http://www.bonniethedoula.com.au/

Bonnie the Doula, Linton Street North, Perth (2025)

02/09/2025

So... you’re getting closer to meeting your baby & starting to worry about whether you’ll be able to handle labour?

Firstly, If you only read this first sentence & no more, I want you to know:

You already have everything you need within you.

Since you’re still reading, let me tell you what I said to a client the other day when she was wondering if she’ll handle it;

“The version of you that will handle labour, with all its unknowns, will be born in that moment… she’s already there, just waiting for when you need her most.”

And I keep thinking about that, because it’s so true.

We often don’t know what we’re capable of until we’re in the situation!

You don’t need to have all the answers right now.

You don’t need to know exactly how each moment of labour & birth will unfold.

What you do need is a deep-down trust that, when the time comes, you’ll have the strength, focus & calm right there with you - because everything you need is already within you, ready to go!

That powerful, capable version of yourself will emerge exactly when you need her to - as each contraction comes & goes, as you breathe through the sensations. She’ll be there, holding steady, even when you might not know how just yet.

What you need to do now in preparation for this type of calm, is Start building up your mental strength & confidence so that, when the time comes, you’ll trust in yourself to bring your baby into the world.

If you’re ready to build the inner tools & techniques that connect you to that strength within, & prepare yourself for a beautiful, transformative birth...

Sign up for my online birth course
“Together We Birth”

https://bonnie-walker.mykajabi.com/together-we-birth

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

P.s I've given birth 5 times & l've been supporting other families to give birth for 22 years

[labour preparation - labor preparation - childbirth - positive birth - how to create a birth plan - scared of birth - write a birth plan - informed consent in labour - labor informed consent - birth stories - birth choices - giving birth]

01/09/2025

Pregnant mum,

I know that you'd probably like to set aside more time each day to preparing for labour, but I also know that life is busy, & sometimes all you can manage is a quick 10-minute session

So, with this plan, you're going to be well prepped & making the most out of those 10 minutes (focusing on both the physical & mindset prep)

Then, when those first contractions start, you’ll feel calm, confident, & ready, rather than overwhelmed & underprepared

If you'd like the Positive Birth Video Links I mention in this post, comment "2mins" & I'll send them to you (or if instagram is glitching you can also find the link in my bio under Free Downloads)

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

& I wish I didn't have to say this, but to other doulas who see this post & want to copy it, please don't just make this into your own post or use it in your own course, these words belong to me, they are my own creative work & l've spent a lot of time creating them & a course around them - tag me & credit me please :)

28/07/2025

Just found out you’re pregnant?

First of all, congratulations

You mostly just want a nap & a snack but your brain’s already buzzing with “what now?”

Before the unsolicited advice rolls in...

Before the checklists, the apps, the “you have to” comments...

Let’s talk about a few simple things that’ll actually make a difference, not just for your pregnancy, but for your birth

1️⃣ Protect your peace from day one

You don’t need to go down the rabbit hole of birth forums

You don’t need everyone’s story

You don’t need to crowd your brain with fear to prove you’re “prepared”

The calmest births I’ve seen are the ones that started with boundaries not baby books

2️⃣ Name what feels weird, wobbly, or scary

Don’t “wait and see”

Don’t brush it off

Don’t smile through it if you’re spiralling inside

Say it. Write it. Get curious about it.

This is nervous system intelligence

3️⃣ Get clear on what you want (before the noise gets loud)

Before the birth plans

Before the appointments

Before everyone’s aunty chimes in with “just get the epidural!”

Take a quiet moment

Ask:
What matters to me?
How do I want to feel?

Start there. And hold it close

4️⃣ Remember: your birth partner can’t read your mind

If they’re saying "Whatever you need, I’m here”

Amazing. But vague

Start having real convos early

What does their support look like to you?

(And if they need guidance, I’ve got a course that shows them what actually helps)

5️⃣ Don’t just prep for birth, Prep for yourself in birth

You’re not just packing a hospital bag

You’re preparing to meet a whole new version of you

Make space for her

Make space for calm, for confidence, for trust

She doesn’t need to be fearless. She needs to feel safe. That’s it.

