We felt zero fear. We were calm and confident.

Vali was born after a fast and intense but absolutely beautiful homebirth. I've never felt more loved, supported and empowered than in those few hours. I was basking in love, and forever grateful to my birth team for allowing me to feel safe, confident and to have a completely physiological, undisturbed water birth from the comfort of my own home. I still think about it with tears of joy in my eyes.

Wonderfully transformative.

No chance my birth would have been what it has been without Nancy! She gave my partner and I all the tools (practical and mental) we needed to have a wonderful birth experience. We both felt super excited and prepared. To me, it was like having an experienced and knowledgeable friend who was there to guide me through the biggest transformation of my life to make it a positive and ultimately very empowering experience.

The birth happened quite fast and this meant that at one point I honestly thought we would have this baby alone but we felt zero fear, we were calm and confident.

Nancy's knowledge on that day was everything and I'm positive I was able to have the homebirth I wanted thanks to her. She's extremely experienced and an incredible human being who knows how to listen and guide you no matter what your birth preferences and personal/religious/spiritual beliefs are. I'd strongly recommend a couple of massages during your pregnancy on top of the doula prep sessions if you can. They made me feel amazing and a lovely way to connect further with Nancy. The postpartum debrief was fantastic too.

WHAT WAS THE MOST HELPFUL THING I DID TO SUPPORT YOU?:

Your experience on the day truly made the biggest difference. I'm sure that if it wasn't for you, we would have transfered to hospital or had the baby alone at home. Both would have been OK I'm sure but you were able to help us navigate a fast moving birth while allowing me to stay in my space and completely calm.
You also helped me moved to find the best positions to birth in and I know I would absolutely have not even tried to move and try different things if it wasn't for you. Probably wouldn't have reached the pool on time either!

WORDS FROM NICK:

To be really honest I questioned how much we would need a doula, seeing as we had a private midwife and I felt like we had a decent support network around Deb. Turned out it was an incredible decision to work with Nancy and I attribute a large part of a perfect and beautiful natural birth to her support. She was totally engaged and keen to answer any questions we had, both in prep and in labour. Nancy gave us a huge amount of confidence and made Deb feel totally prepared for the birth process. On the night of baby Vali's birth Nancy was absolutely incredible and I really don't know what we would've done without her. The midwife was at another birth and things moved along really quickly. Nancy took control of the situation without being demanding and guided us so smoothly through the process. All in all I am so grateful for the opportunity to have Nancy work with us, it was amazing.

WHAT WERE THE MOST HELPFUL THINGS WHILST YOU WERE IN LABOUR?:

• Get a tens machine. Rent one, borrow one, buy one. Just get one 😉

• Get frozen blueberries, Nancy gave me one between each contraction when I was pushing, it felt amazing and delicious and like heaven between the surges.

• We're told to exhale slowly but I found that inhaling slowly and focusing on getting that oxygen in made a big difference (thanks Nancy for the tip!)

• Write down and work through any fear you might have, even the silliest ones.

I got massages - with Nancy - during my pregnancy and highly recommend them. I felt great after each one, especially when things really start to stretch and move in the late second/third trimester.

IF YOU WERE TO SHARE WORDS OF WISDOM WITH A FIRST TIME FAMILY PREPARING FOR LABOUR, BIRTH & BRINGING THEIR BABY HOME, WHAT WOULD IT BE?:

I questioned how much support I really needed ("women have been doing this for thousands of years, surely I can do it too, no big deal") but ultimately realised getting a birth team I truly trusted and preparing myself and my partner properly was an investment I would never regret. Bringing a baby into the world changes you, your relationship with your partner, your family unit, etc. Getting the support you need is a great way to make sure this change is a positive, empowering one. It's about the birth yes and having the experience you truly want but it's also about the mother you will become.

More practically, prepare "a trimester in advance" so that you can spend your last trimester preparing for the fourth trimester and what comes after the birth. This is easily overlooked and so important!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RAVE ABOUT ANY PRACTITIONERS/WEBSITES/PODCASTS/GROUPS YOU USED DURING YOUR PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM TO OTHER FAMILIES?:

Anna from Her Connection is a fantastic women’s health physio.

Love from baby Vali, Deb and Nick

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

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:

• Keryn Hawker Acupuncture (https://www.kerynhawker.com)

Podcasts:

• The Midwives Cauldron (https://www.katiejames.site/podcasts/the-midwives-cauldron)

Resources:

• Evidence Based Birth (https://evidencebasedbirth.com)

Love Emily, Alexander & Jude

My birth was nothing short of amazing!

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My birth was nothing short of amazing! I was able to have the perfect birth Nancy helped me plan for even when midwives had other ideas. I am lucky enough to have it all on film thank you to Nancy. I will forever look back at it and this day and smile with a warm feeling in my heart.

Leading up to the labour, I felt so in control and prepared thank you to Nancy. She was there every time I needed her. If you weren’t there on the day of my labour I doubt I would have had the labour I did, Jason possibly would have advocated my birth plan but at the end of the day he may have listened to the midwives as they are meant to be the experts and there for the mum.

The most memorable moment was Nancy helping me with my plan leading up to the birth, I felt in control and empowered from her.

The most helpful thing you did was helped Jason while I was in labour. He was so calm and I believe that was from your help and support. You went above and beyond.

I believe the placenta encapsulation has helped my mood and my recovery 110%.

I did a lot of googling and I chose you after having that phone conversation, it was so so easy to talk to you and I loved your views. You were an easy choice to make :)

Dad says: Nancy was great to have her there while Lyndell was in labour, I kept her updated and she reassured me if I had doubts, Nancy suggested a position when she thought that Donnie wasn’t engaged which kickstarted active labour and then at the hospital she stood up for what Lyndell wanted with her birth plan.

