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educate ~ inspire

Doulas are with you for the crazy ride

15/4/2024

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A little feedback from some
​birth doula clients

Being a birth doula is more than just a profession; it's a privilege to be invited into the intimate journey of pregnancy, labour and postpartum by families seeking support and guidance. 

When the time came for labour, I was honoured to stand by their side, supporting them in their chosen birth plan and encouraging them both to be actively involved in the process. Witnessing their strength and resilience was awe-inspiring, and I felt privileged to play a small part in their journey to welcoming their little man into the world.
Working with Kelly offered my husband and I a fully supported prenatal planning, labour, and postnatal experience. Kelly made herself available for us with minimal notice through several unexpected hurdles of our journey. During labour, she followed our requests of offering ideas that empowered my husband to support me throughout the experience and even staying afterwards to spoon feed me a meal while I did my first breastfeed.

When my husband went back to work and I started to really struggle from minimal sleep, Kelly brought over groceries and allowed me to go take a shower and a nap while she strapped my baby to her chest, cooked us a meal, and did our laundry! The postnatal visits helped breathe a bit of life back into an exhausted mama!

We would recommend Kelly for her calming presence through a wild experience! 

Thank you for being apart of our crazy ride! 
Ashleigh & Anthony, Klemzig

About Kelly

Kelly Harper has been a dedicated doula in Adelaide since 2012, offering steadfast support and compassion to families during one of life's most significant transitions. Motivated by a desire to provide guidance and companionship throughout the journey of pregnancy, labour, and postpartum, Kelly embarked on her doula journey with a heartfelt commitment to stand by families every step of the way.

With a philosophy grounded in the belief that every client possesses inherent wisdom and autonomy to make informed decisions about their experience, Kelly approaches her role as a doula with deep respect for each family's unique journey. She prioritises providing not only practical assistance but also emotional reassurance and a consistent presence, recognising the transformative potential of personalised support in navigating the complexities of childbirth.

Kelly's dedication to her clients extends beyond the birthing room, as she remains a steadfast source of support during the postpartum period, ensuring families have the resources and encouragement they need to navigate the joys and challenges of early parenthood.

As a doula, Kelly strives to embody the values of compassion, empathy, and respect in her work, understanding the profound impact that personalised support can have on the birthing experience. With each family she serves, Kelly is honoured to be entrusted with the sacred journey of childbirth, offering her expertise, guidance, and unwavering presence as families welcome new life into the world.

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What do we know about Placenta Encapsulation and Group B Strep?

19/1/2024

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I've been asked to republish a thought-provoking article I wrote back in 2017 ago for Placenta Services Australia.
The CDC dropped a case report allegedly linking placenta capsule consumption to late-onset Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in infants. The aftermath brought a whirlwind of discussions and speculation in the birth and encapsulation spheres. So, grab a cuppa and join me as we delve into the facts surrounding this case and the intriguing world of placenta encapsulation. Oh, and a quick heads-up: This piece is all about sharing info, not doling out medical advice. Let's get informed! 
Placenta Services Australia response
On the 30th June 2017,  the Centres for Disease Control and Infection (CDC) in America published a report associating the consumption of placenta capsules by a mother with the late onset of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection of her infant .  Since then there has been numerous news reports, articles, discussions within the birth and parenting worlds on social media and speculation by many.  But what do we actually know about this case and about the process of placenta encapsulation?

What is Group B Strep?
Group B Streptococcus, otherwise known as Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive circular bacteria that tends to grow in pairs or short chains.  GBS is a commensal bacterium reported to be present in 15% - 40% of the population.  It lives in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract of humans usually without any harm to us.  It can however cause significant problems in newborns if they become infected.  Infection in neonates occurs from exposure to their mother’s genital tract colonisation during labour or birth or from the amniotic fluid is the membranes are ruptured prematurely and the bacteria travels up into the uterus and is known as early-onset infection.  If the baby contracts GBS after the first week, it is known as late-onset infection and is believed to be transmitted from the mother through her breastmilk in a rare number of cases, or from environmental and community sources such as hospitals and their staff .  Antibiotic treatment of the mother to eradicate genital tract group B streptococci has shown to only be useful temporarily and reinfection may occur. 
​What is Placenta Encapsulation?
Placenta encapsulation is the process of drying, crushing and putting the desiccated placenta powder into capsules for the mother to consume postnatally.  This is usually done through a business, the mother’s doula or midwife or in a few cases through family and friends.  
Anybody who encapsulates should follow industry standard protocols including the use of personal protective equipment, maintenance of the cold chain, heating at correct temperatures and sanitisation of all areas and equipment with the correct disinfectants.

