Canberra Birth Doula Services
Many people simply survive giving birth… why not THRIVE?
Feeling anxious?… Of course, who wouldn’t be, but I’m here to help you (and your partner).
Why hire a Doula you ask?…. As a private service provider, I’m the only person able to provide you with non-biased, continuous support and my only agenda is YOU.
If you’re expecting & feel anxious about your first time birthing or would like to improve on the last - have your very own Doula to empower you, support you, offer advice, knowledge, pain management skills, birth education & more.
I believe in making conscious choices to align with your values, therefore reducing trauma, post natal depression & creating a safe & positive space for a birth story you can be proud of. A positive birth is the foundation for a healthy start to parenting & bub thriving earth side. Support at this momentous time of growth & change for all, will improve bonding, healing and confidence in your new life roles.
During our sessions I’ll provide 1:1 physical, mental, spiritual & emotional support continuously through late stage pregnancy, birth & postpartum to align with your birth values.
Three (3) x prenatal consultations (3 hours each)
Up to 12hrs labor & birth support at home and hospital
Three (2-3) x postnatal consultations (1-2 hours each)
If you’re curious please email me at hello@hollyandsage.com.au & we can arrange a meet & greet 💖 Holly xx
Qualifications: Certificate of Doula Training under the International Institute for Complimentary Therapies (IICT), provided by The Birth Yurt Training, under Rising Vines Integrative Therapies
““We were so fortunate to have Holly agree at short notice to be our doula for the birth of our second child. Holly quickly established a good relationship with us and built an understanding of our values and the experience we hoped to achieve following our first traumatic birth.
She helped to remind us of our options in labour, encouraged me to listen to my instincts, and provided effective visualisation tools to help us get into the best frame of mind.
When I went into spontaneous labour Holly was a calm presence who helped us both as we focused on bringing our baby into the world. Her expertise and reassurance were invaluable.
Holly’s presence helped us with our very efficient, healthy, straightforward and intervention-free labour of our rather enormous (4.75 kg) baby! With her birth photography hat on, Holly also captured so many precious moments during labour and immediately postpartum which we will cherish forever.
Thanks to Holly and our incredible midwives, this birth experience was absolutely phenomenal and intensely healing. This experience left me wanting to experience birth again!
Childbirth is a major rite of passage and an experience that will stay with a person for the rest of their life. Evidence shows that having a doula improves birth outcomes and experiences, which is so important no matter how birth unfolds. I would recommend hiring Holly to anyone who is pregnant and eager to make the most of this incredible life event - you will have made an important investment in yourself as you enter parenthood or expand your family.”
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“Why did we go with a doula?
Our first time we did the best we could and we did alright. But I felt that I could have had more knowledgeable support, especially for a first birth.
Then munchkin #2 was on the way and we were nervous about how things would go..... we thought a doula would allow me to be focused and just do what I need to do for the birth, allowing Dad to organise Kiddo #1 and get the final things sorted before we head to hospital. And it was so so so so good.
No one planned for COVID (meaning Holly couldn’t come to the hospital with us). No one expected munchkin to be so keen and be born on our bed because it all happened so fast!
But having Holly there was PHENOMENAL. I have never felt so empowered or supported. Holly was there for me, she was there for Dad, and she helped us bring this little one into the world.
Her support and guidance in the lead up to; her caring and confidence in what was a hectic but beautiful unexpected home birth; and her support afterwards - overwhelmingly AWESOME.
If a doula is an option for you - DO IT. Thank you!”
“Having a doula was something we’d decided quite early on that we wanted and we were thrilled to meet Holly. From the first meeting with her, we knew she’d be a great addition to our birth team. All the sessions we had with her were fantastic - from the pre birth education, to the actual birth, and post birth support, we could not have asked for someone who made us feel more supported and empowered.
We felt like Holly wholeheartedly supported our birth intentions and would have been a great advocate for us had anything unexpected happened. Having a Holly there, particularly for the birth meant that mum could just do what she needed to do and dad could concentrate on being the #1 support for mum and baby whilst all the “fringe” stuff was taken care of.
The birth of our son is something we will cherish and never forget as one of the best, most empowering days of our lives and Holly will always be a strong part of that memory.”
“While you were present as a birth photographer to capture our first birth, you were still such an incredible support through the experience.
Even afterwards when you popped in a few times during our stay just to chat.
You really helped me feel seen after a birth that didn’t go as expected and where I didn’t feel heard.
You were a saving grace to Blake when he was struggling to put a Wondersuit on our newborn.
Also when my mother was worried sick after I had been gone (in theatre) for almost 2 hours and no one would tell her if I was okay until you came out from theatre and filled her in.
This upcoming birth, my Mum will be caring for our son and since my birth went less than ideal last time, we want to add someone else with more birth experience than us to our support team.
I truly don’t know if we could choose someone who would be more fitting for us. Especially after our experience with you during our last birth.
I guess my question is, if you’re willing, do you have any availability in March to be our doula?”
“OMG!!! This is so exciting!!! Considering you were at Sam’s birth 🥰🙃☺️ I’d gladly have you as a doula!!! (But NO plans for more 👶🏻)”
“Woo! Fantastic Holly! You are a wealth of knowledge and will make a great Doula!”
“Oh I wish you’d been a doula three years ago!”
“Ohhh this is so exciting!! You’ll be a wonderful doula!!”
“Oh I would have had you in a heartbeat this time last year! You will be amazing! ❤️”