About Me

Catherine Donaldson, Birth Doula

I am so grateful to be given the opportunity of working with new mothers  to create positive birthing stories.

My Experience

As a young mum, I had four children early. So, I spent a lot of those years working from home. I found making whatever I was doing fit in with the family. I was running my own Family Day Care Centre in my 20’s, distributing educational books and toys, and doing various hospitality, volunteer and community roles.  I have always loved children, community work and social development. Eventually and not surprisingly, I ended up studying Social Science and then ventured into the corporate world in my late 30’s and 40’s.

As it goes, I found myself in my 50’s, feeling very unfulfilled and turned my attention to children, young mums and babies. I felt that I had missed my calling to become a midwife, so I became a nanny.  Then, when I discovered that instead of a Midwife I could  become a Doula I knew that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

So, I have spent the last 8 years working for myself as a professional Nanny, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator.  Doula work allows me to offer continuous care and support for a mother throughout her late pregnancy and labour. I can offer this service directly to a mother and her birth partner.  Continuous care for a mother during labour is widely known to be critically important for her during labour.   There is strong evidence that the outcomes for mothers with continuous care are much better in recovery with a better birth experiences.  I love that I can teach my mamas positive birthing techniques, that make a real difference to how she approaches her birth and how empowered she feels during her baby’s birth. I involve her birth partner in everything, so together they feel empowered. We work together as a confident team, along with baby of course!.

Over the years, I have met many mamas who have shared their unique experience of what birthing and motherhood has meant to them. Through listening to their stories, I get a deeper knowledge and understanding of just how important good strong female support, or the lack of it,  is so pivotal to a positive birthing experience. What a difference it can make to a mother’s story when they get the help, guidance and support that they need.  So, I say again – it is not surprising that I absolutely love the opportunity to do what I do.

My Accreditations

I have been a certified Birth Doula with Childbirth International since 2015. In 2017, I  trained with Hypnobirthing Australia to become a licensed Hypnobirthing practitioner, and more recently a certified Positive Caesarean Hypnobirthing practitioner.

I am a member of Maternity Choices Australia, and I personally believe in a future where maternal health focuses on the woman’s needs.  Where a woman’s birthing choice will be either at a home or hospital with their choice of quality continuous care from a Midwife and a Doula.  Safe, calm, happy healthy babies and mamas! 

Memberships

“Ultimately, how well we care for the mothers in our community, affects the very wellbeing of future generations of parents, children and society”.
Jenny Blyth, Author and Birthworker