Vanessa was so attentive, proactive and genuinely kind. For our first meeting in person, I felt an instant positive energy, and a desire to really get to know who we were and what we wanted. She placed any preconceptions at the door, and made no assumptions around how much I had already prepared. She asked what elements of the experience were most important to us and really focussed her energy there.

For hospital based births, Vanessa works with, not against the health system. She has strong relationships with the staff and this makes everything feel so balanced and easy both before and on the day of birth. 

Her detailed level of knowledge about what the birth space at Epworth would be like, what they have on hand, and also her working relationship with my gynaecologist provided the practical information that a Doula who rarely works in the hospital system would have and that gave me a huge amount of confidence going in because I knew exactly how things would work, and what it would be like.

It was the strength of these relationships and this unique knowledge that enabled her to be present as a second support person in the birth suite at a time when COVID restrictions wouldn't have otherwise allowed it. 

Vanessa was a consistent presence throughout the day, connecting us to the medical team in a gentle way. On the day of our baby's birth, it was as if she were a mind reader - when the TENS machine we had hired didn't work, she had one on hand, when I was in full throws of contractions she was 100% present with water and timing contractions while my husband held me. As the baby arrived, she took photos so my husband could be fully present with me. When conversation and laughter were needed, she initiated it, when silence was needed, she was simply present with a touch or a hand to hold. When I was shaking afterward, she was there stroking my hair as my husband and I looked on in awe at the life we had just brought into the world.

Vanessa is the gold standard for any woman who wants a Doula that has equal measure of beautiful calm energy, unique knowledge and perfectly timed physical support. Birth is such a physical experience - it's incredibly important that whoever you choose has that skillset.

She is also especially attuned to women birthing at a hospital and also who may have gone through assisted reproduction. My birth experience was the best day of my life - even where there were unexpected twists and turns - and it was thanks, in big part, to Vanessa. 

Thank you Vanessa. My life now with a child has changed me forever, and you were right there at the beginning of it all.

Michelle and Simon