Andrea’s Story

With my first son I had an unnecessary C-section and I was told that my body failed to progress.

The truth was that I was not given any time to let my body naturally get into labour and I was rushed into an emergency C-section because the Dr suggested it was the best for me and my baby. I decided that I didn’t want to have any more kids and I only understood how much trauma, disappointment and resentment I had around this once I got pregnant 5 years later in August 2021.

Once I found out I was pregnant I started my research about the possibility of having a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) and one of the biggest recommendations from other women who successfully achieved it was to find a good doula. I then started looking online and I found Kate’s website and when I read the testimonials and after our first phone call I had no doubt she would be the right person.

Nothing ever can really prepare a woman for a birth and I was conscious that it could go any way and I was mentally prepared for the possibility of ending in another C-section. However, I wanted to know that we did everything we could and that I would be in a safe space with my husband and Kate to be able to progress on my own time. On May 4 2022 at 40.4 weeks my labour started at 7:30pm and once at hospital having Kate there was the biggest blessing for my birth. Drs and nurses were already pushing and preparing me for another C-section and Kate stood for me every step of the way. She made me feel safe and protected, she empowered me and we spent around 5 hours in the shower where I felt the most comfortable.

The TENS machine was amazing and really helpful since the best for my body was to avoid any sort of interventions like epidural to allow my body to dilate. Kate would support my husband and empower him too which was amazing. By 9pm I was already at 7 cm and this was exciting and by 11:30pm it was go time.

By then I was exhausted and I started losing my mental powers and Kate played a huge role in reminding me that I was capable and that we prepared for it and that it was going to happen. Her words and strength meant the world to me and I know now that things would have been completely different if Kate would have not been there.

I think every woman should have a doula and if more women were given this possibility and would learn more the benefits of a doula more women would have better births and beautiful transformational experiences to remember. I will never be the same woman I was and having an unmedicated VBAC has transformed me.

I will always be grateful to have found Kate. Thank You!

Andrea Ramirez

It wasn’t until I fell pregnant with my second baby that I realised how much trauma I had suppressed from my first birth experience. This time I wanted a completely different experience, and I knew to achieve that I needed additional continuity of support.

Enter Kate, who I engaged as my birth doula.

Kate was able to educate and empower me throughout my pregnancy. She understood the health system I was engaging in and helped me navigate it in a way that supported the outcome I wanted. She provided texts and resources that helped me understand what choices I needed to make to achieve a birth without intervention. She also helped my husband understand the role he could play in supporting me through this journey. Kate came to our house to support us with comfort measures to labour at home for as long as possible.

I used Kate’s TENS machine throughout the entire labour, which was very effective for pain relief. Kate came to the hospital with us, supporting every step of the way. She worked as a team with my husband, with just the right amount of coaching and encouragement to keep me going. She also helped us to navigate any suggestions for intervention by hospital staff in line with my birth preferences.

The result was a completely healing birth experience for me. My baby was born naturally, on my terms. Kate helped me see what choice and control I had in the situation. I felt strong, supported and empowered through the whole birth experience. With Kate on my team, there was never a moment that I questioned whether I could do it. Her support was the reason I could birth my baby with strength and confidence, and to find closure on my previous experience.

Every Mumma needs a Kate on their birth support team.

Caitlin Powell

As Beau and I have reflected on the pregnancy and birth, we quickly realised that our experience was shaped by having Kate as part of our team. We felt supported and informed from the start of the pregnancy, all the way through to the moment Ace was born, and beyond.

We will be forever grateful for the guidance she provided through her own experiences and education!

Lucy Millar

Kate is an amazing woman and doula who supported me in having a redemptive and empowering birth experience. I cannot thank her enough. After a traumatic first birth experience, I was passionate about being able to attempt a physiological birth with low intervention.

Kate was able to provide evidence based information to help me understand the risks and benefits of all the choices surrounding birth, as well as guide me through complications that arose throughout my pregnancy. On the day of my second birth Kate was fantastic, her deep knowledge of midwifery and the medical system helped to make the birthing experience super smooth. As well as this, the continuity of care meant that Kate was a trusted and calm advisor when our plans changed at the last minute.

I cannot recommend Kate's Doula service highly enough. Every woman giving birth should have someone like Kate to support her!

