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Donna is very passionate about mothers, babies and educating new mothers about childbirth and parenting.

I highly recommend her not only as a doula, but also for antenatal and postnatal education and support. I am very grateful to Donna for steering me through the minefield of advice, away from sleep trainers with rigid routines and towards more gentle approaches to caring for our baby.

She encouraged me to follow my instincts and to listen to my baby, and was always available and happy to answer my questions once James came along, providing invaluable support in the challenging newborn weeks.

Thanks again – Belinda

Donna Barb Nate  
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Dear Don,


I am so grateful to you for all of your help during my pregnancy and during Brock's arrival into this world. You made me feel confident
with all of the decisions we made, but more importantly gave me the
warmth and care I needed to get through everything. Words don't express my appreciation enough.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart

XXX Nicola

Donna Barb Nate  
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Dear Donna

How blessed we are to have found such a beautiful soul. Your knowledge, strength and lovely warmth helped provide us with the most amazing journey of bringing Archie into the world.

Thank you so much for this, and for the amount of amazing support that you provided us post-birth. We are so grateful and hope that you will remain close to us for years to come.

Love Jen, Dean and Archie

Donna Barb Nate  
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Before engaging Donnas' service, I was a bit sceptical about the role of doula in assisting a healthy couple becoming parents, but my perception changed after I attended Donnas' first session at her house.

I realised that giving birth is not just going to the hospital and coming back with a baby. My blind belief in explaining everything in medical terminology changed and we began to believe/respect/listen to our bodies, which transformed the pre-birth experience more into a holistic peek into the reality called "Life".

Veronica's pre-labour lasted for a whole week and Donna was our only support during that period. She would attend to our calls no matter what time we called her. When the real event started and we were advised to go to the hospital, it was midnight and Donna was there in less than an hour's time. Donna, like a real family member, was always standing next to us, supporting us with her valuable advice for next 30 hours. When our baby arrived, she ensured that she received skin-to-skin contact with me while Veronica was recovering from surgery.

I'm so pleased that we received Donnas' support. It was like having my mum with me offering motherly support. I'd definitely vouch for Donna if anyone is looking for a strong, experienced and pragmatic doula.

Thanks - Harmik

Donna Barb Nate  
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We first met Donna through our antenatal classes and from the start she was a very warm and inviting person whom we trusted and felt close to. She was there for us from 10 weeks of pregnancy right through our entire postnatal period, always encouraging us to make our own informed decisions about our pregnancy, birth and our baby.

As our trusted teacher she provided us with fantastic literature and DVDs, and as our support person she empowered us to have the birth we wanted. She has always been there for our emails, phone calls and with a shoulder to cry on. It's like she's known us for years.

Without Donnas presence, we don't think that we would've been able to give our son the gentle beginning he had of a natural physiological birth, including a normal third stage.

We used no pain relief, had no interventions in our birth and have been successful with breastfeeding. Words cannot describe how thankful we are and can't wait to do it again.

Love from the Lucky family

Donna Barb Nate  
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In my quest for a VBAC for my second pregnancy, I was lucky enough to find Donna, a lovely lady whom I instantly felt at ease with.

Throughout my pregnancy she was the most amazing support in every aspect; from casual chats and emails to see how I was going, to serious talks about the issues I would face having a VBAC in hospital and providing relevant literature to read.

During my labour I honestly don't know what I would have done without Donna. She helped me feel strong enough to birth my baby the way I wanted, amidst exhaustion, pressure and self doubt.

When our beautiful Eliza came earthside she was placed straight on my chest, the most beautiful moment of my life. Thanks Donna, words can't express our gratitude.

Penny Xx

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Donna gave us much more than practical help around our pregnancy and birth. She was a great support to both of us throughout the pregnancy, during and after the birth.

Winding your way through the minefield of information (and misinformation!) around pregnancy can be daunting for first time parents.

Donnas experience as a mother and a doula helped us navigate through this with an objective state of mind. We had a beautiful natural birth and we thank Donna immensely for her guidance, love & support.

Marleen and Dan

marlene  
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Dear Donna,

It’s hard to put into words how much your support before, during and after the birth of our baby girl is appreciated by both of us. I felt so secure that you understood us but it wasn’t until the day that I truly understood your role.

The words “Donna is at the hospital” filled me with calm and a sense of rightness and I was able to keep focusing on my baby. During the labour I only had to look up at you and you would sense my need for reassurance, information or encouragement. Mostly I appreciated your role in bringing Ben to the birth in an active and supportive way.

