Natalie Smaill
Hi there, I’m Natalie and I’m a postpartum doula in Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau.
The transition to motherhood is the most significant transformation a woman will undergo in her lifetime. Becoming a parent to a sweet newborn is a magical and fulfilling experience but it’s not without its challenges and, without proper care and support, you can sometimes be left wondering what happened to the gentle postpartum you had imagined?
As the saying goes… everyone wants to hold the baby, but who holds the mother?
I wholeheartedly believe that as a new mother, you need and deserve to be supported during your transition to motherhood. You are worthy of rest, empathy and compassion. As your postpartum doula, I am here to help you feel seen, held and cared for during your fourth trimester so that you can approach your role as a new parent with the calm confidence that comes from trusting your own innate mothering ability.
Food and nourishment are the cornerstone of my postpartum practice. The recipes I prepare have all been thoughtfully selected to provide the nourishment specifically required to promote healing and recovery, support breastfeeding and encourage physical and mental health for new mothers. They are strongly influenced by my French heritage and also include elements of both traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese principles.
A selection of the recipes I can prepare for you on one of my visits or during a ‘Fill Your Freezer’ session include Enriched Mother's Porridge, Apricot Almond and Cardamom Bliss Balls, Oat Ginger and Chocolate Lactation Cookies, Country French Vegetable Soup, Red Lentil and Coconut Dahl and Rich Beef Bacon and Mushroom Bolognese. I'm also very happy to tailor my menu to suit you and any dietary requirements you may have, or even cook you something specific for those postpartum cravings!
All my postpartum packages are centred around a series of visits in your home that typically last between three to four hours at a time. At the start of each visit, we'll sit down together over a cup of tea to discuss how you're feeling and how I can best help you feel supported and nurtured that day. I especially love treating my mama's to a relaxing light-touch massage or a soothing foot soak to leave you feeling warm and rested at the end of our sessions together. Have a look at the 'Offerings' page on my website to find a whole list of the ways in which I can assist and take care of you during each of our sessions together.
If you're envisioning a warm, well nourished postpartum filled with delicious food and you’d like to chat about how I can support you, book a complimentary ‘Welcome Consult’ with me through my website. You can ask me anything and we can see if we’re a good fit.
I’m so looking forward to meeting you!
Natalie x
Testimonials
“Natalie supported us following the birth of our third child, visiting us over the first six weeks after birth. My hope was to create a soft-landing for our new baby, and myself, as I navigated new motherhood again, and to honour the sacredness of the first forty days. Natalie created all of that for us, and more. Her delicious and nourishing cooking, practical help around the house and tenderness with our kids (and me) were so immensely helpful and appreciated. She is an empathetic and brilliant listener, knowledgeable, confident, and was a grounding and calming presence in our home for those lovely six weeks. As I write this, nearly 11 months postpartum, I can really reflect on how impactful Natalie’s presence was for me. She has rewired my relationship with rest and self-care, and has given me simple tools to re-centre when life starts to get a little crazy - revisiting the recipes she kindly shared with me always helps too! I am eternally grateful for her wisdom and care, and can’t recommend her enough to anyone expecting a new baby in their lives.”
“Natalie was so warm and caring and fit really easily into the family when I needed her most. She is hard working and creates really fantastic food. I felt really relaxed and looked forward to seeing her every week. She was so great with my son, helping to look after him so I could get some much needed rest.”