Perth artist opens up about mum struggles & return to music
The Perth rockstar, who sings and plays the drums in the band alongside Jordi Davieson and Josh Biondillo, gave birth to her baby daughter, Donnatella Cynthia, in May.
The first time mum has now shared her experience of early motherhood and her 'wild' breastfeeding journey in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.
While her 'huge life change' has been 'amazing', caring for her baby hasn't all been smooth sailing as she struggled with low milk supply.
Stevens said she thinks there is still a common perception that every woman can naturally breastfeed without trouble, but getting to feed her daughter was 'exhausting, messy and incredibly challenging'.
'I think the assumption is that breastfeeding is the most natural instinctive thing that will just happen to you naturally and it'll go smoothly, but actually it's a skill that requires a lot of practice,' she said.
'It's physical labour, and, of course, it's so special, you get to bond with your baby. But there's so many barriers. And a lot of it is learning. Scarlett Stevens has become a voice for breastfeeding awareness. Credit: Supplied
'I had really low milk supply, and I've basically tried everything to get my milk supply up, from drugs to triple feeding. I guess it just surprised me how there was so little information about why I might be experiencing low milk supply.
'The sheer the amount of hours that go into practising this skill and trying to make it work. It's really mentally and physically taxing, but I've gotten to a place where I'm able to mix feed, and it meant a lot to me to be able to breastfeed, so I've really persevered.'
To help spread awareness about the unpredictability of motherhood and how breastfeeding is seen and supported, Stevens has partnered with Mumma Milla — a WA brand and post-partum support network.
Stevens believes the support for breastfeeding mothers is an area 'really underfunded'. Scarlett Stevens with her daughter Donnatella. Credit: Supplied
'It's a really wild experience... there's a lack of research in women's health in general. And it feels like during pregnancy, there's so much ongoing support, and I felt amazing during my pregnancy, and then you really drop off this cliff in the postpartum period, your hormones are going crazy, and that's when I think you need a lot of support as well.
'I just want other breastfeeding mothers to feel seen and to get the support that they need, because not everyone's journey is straightforward, and mine certainly hasn't been.'
The Australian Breastfeeding Association, during the recent federal election, called on the Government to deliver four-year funding for ABA's breastfeeding helpline, legislation of new controls of the marketing of breast milk substitutes, a repeat of the National Infant Feeding Survey in 2025 and to improve access to continuity of care.
The Federal Government responded in April that it will consider the recommendations to guide future funding decisions. Josh Biondillo, Scarlett Stevens and Jordi Davieson of San Cisco. Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian
The talented musician was still playing San Cisco gigs while she was pregnant with Donnatella — her name inspired by her mum's Italian heritage — and said it was the 'coolest experience'.
'I genuinely surprised myself with what my body and mind were capable of.
'It's like the most rock and roll thing I've ever done, because I guess it's not a way that mothers are portrayed in our society, they're not often celebrated in that way, and it felt almost rebellious to be on stage performing pregnant.'
She broke the news to her bandmates while on a regional tour, and she said it was a special moment as Davieson and Biondillo had been on the pregnancy journey with her.
'I was actually on tour, and I was given some news that I might have a hard time falling pregnant. And so they were with me on this whole journey. So it was really emotional for me to break the news to them that I'd fallen pregnant,' she said.
Stevens is hoping to return to the stage with San Cisco at the end of the year but she isn't in any rush.
'I think I'll just ease back into it, I'm not in a mad rush, but I'm also really excited to play again,' she said.
'I know that the boys have started working on the next album, so that's exciting, and I'll hopefully join in as soon as I can.'
As for adorable Donnatella: 'She's very curious about the world. She's very chatty.'
Who knows, she might be on her way to picking up her first drum sticks and following in her mother's footsteps.
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Perth Now
04-08-2025
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Perth artist opens up about mum struggles & return to music
Scarlett Stevens has opened up about her struggles with breastfeeding amid plans to return to the stage with her band San Cisco. The Perth rockstar, who sings and plays the drums in the band alongside Jordi Davieson and Josh Biondillo, gave birth to her baby daughter, Donnatella Cynthia, in May. The first time mum has now shared her experience of early motherhood and her 'wild' breastfeeding journey in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. While her 'huge life change' has been 'amazing', caring for her baby hasn't all been smooth sailing as she struggled with low milk supply. Stevens said she thinks there is still a common perception that every woman can naturally breastfeed without trouble, but getting to feed her daughter was 'exhausting, messy and incredibly challenging'. 'I think the assumption is that breastfeeding is the most natural instinctive thing that will just happen to you naturally and it'll go smoothly, but actually it's a skill that requires a lot of practice,' she said. 'It's physical labour, and, of course, it's so special, you get to bond with your baby. But there's so many barriers. And a lot of it is learning. Scarlett Stevens has become a voice for breastfeeding awareness. Credit: Supplied 'I had really low milk supply, and I've basically tried everything to get my milk supply up, from drugs to triple feeding. I guess it just surprised me how there was so little information about why I might be experiencing low milk supply. 'The sheer the amount of hours that go into practising this skill and trying to make it work. It's really mentally and physically taxing, but I've gotten to a place where I'm able to mix feed, and it meant a lot to me to be able to breastfeed, so I've really persevered.' To help spread awareness about the unpredictability of motherhood and how breastfeeding is seen and supported, Stevens has partnered with Mumma Milla — a WA brand and post-partum support network. Stevens believes the support for breastfeeding mothers is an area 'really underfunded'. Scarlett Stevens with her daughter Donnatella. Credit: Supplied 'It's a really wild experience... there's a lack of research in women's health in general. And it feels like during pregnancy, there's so much ongoing support, and I felt amazing during my pregnancy, and then you really drop off this cliff in the postpartum period, your hormones are going crazy, and that's when I think you need a lot of support as well. 