-----

There’s not really a welcome pack when you get pregnant

No one hands you the “how to feel steady when everything’s changing” guide

So you Google

You scroll

You screenshot breathing techniques

And somehow… you still don’t feel ready

That’s why I made "Birth Doesn’t Have to Be Scary"

It’s not a checklist

It’s not another thing to add to your mental load

It’s the support your nervous system’s been quietly asking for

So you can walk into birth feeling calm, clear & in charge, no matter how it unfolds

👆 Comment READY & I’ll send you everything you need to get started (heads up, it's a go-at-your-own-pace online podcast audio series that'll positively change how you feel about birth from a mindset level) or you can find it all here 👇

https://www.bonniethedoula.com.au/bdhtbs

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

24/07/2025

Pregnant mumma…

Can we just pause for a second?

Because I know you're probably tired

You're carrying the weight of the world (& a baby)

You’re Googling things at 11pm

You’re nodding through appointments like you’ve got it together (while secretly wondering, “Can I really do this?”)

Meanwhile, your body is literally building a human. A real, tiny person with little fingers, fingernails, a beating heart & a brand-new soul who already knows you as home. That is WILD!

And you’re still out here doing laundry, replying to messages, & trying not to lose it when someone says, “Sleep while you can”

But can we talk about what your mind is doing right now?

Because it matters just as much as what your body is doing

The voice in your mind shapes how you walk into birth

So let’s shift the script a little...

Here are some of the thoughts I hear all the time (from strong, smart, capable pregnant mums)

And what we can replace them with

“I’m scared I won’t cope.”
“If I don’t cope, so what? I can learn how to steady myself, I can gather myself up or someone can hold me until I’m ready.”

“I’m not doing enough.”
“If I’m stuck in the scroll, lost in the google sea of tabs & panicking, I have to remember birth prep isn’t about collecting more information - It’s about tuning back into my instincts”.

“I have to stay in control.”
“I don’t need to grip the wheel the whole way through. I just need to know how to come back to calm when things feel wild.”

“What if i’m scared.”
“Of course I’m scared. This is big. It’s my nervous system asking: ‘Are we safe?’

And now I know how to answer that (with tools, with breath, with support). I don’t have to get rid of fear. I just have to show it we’re not alone”

That’s how you build a rock-solid birth mindset

This is the work we do inside "Birth Doesn’t Have to Be Scary".

We don’t slap affirmations over fear. We get to the root. We shift the thoughts. We teach your brain to feel safe, so your body can do what it already knows how to do.

If you want real tools to stop the spiralling & start building actual trust in your birth, you’re so in the right place.

In “Birth Doesn’t Have to be Scary” I’ll show you how to:

✔ Stop Spiralling & Stay Steady
✔ Switch Fear to Trust
✔ Build Real Birth Confidence

https://www.bonniethedoula.com.au/bdhtbs

Because birth prep isn’t just what you pack in a bag. It’s more about what you carry in your mind.

👆Tap the link in my bio to learn more or comment READY & I’ll DM the link straight to you

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

P.S. My name is Bonnie & I show up here with real-talk mindset shifts, practical prep tips & the kind of birth advice that actually makes you feel calm, capable & ready for birth. If you’ve ever thought, “Why is no one talking about this?” you’re in the right place

11/07/2025

Pregnant?

And wondering if your partner will know what to do when you're in labour?

You’ve done most of the birth prep

You’ve eaten the dates & saved the breathing videos

You’ve listened to the birth stories

Half your camera roll is screenshots of positions & affirmations

Your birth partner is supportive, excited & saying things like:

“Whatever you need, I’m there”

(& definitely has opinions on baby names)

But deep down, you’re wondering:

“Will they actually know what to do when I’m in labour?”

Not in a “they don’t care” kind of way

In a “this is real, & I need to know I won’t be alone in that room” kind of way

Because good intentions are lovely

But they’re not the same as being ready

You don’t want to be mid-contraction, wondering if they’re about to ask you what to do next...

You want your birth partner to know:

✔ What actually helps in labour (& what doesn’t, like saying “relax”)

✔ How to hold space without freezing, fixing, or fading into the background

✔ How to read the room & your cues

✔ How to stay steady when things get intense, unpredictable or emotional

✔ How to show up as a calm, confident presence you don’t have to manage

That’s what real birth support looks like And that’s exactly what I teach inside
Be The Best Birth Support

It’s short, easy-to-listen-to guidance that helps your partner be the calm, confident presence you’ll actually lean on. Because you shouldn’t have to coach your partner while you’re giving birth

Send this link to them
Or just sign them up yourself
They want to help. Let’s show them how

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

05/07/2025

You’re growing a baby with no conscious effort

You don’t have to Google “how do I make a heart?” or “when do I start on the kidneys”

Your body just… knows

And yet, when it comes to birthing that baby?

