Hi, I’m Melissa — the heart behind Rural Mama NZ, based in Taranaki, New Zealand. I am a rural mum, supporting women through pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
My journey into this work began through my own experiences of motherhood. Experiences that have taken me through many different paths of birth and postpartum.
I have experienced a beautiful, natural, non-medicated birth that ended traumatically after experiencing a full uterine inversion and separation from my baby. I’ve also navigated an elective caesarean birth and have also experienced pregnancy loss through termination.
These experiences have shaped the way I understand birth, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.
In 2016, I experienced a beautiful birth with our daughter. It was during the birth of the placenta that things changed, leading to a traumatic experience. The postpartum period that followed felt overwhelming and isolating, and I struggled to find the support I needed to process what had happened.
In 2019, after the birth of my son, I finally found that support. I was held in a safe, compassionate space and gently guided through my experience. For the first time, I felt heard, understood, and validated. That experience became the beginning of my healing.
Through this journey, I came to understand how common birth trauma is, and how little support many women receive. I created Rural Mama NZ to offer the kind of care I once needed – support that is calm, grounded, and truly centred on the woman.
Alongside this, my background in beauty therapy has led me to incorporate massage and bodywork into my support, offering a deeper level of physical and emotional care during pregnancy and postpartum.
Today, I support women through pregnancy, birth and postpartum, whether they are preparing for birth, navigating pregnancy after trauma, or needing hands-on support in the early weeks with their baby.
My approach is holistic and trauma-informed, recognising that physical, emotional, mental and cultural wellbeing all matter.
As a rural mum myself, I understand the challenges of accessing support outside of urban centres. My aim is to offer care that feels steady, respectful, and genuinely supportive meeting you where you are and walking alongside you through this chapter of motherhood.
It takes a village to raise a mother, and you deserve to feel held, heard, and supported.
Melissa
