Mother Care
Ceremony, ritual and nourishment for pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
The journey of motherhood is a profound rite of passage - the creation and birth of sacred new life, and the beautiful becoming of a mother.
Mothers and birth were once held at the centre of communities, surrounded by people who supported the mother and family through this tender transition.
It is one of my greatest desires to help create and uphold that sense of community and care, making space for mothers to be supported, not only in the arrival of their baby, but in their own becoming.
Every mother is deserving of a village that holds and cares for her.
It takes a village.
I offer deeply personal doula care for women who desire to feel supported, nourished, witnessed and connected to themselves throughout this transformation.
Currently welcoming a small number of clients within the Canterbury area, open to discussing support further afar.
Welcome, I’m Hayley
I am a certified women’s wellbeing and embodiment facilitator, a space holder, womb keeper and pregnancy and postpartum doula, called to this path and body of work through my studies of the body, mind and sacred feminine mysteries. You can learn more about my background here.
My doula care weaves together my knowledge and years personal embodiment and cultivation of practices and practical skills in women’s wellbeing and embodiment, through a wholistic, intuitive lens. I walk alongside women throughout any stage of motherhood, offering a gentle witnessing, holding of space to unravel and be, as you journey the profound transformation of becoming a mother.
Through conversation, somatic inquiry, emotional processing, introspection, and body work, I hold a quiet guidance toward depth in listening to your body, your heart and your innate knowing. There is no need to have it all figured out, I hold a space with the intention of safety for you to unravel and be as you are, moment to moment. A holding where you are witnessed, nourished and deeply cared for as you move through this sacred rite of passage.
My work is in service to women, their children and families, supporting the reclamation of birth as a rite of passage and remembering the importance of community in caring for mothers. For when a mother is nourished, her family is nourished, and therefore the world is nourished.
You do not have to journey into motherhood alone. Let’s build the temple of your pregnancy and postpartum together. In honour of you.
How I Can Support You
Every mother's journey is unique. Together we create a support experience that honours your body, your baby, and your family.
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Postpartum Preparation
Supporting you in preparing for the sacred weeks after birth, creating a personalised postpartum plan that honours your needs, your values, and the support you wish to receive as you welcome your baby and move through this season of change.
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Nourishment
Healthy meal and supply drops inspired by Ayurvedic wisdom to deeply nourish and replenish, including warming, grounding foods, herbal teas, cacao, and Source to Skin botanical oils for whole physical body support.
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Whole-being Support
Compassionate physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual care. Providing a steady presence as you move through your journey of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.
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Body Work
Body work that encourages rest, integration, and embodied transition into motherhood.
Relaxation Massage | Herbals Baths including Sits Baths & Foot Baths.
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Birth Preparation
Thoughtfully guided practices that cultivate trust in your body, deepen your connection with your baby growing within, and support you in meeting each step of your journey with presence, love, and openness to whatever unfolds.
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Ceremony & Ritual
Beautiful, intentional rituals woven throughout your journey, honouring the significant transitions of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and your unfolding experience of becoming a mother and embodying your evolution.
1:1 Honouring the Mother Ceremony | Intimate Gatherings | Mother Blessings
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Ongoing Connection & Care
A complimentary discovery call, followed by in-person and/or online sessions, allowing us to build a supportive relationship and tailor your pregnancy and postpartum journey to your unique needs.
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Witnessing & Remembrance
Pregnancy, birth and postpartum photography.
Thoughtfully captured photographs throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, alongside a written reflection of the birth of your baby in your words. Together, they become a treasured keepsake, honouring this sacred rite of passage and the profound transformation of becoming a mother.
It takes a village.
Here are the ways I can become part of yours.
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A nourishing, practical and emotionally supportive holding that cares for you.
I come into your home and create space for you to exhale and feel held. I might reset the home, put on a load of washing, support other children, care for your baby while you shower or rest, offer body rituals to replenish, or simply sit with you and make space for whatever is present.
There is no need to arrive knowing exactly what you need.
Inclusions based on your desires:
A nourishing meal and herbal support
Home reset: dishes, laundry, cleaning
Support with older children
Light newborn support
Space to rest, shower, eat or simply be
Emotional and somatic support
Body Rituals: herbal baths & massage
Ceremony to honour your experience
Conversation, listening and connection
Whatever practical or nurturing support would be most helpful that day
$220
4 hours of in-home support -
A bespoke ceremony to honour the woman becoming a mother.
