Welcome
Within ~creating sacred spaces for transformation and healing
Birth is an amazing, transformative event in a woman’s life. It is through birth that we move from maiden to motherhood, a cycle that connects us to women around the world. It also connects us to mother earth, as we physically experience the wonder of creation within ourselves.
At Within ~ Doula and Healing, I work to assist women through this experience by offering birth support, healing work and ritual to women and their families in the Toowoomba region.
What is a doula? Why a doula?
Throughout time, women have had the wisdom and support of families and other women to guide them through the transition to motherhood. Now we often find ourselves away from family and that strong web of support. A doula recognizes the need for women-to-women connections and works to assist birthing families by being a personal birth attendant, and supporting women as they access their inner strength for a blissful empowering birth.
A doula (doo-la) comes from the Greek word meaning “woman of service”. A doula is someone who is trained in supporting women and their partners before during and after birth. Having a doula guarantees you continuity of care from someone you trust whose focus is on you and your partner’s needs alone. She provides physical and emotional comfort, reassurance, encouragement and guides you in natural pain management techniques. Some of those techniques include massage, active birth postures, relaxation and breathing. A doula is not a medical professional, she is there to focus on your emotional and physical wellbeing, in any place of birth you choose, be it home or hospital.
Labour and birth are normal physiological processes, not medical events, and as such should be safe and comfortable for all involved: mother, baby and partner. A birth is a transformative experience for all involved and with support; you are well able to have the birth you deserve.
Positive effects of a doula (side note – this can be added is as an extra, not necessarily in the body of writing)
50% reduction on caesarean rates
25% shorter labour
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in syntocinon use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery
(Klaus, Kennell, Klaus, 1993)
Services Offered
If you choose a doula to support you during your birth, this will give you an idea of the service to expect. As part of the standard care plan these are the services I offer:
· Pre-Birth visits ~ include: debrief from previous births, discussion of your needs, education and information, support ideas for your partner, relaxation techniques, accompaniment to antenatal visits (if required)
· Access to my resource library including books, magazines, DVDs, medical studies, information network
· Assistance with birth plan
· Email and phone support throughout
· On call 24 for 2 weeks before and after due date
· Birth support ~ includes: support wherever you have your baby, ensuring your birth space is safe and comfortable, help you communicate with your caregivers/medical team if needed, assist with the follow through of your birth plan
· Post-Birth visits ~ debrief – making sure you are okay, helping with baby or sibling care, any post-birth needs you may have, referrals to postnatal specialists if required.
On top of these services, I also provide the following:
· Treatments – energetic healing, reiki, shiatsu, crystal healing, intuitive bodywork, chakra balancing
· Blessingway ceremonies
· Personal Ritual – healing, transformation, welcoming baby
· Support through pregnancy loss and termination
· Work closely with a medical herbalist to assist you with any questions regarding herb use, nutrition during pregnancy and the postnatal period
· Birth consulting – individual visits that are available outside a support plan
Doula Care Plans
Standard plan - $1000
Phone and email throughout
Access to resource library
24 hour on call before and after due date
Support during labour and birth
Assistance with birth plan
One pre-booking session to meet
3 pre-birth visits (up to two hours)
3 post-birth visits (up to two hours)
Care and Treatment plan - $1300
Phone and email throughout
Access to resource library
24 hour on call before and after due date
Support during labour and birth
Assistance with birth plan
One pre-booking session to meet
3 pre-birth visits (up to two hours)
3 post-birth visits (up to two hours)
3 pre-birth treatments (one hour)
3 post-birth treatments (one hour)
Treatments can be given as a part of your set visit or organised for a separate day/time.
The standard package is to give you an idea of what is involved in a doula care arrangement. They can be altered to suit your individual needs.
Extra doula visits/birth consulting sessions: $50 per hour
Treatments
Shiatsu and energetic healing treatments are charged at:
$60 per hour
$45 per ½ hour
$100 for 1 ½ hour treatment
Blessingway & Personal Ritual – price to be discussed
Healing
At Within, Reiki, crystal healing, chakra balancing, body work and other techniques are used to clear blocks in the energy pathways, allowing the energy to flow so that the body can access its ability to heal itself. Traumas, physical distress, emotional and mental upheavals, environmental stress, are among the things which can put our bodies out of balance. Many of these triggers are held in the energetic field and a healing can help to identify what perhaps one has trouble seeing in his or her own life. An important aspect of healing is the grounding and earthing process which allows us to connect with the moment and re-centre ourselves. This connection is especially important during birthing.