What did the CDC report and what questions does it raise?

The mother’s screening test for GBS at 37 weeks was negative - Your GBS status can change between when the test was taken and when you go into labour.  The culture test can also show false negatives and it is likely this was the case as early-onset infection comes from the mother.  
The infant was treated with antibiotics for the first infection - there are known cases of recurrent infection of GBS after treatment  and the bacteria were shown to be identical in each case as was reported here by the CDC.  This raises the possibility that the first antibiotic treatment was ineffective and allowed persistent colonisation of the newborn.
The mother’s expressed breast milk was GBS negative and serial exams did not reveal a source of the recurrent infection being transmitted from the mother - so where did it come from? Was the mother retested?  Was the placenta swabbed before being collected?    This seems to be in conflict with the CDC statement “the final diagnosis was late-onset GBS disease attributable to high maternal colonization” 
Were hospital staff in contact with the baby tested ?
The strain of GBS isolated by the CDC known as the ST-17 clone, is known to have a strong association in epidemiological studies due to its specific virulence factors .  Surely this adds to the plausibility that it was a recurrent infection rather than reinfection from the mother?
The CDC report states that “ transmission from other colonized household members could not be ruled out”
The CDC report does not give the exact temperature at which the placenta was processed, instead it gives a range of temperatures from the processing company’s website based on the different processing methods.  Even if processed by using what is commonly known as the raw method, the placenta should be heated to reach a core temperature of 75℃ before lowering to the ‘raw foods’ temp.  Encapsulators should also ask about infections when collecting their client’s placenta.  The client can then be counselled on appropriate processing methods if it is safe to proceed.  If infections such as chorioamnionitis are present, then the placenta should not be encapsulated. If the client becomes aware of an infection in herself or her baby between the time her placenta is collected and the capsules are returned, she should notify the placenta services specialist so that proper information can be given, which may include disposal of the prepared capsules instead of consumption.
The CDC states that “The placenta encapsulation process does not per se eradicate infectious pathogens” yet provides no reference for this statement.  If we look at the (limited) research on placenta encapsulation, the preliminary results from Jena University Hospital  has found that “The preparation of placental tissue has a clear effect on the microbial contamination: dehydration causes a drastic germ reduction, steaming followed by dehydration causes an even greater reduction of microbial species. Regarding to foodstuff regulations of the European Union, no “unsafe” organisms were detected in our samples.”

So the CDC has reported one case of placenta consumption that coincided with the newborn sadly acquiring a disease, yet how many women have consumed their placenta with no ill effects?  Data collected by Placenta Services Australia shows that over 90% of the nearly 400 women surveyed, reported that they experienced no ill effects from consuming their placenta and those that did were minor effects such as headaches, nausea or even unpleasant aftertaste .
Let’s remember that correlation (if there even is correlation here) does not equal causation, however we should all be mindful to take the possible implications seriously. This report from the CDC seems to raise more questions than it does answers, using placenta encapsulation as the scapegoat.
Picture
​What can you do to ensure a safer encapsulation experience?

1. Become informed about the risks of Group B strep to you and your baby and how it can be detected and treated.  Here are some links for further reading:
Group B Strep in Pregnancy: Evidence for Antibiotics and Alternatives. April 9, 2013 by Rebecca Dekker https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/
More about GBS and How to Help Protect Your Baby​ https://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/more-about-gbs-and-how-to-help-protect-your-baby.html
Group B Strep Resources by Sara Wickham http://www.sarawickham.com/topic-resources/group-b-strep-resources/

2. Question your placenta services provider about their processes for transporting and storing your placenta, making your capsules and sanitising their prep area and equipment.   

