What Can a Postnatal Doula Do for You? Every family’s postpartum experience is unique, and as a postnatal doula, my role is to provide personalised support for you, your baby, and your household. If you’re wondering what a postnatal session might look like, here’s a list of ways I can help: Emotional Support - Provide a listening ear and a safe, non-judgmental space to share your feelings. - Celebrate your wins and acknowledge the challenges of this new phase. - Offer reassurance and guidance through common postpartum concerns. - Gently check in on your mental health and well-being. Sibling Support - Help your older child adjust to life with a new baby. - Share ideas for activities to keep siblings entertained and engaged. - Suggest ways to foster a positive sibling bond from the start. - Support you in managing sibling emotions or jealousy. Household Help - Lighten your load with practical tasks like tidying, folding laundry, or organising baby supplies. - Prepare nutritious meals or snacks to keep you nourished. - Run small errands, such as picking up groceries or essentials. - Help create a more organised and calming home environment. Infant Care Guidance - Support you with feeding, whether breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or a combination. - Offer tips for soothing and settling your baby. - Share baby-wearing techniques to keep your hands free. - Discuss developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities. Sleep Support - Explore gentle routines that work for your family’s unique rhythm. - Provide tips to optimise your baby's sleep as they grow. - Suggest calming bedtime routines for yourself or your older children. - Give you time to rest by caring for your baby while you nap or recharge. Outings and Moral Support - Accompany you on outings to provide moral support and an extra pair of hands. - Help with baby’s 6-week check-up and vaccinations, mum’s 2-week GP check-up, or other appointments. - Join you for baby song sessions at the library, local playgroups, or neighbourhood walks. - Provide encouragement and practical assistance as you gain confidence leaving the house with your baby. Nurturing You - Encourage self-care and create opportunities for you to relax. - Offer treatments like a foot soak, herbal baths, or simply holding the baby so you can shower or unwind. - Bring you a cup of tea, a comforting snack, or something to brighten your day. - Help you find time for things that are important to YOU and bring you joy Supporting Your Relationships - Help navigate changes in your relationships, whether with a partner or extended family. - Offer strategies for sharing the mental and physical load at home. - Facilitate discussions about support roles and teamwork during the postpartum period. Preparing for the Future - Help you plan for milestones like starting solids or returning to work. - Support you in organising routines or meal prepping to ease your load. - Discuss ways to maintain your well-being as your baby grows. Connecting You to Resources - Recommend local groups, activities, or online communities for parents. - Share helpful resources like books, podcasts, or classes. - Introduce you to tools or professionals that might benefit your postpartum journey. Every session is tailored to what you need on the day—whether it’s practical help, emotional reassurance, or simply a moment of calm. My goal is to lighten your load and help you feel confident, cared for, and supported as you navigate life with your new baby. Have questions or want to know more? Let’s chat and explore how I can help make your postpartum period a little easier. As a postnatal doula in Adelaide, my role is to provide emotional, practical, and informational support for you and your family during the postpartum period. Please note that my services do not include medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or medical professional for any concerns about your or your baby’s health. My goal is to complement your care by providing non-medical support tailored to your unique needs.
0 Comments
Navigating pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period can be a transformative yet challenging experience for anyone. For individuals accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), having the right support tailored to your unique needs is essential. Elemental Beginnings' Doula services offer emotional, physical, and informational support, empowering you every step of the way. What is a Doula and How Can They Help? A doula provides non-medical, holistic support tailored to your birth journey. This can include: Prenatal Support: Preparing for birth, building a birth plan, and understanding your options. Birth Support: Providing advocacy and nurturing care during labour and birth. Postnatal Support: Assisting with recovery, newborn care, and emotional wellbeing. Doula Support Within the NDIS Many NDIS participants don’t realise that doula services can complement their NDIS goals. If your plan focuses on improved daily living, community participation, or capacity building, doula support can align with these outcomes. For Self-Managed and Plan-Managed Participants Self-Managed Clients: You have the flexibility to engage doula services directly. Plan-Managed Clients: Your plan manager can approve invoices for doula services, ensuring they fit within your allocated funding. I have worked with both types of NDIS clients and plan managers and know how to invoice my services for your needs. How Doula Support Aligns with Your NDIS Goals Here are some examples of how doula care can enhance your NDIS journey: Building Independence: Learning newborn care skills to feel confident in your parenting journey. Promoting Wellbeing: Reducing stress and anxiety during pregnancy and birth with emotional support. Increasing Capacity: Assisting with recovery and adjusting to life with a newborn. How do I work with you? Every family’s journey to parenthood is unique, and my role as a doula is to provide inclusive, person-centred care that honours your individual needs and preferences. With experience supporting NDIS clients, I adapt my approach to ensure that every person feels fully supported throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. I provide accessible communication and resources for all my clients, including online learning materials in various formats such as written guides, videos, and audio recordings. During our prenatal appointments, I bring written materials and hands-on teaching tools like a doll and pelvis to help you visualise and practise for birth. While my Auslan is limited to the alphabet, I strive to ensure all communication is clear and accessible, adapting where