The Wall of Kindness…
“Wow ... we love this woman! After journeying with us in the delivery of our 4th baby my whole family bonded with her in a really beautiful way.. her gorgeous heart, generosity and warmth and her sensitivity and awareness during the birth of where I was at and exactly what I needed, her all around support during the entirety of my pregnancy, birth and post birth was just amazing. I am quite a private person and would not have been able to just have anyone at my birth - but even in such a personal and deeply intimate space I was just so thankful I had such a calm, soothing and affirming woman by my side. I will never forget this birth ... so incredibly blessed ❤️ thank you Bonnie xx” ~ Claire
“Bonnie was an incredible supportive presence during my pregnancy, labour and birth. In her calm, sturdy and maternal nature I felt listened to and accepted for the birth choices I wanted and then experienced. So much in pregnancy and birth is unknown and there's only so much we can predict. Having Bonnie alongside my Husband, supporting me was absolutely necessary and something I believe every Woman should have access to. Thank you isn’t really enough but thank you Bonnie, you are a knowledgeable and passionate Doula whom I would highly recommend!” ~ Sam
“Bonnie brings both wisdom and tenderness to the pregnancy and birthing experience. Her workbook is an outstanding resource for all expecting mothers and families. Her reassurance, guidance and passion to help women birth beautifully is such a gift” ~ Kirsten
“I can not thank Bonnie enough for her support during my pregnancy, labor and birth. She taught me so much, prepared me mentally and emotionally to succeed a beautiful natural birth after my previous traumatic c-section. Not only does she carry such wisdom to share but she has such a gentleness and a caring nature to help you feel safe and secure during your birth. Thank you again Bonnie for helping me to achieve such a beautiful birth, one I will never forget.” ~ Kayla
“I engaged Bonnie as a doula about 26/27 weeks in my pregnancy. I had some minor challenges bumping up against the medical system early on with hypertension and gestational diabetes, and Bonnie was invaluable in just bouncing my thoughts around and helping me have the confidence to advocate for myself without providing advice.
Bonnie was a wealth of information both about the birth itself and the postpartum experience. The materials and information she made available to me was extensive and I really enjoyed our preparatory discussions about the birth itself.
I had a natural vaginal delivery with no intervention or pain relief, and I credit this in very large part to having Bonnie with me. She helped me in all ways I could conceive of - and many that I didn't - including massage, acupressure, advice on positioning and encouragement. My birth experience was everything that I'd hoped for, because I had her support. I can't recommend having a doula in general, and Bonnie in particular, highly enough.” ~ Kylie
“Bonnie is just absolutely amazing! I’m learning so much! Fourth baby in and there’s so much I’m learning I did not know 😅 I would highly recommend Bonnie the Doula, don’t worry if you don’t know what a doula is, I didn’t either! 😂 just meet with her and I promise it’ll be the best thing you ever do but get in fast coz she books out quick! I almost didn’t make it in myself! 😅 But I spent a lot of time praying and the Lord sent me to this wonderful lady and made a way for me when it looked like there was no way and I’m so grateful. She has helped me to feel so empowered, her vast knowledge and working through her workbook have helped to get rid of fears I had and given me a confidence despite my past trauma.” ~ Jess
From the dads…
“Thanks to Bonnie, my wife and I were able to have an amazing positive birthing experience. Bonnie went out of her way to help answer all the questions I had and was very reassuring leading up to and during the birth.” ~ Mark
"I found Bonnie a great encouragement and help to my wife during pregnancy and the birth. In the months leading up to the birth I could see the re-assurance and encouragement that Bonnie gave was a big help to us. Bonnie's knowledge during labour was a fantastic support and practical help to have on-hand. I would recommend Bonnie as a doula." ~ John
“In a system that medicalises every minor or perceived facet of pregnancy and birth, and is far too quick to put people into medical "boxes" like "high-risk", Bonnie normalised and gave Kylie and I sanity over a few pretty crazy months.