What is it?
A Mother Blessing is an opportunity to pause and gather the people who love you around you, whether you are preparing to meet your baby or have already crossed the threshold into motherhood. It is a time to honour the woman you are, the woman you are becoming, and the profound transformation of this season.
Unlike a traditional baby shower, the focus is not on what the baby needs, but on you, creating space to be witnessed, celebrated, nourished and surrounded by the love and support of your community as you step into, or settle into, motherhood.
Created around your vision.
There is no one way a Mother Blessing has to look.
Yours might be quiet and intimate, deeply ritualistic, playful, creative, connected to your ancestry, rooted in nature, or something entirely your own.
You bring the vision, and I bring it to life.
Together, we create a ceremony that reflects your story, your values, your beliefs and the people you want surrounding you. My role is to take the feeling, the dream and the vision you hold for this gathering and weave it into a meaningful experience. Creating the space, guiding the ceremony and tending to the details so that you can simply receive.
Perhaps your loved ones paint your pregnant belly as a living reflection of the life growing within you. Perhaps you are adorned, massaged, sung to, prayed over or gifted words of wisdom. Perhaps you create something together that you will carry with you into birth. Perhaps there is a shared meal, a circle of stories, a candle lit for your birth, or a ritual that honours the women who came before you.
Mother Blessings can include:
✺ A bespoke ceremony created around your vision
✺ Gathering and guiding your chosen circle
✺ Rituals for connection, grounding and intention
✺ Ancestral or lineage-inspired elements
✺ Body adornment, belly painting or other creative ritual
✺ Massage, nurturing and embodiment practices
✺ Sharing of stories, wisdom, blessings or birth wishes
✺ Creating meaningful keepsakes or birth talismans
✺ A beautifully held space, with thoughtful details woven throughout
✺ Photography to document the gathering and this moment in your becomingNo two Mother Blessings are the same. There is no particular faith or spiritual path to follow.
This is your rite of passage, your story, your circle.
Bespoke Mother Blessing
Includes:
✺ Pre-ceremony vision session
✺ Bespoke ceremony design
✺ 2–3 hour facilitated gathering
✺ Ritual materials
✺ Set-up and pack-down
✺ Thoughtfully chosen elements woven around your visionAdditional elements such as photography, flowers, food, massage or other bespoke requests can be added to create a ceremony that is truly your own.
Prefer to create the gathering yourself?
I also offer ceremony-only facilitation for those who have their gathering organised and would love someone to hold and guide the ceremonial space. We can create the ritual together beforehand, and I’ll arrive to facilitate and hold the ceremony for you.Bespoke Mother Blessing $455
Full ceremony creation, preparation and facilitation.Ceremony Facilitation from $225
For those who have created the gathering and would like me to hold and guide the ceremony.1:1 or intimate groups. Enquire to begin creating yours.
While the packages I offer are beautiful foundations, each care experience is thoughtfully tailored to your individual needs, intentions, and season of life.
In-person care is currently offered throughout the Waitaha, Canterbury region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. If you are located outside this area, please get in touch to discuss what may be possible. Online support is available worldwide.
I would be honoured to walk alongside you, creating a level of care that allows you to feel deeply supported, nourished, and held throughout your journey of motherhood.
Client Testimonial
“With my second babe I focused so much of my energy during pregnancy on creating the postpartum I had been dreaming of since before conception. I knew this time (unlike my first) I wanted to be held, witnessed and supported in sisterhood.
Hayley and I had been connected through the online space for quite some time due to our similar offerings and understandings of life. Hayley had supported some of my online offerings and so I knew what her energy was like and knew she would be an incredible support during postpartum. The stars aligned and Hayley was able to join me and my family around the third week after our baby was born.
She had this amazing energy that was somewhere between motherly and sisterly. It was exactly what I needed in those still early postpartum times. She glided around the house like a nymph, creating nourishing foods and drinks, bringing me cacao, sharing conversation, giving space when needed and company when it was desired.
Her knowledge of women, and women’s work was evident and the bodywork I received was nourishing and much needed. She was proactive and self sufficient; I never once felt the need to host or provide for her.
I would highly recommend Hayley’s support, especially in the early postpartum days, but also in the later postpartum weeks. She is a gift, thank you Hayley.”
— Chloë