3.  Enforce hand washing for everyone before touching your baby or your placenta capsules.  See the World Health Organisation for How to Wash Your Hands Properly

4. Steaming your placenta to a core temperature of 55℃ for 30 minutes will inactive Streptococcus agalactiae. The temperatures reached by a dehydrator alone (usually a top of 70℃) is insufficient to inactivate it.  Dry heat of 160-170 ºC for at least 1 hour is required.  The bacteria is also susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) which should be used by all placenta services providers to sanitise their equipment and prep area. 
References
 Buser GL, Mató S, Zhang AY, Metcalf BJ, Beall B, Thomas AR. Notes from the Field: Late-Onset Infant Group B Streptococcus Infection Associated with Maternal Consumption of Capsules Containing Dehydrated Placenta — Oregon, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:677–678. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6625a4
 Barcaite E, Bartusevicius A, Tameliene R, Kliucinskas M, Maleckiene L, Nadisauskiene R (2008). "Prevalence of maternal group B streptococcal colonisation in European countries". Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 87: 260–271.
 Burianová I, Paulová M, Cermák P, Janota J. Group B streptococcus colonization of breast milk of group B streptococcus positive mothers. J Hum Lact. 2013 Nov;29(4):586-90. doi: 10.1177/0890334413479448. Epub 2013 Mar 22.
 Edwards MS, Nizet V (2011). Group B streptococcal infections. Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn Infant (7th. ed.). Elsevier. pp. 419–469. ISBN 978-0-443-06839-3.
 Streptococcus agalactiae, Pathogen Safety Data Sheet, Public Health Agency of Canada. 2011. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/streptococcus-agalactiae-eng.php
 Edina H. Moylett, Marisol Fernandez, Marcia A. Rench, Melissa E. Hickman, Carol J. Baker; A 5-Year Review of Recurrent Group B Streptococcal Disease: Lessons from Twin Infants. Clin Infect Dis 2000; 30 (2): 282-287. doi: 10.1086/313655
 Six A, Joubrel C, Tazi A, Poyart C. Maternal and perinatal infections to Streptococcus agalactiae. Presse Med. 2014 Jun;43(6 Pt 1):706-14. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2014.04.008. Epub 2014 May 20.
 Based on the recommended temperature to eliminate Salmonella, Campylobacter and a 6D heat process for Listeria monocytogenes. Food Standards Australia New Zealand Safe Food Australia, A Guide To The Food Safety Standards, Third Edition. November 2016. https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/publications/Documents/Safe%20Food%20Australia/Appendix%203%20-%20Limits%20for%20food%20processes.pdf
 Sophia Johnson, Jana Pastuschek, and Prof. Dr. Med. Udo Markert. A scientific approach to placenta remedies: What hormones are found in placenta tissue? April 2017. https://experiment.com/u/DKKnUQ
 Results from PSA Data Collection. http://www.placentaservices.com.au/psa-data-collection-results.html
 Streptococcus agalactiae, Pathogen Safety Data Sheet, Public Health Agency of Canada. 2011. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/streptococcus-agalactiae-eng.php
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Navigating the Night: Introducing Our Holistic Baby Sleep Consultant Services in Adelaide

17/1/2024

 
Book A Free Call Now
Gentle Sleep Consultant Adelaide Elemental Beginnings
Are you craving those elusive nights of restorative sleep with a new addition to your family?


I am excited to introduce my new infant and family sleep consultant services, born out of a deep understanding of the challenges that come with little ones in your home.

Holistic Support Through Every Step: Having walked alongside families through the precious moments of pregnancy, the miracle of birth, and the tender postpartum period, I bring a unique blend of professional expertise and personal understanding to my sleep consultant services. Our journey together goes beyond sleep training; it's about fostering a peaceful and nurturing environment that supports your family's well-being.

Personalised Approach for Sustainable Solutions: In our world, there are no right or wrong answers—only what feels sustainable for your unique family. As a passionate advocate for individualised care, Elemental Beginnings sleep consultant services are crafted to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. I believe in empowering you with the knowledge and tools to make choices that align with your family's values, creating a sleep strategy that feels just right for you.

Work with Kelly
Gentle Sleep Consultant | Adelaide | Elemental Beginnings
​Sleep Success is a Journey, Not a Sprint: Embarking on the path to better sleep is a journey, not a race. There are no guarantees, but rest assured, progress is within reach. With my guidance, I am confident that your family will make strides towards positive sleep habits that set the foundation for a lifetime of restful nights. Together, we'll navigate this marathon, celebrating every small victory along the way.

As you embark on this transformative journey, consider Elemental Beginnings' baby sleep consultant services as your compass to navigating naps and the night. Let's work together to create a sleep strategy that aligns with your family's unique needs, ensuring a well-rested and harmonious household.

