Ko Elaine ahau.
As a māmā myself, I have experienced maternal birth injuries sustained from caesarean birth and a prolonged labour damaging my coccyx. I understand how birth-related injury can affect not only the body, but confidence, movement, comfort, intimacy, sleep, and the way you feel within yourself.
For many women, maternal birth injury healing is layered. Sometimes the injury is visible — and sometimes it is internal, hidden, or minimised. Pain can sit in the pelvis, tailbone, hips, and lower back. Scar tissue may feel tight or tender. Muscles may guard and hold tension. And emotionally, many māmā feel expected to “move on” before their body has fully recovered.
At Whenua Healing, I hold a safe, respectful space for māmā to heal through Rongoā Māori — supporting wellbeing across Te Whare Tapa Whā: tinana, hinengaro, wairua, and whānau.
Mānuka is a taonga rākau that carries the mauri of Whenua. In my practice, I use Mānuka hydrosol and Mānuka oil as gentle supportive tools throughout the healing journey, alongside mirimiri/maimoatanga and whitiwhiti kōrero.
Mānuka is widely valued for natural healing attributes and may support recovery through its:
• Anti-inflammatory qualities – supporting comfort where the body feels sore, swollen, or tender
• Antibacterial qualities – supporting cleansing and protection
• Skin-soothing qualities – especially for sensitive postpartum skin
Because postpartum bodies can be highly sensitive, all rongoā is used gently and tailored to each woman’s stage of healing.
Following birth injury — including tears, surgical healing, or internal tissue trauma — scar tissue and healing tissue can sometimes feel tight, tender, or uncomfortable.
When appropriate and at the right stage of recovery, Mānuka rongoā and mirimiri/maimoatanga may support:
• Comfort in healing tissue
• Gentle scar tissue softening
• Restoration of flexibility and balance
• Ongoing tissue wellbeing once wounds are medically stable
Maternal birth injuries can affect the pelvis, coccyx (tailbone), hips, lower back, and surrounding muscles. Muscles may tighten to protect the injury, creating ongoing discomfort and restriction.
Rongoā Māori and mirimiri/maimoatanga may support:
• Muscle relaxation and release
• Reduced guarding and tension
• Comfort in inflamed or tender areas
• Gentle restoration of movement and confidence in the body
Sessions are trauma-informed, consent-based, and adapted to each māmā’s stage of healing.
Healing is not only physical — it is also about restoring safety and connection in the body.
Where appropriate, I may include supportive rongoā experiences such as:
A gentle Mānuka and Kānuka hydrosol misting cleanse that may support:
• Settling of the nervous system
• Spiritual cleansing (purea)
• Comfort for sensitive skin
• Reconnection to wairua and mauri
A warm, restorative bath experience that may support:
• Deep relaxation and muscle release
• Comfort for sore joints and pelvic strain
• Restoration of balance through wai (water), ahi (fire), and whenua (earth)
All experiences are guided with privacy, safety, and consent.
Everything I do is tailored to each māmā and her stage of healing. If there are signs of infection, severe pain, or urgent symptoms, I will always encourage medical assessment alongside rongoā support.
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Get in touch to book a session or ask any questions about our services.