needed. Every client I work with has in-depth discussions with me to plan their care. These conversations allow us to create a birth and postnatal plan that reflects your preferences and needs, and I help you to advocate for these choices with your care team. By working closely with you, I aim to reduce stress, foster confidence, and help you feel prepared and supported every step of the way. We collaborate to explore options and tools that align with your capabilities. This may include practicing different labour positions during pregnancy and advocating for the use of supportive accommodations like shower chairs, wheelchairs, or accessible cribs in hospital settings. My goal is to ensure your comfort and safety while enhancing your parenting journey. I take the time to understand your capabilities or triggers and discuss strategies to minimise risks. I can meet with your medical team, allied health providers and support workers to ensure everyone is aligned on the best approach for managing your needs during pregnancy and birth. Most of all, I trust my clients. You are the expert on you! My services are flexible and accessible, with prenatal and postnatal care delivered in the comfort of your home. I am also available to attend appointments and provide hospital support during birth or whenever needed. I believe that every individual deserves to feel respected, valued, and supported as they navigate this profound life transition. By tailoring my care to your unique circumstances, I aim to create a nurturing environment where you can feel confident and in control of your journey. How to Get Started Whether you’re self-managed or plan-managed, I’m here to help you explore how doula support can enrich your pregnancy and parenting journey. Contact me today to schedule a no-obligation phone or Zoom chat and discuss how I can support you. If you’re looking for additional support or information, the following resources can help you navigate pregnancy, birth, and parenting with a disability. These trusted organisations and guides are designed to empower parents with practical advice, accessible tools, and advocacy to ensure a positive and inclusive journey into parenthood.
AuthorAs a doula with years of experience supporting families from all walks of life, I am passionate about providing inclusive, person-centred care during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. I have had the privilege of working with individuals navigating different abilities. My goal is to create a safe, nurturing, and accessible environment for every client, helping you to feel seen, heard, and supported throughout your journey.
Pregnancy and birth are life-changing experiences, and every family deserves to feel supported, informed, and cared for during this special time. Recently, I had the privilege of working with a lovely first-time family here in Adelaide. Her story beautifully illustrates why having a doula by your side can make all the difference.
Here’s what she had to say about her experience with Elemental Beginnings: I can't express enough gratitude for our doula, Kelly from Elemental Beginnings. She was our unicorn, and anyone fortunate enough to have her will experience a better pregnancy and birth.
Preparing for a Calm and Confident Birth
One of the most rewarding parts of working with this family was helping them feel confident and prepared for labour. During our prenatal sessions in Adelaide, we practiced different positions, breathing techniques, and coping strategies to help them feel ready for the big day. Watching their confidence grow as we worked through their birth plan was truly special.
Support when plans change
Birth doesn’t always go to plan, and that’s okay. My role as a doula is to provide reassurance, guidance, and a steady presence no matter what unfolds. For this family, having someone to lean on during labour helped them navigate the experience with strength and calmness—even when things didn’t go exactly as expected. Postnatal Doula Care for a Smooth Transition The care I provide doesn’t stop after the baby is born. For this family, our postpartum visits at home were an essential part of their journey. My basic birth support package can include up to three postnatal visits, designed to help parents feel ready to rejoin the world after emerging from their birth bubble. During these visits, we focus on recovery, emotional wellbeing, and adjusting to life as new parents. Watching this family embrace parenthood feeling prepared and supported was such a joy. Why Choose Elemental Beginnings? Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or growing your family, having the right support can transform your experience. My personalised doula services are designed to help you feel confident, informed, and nurtured every step of the way. If you’re searching for a doula in Adelaide, I’d love to chat about how I can support you. From birth preparation to labour and postnatal care, I’m here to make your journey as smooth and positive as possible. Book Your Free Vibe-Check Call Today Choosing the right doula is an important decision, and I’d love to start with a no-obligation phone vibe-check to explore how I can support you and your family. Contact me today to take the first step towards a calm, confident, and supported pregnancy and birth experience. I have a bunch of books in my office that clients are welcome to borrow. Please let me know if you are interested in reading any of them. I do ask for a $20 fully refundable deposit for any item I lend out just in case they don't come back and I need to replace them =) Subjects include:
Click on the thumbnail to see the full cover and scroll through the other books Placenta Tincture
Have you ever heard of Rescue Remedy? If so, I like to think of a placenta tincture as your own personalised version.
A thumbnail size piece of your raw placenta is steeped in vodka for 6 weeks. After this time it is ready to strain, resulting in a powerful remedy which embodies your placenta's hormonal, mineral and nutritional quality. Similar to a homeopathic remedy where the principle of healing is 'like cures like'. Perfect for when you are challenged or feeling out of balance, this remedy, your own remedy, will always be there to help you regain your equilibrium.
You can order a placenta tincture separately or as part of your placenta encapsulation package.
Elemental Beginnings will provide you with:
|
freebiesPrepare for an easier fourth trimester with these 25 Secrets From A Postnatal Doula!
blogs
All
About MeKelly 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. |
© 2025 Elemental Beginnings |
|
PREGNANCY, BIRTH & POSTNATAL SUPPORT DELIVERED WITH  ❤  THROUGHOUT ADELAIDE & SURROUNDS