Our "health system" is actually very unhealthy, something you often only realise when you have to interact with it over 9 months. While so many of the individual nurses were lovely, the system that bounces patients back and forth to different doctors, including some really dodgy ones, is SO dysfunctional it actually added to Kylie's stress during her pregnancy and post-birth.
Bonnie on the other hand was an incredibly generous and warm counter balance to all of that, and she went above and beyond, coming to talk through with us whatever panic buttons the health system pushed.
In the end, despite the 'high risk' categorisation, Kylie was at home and totally allowing what should be a very natural process to unfold. We only went to the hospital when the contractions were three minutes apart, and from start to finish labour was 13 hours and our first baby Eva was born en caul, naturally at Armadale Hospital, thanks in no small part to Bonnie being such a calm, centering and guiding presence in the birthing room during those preceding hours. It was both intense and a calm at once. Incredible.
Maybe the most valued and unexpected surprise was that in the first weeks at home, when Kylie was struggling to come to grips with a lot of challenges feeding and on no sleep, Bonnie came to visit like an angel, with delicious wholesome home cooked meals, and her trademark smile, calm and generosity. So much of this wasn't part of the 'package' we paid for. Bonnie's help through this experience was truly priceless. Thank you.”
~ Stewart
“My partner was initially unsure about having a doula. We both thought midwifery-led care would be enough. But asking Bonnie to be our doula was by far the single best thing to achieving our successful VBAC. Bonnie was truly incredible. At all times she was competent, professional and compassionate. She helped us navigate the curveballs that pregnancy and the hospital system threw at us and helped us advocate for our wishes on many occasions. Bonnie provided support during early labour while we were at home, accurately guiding us when it was time to transition to hospital for the birth which was so important for us as we felt vulnerable about making that decision. Throughout the labour and birth, Bonnie provided great support and reassurance to both myself and my partner. She kept reminding me to trust myself and listen to my body. Through Bonnie’s encouragement, I was able to find my inner strength. My partner is now telling everyone that they should have a doula! Thank you Bonnie for being by our side as we brought our beautiful boy into the world!” ~ Kate
“Bonnie was key to encouraging my husband and I to work as a team during the birth of our third son. She gave confidence to my husband to support me and together they enabled me to achieve the birth I had dreamed of - a vaginal birth after 2 caesarean sections.
Bonnie is a calm constant throughout labour, including in the lead up, during early labour and in the labour suite. Bonnie takes the time to listen to your story and encourages and supports you in working towards the type of birth you are aiming for. I could not have come through this journey without Bonnie and she gave me the confidence and zeal to fight for what I wanted.
I would not hesitate to recommend Bonnie to anyone considering a doula at their birth, she was invaluable to us.” ~ Claire & Jason
“Our birth was enhanced and supported by Bonnie in so many ways. From the antenatal support of having someone to talk to about random symptoms and funny contractions to planning out how we wanted our home water birth to go, to the mental, emotional and physical support in labour for both my partner and I, to the extended support, calmness, advocacy and peaceful vibes Bonnie brought when our plan got thrown out the window with a stalled first stage and transfer from home to hospital. This also extended to the post-birth support during third stage and postpartum love and debriefs; we felt held by Bonnie the whole time.
Having someone with experience and information but also genuine investment and empathy in our birth space was something we will always recommend, as it made the world of difference just having someone outside of us but who we knew held our best interests there backing us up. The physical and verbal support during contractions was crucial, the trust in the planning process invaluable, and the relationship between Bonnie and ourselves was foundational in our final experience of a completely different but absolutely beautiful (and non traumatic) birthing experience. We both recommend Bonnie to any and all individuals and couples who are actively planning their birthing experience, and to those who are just going with the flow!!
Bonnie is a gentle, kind and calm person with a warm heart and huge smile that calmed a very anxious me every time I saw it. The positivity Bonnie brings, along with the realistic sensing and awareness and intuition with those in the birth space and especially the mother is so special and sacred, and we felt made a significantly beautiful difference to how things would have been without her.