Can you tell the mummas what the most helpful things were to you in labour?: The tens machine at the start of labour, the epi no leading up to the birth and my breath and relaxing was the biggest tool I had.

If you were to share words of wisdom with a first time family preparing for labour, birth & bringing their baby home, what would it be?: Plan, plan and plan. Nancy’s words for my builder partner “When you go to a job site you don't take one tool; you take ALL of the tools you might need. Birth is the same!” 

I listened to absolutely every podcast I came across, did yoga, meditated, read and got in touch with my mind and body

Would you like to rave about any practitioners/websites/podcasts/groups you used during your pregnancy or postpartum to other families?: I used natural birth and baby podcast, my essential birth and pregnancy podcast.

xxx Lyndell, Jason and Donnie

I probably would have benefited from more postpartum care.

Nancy was such a beautiful presence at our birth. She was so supportive and helped my husband and I stay calm and centered in a birth that didn’t necessarily go to “plan”. Before the birth we had so much fun in our birth prep sessions with her, not to mention the delicious pregnancy massages she gave me in the comfort of my home. I have to say that the real highlight for me was the postnatal visit. After a few days of being in a busy hospital it was SO refreshing to have a visit from Nancy, who did a meditation with us and helped me to feel human again. Thank you so much, Nancy. You are such a genuine, honest and grounded woman and we’re so happy you were a part of our journey xoxo

I choose you to be our doula because we formed a lovely initial connection and I felt safe in your care. Emma Hayes referred you and highly recommended you. I feel that your energy matched mine and that you had a beautiful, calming presence.

I really loved the prenatal massages I received. I felt a bit worried when I found out Sofia wasn't growing and the massaged helped to bring my nervous system back into a state of balance.

I probably would have benefited from more postpartum care. This is something for me to think about if we have another baby. I got so much out of you coming to the hospital once Sofia was born, I would have liked more sessions like that.

What is the most memorable moment of our time together?: Yes! One thing that really stands out to me is when a Dr was trying to (very unsuccessfully) break my waters and I was in a lot of pain, you reminded me that I have a choice and that I can choose to ask him to stop the procedure. It was at that moment that I feel I got my power back, if you weren't there I probably would have kept putting up with him telling me to "relax" and trying to achieve his goal.

What was the most helpful thing I did to support you? Reminded me that I am allowed to birth on my terms.

What did you find to be the most helpful things to you in labour? The yoga we did in the park and the movement that you were encouraging me to do whilst I had the syntocinon drip in. I also appreciated you chatting to the midwives and making my wishes heard.

Dad says: Nancy helped us navigate the hospital system and was a calming presence throughout our time in hospital. She was always informing us of the options we had and also helped to get us out of the hospital and moving around in the fresh air after a few induction attempts that weren't really working. Nancy was generous with her time and always made us feel safe and supported.

If you were to share words of wisdom with a first time family preparing for labour, birth & bringing their baby home, what would it be?: The birth of your baby is a life-changing event, and it is so important to be prepared for it, but don't forget about The Fourth Trimester. It is so important to prepare for the birth of you as a mother/ parent and think about what it is that you really need to support you at such a fragile time of deep transformation. Having nourishing food, cooked by loved ones and having a 'fourth trimester' plan, can be just as important as having a birth plan. 

Also, remember that you know what is best for your baby, so try not to get swept up in everyone else's advice and instead try to listen to your inner wisdom.

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

Our Family Chiropractic Cronulla

Really helped with my postnatal recovery and overall wellbeing.

Tales From The Fourth Trimester podcast

The Mother Space Podcast (my podcast)

Maternal Instincts Massage

Angela is amazing.

xxx Annalisa, Luke and Sofia

It felt like we had a pro in our corner that had our back.

We are so happy that we chose to use a doula, and really grateful that Nancy was our Doula. The stresses and unknowns you hear about during a birth weren't really present during our birth because we always knew that Nancy was there to support us, provide guidance and help to interpret what was going on and being said.

In the lead up to the birth Nancy was full of useful information and recommended some great resources to assist in preparing for the big day and making decisions about how we would proceed for each scenario. This made handling the uncertainty about when and how it would come quite easy to handle - it felt like we had a pro in our corner that had our back whatever may come. Nancy's approach is casual and laidback yet 'on to it' which was reassuring and easy to slot into our little birth team.

Nancy was even a pillar of support during an ECV (attempt to turn the baby) prior to the birth, which was a truly painful and disappointing procedure but made easier through Nancy's instincts and insights towards my welfare and mind state.

Now we have a happy little new member of our family and we continue to share updates with Nancy and reach out to her for tips on baby stuff.

We couldn't be happier with our decision to have Nancy as part of our Birth Tribe.

Love Laura, Duncan & baby Juniper

Hiring a doula was one of the best decisions we made!

Mum says:

Hiring a doula was one of the best decisions we made. Nancy is an invaluable resource and support, and her skills were pivotal in co-creating our birth experience.

The spinning babies protocol was great, but I mostly remember you sitting on the stairs feeding me banana and chocolate during active labour!

Dad says:

Nancy was a great help to us through the whole experience. In labour, Nancy helped to progress Melanie's labour. She provided the non-medical and emotional support.

What was the most helpful thing I did?: Banana and chocolate!! Haha, nah, everything. Every woman should have a doula...!

Most helpful things in labour?

• Spinning babies techniques by Nancy

• Iced towels

• Food

Words of wisdom: Get support. Be informed. Make choices that are right for you. Do not listen to other people's fear. Trust yourself and your body. Say no to visitors for at least a week!!

Love Mel, Clint & baby Max