Doula and Newborn Care Specialist

I have been childminding for the last 18 years, from Au pairing in my twenties to now providing doula and newborn care to new mothers. My husband of 15 years and I emigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and now we have immigrated again to Victoria in 2023. My experience of starting a family in a new country was hard and isolating. I had no family support and my husband had only two weeks of paternity leave. From having postnatal depression (PND) myself and from talking to other mothers who went through everything from postpartum psychosis to obsessive-compulsive disorder, I realised that mothers weren't receiving enough support. The welfare system is stretched and inadequate at providing for mothers’ needs. I knew I needed to do something about it.

 

Providing services as a doula and newborn care specialist is now my passion and my vocation. I believe all mothers should be nurtured and cared for, especially through the fourth trimester, and all children deserve to be loved and protected. It’s my intention and goal to be a key part of the 'village' supporting any new mother.

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Even without the all-too-common added challenge of PND, the weeks and months directly after giving birth are often some of the most difficult and draining of any mother’s life. My job is to make things a little easier and provide the help and support that will get you through to the other side.

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These are the most important aspects of my philosophy:

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Empathy. I focus on actively listening to a mother's needs to understand how to best support her. Any advice or help I offer comes free of judgment or guilt. My own experiences have taught me this.

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Empowerment. A huge part of my role is to build a mother’s confidence. I can’t work with a client forever, so while we are together, I believe it is important to empower her to continue the motherhood journey. This includes providing referrals to resources and other providers which may help Mum along the way.

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Education. In the same vein, I aim to educate my clients both directly and by giving them the skills and resources to seek out information themselves.

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It's important to know there is light at the end of the tunnel and I want to make sure that all parents have the chance to enjoy the journey and their little ones right from the start.

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I am a member of DONA International, the leader in evidence-based doula training, certification, and continuing education.

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I am also a member at PADA, formerly the Perinatal Mental Health New Zealand Trust (PMHNZ). With a current first-aid certificate and a Newborn Care Specialist qualification from the Newborn Care Training Academy, I am qualified and prepared to care for both mothers and babies.

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