Certainly a decision that will not be regretted, and will bring so much peace and calm into the big life moments.” ~ Brooke & Zac
“Bonnie assisted me at the birth of my third child. My hearts desire was to have a natural drug free birth. I knew in order to achieve this I’d need the help of another woman/mother who knew exactly what I was going through to coach me through each contraction. Bonnie was a physical & emotional support to me during labour & birth. She has a calming presence & I knew I could trust her through this vulnerable & special experience. She never interfered in my husbands role & my husband even felt more at ease knowing I was being well cared for by her. I felt nurtured throughout labour & my birth was empowering, memorable & a positive experience. Thank you Bonnie!” ~ Bethwyn
“Where do I begin to thank you Bonnie? You have been the most amazing support for both Trav and I through our whole pregnancy and birth journey. We honestly couldn’t have done it without you! The support you offered Trav the other night was beyond! I can’t even put into words the thanks and appreciation we both have for you. I will always be in awe of you and the support that you give to both mums and dads!!” ~ Amy
“I only had the privilege of meeting Bonnie late in my pregnancy after getting some pressure to go down a birth path I didn't want. I heard nothing but amazing words about how supportive & encouraging Bonnie was at a friend's birth, so I contacted Bonnie and straight away was put at ease and comforted by her warmth, passion and knowledge. She helped me reinforce what I wanted and provided a lot of information and encouragement during the last week's of my pregnancy. Bonnie's help and support really helped me with the VBAC I wanted and I absolutely could not thank her enough for the empowerment she gave me” ~ Justine
“I had been friends with Bonnie for a number of years before falling pregnant with my first. I already loved her positive attitude towards pregnancy and birth, so once I found out I was expecting, I knew that we would benefit so much from her encouragement, experience and wisdom. Leading up to the birth, Bonnie and I talked for hours and hours about what to expect and how to prepare as best I could, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
The birth ended up progressing differently to what I had expected (I'm sure most do!). I could not have done it without Bonnie. Throughout the long labour she told me that I could do it, made suggestions for positions to try, and held me up in the birth pool while I slept between contractions for hours on end. She gave the others on my support team ideas for how to help me, and equipped my husband with information so he was able to communicate with the midwife and make the necessary decisions on my behalf, which was exactly what I needed at the time.
Bonnie's gentle encouragement and wisdom was invaluable to us before, during and after birth, and I would absolutely recommend her (I've already asked her to be my doula for my second child!)” ~ Alyce
“I had the privilege of having Bonnie as my doula for my fourth baby - a water birth in 2018. Bonnie was very present to any needs Jarryd or I had, she was attentive and encouraging, but she also was really good at slipping into the background and being completely invisible at times. I loved that my husband had someone to grab things for me without him having to leave my side, or someone to give him a break when he was tired of rubbing my back. She was reassuring when I was tired and empathetic when needed, she held my hand even when I squeezed it incredibly tightly. Bonnie was a wonderful welcomed addition to our little team and the whole experience was natural and beautiful. I never felt uncomfortable or embarrassed, neither did my husband, who is naturally very self conscious. Bonnie was just there to be a supporter, a gentle, nurturing helper and I believe any mother would be incredibly blessed to have her as a birth companion. I would highly recommend this woman to have by your side on your journey.” ~ Hayley
“Bonnie was an absolute gift. I cannot recommend her highly enough. I had a traumatic first birth and I knew as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my second child that I would need a positive birth experience to heal the previous trauma. From the minute I met her, I knew her experience and calming presence was exactly what I needed. I felt heard and supported by Bonnie. She genuinely cared about me and my baby and I trusted her. When I went into labour, Bonnie brought me back down to earth and kept me calm and focussed when I was feeling anxious. She was by my side for the whole labour, showing my partner how to support me and teaching him massage which made me feel so much more comfortable. I know without a doubt that the beautiful birth experience of bringing our baby girl into the world would not have been so positive without Bonnie. Do not hesitate to sign her up!” ~ Ali