About Nourish
At Nourish, we are passionate about everyone having the best postpartum period available to them. Working with you as individuals each within a family unit, our aim is to increase confidence and connection, breastfeeding rates (if that's the path that feels right to you), parental mental health and the overall experience of postpartum.
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So often stories of feeling alone, difficult adjustment, severe struggle and survival are the narrative of new parenthood in our culture. At Nourish we aim to prepare people for the realities of postpartum so that they can be informed and empowered, and create a different experience for themselves.
As a midwife turned postnatal doula, Alyssa has a wealth of experience supporting parents along their journey. Read her story below if you'd like to hear more about the inspiration for Nourish.
Alyssa's Journey
My name is Alyssa (pronounced A-Lisa/Aleesa) and I love holding space-holder for all things woman-y. I hold monthly women's circles, run Sacred Cycles (menstruation) workshops, love dancing, expressing myself, and talking all things real.
I am also a registered midwife! I have always had a passion for postpartum care, working mostly on postnatal wards when I was practicing in hospitals. I love supporting people who are being freshly birthed - into their roles as parents, partners or members of a brand new family, whether for the first time, or after each new baby.
I started my journey supporting women at 16 years old during work experience in high school, hoping to find out if midwifery was the career for me. I shared some time with a woman and her partner, walking alongside them through their journey through elective repeat caesarean and their ups and downs over the next 5 days. I absolutely loved being a part of their journey - I knew I wanted to be a midwife!
I then studied a Bachelor of Midwifery, loving that as a student I could offer support and continuity of care to women who often didn't get that from their care providers. I completed my degree with much blood, sweat and tears (I am not an academic!) and embarked on a career supporting women in the hospital system. Although I love the small differences I can make - educating women and their partners here and there; encouraging parents to trust themselves; helping with breastfeeding etc... I also recognize the many ways the system leaves a lot to be desired, and realized I want to offer something more holistic and longer lasting. I studied to become a Postpartum Doula!
Though I am still at the beginning of this journey, I bring all my experience as a midwife, nanny and home help to Mums. My deepened understanding of the transition people make during this childbearing journey has only grown over time, including the importance of rest, rejuvenation, and support for the new parents so that they can focus wholly on the task of just 'becoming' in their new family.
I bring my experience supporting many different people in so many ways: to connect with themselves; to be real and show up however they are; to let themselves feel however they feel, and grow in confidence throughout the process... I bring my watchful eyes and my healing hands.
I bring my presence.
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See my qualifications and training below.
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My Qualifications
Training and Memberships
Bachelor of Midwifery
Australian Catholic University, 2013
3 years undergraduate degree specialising in pregnancy, birth and postpartum care as a midwife.
Newborn Mothers Collective
Julia Jones, 2022
Worldwide training for postpartum professionals. Endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives, Julia's course provides evidence-based professional development and training to become a postpartum doula.
Registered Midwife
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA)
I worked as a midwife for over 8 years and have a wide range of experience of caring for women throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and postpartum. My absolute passion though, is breastfeeding. The difference I saw in people over the course of one shift once they had time and information blew me away and inspired my huge desire for people to have this knowledge BEFORE they have the baby.