Suddenly you’re surrounded by negative birth stories, dramatic scenes in movies & advice from people who’ve never even given birth

Suddenly, the noise gets loud

And you start wondering if your body can actually do this…
and whether it’ll let you down when you need it to show up most

So let me say this loudest of all:
⭐️ Your body already knows how to give birth (just like it knew how to grow your baby)
⭐️ Labour isn’t something you have to figure out (it’s something your body & baby move through together)
⭐️ You don’t need to be fearless (you just need to feel safe enough to begin)

You don’t need to second-guess your body

You need to quiet the noise around it

Because birth isn’t about proving anything

It’s about softening into the strength that’s already yours

It’s about calming the chaos, steadying your mind and remembering: your body was never the problem

It’s the place your power begins

The power is not out there

It’s in you!

You’ve been told you need to “just trust your body"

But has anyone actually shown you how to get your mind ready for birth?

Because it’s not just your body doing the work, it’s your brain deciding how safe it feels to begin

That’s the part no one’s teaching

And it’s exactly what we focus on inside Birth Doesn’t Have to Be Scary (My self-paced course that helps you stop spiralling, build real confidence & get emotionally steady before labour begins, so when the moment comes, you’re not just hoping you can do it…
you know you’re ready)

Here's the link https://www.bonniethedoula.com.au/bdhtbs

Come feel the shift

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

29/06/2025

Before I was a birth doula with 5 births of my own... I was a young mum saying yes to supporting a friend through labour

Me being a birth doula started 23 years ago today, when one of my closest friends, Kirsten, asked me to be a birth support for her for her second baby

I'd only had one child myself & I wasn't even fully sure what I was being asked to do - but I agreed immediately. (& then cried with excitement).

It was a planned home birth & I felt so honoured to be invited in to the pre-birth meetings with the private midwife Liz (mature, kind & very experienced with birth) where I learned so much as I listened & watched her gentle manner

I was on standby for what felt like weeks, my heart always leaping with expectation when the phone rang

The night I got the call, I remember driving through the cold, dark Tasmanian mid-winter night, anticipation & excitement filling the quiet

The stars bright, the air crisp, the crunch on the gravel as I stealthily crept towards Kirsten's front door

I hesitated; not at all sure what I would find when I walked in

There she was, our eyes locked, my heart surged

Kirsten, holding her baby to her chest, her eyes bright, her smile triumphant, what a moment! A moment etched forever

I'd missed the birth by only seconds, but I'd not missed it at all

What a complete joy to share the next few hours with the family as we all gazed at the precious miracle of life

The beginning of the life of Ronan; he was tiny, perfect & marvellous

I lived on the oxytocin for days, weeks even! And so began my doula journey

Every year on this day I remember this most special birth; my first

His beginning of life was my beginning of being the birth doula I am today

23 years, hundreds of births, & five of my own later, I’m still in love with this work

To every mum I’ve supported since that night: thank you 🤍

And to every mum preparing now
let’s get you ready, too 🤍

Happy birthday to the very first baby I ever had the honour of witnessing come into the world. Bless you always, Ronan 🤎

And thank you Kirsten for inviting me into your most precious birth space, I’m so forever grateful 🤍

24/06/2025

Pregnant
Overwhelmed
Quietly thinking:
“How am I supposed to do this?”

You’re smiling at the baby clothes

Telling people you’re “getting excited”

But truthfully,You feel like you’re walking toward something you can’t see the shape of

And everyone’s expecting you to be ready

You’ve Googled all the positions

Saved the calming affirmations

Even whispered “I can do this” into the bathroom mirror

But deep down, it still feels like a bluff

→ What if I can’t do it?
→ What if I fall apart?
→ What if my body doesn’t know how?

This isn’t a personal failing

It’s a gap in support

And you’re the one carrying the weight of it

You’ve been told “you’ve got this” without being shown how to feel safe when you’re in labour

So now your body’s doing the growing, but your mind is carrying the fear

And when birth begins,it’s your nervous system that walks in first

That’s why emotional prep isn’t optional, It’s essential

And it starts by getting honest with where you’re at before the contractions start

You don’t need someone telling you to “stay positive"

You need someone to ask:

What’s actually going on in your head about birth?

