About the Founder
Meet Amber-Lee
Hi, I'm Amber-lee - psychologist, mum of two, and the voice behind The Power of Birth.
I know firsthand that motherhood can be beautiful and brutal and I wanted to highlight both experiences can coexist and that doesn't make you a bad mum. The Power of Birth was born from deep compassion and empathy for other mums and from my own realisation that becoming a mother changes a woman in profound ways.
If you spent a day with me you would find that I am a pilates lover, charcuterie board enthusiast, podcaster, and have a great passion for and advocate for perinatal mental health. As a psychologist, I bring both professional insight and lived experience to the conversations we need to have about pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond. I created this space with the hope it reaches far and wide to remind mothers they are not broken, and they are never alone.
Registered Psychologist
7NEWS Young Achiever Finalist
Published in Midwifery
How it Started
It all started with asking other mothers to share their birth stories as a way to find hope in my second birth, after a traumatic first birth. These stories opened the door to honest conversations about mental health, the maternal healthcare system and the challenges of motherhood. What began as a place to elevate women’s voices quickly became a lifeline for those feeling the loneliness, the “why didn’t anyone tell me?” moments, and the weight of suffering in silence.
The Power of Birth is now a space where mothers can speak the hard truths out loud, where it’s okay not to love every minute, and where vulnerability is met with understanding, not judgement. Here, we smash the ‘perfect mother’ myth, challenge the stigma around perinatal mental health, and create empowering, validating, healing conversations!
From Instagram to a movement
From instagram to a website, events, podcast, advocacy, collaboration and beyond. This platform was created to provide information, resources and access to information, and support coordination that can help you through this difficult but transformative season in life. I am particularly passionate about women seeking specialised support early on, and believe that support and interventions is not a one size fits all.
Reaching out to various different support groups, and networks and using resources to help you rebuild is my hope for you! The Power of Birth now has a podcast, Can We Talk About This, to help start the conversation about taboo topics, gaps and biases in women's health and maternal health, but also to help empower and educate women by weaving lived experiences and expert knowledge together.
My Story
It all started with an unplanned pregnancy…
My own experiences include two Hyperemesis Gravidarum pregnancies six months apart, birth injuries, postnatal anxiety, PTSD and hormonal challenges leading to PMDD-related rage that left me feeling anything but normal. Throw in some identity loss, breastfeeding difficulties, sleep deprivation and learning how to mother during covid — it was a lot. One day in my rage, I had an intrusive thought about my husband who I loved… and I finally reached out for more intense and comprehensive support.
Throughout these challenges, it highlighted the misunderstood, stigmatised and underserved sector of perinatal mental health and our very fragmented maternity system. Becoming a mother changed the trajectory of my personal and professional life, and has fuelled my passion for advocating for mother support and the importance of recognising the unique but misunderstood challenges mothers experience.
In that small glimmer of hope I had, it ignited a spark of determination to conquer the darkness. The transformation has been gradual, costly and time consuming, met with many setbacks yet profound. I realised that my own story had the power to inspire and advocate for change. I want to be a voice, and raise other women's voices, in breaking the silence and stigma around perinatal mental health. My experiences have shaped me into a fierce advocate and a compassionate listener, and I hope a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of motherhood — I found purpose beyond my own healing.
"My mission is to create a positive impact by shining a light on the complex emotions and diverse experiences in motherhood."
The mission in action
Whether you're dreaming of a baby, growing one, giving birth, or finding your way through the wild, tender chaos of postpartum and beyond — this is a safe place to land, to be heard, to feel held. Here, there is no judgement, only a deep respect for your story and your choices.
The Power of Birth is a fierce call to action: challenging broken systems, amplifying the voices of mothers, and reshaping the narrative around perinatal mental health. It's not just about raising awareness — it's about building a future where lived and clinical experience drives reform, where care is compassionate and accessible, and where no mother is left behind.
My experience & training
With an unwavering commitment to ongoing professional development, I'm dedicated to becoming a registered psychologist in perinatal mental health — weaving lived experience and expert knowledge together.
Masters of Professional Psychology
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Hons)
Matrescence Education — Nikki McCahon
Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders Cert. — PSI
BSc (Hons) thesis published in Midwifery
Full Circle Perinatal Training — Dr Rachel Bushing
ACT · CFT · CBT
Clinical pathway pilot — Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness
Behind the scenes: Rigel
Rigel joined The Power of Birth team to support the podcast and expand her design skills. In the early days she worked in the background to edit the podcast, design content and create the website — she brought the vision to life with skills I didn't have! Her support helped put The Power of Birth on the map and she will always be a part of this movement.