We spoke to Holli McEntegart, mum-of-two, artist, full spectrum doula and certified lactation support counsellor about Motherhood, postpartum care, and INHABIT a living artwork for new parents to come together and share their experiences, happening in Wellington this week.
Kia ora Holli. Can you start by introducing yourself? Tell us about your whanau, where you live, and what you do for work?
Kia ora, I’m Holli, I’m an artist and a parent to two gorgeous little boys, Arlo (4yrs), and Indigo (6 months). We live in Tāmaki Makaurau, where I work as a full spectrum doula and certified lactation support counsellor (CLSC) at Dear Arlo.
I trained as a doula in New York City where I met my husband, Michael, and gave birth to my first son, Arlo. Before having babies, I lived and worked as an artist in New York. My current work on Motherhood is central to my art practice, which focuses on re-centering and healing through lived experience. My work as an artist AND as a doula is underpinned by a desire to unpack the complexities of sometimes overlooked and devalued human experiences such as motherhood – so we may collectively offer new visions and actions for change.