Doula services, childbirth classes, & pelvic floor education in Otepoti-Dunedin.

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Calm & grounded care for the childbearer. Providing physical, emotional, & spiritual support so you can birth with confidence.

Holding families in their power through pregnancy & birth in Otepoti - Dunedin.

TRUST

I trust your body.

You trust your body.

I trust you to trust your body.

You trust me to trust your body.

Offerings

Birth Doula $700

Birth Preparation $100/2 hours

Pelvic Floor Recovery $100/2 hours

Postpartum Massage $50/hour
To settle energy and close the pelvic bones.

Pelvic Floor Education
Offered as workshops - check fb for events.
Please contact me for private session inquiries.

Childbirth Classes $120/full course

Pay what you can & barter accepted.
See next section for more details.

workshop info

birth classes

More information on offerings:

Birth Doula Package

1 free initial meeting
3 in-person visits during pregnancy
Continuous support throughout labor and birth
Phone/text support throughout pregnancy
Support 1-2 hours immediate postpartum
Help with birth preferences and provider questions
Emotional and physical support
1 home postpartum visit
Initial basic breastfeeding support

Prenatal visits include:

Birth planning (exploring what is most important to you and expressing it clearly, so if communication during labour is difficult or the unexpected happens, you can trust your wishes are being honoured, and there is no need to answer questions in the moment.)
Building connection and trust with your body for increased confidence and ability to “drop in” when in labour.
Listening and clearing of issues to approach the birth rite-of-passage as your most powerful self.
Energetic/spiritual preparation or light massage.
Planning of pre-birth ceremony (facilitation of ceremony by negotiation).
Exploring resources for birth like music playlists, preferred essential oils, & recorded affirmations.
Practical tips for birth and postpartum preparation, for mother and partner.

Labour & birth support includes:

Mother’s-wishes-first policy, e.g. birth plan is being followed and mother feels she is being heard and respected.
Labour and birth position guidance.
Natural pain reduction techniques including light touch, breathing, accupressure, & toning.
Support of the partner’s confidence and participation in the birth.
Energetic clearing of the space to maintain a safe, nurturing area for mother and baby to work together in birth.
Photos, if desired and convenient.
Offering food, drink, and encouragement.

Postpartum 1-2 hours includes:

Protecting the “golden hour+” to optimize bonding between mother and baby.
Tidying of the space.
Light meal prep as needed.

Postpartum visit includes:

Birth debrief & outlining of birth story/timeline.
Light massage/energy work.
Resource recommendations as needed (lactation support, food delivery, etc.)

Many midwives in NZ want to be free to serve/walk with/be with women more, but are unable to because of time & money constraints, licensing/reporting rules, and training that focuses on the medical instead of traditional midwifery skills. Many midwives and doctors have no experience with completely natural childbirth.

If families, midwives, and doctors only know medical birth, and a mum wants the best chance at experiencing a physiological & sacred birth, then hiring a doula is step worth taking.

Testimonials

Suzy has been extremely helpful in my journey leading up, during and after my first birth. She was very calm and positive during every meeting and the birth. During birth the baby was slightly in the wrong position and with her knowledge of spinning babies she managed to help me to get the baby into the right position pretty quickly. She also suggested some position changes during labour and birth that were very helpful. After birth Suzy supported me with pelvic floor exercises. I would highly recommend Suzy for your birth journey!

- focused, insightful mama

Suzy came after 10 hours of labour. As soon as she came in the space I felt a sense of ease, and that things were going to be fine. She did an amazing job looking after my partner’s needs. Very intuitive. She allowed me to have a break and was attentive to the birthing process. Her confidence was felt and I am very happy she was part of our birth. Would highly recommend her!

- steady, trusting dad

I had Suzy as a Doula and only have positive things to say about my experience. She was a great extra set of hands and gave me a lot of helpful information beforehand for my first birth. She helped provide a stress-free and relaxed atmosphere during a long labour. Having her massage and be next to me during the pain was comforting. Thank you.

