.

Thank you. My respect goes out to the traditional custodians of this land; the Elders (past and present) who have nurtured language, culture, the environment and song lines through 229 years of sorrow.

Michelle is pretty zen, huh? Mia, I love your interviewing skills. Thanks for gently opening wide the soft, loveable insights from Michelle.

To my delight I also simply laughed, focused and occasionally panted. I was totally ready to yell, scream, swear, whatever... but Hypnobirthing, I believe, helped me to reframe a scary experience (previous beloved babies had died before or during childbirth) into an experience that was challenging, yet do-able. My wish was for a joyous, laughter-filled birth (after so much grief and fear). It was indeed simply that...

My birthing experience (yay) was softly funny, warm, and joyous. After many miscarriages, I believe my hypno-birthing training fundamentally supported my hope for a different way of understanding the pain. It isn't about denying the pain - more about embracing it and focusing on the positives of it all. As precious as I found hypo-birthing (and my partner and I so needed something after so many experiences of birthing grief) I would always, always default to the suggestion that parents-to-be explore *all* options and find what works for YOU. Love and blessings xxxx

oh dear. tears of laughter at the thought.... and gratitude that as a humble domestic violence counsellor, i'll never have to do this....