“A natural birth with our second child was very important to us and after having a caesar with our first born this was of great concern. Jodi’s guidance and support during the months of pregnancy was invaluable in helping us prepare for labour and the hospital process. We experienced a long labour with 3 changes in nursing staff and a change in doctors, thus Jodi was essential in giving us the continuity of support and assistance we needed to achieve our goal. Jodi communicated very well with hospital staff and provided us with timely advice at all times.  I have no doubt Jodi was an essential part of our successful birth.”

“Unknown unknowns — that’s why you’re making the right decision bringing Jodi into the team. T minus 4 months and I thought I knew what to expect, how to prepare, and how to provide the right kind of support... my intensions were all good but in hindsight, I was flying blind. I’d be lying to say that I was convinced that a doula was a good idea from the start, I mean, I had to Google ‘what is a doula’ en route to our initial meet up. “The doctors and nurses have our back... having a baby is routine” I’d come to believe. Sure, everyone involved strives for a common outcome — a healthy bub and mum — but the journey and recovery can vary tremendously depending on your level of preparation, and understanding of the decisions you will need to make. We planned for a natural, physiological birth, and the tools, training, preparation and practice that Jodi delivered meant that when things got real and split-second decisions needed to be made, I was confident. Had Jodi not been a part of the pregnancy and birth, my decisions would have at best been guesses; and ones with significant consequences no less. Having Jodi at the birth gave my wife and I continuity of care, we had a real pro in the room who was always in our corner, and her confident yet calm nature was empowering. She was the third set of hands when one of us I was wiped out, she was the quietly spoken adjudicator in the room who could ask an awkward question of the care staff, or decide when to call a time-out so the three of us could properly talk through our options when presented with a complex decision. Developing trust for a stranger when the stakes are so high didn’t come naturally, but it did come eventually and was well worth the effort — that trust given to Jodi was paid back 100x, and in retrospect I can’t, or don’t want to imagine, how things might be been if Jodi wasn’t on the team. For anyone reading this and wondering if Jodi, my wife and I were always on the same page?The answer is No, we didn’t agree on everything. But we didn’t need to. Jodi invested a lot of time getting to understand what was important to us, she learned where we felt safe and what the boundaries of risk sat for us, and her experience and contemporary understanding of pregnancy-related research meant we felt guided and supported through every one of our decisions. As I write this, our awesome little 4 month old son is sleeping soundly upstairs. I know when he wakes for a nappy change some time around 0630 tomorrow morning, he’ll be wearing one of the most enchanting little smiles that anyone could imagine. I am very grateful that we had Jodi’s encouragement, care, and support — it is simply not possible for me to recommend Jodi enough, and if you are on the fence, I would say absolutely go for it!”

“My wife and I have recently had the pleasure of being able to introduce our first baby girl to the world. 

In the lead up and preparation time to our birth we attended a couple of courses to give us the back ground and understanding to achieve the type of birth we wished for.

One was a Calmbirth class, which I highly recommend and the second a breastfeeding and early parenting preparation workshop, which was hosted by Jodi. It was in this class we were introduced to the concept of a Doula and the work that they do. 

My feelings walking away from the class were, it’s a great concept but more than likely not for us. The main reason being, I felt we had invested in the two courses already and this natural phenomenon would just take it’s course in the hands of the midwives at the hospital. 

A little while later my wife (Clair) came to me and asked if we could get Jodi on board as our doula to assist with our birth. 

At this stage I still felt a little skeptical about the necessity, concerned about adding additional meetings into my already busy schedule and if we could truly afford a doula. 

At heart I knew it was something my wife felt she needed and concerned with my work schedule it was good to have a backup in case I was caught up when labour began. 

We had a couple of catch ups with Jodi in the lead up to the birth. This was mainly to discuss our individual rolls, work out a plan for where we were going to labour and formulate and discuss our ultimate birth plan. Jodi lent us heaps of books and Dvd’s, taught us exercise movements to help support baby’s positioning and showed us our baby’s position in Clair’s belly each time. 

At forty-one weeks pregnant, the night finally came when labour begun. I had come home from a massive day at work to find my wife having waves of back pain. In my head I knew it had all started and I was going to be up for a big night. I sent Jodi a txt and let her know things had started and I’d call when we needed her.

Calmly I made dinner and got things prepared so we could leave for the hospital when needed. I then tried my best to get my wife and I to bed, so we would be rested for when we got to the business end. 

I have to say it was a full night of massaging, counting contractions, toilet going, minute timing, journey plotting and trying my best to assist Clair with emotional and physical pain. 

Needless to say when the sun finally rose the next morning we were completely shattered and I knew I needed the assistance of Jodi.  

At this stage Jodi made the suggestion to have a scene change, eat something nourishing and journey to Clair’s Mum’s house. This was all part of the original plan being closer to the hospital and would be a good place to meet. 

When we arrived at Clair’s mum’s house I poured a bath and put Clair in it, to help with the now very painful contractions she was experiencing. 

When Jodi arrived, she offered to relieve me and I was finally able to get some rest for an hour or so. In that time Jodi managed to relax Clair and got her moving and excepting her contractions. Jodi had totally transformed Clair from fighting this first time pain to moving freely down the path towards giving birth by the time I woke. 

Jodi’s experience softly guided both us every step of the way to getting ready to leave for the hospital. 

Once we arrived Jodi was our guide to ensuring our dream birth went according to plan.

Needless to say we had the most perfect drug free water birth and Clair only needed to push once! 

None of this I believe would have been achievable without the assistance of Jodi. Not only the birth but the days following the birth Jodi was my lifeline in looking after both Clair and our daughter (Mali). Jodi is one of those beings who, through her wealth of knowledge and experience is totally spot on, knowing how to deal with each situation as it arises. 
 
I cannot recommend Jodi and her services highly enough! 
I’m glad in this occasion of my life I don’t have to say in hindsight, “I wish we had a doula.” Instead we have the most beautiful memory of our perfect birth and a healthy breastfeeding mum with the most peaceful baby!


Thank you ever so much Jodi !!!!
”