Jessica Nash ~ Doula

About

My name is Jessica. I am based in Macksville, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, where I have lived for over 20 years.  It was here I met and married my High School sweetheart, and where we have welcomed two beautiful sons into our lives.

The births of my sons were two very different experiences, each teaching me valuable lessons, about the birth process, and about myself.

It was not long after the birth of my second son that my sister in law asked me to support her through the birth of her third child. We joked about how that would be the perfect ‘job’ for me, and lo and behold, we discovered that supporting women through their journey to motherhood was an actual career.

Whilst technically doulas don’t need qualifications, I felt it was appropriate to seek training. And so began my study with the Australian Doula College. I graduated as a Birth and Postnatal Doula in April of 2011, after attending three births as a student. I have since furthered my skillset with Stillbirthday University, USA; Angela Gallo's Dynamo Doula Training; and completed the Newborn Mothers Breastfeeding Professional Training.

Since 2010 I been Blessed to support many more families throughout their various pregnancy, birthing and postnatal experiences.
It is my aim to provide you with all the information you seek/require to make decisions that are right for YOU.

Online Serivces

Are you pregnant, or have a new baby?

Feeling anxious or concerned?

Want someone to talk to who will give you consistent, unbiased support and information?

Chat via Skype or Zoom about anything that’s concerning you. Be it nerves about the birth, guidance on how to settle baby, or some tips on helping older siblings adjust, I can help you figure it out.

As a mother and qualified doula, I have extensive and varied experience with all things ‘baby’. Let me share my wisdom with you!

With the right support, this special time can be less overwhelming.

Post Natal Services

Are you a new Mum? Or soon to be?

Feeling stressed, or worried about how you’re going to cope once

you’ve brought baby home?

You might even just be thinking “How on earth am I going to find time to shower, let alone get the washing or anything else done?!”

As a new mum it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In hospital you probably had good practical support from the midwives, but now you’re home, reality sets in that you’re kind of on your own, and that can be a scary thought!

You are not alone.

Feeling anxious, nervous, or overwhelmed is all very common!

If you’re a first time mumma it is completely normal to feel nervous about how to care for a new baby.

You may be an experienced mum, who’s just a little bit concerned about how you will cope with the extra addition to the family and the new demands that having another child brings.

The house work is probably starting to pile up around you while you’re busy with the seemingly never ending “feed-settle-feed-settle-repeat” routine, causing you to feel completely overwhelmed.

The good news is, I can help!

The first three months of the postnatal period are sometimes referred to as your fourth trimester, which can often be the most challenging one! This is a very special time for you and your baby; after nine months as one, you are now navigating having become two. This is very exciting, and can also be daunting at times. Add in hormones, emotions, lack of sleep, constant ‘advice’ and both personal and external expectations and being a Mother can be a very overwhelming and even lonely place.

Too often the scenario is that you bring bubby home, friends and family come to coo over the new addition for a while, and then the novelty wears off. People get back to their own lives, and you’re left feeling like you have to be some kind of supermum/stepford wife; keeping an immaculate home, preparing nutritious meals, all the while nurturing your child for the beautiful individual being s/he is.

Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?

In a word? No!

The pressure placed on mothers today (whether externally or self imposed) is unfair, and is impacting on women’s mental health severely.

Traditionally, the postnatal period is recognised as a time for you to be bonding as a family, with others supporting you through this new experience.

Sadly, implications of a modern society have meant that only a lucky few women have this support network available to them. How many of us have our mothers, aunts, or sisters living closeby, able to drop everything and spend their days with us? Or have friends who are not caught up with their own commitments? In our modern day society that sense of sisterhood and the tribe mentality has been lost so it’s completely normal that you are feeling this way.

This is where a Postnatal Doula can help.

How?

My role as a Postnatal Doula is to nurture you and your baby as you transition into this new family dynamic.

I do this by providing you with practical and emotional support, whilst at the same time empowering YOU with confidence in YOUR own abilities. Or you might feel you need a little guidance in learning how to take care of bub, and I can help you with this. My purpose is to support you right NOW, whilst helping you to build your own tribe for future support.

I can help with the following

Supporting you in gaining confidence with

• Knowing when baby is hungry vs tired etc. I can teach you ways to better understand the cues your baby is giving you

• understanding baby’s sleep needs, and Demonstrating how to settle baby for sleep

• bathing baby for relaxation

• making baby comfortable for ease of sleep with wrapping or swaddling

• basic infant massage – to help you bond with baby, and to help baby relax

• breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or both!

• techniques to create a solid, warm bond with your baby

• helping older siblings adjust

• maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner as you transition into parenthood

Light housework duties (such as doing a load of washing, doing the dishes, vacuuming, picking up groceries, dusting, etc). Kind of like your own modern day Mary Poppins! (Minus the carpet bag!)

I can help you get the evening meal ready for the family, so everyone is still well fed or I can help you prepare ahead for your own lunches and snacks, to ensure you are staying well nourished. We can work on a meal plan for your network of family and friends too – to avoid 18 lasagnes ending up in your freezer!

Entertaining older children while you rest/bond with baby.

Minding baby while you shower or rest, or simply enjoy a cuppa while it’s hot!

Simple relaxation techniques & coping skills to help you stay relaxed and in control when things are tough.

Access to further resources as required (lactation consultant, baby massage therapist, naturopath, chiropractic, etc).

Ok, sounds great! How do I book?

Simply select your chosen package, and contact me. I’ll email you through payment details and contact you to arrange a schedule.

Conditions

• Travel within one hour of Macksville

• Payment options available upon request

• Custom packages are available – please contact me to discuss your needs.

For packaging pricing, please go to www.jessicanash.com.au