- powerful warrior mum

I had a post partum pelvic floor session with Suzy, following the birth of my daughter which resulted in a prolapse, weakened pelvic floor and incontinence. Suzy is extremely kind and easy to talk to and her passion for this topic really shines through. She has incredible knowledge and wisdom of the pelvic floor and I only wish I had worked with her sooner! She clearly explained the layers of the muscle and function to me, and demonstrated a routine of strength building exercises. I practiced these as much as I could and I no longer suffer from incontinence issues and my prolapse is significantly reducing. I honestly found her much more helpful than the physio for moving forwards! I would 100% recommend working with her!

- first time mum who came with many credentials & has learned heaps through the birthing process.

Suzy was a lovely, calming energy postpartum. She showed up gentle, calm, & understanding of the vulnerable state I was in. Her postpartum assistance and massage was helpful for allowing myself to relax. I would highly recommend her services. (Thank you for your help and supportive energy!)

- mum whose birth took an unexpected route.

Workshop Testimonials

"Suzy mixes extensive knowledge with humour and sensitivity in a fun mix of sitting, listening, sharing, moving, and plenty of practical exercises to take home."

"Suzy created a wonderful safe space in which to enjoy learning the theory and “practical” about how to improve pelvic floor health."

"Suzy created an open and comfortable environment. She is knowledgeable and calming. I was surprised that I felt as comfortable as I did! I learnt new and practical strategies I could implement straight away."

"I feel like you have opened a whole new chapter of thought in self-worth."

Meet Suzy

Supporting women's confidence to birth how they choose.

I support women as a birth doula and pelvic floor educator based in Dunedin. I offer public educational workshops and private sessions, creating spaces for women to develop greater pelvic floor connection, mind-body awareness and feel at home in their bodies.

If you are a pregnant mama, it my goal to support you, the childbearer, to feel confident to birth in your own time & in your own way.

Medicated, unmedicated, natural, cesarean, homebirth, and freebirth are all supported and respected.

I am a loving mum of two, currently 20 yrs and 12 yrs.

Both births were unmedicated, fast, and intense. The first was born by ventouse delivery at a birthing centre, and the second at home in Bluff.

They were both beautiful and challenging experiences that taught me how all the training professionals undergo does not prepare them to hold birth as a sacred event or recognize the emotional needs of the birthing parent or their partner.

I work next to midwives and medical personnel to bridge this gap.

I am in the fifth chapter of my life, following a path that has flowed as: child, seafarer, restaurateur, mother, and body lover.

“Body lover” expresses itself through nurturing my nuclear family, marveling at the generosity and capability of Gaia/Papatuanuku while gardening and tramping, energy & breathwork for myself and others, reveling in my own body with dance, holding women in their power during the childbirth rite of passage, and supporting women to deepen their relationship with their bodies through pelvic floor connection.

I began this current chapter ten years ago with a Personal Training certification, which led to an interest in exercise programs for women with prolapse. I then obtained further certification in Pelvic Floor Yoga. I am fascinated by how biomechanics, life experiences, and emotions shape each body uniquely, and I hold deep reverence for the wisdom of the body.

Previously, I taught Supple Grounding - Yoga for the Pelvic Floor, a weekly yoga class. I now support women one-on-one through changes in their pelvic floor, and offer public and private pelvic floor education workshops.

It is an honour to walk alongside families through the birthing process and to be trusted by women as they meet themselves more fully.

My training & experience in the following give me a range of skills to draw upon in helping you prepare for and experience your best birth: doula work, pelvic floor yoga & education, mums & bubs yoga, ABR bodywork for disabled, Reiki III, mirimiri, Merkabah level 3, Transformational Breathwork, Freebirth Society's Complete Guide To Freebirth, Spinning Babies weekend workshop, Claire Eccleston's Homebirth, Wombcraft, & Scar Tissue Remediation workshops.
I love people and raw life experiences, so supporting families through the transformation of birth is a natural fit.