Reach out today, and let the journey to sweet dreams begin!
Book Your Free Call With Kelly To Get Started

Reasons Why Families Might Seek Support From A Sleep Specialist

  • Parental Exhaustion and Burnout: Continuous sleep deprivation can lead to parental exhaustion and burnout. Seeking the assistance of a sleep specialist can alleviate the stress, offering practical strategies to improve your child's sleep patterns (and yours!) and promote a more restful environment for the entire family.
  • Transitioning to a New Sleep Routine: Changes in family dynamics, such as a new sibling, relocation, or changes in routine, can disrupt a child's sleep. A sleep consultant can guide you through these transitions, helping your child adjust to a new sleep routine with minimal disruptions.
  • Developmental Milestones and Sleep Changes: As children reach various developmental milestones, they may experience sleep changes. I can provide insights into these phases and offer strategies to navigate them successfully, ensuring a smoother transition for both child and parent.
  • Desire for Gentle and Personalized Approaches: Families who prefer gentle and personalized approaches to sleep training may seek the expertise of a sleep specialist. This ensures that the strategies align with the family's values and parenting philosophy, promoting a nurturing and supportive sleep environment.
  • Establishing Healthy Sleep Habits Early: Some parents proactively seek the guidance of a sleep consultant to establish healthy sleep habits from the early stages of their child's life. This preventive approach can contribute to a smoother and more predictable sleep routine, benefiting both parent and child.
  • Struggling with Nap Time Challenges: If your child experiences difficulties with daytime naps, I can offer insights into nap routines, duration, and environment.  All backed by evidence based approaches.
Read More About Kelly's Sleep Packages

Author

Hello there! I'm Kelly, a seasoned postnatal doula with 12 years of experience supporting families through the beautiful chaos of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As a trained infant and family sleep educator, I've extended my passion for holistic care into the realm of baby sleep consulting. With four kids of my own, I intimately understand the challenges of parenthood. My goal is to be your ally in creating sustainable sleep solutions that feel right for your unique family.

Adelaide Baby Sleep Consultant | Elemental Beginnings | Kelly Harper

Birth Can Seem Big and Scary

4/5/2021

 
When you don't know a lot about birth except for what you've seen in the media or heard from well-meaning friends and relatives, it can seem big and scary at first.

I love working with clients who are keen to explore what a positive birth means for them, what the hurdles along the way might look like and how we can work through them together.

Even when Covid stopped me from being present in person to support clients in labour, Meg's story shows how the work we do together during pregnancy is invaluable. It is not just the pain coping strategies but also the more profound work of knowing what is important to you and advocating for it.
​
I value Meg's strength and determination and the support from her partner to get the information they needed to make decisions as individuals in the face of typical systemic behaviour.  

Meg's Birth Story

First time parents smiling at the camera with their baby girl in between them. Happy clients of Adelaide doula, Kelly from Elemental Beginnings
​When I first found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to soak in as much information as possible. I'm a control freak by nature and from what little I already knew, pregnancy and birth were so unpredictable.

My partner and I decided to hire Kelly as our doula to help me with the pregnancy and birth and make the experience as positive and rewarding as possible. Early pregnancy was filled with intense morning sickness for me. I had a hard time dealing with it, especially while working full time.

During the first trimester, Kelly worked with us to create a mind map of what preconceptions we had about pregnancy and birth and what I hoped to achieve from our sessions and ultimately, my birth.

At first, I was very inclined to take a "do what I'm told and take all pain relief offered" approach. However, Kelly helped build up my confidence to where I felt I was a strong enough woman to try an unmedicated birth, which had always seemed impossible for me.

During my pregnancy, Covid-19 hit the world. This really threw a spanner in the works for me. Anxious by nature already, coronavirus made things much more intense. All of our hospital classes were cancelled with no online alternative offered, and the number of support people allowed at my birth was rapidly declining.  Kelly was a godsend during this time. We dedicated our sessions to practising advocating for what we truly wanted out of our hospital visits and care.

In my third trimester, I started presenting with high blood pressure during my hospital appointments. I had always been very anxious during them and coronavirus had only increased my anxiety levels.

The first time it happened, the midwife said, "last time this happened, the lady had to be induced immediately." Talk about stressful!
This appointment was the first time we experienced what it was like to be given a worst-case scenario straight away.