It has brought us closer and will remain a truly wonderful memory for the rest of my life. Thank you so much Donna for your wonderful wise female energy. Our gift is to remind you of how valuable your work is for women, couples and babies.

With love and friendship always

Kate, Ben and Michaela

kate  
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With much love and thanks for your wealth of knowledge, for being with us to welcome our cherub into the world and for all of your support and ongoing friendship.


Lots of love – Nicole, Tim and baby Zac

nurture birth  
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My journey into motherhood was an exciting and amazing experience and I doubt it would have been as fulfilling or smooth sailing without Donna.

Donna was available in person, over the phone and via email all throughout my pregnancy and after the birth. We learnt so much from Donna, things that we would never have found in books or on the web.

Donna really helped us deal with the information overload and all the many options we faced along the way. When we heard of the concept of a doula we knew it was just the thing we wanted for our birth. We wanted a support person who had attended many births, has experience with their own birth and promotes low intervention, natural physiological births.

nurture birth  

While our “Plan A” birth didn’t eventuate Donna was an excellent support when dealing with the complications we faced. It was fantastic to have someone who reiterated our birth plan to the doctors and midwifes on duty and interpret medical jargon enabling us to make informed decisions when things got tough.

Donna is very knowledgeable and thorough. She is kind and gentle but tough when it is called for. She offered both physical and mental pain relief options and created a soothing environment within the delivery suite. We are forever grateful to Donna and recommend her highly.

Sharyn and Raj

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Donna is the most supportive, comforting and valuable person you could possibly find to support you through any stage of the birthing and parenting journey.

Donna repeatedly demonstrates truly exceptional abilities to put people at ease with her great depth of knowledge, personal mothering experience, exceptional communication style, and genuine deep passion and commitment to supporting women and their partners.

Donna always seems to know exactly the right things to ask, the right things to say and the right things to do in any given moment, whether it be early in pregnancy, later at full-term when nerves and anxiety can increase, throughout labour at home or in a hospital ward, or during those challenging first couple of months of parenthood at home when a soothing and experienced supporter is just priceless for your peace of mind.

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My wife and I have found that during our experience of pregnancy, labour and parenthood (which is probably the most significant experience of anyone’s life) it has been incredibly valuable, comforting and reassuring to have an independent, wise, compassionate, caring and professional supporter all the way along. Also Donna went above and beyond the obvious expectations of a birth attendant, providing us with valuable connections to other experts and resources, and doing an exceptional job of communicating with our family and managing a nervous grandmother to be for hours on end!

Thanks to her incredible soothing and confident energy, her empathy and depth of knowledge, in the coming years I am certain Donna will be recognised as one of the greatest talents of the industry.

Gene Blackley, proud father of Sam, Melbourne

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Donna’s knowledge and understanding of a woman’s journey through pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding is sensitively supported by her compassionate awareness.

Rhea Dempsey – www.birthingwisdom.com.au

 
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Donna has been a much appreciated assistant at my parenting workshops. She is wonderfully empathic and attuned to parent’s needs, concerns and stresses and can share information sensitively, with respect for individual choices but also with the confidence that being well-informed ensures.

Her passion for positive birth experience as a foundation for becoming parents ensures a holistic approach for the couples she supports through the birthing journey: Donna is aware and informed, shares resources generously and keeps herself up to date on the latest research so that the information she shares is relevant and evidence based.

Her personal experience as a mother also means that you are being educated and supported by somebody who knows what it feels like to approach birth, to experience birth and how vulnerable you can be in those early hours, days and weeks as you adapt to this amazing and profound new role.

Donna's classes will leave you prepared and confident, ready for the reality of birth and early parenting.

Pinky McKay - Internationally certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). Author of 'Sleeping Like a Baby' and '100 Ways to Calm the Crying' and mother of five.

www.pinkymckay.com.au

Pinky McKay  
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Dear Donna,

Words will never be enough to say thank you for the role you played in Esme's birth.

I'm so glad you have been able to share this journey with us and hope that you will continue to be a part of our and Esme's life for many years to come! There are so many things I want to say thank you for!!

Thank you for your support leading up to Esme's birth, for providing us with lots of information and advice throughout my pregnancy and, most of all, supporting us in our decision to have a homebirth (one of the best decisions of my life!)