'I just want other breastfeeding mothers to feel seen and to get the support that they need, because not everyone's journey is straightforward, and mine certainly hasn't been.' The Australian Breastfeeding Association, during the recent federal election, called on the Government to deliver four-year funding for ABA's breastfeeding helpline, legislation of new controls of the marketing of breast milk substitutes, a repeat of the National Infant Feeding Survey in 2025 and to improve access to continuity of care. The Federal Government responded in April that it will consider the recommendations to guide future funding decisions. Josh Biondillo, Scarlett Stevens and Jordi Davieson of San Cisco. Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian The talented musician was still playing San Cisco gigs while she was pregnant with Donnatella — her name inspired by her mum's Italian heritage — and said it was the 'coolest experience'. 'I genuinely surprised myself with what my body and mind were capable of. 'It's like the most rock and roll thing I've ever done, because I guess it's not a way that mothers are portrayed in our society, they're not often celebrated in that way, and it felt almost rebellious to be on stage performing pregnant.' She broke the news to her bandmates while on a regional tour, and she said it was a special moment as Davieson and Biondillo had been on the pregnancy journey with her. 'I was actually on tour, and I was given some news that I might have a hard time falling pregnant. And so they were with me on this whole journey. So it was really emotional for me to break the news to them that I'd fallen pregnant,' she said. Stevens is hoping to return to the stage with San Cisco at the end of the year but she isn't in any rush. 'I think I'll just ease back into it, I'm not in a mad rush, but I'm also really excited to play again,' she said. 'I know that the boys have started working on the next album, so that's exciting, and I'll hopefully join in as soon as I can.' As for adorable Donnatella: 'She's very curious about the world. She's very chatty.' Who knows, she might be on her way to picking up her first drum sticks and following in her mother's footsteps.
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Federal Labor commits to additional $10 million for aged care respite beds in Canberra after facility closure announced
Former carer Deb Stevens doubts her late mother, Gwen, could have stayed out of full-time aged care for as long as she did without the day program at Burrangiri aged respite care centre. "I retired to care for my mother, and I had her at home for almost three years," Ms Stevens said. Gwen Lind attended Burrangiri's day respite sessions. ( Supplied: Deb Stevens ) "During the very early days I heard about Burrangiri respite … so I started to use that program a few days a week. " [Then] as my mother deteriorated I started to use it five days a week. " Ms Stevens said the program was a "lifeline" as her mother's vascular dementia began to advance dramatically. "I could take her in the morning, collect her in the afternoon, and she was looked after by the most glorious staff who cared very much for her," Ms Stevens said. "[They] cared very much, also, for the carers. Every day when I went in I felt supported, I felt encouraged. "They gave me support, they gave me love, they gave me so much validation to keep going." The ACT government has yet to determine what it's going to do with the Burrangiri facility. ( ABC News: Joel Wilson ) But in February the ACT government announced the 15-bed Salvation Army-run facility in Rivett would be shut in July when its contract expires. At the time ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the closure of the 25-year-old facility was necessary because the building was no longer "fit for purpose", needing major renovations that would require an extended closure anyway. Now federal Labor has promised $10 million for respite aged care beds in the ACT — through a new or existing provider — if it's returned to government. Ms Stevens would like to see some of that put towards keeping Burrangiri open, and Independent ACT Legislative Assembly Member Fiona Carrick agrees. "We would like to see the government look at using the federal money to do whatever maintenance is required at Burrangiri and keep it open until the new facility is available," Ms Carrick said. Independent Murrumbidgee MLA Fiona Carrick says Burrangiri should receive as much of the federal funding as it needs to keep it open until a new facility can be built. ( ABC News: Michael Barnett ) But Ms Stephen-Smith said using the federal funding to upgrade the facility might be easier said than done. "We are open to both conversations with the commonwealth, but I do think it's very unlikely that will be the outcome," she said. "Any delivery on this commitment would have to abide by all the rules and procurement that the commonwealth has in place and also that the facility would need to be an accredited aged care facility. "[Burrangiri] is not fit for purpose for a modern respite facility, the Salvation Army's contract was coming to an end, it was going to go to market for a new provider — we were going to have to close the facility for refurbishment in any case." ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith says it's unlikely Burrangiri will be the recipient of the federal funding boost. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy ) The required refurbishment includes resolving electrical and safety issues and increasing the number of bathrooms in the facility, which currently has only two. Ms Stephen-Smith said she's confident other aged care respite providers will be able to fill the gap left by Burrangiri's closure, but for Ms Stevens that doesn't offer much comfort. "There may be a few issues with the building, but that isn't enough to rip the rug out from under people who use both the day program and the residential services," Ms Stevens said. "Being able to go on holidays, to do things that need to be done out of town, or just to have a break is the difference between being able to look after somebody and not." The ACT government is considering using the facility for other community services, such as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, pending public consultation and approval.
