Exploring Indigenous Birthing and Postpartum Practices: A Naturopath’s Journey
Travelling through the Northern Territory during NAIDOC Week has shown me just how strong and diverse Australia’s First Nations culture is. This year’s NAIDOC theme—“For Our Elders”—reminds me of the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have played in caring for their families for thousands of years. Their wisdom and traditional healing practices are truly inspiring.
As a naturopath, I’ve always been interested in how different cultures care for women during pregnancy, birth, and after the baby arrives. Being in the Territory, surrounded by its beautiful landscapes and stories, has made me even more curious and respectful of Indigenous birthing traditions and bush medicine.
Birthing as Women’s Business
In many First Nations cultures, childbirth is called “women’s business.” It’s a special, community event led by grandmothers, aunties, and experienced midwives. Each group has its own customs, but all share a deep respect for the land, family, and the sacred act of bringing new life into the world.
Traditionally, women gave birth on Country, with family and elders nearby. The birth site was often a special place, like a birthing tree or cave. The mother could move around as she wished. After birth, mother and baby were cleansed with a smoking ceremony using native plants like emu bush. This was thought to help healing and protect against illness. The placenta was buried to connect the baby to the land, and the community made sure the new mother had plenty of rest, food, and support.
Herbal Medicines and Healing Rituals
Indigenous women have always used native plants for healing. Emu bush is especially important after birth—its leaves are burned, and the smoke is used to “cleanse” mother and baby, helping with healing and strength. Other traditions include bathing with warm ash, rubbing goanna fat and ochre on the skin, and using special plants for massage and nourishment.
These rituals are more than just about health—they’re about connecting mother and child to the land and community. Songs and ceremonies help strengthen these bonds and support both mother and baby.
The Power of Birthing on Country
Today, there’s a growing movement to bring back these traditions through “Birthing on Country” programs. These combine traditional knowledge with modern midwifery, offering safe and empowering care for First Nations mothers. In the Northern Territory, programs like Alukura Midwifery Group Practice and Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture are making a real difference. They help women have healthier pregnancies and stronger connections to their culture.
Research shows that women who use these models are more likely to go to antenatal visits, have healthy babies, and breastfeed. These programs also help heal the trauma many Aboriginal women have faced, especially those who were separated from their land and families in the past.
How Western and Indigenous Practices Compare
In Western society, most births happen in hospitals with doctors and midwives. Pain relief and medical procedures like inductions and caesareans are common. The focus is often on medical safety and getting things done quickly. After birth, mothers are usually sent home soon, with little support unless there are problems. Family and community help can be limited, and emotional or spiritual needs are often overlooked.
Indigenous birthing, on the other hand, is all about community, connection to the land, and holistic care. Women are supported by family and elders throughout pregnancy, birth, and after. They can choose how to give birth, and rituals like smoking ceremonies and singing help connect the baby to the land and ancestors. After birth, mothers are given time to rest and recover, with the whole community helping out.
What We Can Learn and Adapt
There’s a lot we can learn from Indigenous practices. Western maternity care could be improved by making it more holistic, woman-centred, and community-focused. Having a known midwife, involving family, and recognising birth as a spiritual and emotional journey—not just a medical event—can make a big difference. Models like Birthing on Country have already shown better outcomes for First Nations women and babies. If we respect and adapt these ideas, all women—no matter their background—can have more empowering and supportive birth and postpartum experiences.
A Call to Curiosity and Respect
As I keep travelling through the Territory, I’m reminded that healing is about more than just the body—it’s about connection, community, and the land. I encourage other naturopaths and health workers to approach Indigenous healing traditions with curiosity, humility, and respect. By listening to and learning from First Nations women, we can help make women’s health care in Australia more inclusive and empowering.
References and Further Reading:
ForWhen Helpline: Promoting Aboriginal Perinatal Health (https://forwhenhelpline.org.au/parent-resources/promoting-aboriginal-perinatal-health/)
Australian Midwifery History: First Peoples, Pre-Contact1
https://australianmidwiferyhistory.org.au/pre-contact/
Flinders University: Extraordinary Women Transforming Aboriginal Health6
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2018/07/09/extraordinary-impact-flinders-nt-women/
NITV News: New Alukura Birthing Service Opens in Alice Springs3
https://nit.com.au/11-04-2024/10777/new-alukura-birthing-service-opens-in-mparntwealice-springs
#NAIDOCWeek #IndigenousHealing #WomensHealth #Naturopathy #BirthingOnCountry #NorthernTerritory
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Safer birthing for First Nations families: Case Study.
Available at: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/resources/impact-case-studies/safer-birthing-first-nations-families-case-study
(Accessed: June 2025)Australian Women’s Health Alliance.
A Reflection on Policy Developments in First Nations Women’s Health.
Published 2024.
Available at: https://australianwomenshealth.org/2024/07/09/a-reflection-on-policy-developments-in-first-nations-womens-health/
(Accessed: June 2025)Jones, Jilpia Nappaljari.
Birthing: Aboriginal Women.
Journal of Indigenous Policy, 2012.
Available at: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlIndigP/2012/8.pdf
(Accessed: June 2025)Sax Institute.
Birthing on Country Maternity Service Delivery Models: A Rapid Review.
Available at: https://www.saxinstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Birthing-on-Country1.pdf
(Accessed: June 2025)Clarke, Philip.
Aboriginal healing practices and Australian bush medicine.
Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia, Vol. 33, 2008.
Available at: https://www.friendsofglenthorne.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Clarke-Vol-33-2008.pdf
(Accessed: June 2025)Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Maternity models of care in Australia.
Published 2024.
Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/maternity-models-of-care/contents/what-do-maternity-models-of-care-look-like/maternity-care-for-first-nations-women
(Accessed: June 2025)