If your thoughts feel loud

If you’ve been spiralling quietly

If you’re pregnant & unsure where to start, I've created a quiz that's your first step

Take the “Am I ready to give birth?” quiz

It’s free. It’s quick. It's honest. It’s for you.

Comment QUIZ & I'll send it to you

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

22/06/2025

If birth is mostly mental…
Why is all the prep so physical?

You’re doing your best:

→ Sleeping with a pillow between your knees
→ Walking more because “movement helps”
→ Trying to eat the right things...

And all of that is helpful

But also, still not enough

Because when labour starts...

It’s not your hips doing the panicking

It’s your mind

Your body might open, but your brain will decide if it feels safe to

And if your nervous system is screaming:

→ What if I can’t do it?
→ What if it all goes wrong?
→ What if I lose control?
..no amount of perineal massage is going to quieten that

I’m not suggesting you choose between physical prep & mindset work

I’m suggesting you connect them

Because your body can’t soften if your brain is still gripping for control

So if you’ve been doing all the things...

but still feel that tightness in your chest every time you think about labour; that’s your sign

It’s not more stretches you need

It’s support for your mind

Let me ask you this...

When you picture yourself in labour do you feel calm & steady in your body?

Or kinda just hoping it all goes smoothly & you’ll figure it out on the day?

If it’s the second one, I get it

But let’s not pretend that’s enough

You deserve more than crossing your fingers

You deserve to feel ready

👇 Take my free quiz:

Are you actually ready to give birth?

It’s short. It’s honest. And it’ll show you where your confidence is solid & where it needs backup

Comment QUIZ & I'll send you the link

Let’s get you ready

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

09/06/2025

Her baby bump was growing

But so was her fear

She didn’t tell anyone she was scared

Not her partner
Not her midwife
Not even her mum

She Just kept saying:
“Yeah, we’re getting so excited.”

She followed the positive birth accounts

Ate the dates

Was practicing the controlled breathing techniques...

But still, at night, her mind whispered
What if I can’t do it?

No one tells you how loud the fear can get in a quiet room

It creeps in while you’re folding baby clothes

or brushing your teeth...

What if something goes wrong?
What if I don’t know what to do?
What if my body lets me down?

And she didn’t want to sound negative
Or ungrateful, Or dramatic

So she kept smiling

But deep down, she felt like she was walking into the unknown without a map

This is what I wish someone had told her:

Your brain deserves as much prep as your hospital bag

Fear isn’t failure - It’s your nervous system asking for support, For information, For a sense of safety

You don’t need to banish fear

You need to get to know it

Sit with it

Learn what it’s trying to protect you from

Then shift the story, so fear’s not in the driver’s seat when birth begins

You are

And that’s exactly why I created inside my online step-by-step mindset course:

Birth Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

I help pregnant mums turn that fear into confidence

So they know they are ready, not just hoping they are

If you’ve ever found yourself nodding along while secretly spiralling inside…

This course is for you

It’s for the quiet fears

The brave questions

The part of you that wants to walk into birth feeling mentally ready

Birth Doesn't Have to be Scary

I’ve got you

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

PS. Comment “READY” in the comments & I’ll DM you the link to my course

https://www.bonniethedoula.com.au/bdhtbs

29/05/2025

Birth prep isn’t something you pass like a test

There aren't any gold stars or final grades. No “you did it perfectly” awards

It’s a process

& some days that process is messy

One day you’re feeling like you've got this, breathing, visualising, resting when you need to

The next, you’re crying into a bag of trail mix wondering if you’re even cut out for this

But, ALL the things you do to care for your mind matters

Every time you stop & breathe instead of panic

Every time you give yourself a break instead of pushing through

Every time you notice fear creeping in & choose to look at it instead of shove it down, it's making a difference

This is what birth prep really looks like

Not ticking off modules

Not memorising terms

Not pretending you’ve got it all together

Just showing up

Again & again

Even when it’s hard

Especially when it’s hard

& if today’s a hard day, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’re growing

If you feel like your brain’s full of noise & you don’t know where to start, I’ve got you

Inside Birth Doesn’t Have to Be Scary, I’ll help you quieten the fear, clear the overwhelm, & feel steady again

✨ You’re doing this, mumma.

Love, your birth coach, Bonnie 🤎

P.S. I’m a third-generation doula with 22 years in the birth space and five unmedicated births of my own. I’ve walked this road, now I’m here to walk it with you

Bonnie the Doula

02/09/2025

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29/06/2025

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