When you arrived I was so grateful! You knew instinctively what I needed to help me feel better and were able to tell Chris what I wasn't able to.

nurture birth

Most of all though, I want to say thank you for your wisdom, advice, knowledge and shoulder to lean on during those first tough few weeks after Esme was born! I don't know what we would have done without you. And lastly, thank you for sharing your passion for birth and gentle parenting with us. You constantly inspire me to be a better parent :-)

Love - Narelle, Chris, Jacob and Esme

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To dear Donna,

I want to thank you for your role in my home birth. It’s amazing how much you inspired and supported me. It had a profound effect on the outcome. Thankyou for helping me to have a sacred and healing birth experience.

With much love – Simone

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Knowing you were on the end of the line during my pregnancy, especially towards the end where I faced numerous challenges, mostly to do with hospital policies interfering with the natural birthing process, was invaluable. In the last couple of months of my pregnancy, I became quite worried and fearful about what I may be forced to contend with.

You gave me some fantastic words of wisdom and directed me to some wonderful resources that really helped me refocus and regain the confidence to birth my baby in the most wonderful, natural way that I had always wanted. It is so important for women to have this sort of support throughout their pregnancy and birth, as it is so easy to see how one could be bullied into agreeing to procedures that are mostly unnecessary and interfere with a woman’s confidence in her own ability to birth her baby.

I only wish I had had this sort of support throughout my first two pregnancies.

Thanks Donna - Amy xx

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Donna’s passion for everything birth and babies is inspiring and motivating. Her knowledge is extensive and takes into account various opinions. She quickly became a trusted reference point for me as a new mum with anything to do with my baby’s wellbeing. Her willingness to promptly respond to an email or phone call with in-depth information and a range of options was truly touching and grounding.

Donna’s support and passion for natural birth led me to choose home birth for the birth of our second child. During my second pregnancy Donna offered many tips ranging from seeking out homeopathy to suggesting diets for certain symptoms. Once my waters had broken and labour started, Donna was the first person I rang after my midwife. I was feeling rather anxious by the presence of meconium in my waters and thought the hope of a home birth had been dashed from the outset.

nurture birth  

Donna’s reassurance was a well-timed gift. Her capacity to read the tone in my voice and respectfully respond with encouraging words helped me gain the perspective I needed and focus on my choices. She ‘held the circle’ for me at a critical time when all I wanted to do was cry. She also had the genius to make me laugh – the best antidote to fear. Donna is truly an ‘all-rounder’!

By following her passion, Donna has developed a great and natural capacity to empathise with other women and is amazingly generous when sharing her wisdom in respectful ways. I am positive that many women and their babies will be inspired and reassured by her. She offers much needed encouragement for women who want to make positive decisions surrounding the birth of their babies and subsequent nurture. If an ocean didn’t separate us, I’d want her by my side at my next birth for sure!

Anita

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Donna is fondly known to me as "Wise Mumma."

She is an infinite resource on all things pertaining to pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting. She has offered me invaluable advice on endless occasions. She also has a wonderful referral list under her belt and has recommended several great alternative practitioners who specialise in these areas.

Karyn

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Dear Donna,

We are so appreciative of the support that you have provided us with. Your love and generosity has strengthened us, and Brinn is thriving with thanks to your support.

There are many things that you have done to build my confidence and allow us to parent naturally. He gives us many hours of joy each day.

With love,

Tanya, Michael and Brinn xxx

Tanya  Michael and Brinn  
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We want to say a big thankyou for all of your support in bringing Sienna into the world. All of your knowledge about birth and your non-judgemental approach was so helpful in preparing for the labour. You also allowed me to trust my own body and instincts and to view labour as a wonderful natural experience. That played such a big part of me having such a good labour and you were such a wonderful support to Pete too.

Love Jen, Pete and Sienna

Jen Pete and Sienna  
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With our respective families abroad and interstate it was important for us to have an additional support person with us for the birth of our baby.

After some initial research into potential birth attendants we met Donna. Straight away we knew that Donna was the woman we wanted to join us on the very intimate and personal journey into the unknown we were taking with our first-born.

Donna was a continual source of knowledge and provider of no-nonsense resources for us and the many questions and queries we had throughout and beyond our journey into parenthood. Donna was truly incredible during the birth of our baby, nurturing, calm and there for both of us during a long labour. She created an atmosphere where we felt supported and strong in our decision making whilst establishing a space where I felt safe and special. To have the steadfast support of Donna is a real blessing.

Renae & John

Donna  
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