About

Hi, I’m Melissa Smith.

I was born and raised in Taranaki, New Zealand. I am a wife and a mother to our two beautiful children.

In 2016, I went through a traumatic birth experience with the arrival of our daughter. The postpartum period was incredibly challenging for me, both physically and mentally. I struggled to find the support I needed to process the experience and cope with the overwhelming emotions that surfaced during this time.

It wasn’t until 2019, after the birth of my son, that I found the support I needed. I met my now mentor and friend, Carla Sargent, who guided me through processing my birth experience with a gentle and holistic approach. For the first time, my feelings were validated, and I felt truly heard. This marked the beginning of my healing journey.

I quickly realised how common birth trauma is and how little support new mothers and their families receive. In 2022, I decided to transform my own trauma into something positive and became a certified Healing Birth Practitioner.

My mission is to support women around the globe who have experienced trauma during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, or pregnancy loss. I desire for all new mothers to have access to this support, so that our children can grow up in a more healed world which is so desperately needed right now

As a Healing Birth Practitioner, my role is to provide a safe and supportive space for you to share your birth story. I help you understand why certain things may have happened during your birth, explain the physical processes of labor and birth, and offer holistic tools to begin your healing journey. If you are planning another birth, we can also work together to ensure it is a healing and empowering experience.

Through my own lived experience of birth trauma, I am here to support you. You are not alone. I offer a safe space where you can be heard and understood.

Melissa xxx