A variety of healing treatments are offered. During all treatments, clients will lie comfortably on a mat on the floor or on a massage table, and remain fully clothed. Treatments can be done in a sitting position if needed.
Energetic healing ~ Energetic Healing is a term that covers any therapy that works with the bodies subtle energy fields to regain balance throughout the body, allowing it to function optimally. It encompasses various modalities including crystal healing, reiki, chakra balancing, guided meditations, visualizations, and flower or crystal essences.
Reiki ~ Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that allows everyone to tap into an unlimited supply of life force energy to improve health and enhance the quality of life. The technique involves placing hands on the body in various places to allow for optimal energy flow.
Crystal healing ~ crystals and gemstones are powerful energy balancing tools which also connect you to earth energy. They can be used by themselves, or in conjunction with other therapies. Specific crystals are laid on the body, on particular chakras or in the energy field. The process is relaxing and peaceful.
Shiatsu/intuitive body work ~ Shiatsu is a massage that works along energy pathways called meridians that run through the whole body. Using fingers, palms, elbows and knees, gentle pressure is applied to these energy pathways to improve the flow of chi, or life energy. Intuitive bodywork works with the principles of shiatsu, but also combining, other energetic therapies for a full body, relaxing massage treatment.
Ritual
Blessingway
Women have always gathered together in circle; it is our birthright to share each others wisdom and energy in a sacred space. Women traditionally had ritual and ceremony to honour the new mother and give her wisdom and blessings for her upcoming birth. Known as a blessingway, or mothers blessing, this sacred event creates a safe space where the mother can draw on her friends and family for support, energy, confidence and love for her upcoming journey through the birth.
Today, much of society’s celebration is focused on the baby, and we have forgotten what a powerful transformational event birth is. A Blessingway recognizes that a woman is coming into her motherly power and gives her support and encouragement to harness that power for the birth ahead.
During a Blessingway, positive experiences are shared, wishes and blessings are bestowed and nurturing rituals are performed. This allows the mother to connect with women’s wisdom, and joyfully embrace the journey ahead. It can also be a space to explore challenges and release fears.
At Within, each Blessingway is unique for each woman. I work with the mother and family members to create a ceremony that is personal, transformative and enjoyable for all involved.
Personal Ritual
Personal rituals centre on the process of using tools such as visualization, meditation, energy raising and ceremony to help harness our inner will to prepare ourselves for life’s journeys. As your facilitator I can assist you to develop a range of personal rituals for healing and birth preparation.
Baby Welcome
A beautiful way to welcome your baby into the earth, your community and your life is with a personalized baby welcome ritual. Working closely with you and your beliefs and customs, I will create a unique welcoming ceremony in honour of your child.
Other Rituals
At times, our journey to motherhood may not take the route we would like. Miscarriage, still-birth and termination are a reality for many women. At Within, I offer support for loss of pregnancy in any form, in physically supporting you through the process, healing treatments, and creating personalized rituals to help begin the healing process.
About me
I am originally from Canada, where I started my journey through women’s issues and healing. I have always had a strong belief in natural processes, health and environmental awareness. These feelings took me to undertake women’s studies at university where I then branched out to explore different healing modalities.
What started as a general interest, blossomed into a passion that brought me to Australia in 2001. Undertaking a double diploma in shiatsu and energetic healing at Nature Care College in Sydney cemented in me the desire to have a career in healing work.
It was when I experienced the birth of my son in 2006 that I fully realized that my heart lay in birth work. To me, the experience of birth is an amazing and powerful rite of passage that deserves support and nurturing. I found that my interest in women’s issues brought my focus to the mother’s health and wellbeing, which naturally brought me to doula work.
As a doula, I fully support a normal process of birth, advocating for informed choice and consent in the birthing practices. As a practitioner I am here to utilize my skills to help you process any issues that may impede that natural process.
Certified doula – Childbirth International
Diploma of Shiatsu – Nature Care College
Diploma of Energetic Healing – Nature Care College
Reiki Master
Senior first aid certification – St John’s ambulance
Member of:
(IICT) International Institute for Complementary Therapies
Maternity Coalition
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Contact me
M: 0404 433 228