My personal journey..

Welcome!

If I were looking for birth or postpartum support, I’d want to know the ‘person’ behind the doula - and if you’re anything like me, you’re in the right place.

I think most people would describe me as a genuinely positive and happy person. I am down to earth, and I love to have a laugh (a big sense of humour helps!).

Beyond my passion for supporting families through their journey into parenthood, I love spending quality time with my own family and friends, enjoying a good glass of red, writing, soaking up time outdoors and sneaking in a hot yoga/pilates class when I can.

I’m also a mum to two toddlers, so you’ll often find me chasing them around a local park or handing out yet another snack. They’ve already taught me so much - most of all, how to surrender to the beautiful chaos of motherhood.

For the podcast lovers, you can actually catch detailed versions of my own birth stories on the amazing Australian Birth Stories podcast (episodes #296 and #439), but in a nutshell - I birthed through the public health system and was lucky enough to secure a spot in Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) for both my babies. And had the same incredible midwife both times.

She was a major inspiration behind my journey to becoming a doula, showing me the profound impact ONE person can have on your experience and the importance of continuity of care.

My first bub, Teddy, was a positive and physiological hospital birth at 41+2, after 12 hours of labour. My second, Bobbie, couldn’t wait to join the world after pondering her exit day for almost 42 weeks. She took us by surprise with an unexpected home birth on the living room floor at 41+5 (wrapped up in just under 3 hours!). Despite a home birth not being my “plan”, it was a calm and magic birth, and I was once again in awe of the female body and what we can do.

I dove deep into learning about birth with each baby, embracing the process and understanding the power of knowledge. It's a tool I'm committed to sharing with all my clients.

Despite having wonderful births, my postpartum journeys took different paths…

Teddy was my chunky and chill baby, born at 4.5kg, who gave me a euphoric birth experience. I felt powerful and proud, riding the "birth high" for months, which made my transition into being a mum so lovely. Breastfeeding was a dream, I had lots of family support, and he was a very content baby. Although he turned into a wild little boy as he grew (like, seriously wild), those early months were precious.

Bobbie, on the flip side, presented an entirely different experience. She had a posterior tongue tie which caused lots of breastfeeding issues and a colicky temperament, so postpartum was very challenging. Once the tongue tie was overcome, things slowly eased, and now she's our smiley little girl! But for the first 12 weeks, she cried most of the day. Managing an unsettled newborn, alongside a high-energy 20-month-old, was overwhelming, and there were lots of tears from me too.

Reflecting on these polar opposite fourth trimesters, I'm actually SO grateful to have experienced both. They've shaped me into a doula who's seen both the beauty and difficulty of postpartum, and a doula who can say she has been in your shoes.

Whether it's your 1st or 4th, you can't predict your pregnancy, birth, or baby BUT you can certainly plan for it. And I'd LOVE to be part of that plan.

My mission is to ensure you feel empowered, confident, supported and held through all stages of belly, birth and baby - because you absolutely deserve it.

Much love,

Shuana x