Anywhere families choose.

No, I can’t but I can help you to peel back the layers to find the answer within.

After you know what your options are, and do the necessary research to ensure that whatever model you choose is aligned with your wishes and vision for your birth. Not all models are suitable for all kinds of births! Also, the model of care that your sister, friend, cousin, colleague or anyone else chose might not be right for you!

Yes, I can help you to block out the noise and to identify the model of care that feels most aligned to you.

I would definitely encourage you to consider this. If something doesn’t feel aligned now, that should ring some warning bells.

Since the start of 2019 when I retrained whilst on maternity leave with my second babe.

Immediately before going on leave to have my second baby I was working in community development supporting the capacity development of migrant and refugee women and children as they navigated their resettlement in Australia. I had various roles in this sector birth in Australia and overseas for close to fifteen years and have been fascinated to see how many of the skills and strengths I developed are just as pertinent to my role now as a birth workers as they were in my previous roles.

Approximately 40 births to date (end 2022)

First, second, third and forth time mums, spontaneous labours, induced labours, entirely physiological labours and births, vaginal births, labours with varying degrees of intervention such as gas, morphine, epidural, syntocinon, instrumental deliveries with vacuum and forceps, episiotomies, elective cesareans, emergency cesareans, births with mamas who knew their baby would need special care at birth, early births, births with mamas who needed additional medical care to manage a range of health issues, births with and without partners present, twin pregnancy, pregnancy after multiple losses, precipitous labours (very fast), ‘stalled’ labours and several day labours, and more.

The work and support that I bring to each family is unique and informed by what emerges in our conversations. I tend to do less teaching about the physiology of birth and postpartum and more intuitive nurturance, guidance and counselling, helping you to unpack whatever you’re sitting with and to find your way back to the answers you already have within. To do this I use a combination of solution focussed dialogue, role modelling, gentle enquiry and intuitive guidance to help you explore your wishes, your fears, any concerns of challenges you may be having in your life and interpersonal relationships, and to ensure you understand that you are accountable for all of the choices you make. Birth is a microcosm of life and often the most important preparation is looking at areas of your life that don’t appear to be directly related to birth, but of course they are and I help you to understand how. In my prenatal sessions I also help you to think about and plan for your postpartum to ensure you will have the support you need/want.

Yes, I can teach a range of different pain coping skills and also facilitate a conversation to help you understand your attitude towards pain, the different between physiological and pathological pain and the importance of pain in labour.

Yes, I have completed workshops in Spinning Babies and can teach approaches and techniques to support optimal maternal and fatal positioning.

Yes indeed!

Sure can!

Usually when labour is established/active labour has begun. We can discuss this more when we talk.

First and foremost, I observe. I then let me intuition guide me to support you the best way that I see fit, which is always in response to what I see in front of me rather than a predetermined series of ‘things’. Actually, I don’t usually DO much at all and my bag almost always stays in the corner where I leave it as the most valuable tools I bring with me are my hands, gentle voice, presence and ‘groundedness’ and witness. This is your journey to navigate and no-one can do it for you, myself included, but I can help to bring you back on track when I see you’re wavering and if I see that your mind is getting too far ahead of you I gently bring you back to the present. It’s hard to describe really but I guess in a nutshell the most important thing about my offering is the way I make you feel and you can read what some of my former clients have said about this in my testimonials.

I am a naturally diplomatic person and tend to develop rapport with people pretty ease-fully. Cultivating and maintaining an environment free of tension is really important during labour and birth so I am mindful about the way I communicate to ensure that it is respectful and gentle, but assertive if need be, and I intuitively help to guide communication to ensure that your comfort and needs are centred all the time. Whether at home or in hospital I am able support fluid conversation and to help you ensure that you are being heard all the time, even when you’re not speaking.

Usually a couple of hours after birth, once you’re settled and comfortable.

I try to ensure that partners understand their role as the primary support people and I like to involve them in at least some of our prenatal sessions so they know the nature of the work we’re doing together and so they feel genuinely at the core of the support team. I regularly check in with partners during labour to see how they’re feeling, if they need anything, if they need a break or to chat about something (away from your earshot) etc. In situations where labour takes a difficult turn, I ensure that I have the partner’s back so they can remain strong and steady for you. Post birth, in our debriefing, I also check in with partners to see if anything had come up for them that they’d like support to unpack.

Usually a maximum of 2 for in person birth support.

While I used to make backup arrangements for each family with another doula, who I would choose according to what I believed would be a good fit and whom I paid an on call fee to ensure they were going to be available if needed, I actually never ever needed to call on my back up. I no longer make arrangements for backups for each client but if I know a mama is in early labour and I am unwell or I can see that I will have something preventing me from being able to attend the labour, I would do a last minute callout to see who is available and able to step in to provide support. I’ve also not ever needed to do this. While I cannot ever guarantee that I will be able to be at a labour/birth, I have a deep trust that it will work out the way it needs to and this has so far been the case every single time.

The way I support postpartum families is also unique but may include birth debriefing, massage, companionship, simple chores around the house, food preparation and cooking, walking pets, playing with other children, holding and caring for baby while you rest, exploring your parenting philosophy with you, role modelling confident baby care, ceremony and ritual to mark your transition to motherhood and an abundance of reassurance and positive validation. I sometimes also make referrals for additional support that is outside of my scope of practice, if need be.