About Cara

The birth of my first child, now 7 years, was a surprisingly lonely and isolating experience, which was over medicalised and ultimately disempowering. Apart from my partner, there was no one who attended me that I had ever met before arriving at hospital in labour. Looking back, I can clearly see what a difference support from someone I knew and trusted, and a woman who had “walked the walk” would have made, and how my labour may have proceeded very differently. I have since birthed two more children, aged 5 years and 3 years, gently and peacefully into water supported by nurturing women who believed, as I do, in the normalcy of birth — and the experience has changed my life and my view of birth.

Throughout history, in almost every culture, birthing women have relied upon support from another woman or women in their community and the experience of birth they had to offer. As birth moved from home to hospital in the 20th century, women have become increasingly isolated from their traditional support networks. Doulas aim to bridge this gap by providing a continuous reassuring presence throughout labour and birth.

I am passionate about birth support and a firm believer in the power of information, choice and respect. I believe that having a strong and knowledgeable support team is the key to a positive birth experience.

As a doula, I see my role as a source of information and education, as an advocate for your wishes and as a source of emotional and physical support before, during and after your birth. I do not replace your partner, but rather give reassurance that they are not alone in supporting you.

After completing my training in 2006, I have gained experience attending a range of births including homebirth, waterbirth, lotus birth, hypnobirth, emergency caesarean, private and public hospital births and birth centre. It is a privilege to share the journey to birth and parenthood.

I am committed to giving pregnant women confidence in their innate ability to birth their babies in an environment in which they feel nurtured and safe.

About Sarah

I am mother to three beautiful children who are currently 5 years old, 2 years old and 1 month old; their births provided me with a range of experiences that I feel give me a deep understanding of birth. My first birth involved an emergency caesarean, and left me feeling that there must be a better way to birth. When pregnant with my second and third children, I engaged a doula myself, and experienced an active, natural birth, that served to support that belief. My experiences led me to a desire to provide other women and their partners with the kind of support I received, helping them to achieve the kind of birth I know is possible.

I completed my formal training in 2006, which included classes, reading and assignments. I have been gathering experience in 2007, and have been fortunate to support a number of women at their births as well as during pregnancy and post-natally. This experience has included VBAC support, support of women during difficult medical issues, and a number of wonderful, empowering, drug-free, natural births. This experience has only served to reinforce my belief that doulas provide invaluable support, reassurance and encouragement to couples though their journeys involving birth.

I am also currently a community educator and in training to be a counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and am committed to supporting women to birth, nurture and raise their children with confidence.