Clare Cowie

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After experiencing a traumatic first birth, Kate was kind, caring and receptive to our wishes for our second birth and provided us with excellent advice and resources that empowered my wife to make her own decisions. From our first meeting right through to post delivery follow up we felt listened to, supported and looked after.

Kate's knowledge and communication was clear and her support during the birth was invaluable. Overall, Kate's service and support was integral for my family and I to experience the perfect birth that we had hoped for.

James Cowie

The best part of having a doula was being assured that there would be continuity of care throughout my pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. I chose to be supported by a doula for my second pregnancy, mainly due to the overwhelming experience of being at the mercy of 'the system' during my first pregnancy and birth.

The relationship my husband and I built with Kate throughout the pregnancy helped to make me feel emotionally and psychologically supported and safe - which I think had a huge impact on the birth itself. Kate's presence at the birth was incredible, she was an amazing advocate (getting lots of resources to help me move positions) and helping my partner to support me. What my husband and I loved about working with Kate was that there was a real sense that we were in a team.

Kate's confidence in helping us to prepare for the birth, particularly the conversations we had with her about navigating the system and advocating for the options was hugely empowering. Kate is warm, knowledgeable and is a keen listener. Having someone listen to our (first birth) story, our history and our hopes really helped me to prepare for the birth. Even though I wasn't sure what my second birth would look like, Kate held an unwavering confidence that I would be able to birth with minimal intervention, something that I was not sure of in myself. However, with Kate's confidence and belief in my ability to birth, this is exactly what transpired!

I will forever be grateful to Kate for being on our team and helping to facilitate a beautiful and empowering birth, which was also very restorative. With Kate's help, guidance and patience I was able to have a positive birth experience, feel empowered and am thoroughly enjoying the slowness of my postpartum life as we navigate our little family growing from three to four.

Thank you Kate x

Jess Brown

Kate is incredible.

I felt heard and understood leading to a strong sense of trust in her and what was to come. I felt empowered to birth naturally, without intervention and she ensured my needs were met whilst in the hospital. Kate’s knowledge and wisdom helped guide my partner and I in knowing how to best support each other during the birth. This included access to a range of resources that helped build our confidence further. She also provides a range of postnatal online resources which are far better than a Google search!

Kate is beautiful and without doubt the epitome of what antenatal care should be for everyone.

Emma Easterbrook

Bree’s Story

When I first made contact with Kate, I was ambivalent about how to deliver my second baby. I very much wanted a VBAC but my confidence had been shaken after my first son was delivered via an unplanned caesarean following an induction. The experience was disempowering and, afterwards, a part of me believed that I would not be able to have a vaginal delivery for my second baby.

Before I made the decision to pursue a VBAC, Kate and I talked through my first birth experience. I was able to gain a greater understanding of parts that went well, and those that didn’t, and what I could do differently next time. Going through this was invaluable and gave me the confidence to try for a vaginal delivery. She also provided me with all of the tools I needed to have the best possible outcome.

My birth experience with my second son was amazing and Kate was such an important support during the difficult moments. Being a week overdue before going into labour, Kate was available to talk things through when I was feeling anxious and frustrated. I also knew that I wanted to labour at home as long as possible before heading to the hospital and, with her encouragement and knowledge, I was able to achieve this.

I delivered my second beautiful boy on all fours and was able to scoop him up in my arms within seconds. I could not have asked for a better experience.

Bree Sandwich

When I fell pregnant with our second daughter, my husband and I knew we wanted a doula to support us through the pregnancy and birth journey this time, due mainly to a previous difficult first birth and also my husband’s back injury which made it challenging for him to support me physically during labour.

Kate was an answer to prayer for our family. In the later months of my pregnancy, my husband experienced a severe and debilitating back injury flare up and Kate became my main support person, both emotionally and during my labour. Kate has so much experience and was able to give me a lot of information on almost any aspect of pregnancy and birth.

Kate provided support, guidance and information to me in navigating my birth choices, which ultimately led to a successful and positive planned home birth. During my labour, I was so very grateful for Kate’s presence. She was calm, experienced, proactive and helped me through the entire process up to giving birth to our beautiful baby girl. Kate is everything you look for in a doula and anyone who chooses to go with her will benefit from her calm manner, experience and caring nature.

We will miss having Kate in our lives but are very grateful to have crossed paths with her for this season of our lives.