In the end, I think I had a total of 5 four-hour day stays to monitor my blood pressure. All of my test results were normal and my baby was completely healthy but the doctors were only concerned with what "could happen".

It "could" get worse
It "could" develop into pre-eclampsia
My baby "could" die.

The idea that I might kill my baby became somewhat of a common threat from the doctors, which was so difficult to deal with. One particular doctor noted in my files, "she believes she is not causing harm to her child." It was infuriating. I tried my best to stay calm and advocate for myself. With Kelly's guidance, I became better and better at it. I was speaking up, asking for clarification and demanding test results be given with evidence. I won't lie. It was the hardest thing I've ever been through. Once you start making decisions that are "against medical advice", you become the enemy, and we noticed an immediate change in the level of care we received.

I am forever grateful to Kelly for arming me with the tools to advocate for myself and speak up with confidence. In the end, I didn't develop pre-eclampsia, my baby was healthy, and I went into spontaneous labour at 39 weeks. I had a very quick labour and gave birth with no pain relief. It was the most intense experience of my life.
I am in awe of what my body did. My birth experience was amazing and the team of midwives were incredible. They were understanding and respectful of my birth plan. It was exactly what I needed after so many negative experiences.

I am so proud of myself because I worked so hard to have the birth I did.
I listened to my body and it rewarded me with the natural birth I'd always dreamed of.

I cannot thank Kelly enough for every bit of support and advice we received. I couldn't have done it without her.
Baby Frankie sitting in her rocker.  Her mum and dad worked with their doula for an empowered and positive birth.
Thank you so much to Meg and her family for sharing their story.

If heading into your birth confidently knowing how to advocate for yourself sounds like your jam, send me a message and we can get started with a package of prenatal sessions.

Free resources to get you on your way to a better birth:
10 Questions to Ask Your Care Provider
What is Informed Consent?
5 Birth Planning Tips

Doula familiar with Hypnobirthing?

25/2/2021

 
"I'm looking for a doula who is familiar with hypnobirthing" is a very common comment I see in many groups on social networks and get asked by potential clients.  So am I familiar with hypnobirthing?
Heck yes I am!  Here's a little info around my personal and professional experience:

Personal experience
Way back in 2006 when I was pregnant with my daughter, I took part in a self-hypnosis  trial with Dr Allan Cyna (Consultant Anaesthetist) at the Women's & Children's Hospital in North Adelaide. We had 3 in-person hypnotherapy group sessions with Dr Cyna as well as CDs to take home and listen to. I remember very clearly how calm and relaxed I felt during my labour, to the point I was falling asleep in between contractions.  I had been induced with gels and the OB breaking my waters so was a little apprehensive about it all but it was very straight forward.  I then went on to use those skills during my next two births at home - one of which was 19 hours long!

Professional experience
Many of my doula clients have undertaken group hypnotherapy or calmbirth classes with one of the many providers here in Adelaide.  As with all my clients, we talk about what they want for their birth.  This includes any particular techniques they may have learnt or terminology they want used, for example using the word 'surges' instead of contractions'.

I have sat in on client's private hypnobirthing classes and gone through the learning with them and practiced the breathing and soft-touch techniques.  I know for one particular client, these skills became essential during her 50 hour VBAC!  
For further professional training, I have undertaken studies with the HypnoDoula course.

So yes, I am familiar with hypnobirthing and would love to support you through your pregnancy, labour and birth as your doula!

Read below for one of my client's hypnobirthing stories from January 2021.

Kate's hypnobirth with Elemental Beginnings

Image is of a labouring woman standing and leaning on a hospital bed, while her doula from Adelaide provides physical comfort techniques during her hypnobirth at Flinders Medical Centre


​We first met Kelly in 2018 when we hired her as a Doula for the birth of our first son. From our very first meeting with her we felt incredibly comfortable and relaxed in her presence and we knew straight away she was exactly the type of support person we wanted and needed at the birth.

Kelly helped us clarify our birth preferences by making sure we understood the birthing process so we could make informed choices throughout. For our first baby we opted for a home birth, and Kelly supported us through 20 hours of labour at home before I was ultimately transferred to hospital due to some complications. She was a huge support to both myself and my husband throughout the long labour. I think he was particularly grateful to have an extra support person to tag team with. I was also grateful to have Kelly's support postpartum and she helped me navigate my disappointment that the birth had not gone exactly the way I had hoped.

