About Kristin
My story so far...
“It’s amazing to realise I’ve been working with pregnancy, birth and postpartum for a quarter of a century (wow, how to feel really old in one sentence!)
Soon after graduating as a Naturopath in 1998 (the first cohort of BNat in the country) I became super interested in women’s hormones, fertility and preconception.
This led me to train in Natural Fertility Management™and Preconception Care. This opened my world to the menstrual cycle and fertility awareness methods, as well as helping couples prepare for pregnancy. This soon became my focus: naturopathic care preconception, throughout pregnancy, in preparation for the birth, then throughout postpartum.
My curiosity didn’t end there. I soon became fascinated with all things birth. This led me to begin a Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education in 2003. With this, I could develop and lead birth education projects and combine my skill sets.
As fate would have it, I had my first baby halfway through my postgrad studies. This entire experience deepened both my insight and passion for the craft. It was great timing!
In 2006, my business ‘BodyWise BirthWise’ was born. I weaved my naturopathic work and my birth education passions together. I ran weekend Active Birth Workshops that were mostly filled with my pregnant naturopathy clients and their partners.
I was soon ‘called’ into the birth space professionally, with many clients asking me to attend their births as their doula. It became amazing full-circle work. This chapter was highlighted by the arrival of our second baby; a beautiful (and speedy) waterbirth at home.
Over the years...
Blending herbal formulas fresh out of uni - 1999
Supporting a family as a doula, at a homebirth - 2012
Still blending herbs for Mamawise clients - 2023
Online consultations across Australia - 2023
My ‘naturopathic doula’ work would go on for another 15 years.
I also saw an opportunity to develop my product range and online store. This enabled my clients - and now other women across the globe - to access naturopath-formulated products to support their pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
This was launched in 2012 and many of my ‘OG’ clients will remember it as The BodyWise BirthWise Store. Around this time I also completed my Postpartum Doula training and became certified in Placenta Encapsulation. This became increasingly popular and soon became a stand-alone service. I went on to help nearly 1,300 postpartum women with placenta encapsulation over an 11-year period! A very proud achievement!
In 2022, some 24 years after this whole story began and 17 years of supporting women within my various services, it felt like the right time for ‘BodyWise BirthWise’ to evolve.
The result was a rebrand and a rebirth (pun intended). This represented my shift in focus and my return to clinical practice.
And so ‘Mamawise’ was born in 2023.
My product range was the first to get the glow-up and is now known as The Mamawise Store (pictured).
Then, ‘The Mamawise Naturopath’ was birthed into the world.
I feel like I’ve returned to where it all began. But now with 17 years of incredibly rich experience with me. What a gift!”
Qualifications
Bachelor of Naturopathy, Southern Cross University, 1998
Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education, Associates in Childbirth Education, 2006
Professional Membership: Accredited Member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Additional Education & Training
Thyroid Practitioner Training, Tara Nelson, Thyroid Health Naturally, 2021 + 2022
MasterSeries: Hormone Health for Women 35+, Lara Briden, 2021
Nutrition for Maternal Mental Health Course, Women’s Health Nutrition Academy, 2021
Pathology Analysis Training for Practitioners, 2021
Advanced Period Repair: Practitioner Course, Lara Briden, Health Masters, 2021
Postnatal Depletion Syndrome: Practitioner Course, Dr. Oscar Serralach, Health Masters, 2020
Nutrition for Breastfeeding Course, Lily Nichols, Women’s Health Nutrition Academy, 2020
Postpartum Recovery + Nutrient Repletion Course, Lily Nichols, Women’s Health Nutrition Academy, 2020
Placenta Specialist Training & Membership, Association of Placenta Preparation Arts, 2016-2022
Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist Training & Membership, Placenta Benefits Ltd, 2012-2016
Postnatal Doula Training, Australian Doulas, 2012
Better Babies Preconception Health Care, Francesca Naish & Associates, 1999
Advanced Certificate in Natural Fertility Management™, Francesca Naish & Associates, 1999
My approach
I’m naturally curious, so love to find and understand ‘the why’ (root cause) behind your symptoms.
I will test, and not guess.
I’m not big on a bandaid or a symptom relief only approach.
I make sure you understand why I’m doing things, and what my plan is.
I tend to start simple to avoid overwhelm.
I always address the foundations first.
I’m all about teaching body literacy. I aim to teach the hows and whys, to empower you along the way.
I don’t believe all the answers lie in taking 50 supplements/products.
I take a grounded and holistic approach.
I’m all for things that are practical, easy and manageable.
I’m all for evidence-based practice.
I understand and respect the ever-changing needs of motherhood. So I’m happy to meet you wherever you’re at.
Some fun facts...
I’m an introvert and a daydreamer. An early riser and an early nighter. A lover of cardigans, and a great cup of tea. I’m also a mother of two amazing teenagers - my greatest teachers!
I spend most of my free time catching sunrises and sunsets, floating in the ocean, hiking or nature hanging. Or rollerskating (true 80s child).
I’ve lived at 28 addresses over the course of my entire life! This includes New Zealand, Melbourne, Byron Bay, Bondi, the Pilbara (North West WA), the Gold Coast and Fremantle.
My coffee is a long mac, topped up. My sweet is a gluten-free lemon tart.
I’ve been described as a realist, passionate, resilient, and tenacious. And stubborn (at times). Which all seems pretty fair.
I was once an aerobics instructor (circa ‘90-91). It was the whole shebang; fluro g-strings over bike shorts, grapevines, chunky socks, and reeboks. Topped off with head mic. I actually loved it.
At 24, on my 3-month uni break I (bravely) backpacked solo around India, Nepal and Thailand. This was before the internet and mobile phones! I put my life in the hands of my Lonely Planet travel books - literally.
On a random night out, I met a guy on the dancefloor. Turns out he was the man of dreams. Yep, magic happens!
I’ve skydived twice. On my second jump, I was also 10 weeks pregnant with my second baby.
I’m a homebirthing mama. And a passionate birth, postpartum and women’s health advocate.
In 2018, I joined Move for Mental Health for a 7-day, 135km hike. It was the Cape to Cape trail in the glorious South West WA (photos below). We began at one cape lighthouse and finished at another, at the most south-westerly point of Australia. We raised over $30K in funds for the Gidget Foundation, a not-for-profit that provides vital support services for women/families suffering from perinatal depression and anxiety. It was a challenging, amazing and emotional experience.
My own experiences with motherhood, postpartum, thyroid health and perimenopause - although challenging - have now enriched the work I do with mothers. And for that, I’m extremely grateful.
These days I live close to the ocean in the Fremantle area, Western Australia. I’ll never tire of the community, lifestyle and sunsets. Home is amongst our glorious gum and jacaranda trees. The rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras and nesting willie wagtails. On calm nights, a Southern Boobook owl also comes to visit.