Cat Melbourne

It’s hard to describe how happy we are that we had Kate as our doula. Almost as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my first baby I researched doulas. Kate’s sensible attitude and history in midwifery immediately drew us to her. I’m grateful I reached out early as she was able to put me onto the hunter midwife group practice early enough to secure my spot. We got so much out of the training and Kate helped us focus on the pregnancy, the birth and becoming parents. The training was crucial during the birth - I understood what my body and my baby were doing and why. Kate was an incredible source of compassion and knowledge when I had five nights in a row of early labour that stalled in every morning. She helped me stick to my guns of no interventions. Then when the proper labour finally happened Kate was irreplaceable, I really don’t think I would have been as calm, secure and supported without her. My birth was absolutely perfect- no intervention, almost completely at home and magical. I cannot recommend Kate enough and I can’t wait for our next baby so we can hang out with Kate again.

Avril Kelly

Where do I start? Kate was there for us at every turn, and with having some scary moments pop us for us - her supportive and calm nature helped us navigate these circumstances by empowering us with information to ensure we made educated decisions.

I instantly connected with Kate and felt reassured by her knowledge in birth and beyond that she was the person I wanted next to me throughout my pregnancy, birth and beyond. I loved how she engaged with my partner Nic, who had absolutely no idea what to expect but was so taken back when Kate asked 'Now, tell me what you want from birth?' He felt like this experience was his to grasp as well which was really special.

I felt like I had known Kate for a lot longer than we had, unfortunately we didn't get to complete our classes with her due to an early arrival but I don't feel I missed out on her service because she was there for me in so many more ways than just education. I feel the tears welling in my eyes writing this, reflecting on what we went through and how unbelievably thankful I am to have had her through this experience. It definitely would have been incredibly hard without her.

She reasoned with me and cleared a pathway for my thoughts when I truly couldn't see the other side to the experience. I felt safe to reach out to her and talk about any topic and I felt so confident she would give me all the information I needed to make an informed decision for myself. I never felt pressured to go about things in a particular way - she always let me decide and supported me no matter what my direction was forward.

Kate, you are truly made for this role in someone's life. they will forever thank you for making this experience one of the most special times in their life.

My husband and I accessed Kate’s birth doula package as we knew about the benefits of having continuity of care and felt this was integral to our journey as first time parents navigating the hospital system.

Kate’s experienced support throughout the pregnancy, in the form of prenatal education, regular check ins before and after key appointments and suggestions for further reading made us feel supported, listened to and most importantly, well informed to make decisions that were both evidenced based and in line with our own values.

Kate’s guidance on using a Mama Blessing was incredibly powerful to mark this special time when a traditional celebration wasn’t possible. Receiving words of encouragement and wisdom from friends and family really gave me confidence as a mama to be, and I have returned to these letters in the postnatal period often.

Our intention for the birth of our baby boy was for a natural physiological birth without interventions, and we are so thrilled to have achieved this and to have had such a positive birth experience. Kate was there when we needed her during labour and birth at home and in the hospital.

Importantly, she also gave my husband and I the space and confidence to work together, using the techniques we had practiced, and tuning in to what my body needed at that moment. Seeing my husband, Kate and the midwives encouraging and warm faces just before our son was born was one of the most amazing moments of my life - I felt brave, capable and safe, exactly what is needed during such a challenging time.

We are so grateful for Kate’s kind and direct guidance and would recommend her services without hesitation.

Greta

Jade and I reached out to Kate for our second pregnancy. We felt like we needed the extra support due to losing our first baby at 24 weeks.

From the moment we met Kate, we felt extremely comfortable and confident in her knowledge and experience. She helped me discover ways that I could support Jade. We were so fortunate to have Kate with us at the hospital during Jade's labour. She was able to slow everything down for us and help us understand everything that happened.

As a male and new father, I would highly recommend Kate's services to other couples and to other Dads that are perhaps unsure.

Will Bennett

Ashlee’s Story

We were a real little team. My husband and I felt completely comfortable with Kate. She really helped us prepare and achieve everything we could have asked for. While our birth was not exactly as we had hoped (are they ever) due to Kate we left the hospital with no regrets and loved the experience of getting to meet our little girl.

I feel like Kate tailored the course and our meetings to suit our experience. She didn’t dwell on things that we already knew. We will forever feel a special bond with Kate. My husband was a little sceptical at first whether we needed a doula now he tells everyone about Kate and recommends her.

Ashlee Soanes