When we found out I was pregnant with my second son in May last year, the first thing my husband said to me was "we will definitely get Kelly again won't we?". It really wasn't a question for either of us as we couldn't imagine doing it without her. We greeted Kelly back into our lives as a friend and once again, she helped us feel calm and supported in the lead up to the birth.

This time around we decided for a hospital birth from the outset. My labour progressed slowly and was manageable throughout the day. My husband was in regular contact with Kelly to keep her updated and we both felt reassured knowing she was ready and waiting for us when we needed her. Later that evening when things had progressed we asked her to come over. She arrived at our home, her usual unphased and calm self, using a soft voice and gentle touch. I used a TENS machine and utilised my learned hypnobirthing skills to remain 'in the zone', while Kelly and my husband supported me through each contraction. 

Around an hour later I decided it was time to go to the hospital and Kelly rode with us (squeezed in the back of our car between two baby seats), offering words of support where needed, but just as much comfort in her silence. On arrival at the hospital ER, my husband dropped us at the door and left to park the car. I remember thinking how I would have been left alone at that time had we not had Kelly with us. I was so grateful to have her there, guiding me through admission and responding to some of the questions on my behalf so that I could remain focused on my labour and breathing.

It was a long walk from the emergency room to birthing and assessment, and Kelly was with me every step of the way, helping me block everything else out as I breathed through each contraction. I chose to walk as it felt the right thing to do at the time, so Kelly was left to fend off multiple offers of wheelchairs from concerned nurses and hospital staff as we walked the long corridors together. It felt so reassuring to know she was in my corner, helping me to trust my instincts and encouraging me to 'walk my baby out'.

My husband was already in the birthing suite waiting for us when we arrived. Kelly straight away raised the bed to the highest height so I could continue to stand and lean against it while she placed her hands on my hips and back for gentle support. Her experience means she know exactly the right things to do to help in the moment, with very little communication needed, meaning I could remain 'in the zone' for labour.

Soon after I decided to get into the bath and spent the next little while in the water in silence, breathing through each contraction and feeling my baby move down. Kelly continued to provide subtle support - whether it was occasionally wafting peppermint oil under my nose to help with nausea or placing an extra towel under my head, or gently reminding my husband to hit replay on the hypnobirthing affirmations track playing in the background.

Only two hours after arriving at the hospital, I breathed into my final contraction and pushed out my baby. The birth was exactly what I had hoped... A calm and beautifully supported experience.

Kelly's support did not end once our baby was born. She helped me breathe through the birth of my placenta and helped me with my first post-birth shower. I also required some minor stitches so she came with me to the room next door while my husband remained with our baby. I was more scared of the stitches than I had been at any time during my labour and for the first time needed pain relief. As I breathed in the gas deeply and squeezed her hand tightly, she offered continuous words of encouragement and support throughout the procedure. I was so incredibly grateful for her kind and caring presence during that time.


After such a beautiful birth, our baby experienced some unexpected breathing complications and ended up in neonatal special care for 12 days. This was an incredibly stressful and upsetting time for us but once again, Kelly was a continuous support for me throughout with texts and phone calls, offering a level of empathy and understanding I would not otherwise have had.

We are forever grateful for the friendship and support Kelly has provided to our family. If you are thinking about hiring a Doula, I cannot recommend Kelly enough. She is calm, kind, patient, genuine, knowledgeable and understanding - the perfect person to support you throughout your pregnancy and birth.

Thank you Kelly!

You might also like to read more about Kate's other birth from her husband Simon's perspective.

Book a Free consult with Kelly to talk about Doula Support for your birth
Adelaide Doula Kelly from Elemental Beginnings holding her client's baby at Flinders Medical Centre

About Adelaide Doula Kelly

This is me, holding Kate's wee lad when he was only a couple of hours old.  I don't usually hold newborns as I believe that their place is skin-to-skin with their parents.  However, if the parents ask me to then I will do so with much delight and reverence for the newly earthside babe.

I work as a birth doula in all of Adelaide's hospitals, both public and private.  I love working with families who are ready to explore and take action around creating a better birth for themselves.

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    Kelly Harper is the owner of Elemental Beginnings Doula & Placenta Services in Adelaide.  She provides sleep consultancy, placenta encapsulation and doula services to families during pregnancy, birth and in their fourth trimester.

    Kelly Harper is a doula working with families around Adelaide to achieve a positive birth
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