The Rosie Doula

10/02/2025

I posted a while ago about taking a break. It has been much needed and much appreciated. For the foreseeable future I've decided I will only be taking on repeat clients and photography. If you've birthed with me before I would be absolutely honoured to support you as you bring another beautiful bubba into the world. If you're having a homebirth or freebirth and would love a birth-aware and respectful photographer, please get in touch ❤️

28/10/2024

✨ Just after the sun rose on the first magical day in September, baby Joey joined us earthside ✨

Her mummas chose freebirth and they prepared through their pregnancy, as one carried the baby formed from the egg of the other 💕 Despite risk factors like IVF and BMI, they knew this was right for them.

She laboured through the night, relying on her breathing & the TENS machine, telling hilarious stories between contractions that made everyone belly laugh. The room was filled with excitement & joy as she kept labouring in the sweet relief of the birth pool.

The irony of a baby with two mothers being born on father's day was not lost on us 😂

Her loyal dog came & checked that she was okay, then just before sunrise we woke her daughter so she could watch. We all sensed it would be soon. Her daughter & her partner both offered beautiful and loving support, reassuring her & reading out her birth affirmations.

After a traumatic experience in hospital last time, this birth was to be her healing birth, her redemption.

As the room began to lighten with the first hint of the sun, she started pushing involuntarily, bringing her baby down further with each surge until finally, finally the head was out... Then the rest of the baby shot right out into the water!

She yelled "it's out"! Then she picked up her own baby and brought it to her chest as relief, disbelief and joy all filled her face at once.

She had done it.

On her own terms.

She had a peek & saw that they had a daughter! Another amazing girl to join this family of incredible and strong women.

She stayed in the pool and marvelled at her new daughter while everyone else cried at the beauty of what had just happened, her older daughter saying that she felt like she was in a dream. The vernix covering the baby was as thick as birthday cake frosting, and as they all gazed in awe at this precious new life, they became enmeshed as a new family of four.

She moved to the toilet to birth the placenta, then everyone got set up on the couch where they cut the cord, and baby Joey got to have cuddles with her other mumma & her big sister.

Welcome to the world baby Joey, you have the most beautiful family 💕

14/10/2024

I'd love to know your why!

Did you birth at home? Hospital? In a hotel? What lead to that decision? Any regrets?

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10/10/2024

✨ One sunny afternoon in late July, baby Sunny was roared into the world ✨

His mumma worked hard, swaying and breathing through her contractions, trying to will her body to relax and not tense up. She read her affirmations and focussed inward.

This birth was to be her redemption. After an unwanted ECV that caused premature labour last time, ending in a coerced and unwanted ceasarian... This freebirth was going to be everything different, everything she wanted, and everything on her own terms.

Her man was there for her when he could be, but little Luna was upset and scared of the noises her mumma was making, so he comforted her in the other room and came back as he could.

Her labour had not been going for long at all, only a few hours, when she started feeling the urge to push, using her breath and voice to bear down with her body. It knew exactly what it was doing and she followed its lead, holding on tight.

After some huge pushes and loud vocalisations, the baby's head emerged... Luna and dadda came back to see the rest of the baby's body birthed into the water. It was absolutely magical.

Then this mumma, who had been subjected to the system and its coercion, who had chosen a new path and forged her way through, caught her own slippery warm baby and brought it to her chest!

The baby didn't cry or breathe right away, but mumma gave some gentle stimulation and some colour started coming to his face and chest then he let out a gurgly cry. They didn't know until that moment that he was a boy; a beautiful little Sun to go with their Moon (Luna).

She eventually moved to the bed, leaving a beautiful breadcrumb trail of blood droplets behind her, birthed the placenta with ease, then breastfed her fresh son. Luna showed him her own baby and her abacus. Dadda cut the cord and they all settled into their new normal.

The world outside continued on as the sun set, completely unaware of the incredible miracle that had just taken place within these walls.

She had done it. On her own terms and in her own space.

Welcome to the world baby Sunny. Your mumma is so powerful ☀️

31/08/2024

After a massive year taking on a huge amount of births, with awful pressure and scare tactics being put on doulas (particularly freebirth doulas) and after pouring my heart and soul into my amazing clients, I am weary and burned out.

This work is amazing. It is so fulfilling and rewarding and beautiful, and at the same time it requires so much from us as doulas. So much emotion, time and energy.

I can't keep pouring myself into , my kids, my marriage and my doula work. It just isn't sustainable at this level. I would love to keep pursuing photography after some recovery time.

I'm currently attending my last birth for this year, and I'm not sure what the future will look for like for my doula work.

I just know I need some time.

So I'm taking some time.

❤️

22/06/2024

I can't believe a whole year has passed already.

Baby Aodhán, I often wonder what you would be like if you were here now. You would have the most beautiful smile and you'd be learning to walk. It hurts so much that the world doesn't get to have you in it.

You mean so much to me and I am still so honoured that I got to be a part of your journey. Your life and death now make up a part of my story, part of who I am.

Your parents are the strongest people I've ever known.

I miss you so much Aodhán.

Happy birthday 💙

~

Thinking of and honouring you Mia and Ryan today as you move through the emotions of the day 💔

21/06/2024

As your doula there is no point at which I will abandon you. If your labour is very long I may leave some supplies with you, go home to sleep and come back later. I will check in often and be available to come back as soon as I'm needed.

If your birth doesn't go to plan I will stay by your side. If you have to transfer to hospital I will come with you and be your advocate. If you have a ceasarian I will fight hard to be allowed into the room.

28/05/2024

Please share!

