Tulani Living

01/08/2025

This is a powerful truth that society tends to ignore, underestimate and (even) judge… birthing where you feel safe is the key to a meaningful, empowering and positive experience for the whole family 💜

The work of each mother is to figure out where thay safe space is and why… and pregnancy offers the opportunity to go deeper into yourself and find those answers… don’t miss out. Talk to a doula, read, educate yourself - find your safe space.

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention in birth spaces: safety is not just physical—it’s emotional, too.

Labor isn't just a mechanical process. It's hormonal, primal, instinctual.
And your hormones? They care deeply about how safe you feel.

When labor is progressing, it’s fueled by a powerful hormone called oxytocin—the "love hormone." It’s the same hormone we release when we hug someone, breastfeed, or feel deeply connected. Oxytocin makes contractions stronger, helps dilate the cervix, and even helps us bond with our baby after birth.

But guess what blocks oxytocin?

Fear. Stress. Bright lights. Strangers. Unfamiliar environments. Being watched.

Those triggers raise your adrenaline levels—and adrenaline slows or stalls labor. It’s biology. Your body thinks, “This isn’t a safe place to give birth,” and it holds off to protect you.

That’s why so many people experience "failure to progress" in the hospital… not because their body doesn’t work, but because the environment doesn’t support how it works.

🌿 So, where does labor work best?
In spaces that feel safe. Familiar. Private. Calm. Undisturbed.
Which is why for low-risk pregnancies, home birth is not just safe—it often results in better outcomes.

Let’s look at the research:

📊 A large study published in 2020 in The Lancet compared outcomes between planned home births and hospital births in 4 countries. It found:

No increase in perinatal or neonatal death for planned home birth
Fewer interventions (like cesareans, episiotomies, and inductions)
Higher rates of vaginal births and maternal satisfaction
📊 According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, out-of-hospital births with qualified midwives had:

89.1% spontaneous vaginal birth rate
Only 5.2% cesarean rate (compared to over 30% in U.S. hospitals)

✨ Home isn’t safer for everyone. But for a healthy person with a low-risk pregnancy, a well-supported home birth can be the safest place for a physiological birth. Because your body does its best work when you feel seen, heard, and safe.

19/05/2025

When Mothers Break: A Conversation on Mental Health, Recovery & Resilience

Jana Belter and Willemijn de Bruin will be sharing a deeply honest conversation on maternal mental health—and why moms can’t afford to keep putting themselves last.

Jana, a postpartum care provider and mother of three, brings her passion for protecting the fourth trimester and helping mothers feel seen and supported. Willemijn, a development consultant and mom of two, shares her powerful journey through postpartum psychosis and her mission to break the silence around maternal mental illness.

In a world where others depend on our wellbeing, this talk is a vital reminder: our health and happiness matter, too.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s change the story.

Join The Parent Hub on the 31st May for this important conversation.

19/05/2025

What a precious conversation between Jana and her midwife (x3), Ruth Ehrhardt about the power of unraveling, holding space and truly listening.

🎧New podcast episode:

It is truly a privilege to unpack the idea of authentic unraveling with someone who has held space for me in three of m y most important unravellings.

This episode is so important, especially in the month of May where the world focusses on Maternal Mental Health - a topic not given nearly enough attention and resources.

Whether you are a mom, a woman, a dad, a man.. this episode will really make you think about all the ways in which an unravelling can shape you and how important it is to pay attention to the moments in life that ask of you to lean into the unravelling.

Listen here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wP6i4Y8B8n6CQ0gAe83f0?si=pPK03MtCSgqGBrDXMtbenw

28/02/2025

So proud to support one of our own!

Midwives, let's show our support for this young South African midwife!

Lungile Gamede is a passionate young South African midwife and advocate for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. She has been invited to represent South Africa at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York City, US, from the 10th to the 21st of March this year. This is an incredible opportunity for her to speak on a global platform about issues that are deeply important to her.

The chronic underinvestment in midwifery reveals a larger issue: the health needs of women and girls are not being prioritised. Midwives, who primarily serve women and girls, are predominantly women themselves, and their work is often overlooked. This highlights a bigger gender equality and health equity problem, as midwives are the backbone of primary healthcare, especially for marginalized communities.

As a South African midwife working in a public hospital, Lungile is both honored and deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with representing this important issue on the world stage. She is eager to engage in multilateral panel discussions, raise awareness, and build networks that will support her ongoing advocacy efforts.

Her journey to the United Nations is not only a personal achievement but also an important step toward bringing attention to this crucial issue. She would greatly appreciate any support toward her travel and accommodation expenses for this significant event.

Contributions can be made through the link below:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/a-seat-on-the-table-for-midwifery-un-women-csw

01/11/2024

From one mom in the trenches to another… you’ve got this! And you are not alone! 🩷

Mommies, I just found the perfect e-book that I have to share with you! If you’re like me, juggling work, family, and everything in between, this book feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s so easy to read, with funny, spot-on moments that had me laughing and nodding along, thinking, “Yes! That’s exactly how it feels!”

The author really understands the constant stress, pressure, and even the emotional exhaustion we all go through. But what I love most is how it empowers you to find your own balance and become the best version of yourself as both a mom and a professional. The advice is practical and immediately helpful—you’ll feel ready to tackle the world, one nap-time at a time!

If you’re looking for a relatable, motivating read that’ll leave you feeling seen and understood, I can’t recommend this e-book enough. It’s like having a friend cheering you on every step of the way! Best R130 I spent in a long time-for myself!

Follow the below link to buy the e-book:
https://www.integernetwork.com/product-page/from-overwhelm-to-empowerment-bridging-the-gap-between-the-emotional-landscapes

22/10/2024

Listen to Jana Belter talking about being a mom and a business woman - but mostly about showing up as your whole self… worth the 13 minutes it’s going to take you to listen to it!

🎧 New Podcast Episode 🎧

"Carving out a world where someday my daughters don't have to choose between being moms and being career women, where my son doesn't have to choose between having a job and being a present dad.

It's about changing the narrative and saying I'm all of these things at once and I don't have to leave one part of myself behind. In fact, I am a better mom when I am tapping into my intellectual stimulated parts to engage with my kids. And I am a better business woman when I am tapping into my sensitive and tender part to hear what the other person is really saying.

When I allow these crossovers to happen, maybe it doesn't have to be whiplash anymore. Maybe it just becomes me bringing all of me into both these spaces, because while these emotional landscapes and the realities of these two worlds are so very different, I'm still the same person. "

Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318673/episodes/15960963-episode-15-whiplash.mp3?download=true

Or on Spotify!