You were relentless in your support. I love you for that.

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Labour started in the evening and was low key over night. I then woke up and spent most the early morning napping, texting Nancy and walking around my block. By the afternoon transition had hit me and I was feeling worried about my ability to do it alone (Nancy wasn’t allowed into the hospital due to covid lockdown). My husband got us into the car on our way to the hospital where things inevitably slowed down. It all happened quite quickly that we only phoned Nancy in the car on the way there so she couldn’t rationalise with me as I was already planning to stray from my birth plan and get an epidural as soon as I walked in.

Upon finding out I was 8cm on arrival my husband and I cried tears of joy and triumph. I swear I heard the “eye of the tiger” riff play in my head!

After watching the film birth time I knew I needed support. I went home and contacted Nancy that night, I thank my lucky stars that she had one spot left as I was a late addition.

Nancy was so gentle with me but fierce with her passion for positive birth outcomes. Nancy had the answer to everything, she spoke to my need to expose injustice and she educated me not only in the process of knowing I can birth without intervention but also supported me through some of hardest times post-birth. Nancy is a born nurturer and her ability to be a presence in your life that resembles a wonderful mother figure, a baddass activist and best friend who is intelligent and understands many perspectives is her super power.

I don’t even know what I would have done without her.

Alexander says:
Nancy gave me the tools to support Em during labour, how to read her body language and understand the spiritual side of a birthing woman. Nancy taught me to use my voice to advocate for Emily and our baby.

What is the most memorable moment of our time together?
Breastfeeding issues caused me a lot of heartache. You were relentless in your support and options you provided. I love you for that.

What was the most helpful doula thing I helped with?
Educate me! I now use the information you taught me and the resources you sent me to help others and that is the best gift!

Also breastfeeding and postpartum doula support. You would arrive and things would get better. You would let yourself in, make a cuppa for me, bring some snacks and let me ramble. Thank you.

What did you find were the most helpful things through your labour?
TENS machine and breathing!

Do my fees reflect the service you received?
10000%

If you were to share words of wisdom with a first time family preparing for labour, birth & bringing their baby home, what would they be?
Nothing is permanent, always call for help!

Would you like to rave about any practitioners/websites/podcasts/groups you used during your pregnancy or postpartum to other families?:

Practitioners:

Podcasts:

Resources:

Love Emily, Alexander & Jude

Having a doula during the birth allowed me and my partner to completely focus on each other and the birth itself...

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I felt like a great load was lifted from my mind and all I had to do was be present with my partner.

Thoughts from mum:

We chose Nancy to be our doula because the connection we felt with her was authentic and her obvious care and respect for our desires were apparent. She is very calming and her confident manner was exactly what we needed.

Having a doula during the birth allowed me and my partner to completely focus on each other and the birth itself knowing that we could rely on Nancy to handle all the logistics and other practical matters. My most memorable moment was when I was about to give birth and Nancy swapped places with my partner to allow him to witness our daughter being born. Nancy did not hesitate to hold my hand and be completely present with me, which I really needed in that moment. The most helpful thing Nancy did to support us was advocating on our behalf with the medical staff to allow us the time we needed at each stage of the induction process. In labour, the most helpful things to me were my partner, the TENS machine and positive news about my dilation.

I would not hesitate to say that having a doula increased absolutely increased our birth satisfaction. The care and support provided allowed us to create a birth experience that we wanted and are proud of.

Thoughts from dad:

With Nancy as our doula, I felt completely able to focus just on my partner knowing that Nancy was handling everything else that needed any attention. I felt like a great load was lifted from my mind and all I had to do was be present with my partner.

The care and support provided allowed us to create a birth experience that we wanted and are proud of.

Love Bianca, Andrew & baby Joy xxx