Community Funding Call Out
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I am reaching out to you all asking for your support and assistance to help fund a Sophie doll and her mama (will be named when she arrives) to support us Homebirth midwives in maintaining our breech skills to help support women at home if a physiological breech (bottom first) birth deviates from normal.
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There are a few of us that feel comfortable to support women wanting to birth breech babies at home (or within a hospital setting if that’s your preferred location) and some that want more confidence and training so that they can do this as well. Currently we have to wait for trainers to come from America which we are grateful for but to keep our skills up we would greatly benefit from having access to the birth simulator that and use to continue practicing at our mandatory training days each year (or more).
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I have been asked to facilitate a 2hr breech workshop at the Homebirth Australia conference in November and would love to have them in time for this however I was offered a quote of $7,810 (not including GST or freight) which is only available until 1st July so am aiming to get the simulator prior as it will be more after this date.
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Once purchased, Sophie and her mother will then be available to hire to the private midwives in Brisbane/Sunshine Coast region and will have the set up to be flipped into an upright position to assist learning and practicing the hands on maneuvers for breech if needed.
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I would greatly appreciate your help in getting this available to us all. If you could please contribute (any amount is appreciated) please click on the link in my bio or here https://gofund.me/fcb97040
Please also share the link to others that may be able to help out.
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For more information on the dolls please head to the following website: https://modelmed.com.au/products/sophie-birth-simulator/
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If you have any questions or want to chat please feel free to PM or email me sasha@barefootmidwifery.com.au

08/05/2024

On a gorgeous Monday afternoon in April, baby Joseph joined us earthside ✨

His mumma laboured silently at home, held by her man and surrounded by her birth team. They swayed and breathed as he squeezed her hips and rubbed her back. The room was filled with peace and excitement, it was finally time to meet their baby.

She laboured all through the night and into the next day, snatching a rest here and a snack there. She got into the pool and out of the pool, her team helped her through different manoeuvres and positions to try to help the baby's position. She laboured upright, on all fours, lying down and even upside down for a short spell!

She never once complained and barely made a sound. She was digging deep and focussing on breathing and keeping her muscles relaxed. She squeezed the birth combs for pain relief and distraction.

Finally she could feel her baby descending lower and lower into the pelvis, and she slowly but surely changed from serene breathing to pushing, helping her baby move further and further down.

Eventually the baby was not budging any further despite her best pushing efforts, so she made the decision to transfer to hospital for what we assumed would be a vacuum-assisted birth.

The midwife at the hospital encouraged her to give it all she had in a final effort to push this baby out, she gathered all the strength she had in her and...

She did it!

She pushed the baby out all on her own, before the doctor even had a chance to come into the room!

As her warm, wet baby was placed onto her chest the look of joy and relief on their faces was overwhelming. It was over. Dadda looked and saw that they had another boy. Two sons to face the world together.

She had done it. With the support of her man and her team, and with all the power she possessed, she had done it.

Welcome to the world baby Joe, your mumma is a powerful warrior 💪

08/05/2024

Childbirth is a Rite of Passage, and no matter how you give birth it is not designed to be easy.

Birthing babies is HARD work.

But that's kind of the point. The harder the work, the greater the transition and the sweeter the reward. And birthing gives us the sweetest reward of all.

We birth our babies and we ourselves are birthed as their mother.

It's not meant to be easy.

Most good things aren't.

✨

24/04/2024

✨ One ordinary afternoon in March, baby Pana Lou slipped into the world ✨

Her mumma breathed through each wave, willing her body to relax and leaning on her man for support and comfort. She tried the TENS machine for a while then decided to get into the pool, where she asked him to support her in very specific ways like holding his hand firm so she could push her forehead into it, and getting him to squeeze her shoulders really hard 😅

They worked together like they had choreographed this dance together. Sometimes she needed space, sometimes she needed him. He was always there.

This was the redemptive birth she dreamed of after her first was sabotaged by the medical system. She knew she didn't need anyone telling her what to do, what position to try, how to push or that she needed a ceasarian. She could do this, her VBAC.

When it was time to push her body took over and did the work for her, she followed its lead and tried to keep breathing. At 2pm she pushed out her baby's head, then at 2:02pm the rest of the baby emerged into her dada's waiting hands.

The rolly, chunky, vernix-covered baby let out a gurgly cry straight away, then they looked and saw that it was a girl! They had a daughter. They kissed and laughed and pinched themselves, they had done it. She got the birth of her dreams.

She got out of the pool to birth the placenta and lie down on a mattress and breastfeed. Soon enough big brother came bounding in, so excited to meet his baby sister. He patted her, kissed her and held her hand as his smile beamed.

When it was time to get up for a shower she didn't feel so good and it became clear that the bleeding was not slowing on its own, so a transfer into hospital was needed for life-saving surgery. The paramedics and hospital staff alike were respectful and proactive. She clung to her baby and kissed her goodbye as they took her to theatre. They were reunited a few short hours later, thankful for our medical system and being able to use it when needed.

What a beautiful, healing birth experience for this amazing family.

Welcome baby Pana, your mumma is absolutely incredible and she will do anything to protect you 💞

15/04/2024

I now offer a photography-only package!

This package is much cheaper than my doula support, but you get the added bonus of having an experienced doula alongside you too.

When you think about how much people spend on wedding photos... Capturing your child coming into this world is priceless!

So many women I've spoken to say their birth photos are the most precious photos they have, they look at them all the time.

I didn't have a birth photographer and I really regret it 🥺

The benefit of having me photograph your birth is that, being a doula as well, I "get it". I know how sacred the birth space is. I don't use a flash, I don't ask you to pose, you barely even know I'm there. Many of my past clients comment that they had no idea I was even taking photos. I can be as discreet and modest as you want, or as full-frontal as you want.

Plus, if you want me to, I'm happy to doula a little as well... It's difficult not to! Haha.

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