Melbourne Doula and Birth Photographer
I am so glad you’ve found me. I am an experienced Melbourne birth doula of 15 years and an award winning birth photographer. I approach pregnancy, labour and birth in a holistic way by combining the physical, emotional, informational and spiritual aspects to help you create and embrace your baby’s own unique birth story.
I am very passionate about childbirth education, empowering my clients through knowledge and information during their pregnancy and labour journey. My belief is that it doesn’t matter how you give birth, but how you feel about your birth.
Providing birth doula support in Melbourne, covering the Dandenong Ranges, South Eastern Melbourne, Melbourne Metropolitan, Mornington Peninsula and the Yarra Valley for both homebirths and public hospital births.
If you are seeking doula support and childbirth education during your pregnancy and birth, or yearning for memory evoking images of your motherhood and birthing journey, then let’s work together to make your story, the most creative and sacred one possible.
Birth Doula Support
Birthing with support from a doula can make an incredible difference for you, your partner, your pregnancy, the labour and also you and your baby's birth outcomes. Having your own independent support ensures that your physical, emotional and spiritual needs are seen and attended to throughout your labour. Hiring a doula is like having a seasoned companion on your childbirth journey, offering unwavering support and expertise.
As a Melbourne Doula, I provide emotional support, reassurance, helping you navigate the ups and downs of childbirth with confidence and awareness. Advocating for your birthing preferences, and ensuring your voice is heard, I offer invaluable guidance on comfort measures, breathing techniques, and labor progression tools.
Doulas support not only birthing individuals but also their partners, ensuring everyone feels empowered and involved in the birthing process. It is often my role to support the partner to support the birthing woman.
In essence, hiring a doula isn't just about having someone with you on the day of birth—it's about having a trusted ally who prioritises your entire well-being and advocates for your birth preferences every step of the way.
Birth Photography
Birth is a momentous occasion filled with emotion and beauty. As a birth photographer, I can capture these fleeting moments, allowing you to relive and cherish your child’s arrival for years to come. Having a photographer allows your partner and other family members to be fully present during the birth experience without the distraction of taking photos. They can focus on supporting you and welcoming the new addition to your family.
An award winning Melbourne Birth photographer, I have a unique artistic perspective, capturing intimate and raw moments in a way that highlights the beauty and emotion of childbirth.
My images become treasured memories that families can look back on and share with their child as they grow older, providing a visual narrative of their entry into the world and the love with which they were welcomed.
Childbirth Classes
Childbirth education classes offer a multitude of benefits for expectant parents, and it’s one of my biggest passions as a birth worker.
My online and in-person Melbourne childbirth education classes provide essential information about pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care. Understanding the process can help ease anxiety and empower parents to make informed decisions. These classes teach the physiology of labour, techniques for coping with labor pain, such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and positions for labor and birth.
Understanding what to expect during labor and birth can alleviate fear and anxiety, leading to a more positive birth experience. Childbirth education classes help parents explore their options for labor and birth, allowing them to create a birth plan or preferences that align with their values and desires.
Ultimately, childbirth education classes empower parents to approach childbirth with confidence, knowledge, and support, contributing to a positive birth experience and smoother transition into parenthood.
A doula is like the ultimate sidekick in the epic journey of bringing new life into the world. We’re not just there to hold your hand (although I'll definitely do that too!), but we’ll be your fierce advocate, your comforting presence, and your fountain of wisdom throughout the entire childbirth experience.
Imagine having someone who knows the terrain of labor and delivery like the back of their hand, ready to offer you tips, tricks, and techniques to navigate each surge. We’re armed with an arsenal of comfort measures, helping you summon the strength and resilience you never knew you had.
Doulas aren't just there for you; they're also a pillar of support for your partner, ensuring that they feel empowered and involved every step of the way. Together, we form an unstoppable team, ready to conquer whatever challenges childbirth throws your way.
Doulas aren't bound by hospital policies or medical procedures; they're solely focused on YOUR needs and desires. Whether you're planning a natural birth, a water birth, or even if you're navigating the unpredictable waters of a cesarean delivery, your doula is your unwavering ally, advocating for your birth preferences and ensuring that your voice is heard.
With a doula’s support, encouragement, and expertise, you can embark on this incredible journey with confidence, knowing that you have a true champion in your corner, ready to cheer you on every step of the way.
Birth Photographer in Melbourne
ACM BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2018
BIRTH & LABOUR CATEGORY
1ST PLACE
This image is of two beautiful men becoming fathers. One selfless woman giving the ultimate gift of life through altruistic surrogacy and one darling baby girl, who is loved so fiercely by so many.
Capturing this moment has meant the world to me. This image symbolises the change I wish to see in the world; where a family is possible for everyone, selfless giving is the highest achievement there is, and love has no boundaries or judgement.
For this image to be awarded 1st place in the labour & birth category of the 2018 ACM Birth Photography Awards, it means that others recognise this too.
Testimonials
“It's hard to find the words to sum up how wonderful our experience of having Bree as our doula & birth photographer was. From our first inquiry, she was thorough, organised and professional, and took the time to get to know us as individuals with warmth & compassion. She helped us prepare for our birth & parenting journey with practical skills, wisdom & genuine care; the time just flew by at every meeting. Even as a midwife myself, I learned so much from Bree - she's incredibly knowledgeable & experienced in all the nuances of birth & supporting pregnant parents”.... Read more
