What is a Doula, exactly?
Welcome to Doula of Dawn! So maybe you’re here because you’ve heard about a Doula but never really known what that is, or you know what a Doula is and want to know more about the exact services. Or neither and just…hello! A Doula isn’t anything too fancy or medically hard to understand, but a support person who is trained to help someone through a significant experience such as pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, breastfeeding, miscarriage and stillbirth.
A Doula is not a healthcare professional and has no medical training and it’s because of this that as your Doula, I can pretty much follow any direction you wish to lead me. If you’re not sure where you want to go, I can hold your hand while we figure it out together.
As your Doula I will be there for YOU, in all the ways you wish and will allow. So let’s have a coffee and chat about you!
Hey mama, I'm Haley!
Originally, I am from the States. We’ve been back and forth to Australia my whole life but I came back to stay almost 10 years ago!
I have two sweet children of my very own; a big-hearted, caring and kind little lady, Grace, as well as a curious, playful and very giggly little boy, Felix. They are 4 and 2 and I can’t wait to have at least one more! But for now, I’m so excited to show up here for you as ‘Doula of Dawn.’
I started my studies in Midwifery about 8 years ago but at the time it just didn't seem to align with my life and after 18 months I decided it was time to let it go.
I have been drawn to babies since I can remember. Now, since having my own babes, I resonate so strongly with support surrounding all mothers and new parents and especially during the postpartum period.
After having Felix, I found myself really struggling with adapting to my new life as a mother of two. After my husband went back to work full-time and having him home for the first three weeks, I really didn’t know where to look for support. Our parents all worked full-time as well as all of our siblings. My friends were all mothers themselves and I also knew I wasn’t up to hosting anyone. When you’re in that moment it seems easier to struggle by yourself than to ask for help and have to worry about hosting someone, having food to serve them, having a shower and getting dressed into clothes that aren’t comfortable. It’s such a hard, hard struggle. This is the exact reason I want to be here for you. You will not have to host me, or worry about feeding me, or even worry about having a shower. I will help you with these things.
At Doula of Dawn
I will build relationships with you and your family to help you have a positive experience. I will provide the non-judgmental support you need to make your own choices in YOUR birthing space and in YOUR home. I will help you feel comforted and cared for during your postpartum.
Have you ever felt like you were just meant to be somewhere or supposed to be doing something? In the moment and weeks leading up to beginning my training I had no idea I actually signed up for a Doula training crossed with an NLP course so now I’ve completed that, I have been trained in NLP.
Do you happen to know what this is? Neither did I.
It's actually very cool and so, so interesting! NLP stands for neuro-linguistic programming and it is a psychological tool which will allow me to help you through your own strategies, thoughts, language and patterns of behaviour to help you reach the outcome or specific experience you want - in your pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding and beyond.
Sounds pretty cool right?
However, if this is not for you - girl I get it! I wasn't all too sure either. And if it isn't, that doesn't matter to me one bit, I will still be there for you in so many other ways.
Services
If you have your own ideas on how you want me to support you, I am all ears and if you need some suggestions I can do that too.
And overall, I just can't wait to be there for YOU
Pregnancy & Birth Support
If this is the support you’re looking for, I’d love to meet with you and chat about how my services can work with you!
In the meantime, I have a couple of different packages tailored to help me serve you. The process of both is pretty similar for these; I will be there for your antenatal period, the big BIRTH DAY* as well as some postpartum support if you choose this option. I also will be nearby anytime you need me by phone or email! After our initial chat, I will be patiently waiting to hear from you and when you’re ready to book me in, we will do the official things BUT then I am ready to start my services whenever you decide for these to begin.
*To comply with COVID restrictions if I am unable to attend your birth, let's find you another option to help you feel supported
Postpartum Support
Although all of my services hold a special place in my heart, but these ones speak to my soul. I’m so excited to be here for you in this way! Let’s meet to have a coffee, or tea, or juice, or sparkling water and talk about all the things you need, don't need, or wish you had the first time/s you’ve been through this fourth trimester.
I have a few packages I can offer here but if they don’t seem to fit into your life, we can mold them into a way they can serve you better. My favourite part of this support is that it can be whatever you wish it to be. With your permission, I will come to your home and show up for you, physically, emotionally, by cooking you lunch or picking up your groceries, by playing with your older children or driving you to appointments or any other way you choose for me to be there. It can be for as little as 2 hours and as long as 6 weeks! After our initial chat, I will be patiently waiting to hear from you and when you’re ready to book me in, we will do the official things BUT then I am ready to start my services whenever you decide for these to begin and for postpartum this could be as soon as the next day or so!
