Pregnancy, birth and postpartum support
In-person, virtual and remote doula support across the Greater Wellington region.
I am a Doula UK-Recognised birth doula. There is currently no equivalent doula mentoring and recognition process in Aotearoa, so I completed Doula UK's remotely, as a way of showing my commitment to reflective, evidence-based practice. I completed my official training with Continuum Doulas in the UK in 2023 after many years of offering birth and postpartum support to friends and whānau.
All of my doula packages are tailored to your individual needs, so the below prices and package structures are a guide. Some antenatal appointments can be done virtually to save on travel costs, and while my standard postnatal visits are two hours, I can offer longer when I have availability. I am also a registered Work and Income (WINZ) supplier, so if you are eligible for the Home Help Allowance - usually if you are expecting multiples and have an older child not yet at school - that can be used towards my fee. Please let me know if funding is a challenge, payment plans are available and I will try to work within your budget / offer matched hours where my availability allows.
Continuum doula support
From $3250
Includes: five antenatal and five postnatal visits, plus on-call from 37 weeks and birth attendance
Please bear in mind that I live in Kapiti. I charge 20c per km to cover my fuel costs and $25 p/hr travel time for any distance greater than 15km away from me (north of Waikanae, south of Paekakariki)
My main support package is based around the benefits of continuity of care in the perinatal journey. Research suggests that continuous support during labour from a birth companion like a doula may improve outcomes for women and babies**.
My Continuum package extends that continuity across pregnancy, birth and the postnatal weeks, because many families tell me that knowing their support person well makes a real difference. It includes five antenatal and five postnatal visits as well as the on-call period from 37 weeks*, and attendance at your labour and birth.
We build a deep and trusting relationship antenatally so that I become completely aligned with your needs and preferences.
Our visits during pregnancy are tailored to you and might include;
recommendations and signposting around antenatal education,
walking through the stages of labour and birth with the beaded birth line
creating a birth and a postnatal plan
talking through any past experiences that are relevant or have emerged as relevant for you medically and/or emotionally
attending clinical appointments together.
Once your baby has arrived, my visits include birth debriefing, support with feeding, signposting to other services, postpartum massage, facilitating your rest and recovery as well as domestic chores - meal prep, washing, light housework.
**Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766; abstract
*When I am on call for your birth, you can contact me at any time of day or night to let me know you think you are in labour. I will join you when you want me to - whether at home or at your chosen place of birth - and will remain with you offering practical and emotional support and care until after your baby is born.
Birth doula support
From $2250
Includes: two antenatal and one postnatal visit, plus on-call from 37 weeks and birth attendance
Please bear in mind that I live in Kapiti. I charge 20c per km to cover my fuel costs and $25 p/hr travel time for any distance greater than 15km away from me (north of Waikanae, south of Paekakariki)
Birth support looks different for every birthing whānau and includes a wide range of practical and emotional tools as well as information, signposting and advocacy.
We will meet at least twice before your birth to talk about your needs and preferences for labour and birth, including how I can support your partner or other non-birthing parent and wider whānau.
As with my Continuum package, I will go on-call for you at 37 weeks* and attend your labour and birth as part of your birth support team.
Some of the practical skills I bring include:
writing your birth preferences to complement any you might make with your clinical team
setting up the birth space, lights, sound, scent, filling pools, sourcing mats/balls if in hospital
suggesting positions for labouring optimally
assisting your partner/any other supporters to offer physical comfort measures
labour massage
my doula bag of tricks including: birth combs, spiky balls, rebozo-style wrap, affirmation cards, aromatherapy oils, massage oil.
After your baby is born, I will visit at least once to offer you a chance to debrief your experiences, to check in with how feeding is going, troubleshoot any challenges or concerns you have, offer resources and signposting to other support services if necessary, and bring you a nourishing meal.
IMPORTANT: I can and have supported at obstetrician-led births, worked with LMC, community-based and hospital-based midwives, at home births, caesarean births and births that began with induction. Doulas can support effectively at all types of birth.
Postnatal doula support
From $1250
Includes one antenatal and six postnatal visits - or a total of 12 postnatal support hours
Please bear in mind that I live in Kapiti. I charge 20c per km to cover my fuel costs and $25 p/hr travel time for any distance greater than 15km away from me (north of Waikanae, south of Paekakariki)
Many whānau tell me that support from a trained and experienced doula makes a real difference to the early weeks and months with a new baby. Think of times you’ve gone through a major life transition, perhaps moving house, getting married or starting a new job, and how much practical and emotional support these things can require.
Now think of how those experiences might feel if you were also recovering physically, emotionally and hormonally from pregnancy, labour and birth, plus learning how to look after a newborn.
Your life may already be full because you have older children, or perhaps no family support nearby, maybe a business to run, or for any other reason at all - you just know you would like someone else in your postnatal support team. Someone trained to tend to this phase of life with your specific needs in mind.
Like with birth support, my postnatal doula care varies from whānau to whānau, and might include:
birth debriefing
helping troubleshoot common newborn challenges including feeding - however this looks for you
helping feed/entertain older children
light housework including meal prep and washing
looking after your baby so you can sleep, shower, do some exercise or have some time to yourself to do whatever you need.
I also have experience looking after infants and young babies with complex health needs (e.g. NG feeding) and am also open to half-night sleep support (for example 7pm - midnight, within Kapiti) so you can catch up if you are very depleted. Please contact me to discuss your needs.
Get in touch
Tell me a bit about yourself in my contact form and i’ll be in touch: