Love Cherub
Doula and HypnoBirthing Practitioner
Love Cherub
Doula
"A woman who gives support, help, and advice to another woman during pregnancy and during and after the birth"
Your Doula during Covid-19
My services have been adapted to support you during the pandemic. If you are a single mother, I can attend your birth in hospital and at home while you are in labour before heading to the hospital with you. Many single mothers and couples have relatives overseas whom they had hoped would be assisting them through their labours and in the postnatal period. The pandemic has meant no overseas travel and this is where a doula is helpful.
I am able to support everyone at home during pregnancy and labour. I now assist with FaceTime calls for the antenatal meetings and during early labour. When you are established in labour I will be with you at home and I will follow you to the hospital ensuring you arrive safely. Then I will be "virtually" with you during the rest of your birth, discussing the midwife's findings with the midwife and you to suggest various tools to assist with your successful birth. I am also able to babysit your older child whilst you and your partner are at the hospital should you require.
More couples are recently choosing homebirth so as to avoid attending hospitals and I can assist you with finding the right homebirth midwife and have also re-registered as a midwife for the next 12 months so I am able to act as a second midwife and be present at your homebirth.
Outside of my normal packages I am available "virtually" as and when you need. I want everyone to feel nurtured and supported in this current climate.
Meet Jacki
Why I’m a Doula
The experience of pregnancy and birth has evolved over the years, especially in today’s modern era. I believe that the need for caring, sensitive and knowledgeable support during this time is becoming more and more apparent. I see every pregnancy and birth as a miracle and as a Doula I feel honored to be able to contribute my expertise to women and families in the greater Sydney area.
I was recently featured in the Daily Telegraph online and the Manly Daily (read it here). I have also been interviewed by Wendy Harmer on ABC Sydney Radio (coming soon).
Support As You Need It
I customise support as you need through the perinatal period offering antenatal education and information as well as classes in HypnoBirthing. I am with you through your birth and assist you postnatally with bonding, breastfeeding, settling, wrapping and bathing. Throughout I am always at the end of the phone.
Antenatal and HypnoBirthing
Preparing for your birth is important. I love helping parents find the best ways to approach this incredible time in their lives. Learning to use the best tools to create a calm and beautiful birth experience and using techniques to reduce stress and aid your first few weeks with your wonderful newborn.
Birth
The magic day arrives and I will be with you from when you are in established labour until an hour or so after your baby is born. I will provide fairy lights, music, light touch massage, aromatherapy and use active birth techniques and reflexology to help you in your journey.
Postnatal
I will support you with advice on breastfeeding, settling, bonding, bathing and wrapping to name a few....
Training
Education and Background
Midwife
EIHMS University of Surrey in Guildford, UK graduated 3 year Direct Entry Midwifery 2002.
In 1999, when my children were still young, I began studies in midwifery after working as a maternity AIN to see if I enjoyed the role. Here we are in 2017 and now I am so lucky to practice my favourite part of midwifery all the time and that is caring for women in the capacity of a doula without all the clinical aspects such as note writing and staring at monitors. To me these parts of midwifery were annoying as they distracted me from the role I love... to help emotionally without clinical influences taking my time.
HypnoBirthing Practitioner
Marie Mongan's HypnoBirthing Practitioner course
I decided to take the HypnoBirthing training course when I started my doula business as I had always been so impressed by the births I had attended where couples had been trained in the techniques. I remember in the UK walking from one birth room to another and seeing the incredible differences in the HypnoBirths and how couples were coping. I knew I needed to learn and share these techniques with couples.
Studies at both Open University UK and Birkbeck College, University of London in Arts, majoring in psychology
part time studies in the 1990s
I knew I wanted to help people and thought about becoming a clinical psychologist but decided it was not for me. A friend suggested midwifery was a wonderful profession and so I began a new career.
My Services
Doula Services
Here for You
Get extra personal support throughout the entirety of your birthing journey. As a Doula, I promise to offer unwavering support to you and your family before, during, and after birth. We will stay in close contact in order to to see how you’re doing and I will offer any support, information and guidance as needed.
Testimonials
I’m proud to have received wonderful feedback from some of the Sydney women and families I’ve worked with. For me, the most rewarding part of the job is building strong, beautiful relationships with my clients and to share in one of the most memorable moments of their lives. Feel free to browse some of their testimonials below.
"Thank you so much for your guidance, knowledge, support and care during my pregnancy and birth. You helped turn this experience into the very best it could have been."
Kristin and Marty 2016
"We really wanted to thank you for your training and support with HypnoBirthing for the birth of our son. With the training we did and your coaching we were able to get as close as possible to the birth we wanted. We have a beautiful, calm and happy boy and really appreciated all we learnt in the course for helping us negotiate with hospital staff to get what we wanted out of the process."
Shannon & Anthony 2016
"With so much gratitude and appreciation, we offer our thanks to you, such a beautiful soul. Your support and advice have been exactly what we needed. We are so pleased we could share this wonderful experience with you."
Nina & Chester 2016
"The support and energy that you delivered during the birth of Winter was inexpendable and we couldn't have done it without you."
Katika & Ryan 2016
"You will always have a very special place in our hearts for your help and involvement in our Leila's birth."
Maria & Miq 2016
"From the moment we arrived to the time we left, everything was fantastic. The personal care from Jacki was also far more than we could possibly hope for."
Kirstie, 2011
"Just a little note to say an enormous thank you for helping bring our beautiful baby into the world. We were so grateful for your guidance, support and care during the labour and birth! Your reassurance and encouragement during this time instilled me with confidence and made it less stressful for both of us! We also appreciated your staying on long after your shift ended to assist us with breast feeding."
Tom, 2010
"Thank you for your kindness, professionalism, encouragement, empathy, consideration."
Karen, 2009
"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it."
(John H. Kennell, MD)
