“We won’t ever have enough words to thank Janine for all the support, both physical and emotional, she provided in our postpartum journey. After experiencing the unexpected loss of a family member during our newborn phase, Janine provided support in whichever way we needed it most. Whether that was a shoulder to cry on, words of wisdom or a lovely loaf of freshly baked bread. Her gentle and encouraging nature is exactly what we needed and we would love to have her around whenever we expand our family further! xxx”

“When people ask me what the best baby item I invested in was, I tell them it wasn’t an item, it was the support of Janine as our postpartum doula. It’s true how they say you don’t know what you don’t know, and caring for a new baby is a steep learning curve.

Janine has a gift of listening to you, guiding you to the best solution for your family and then telling you you’re nailing it! Janine helped us to be confident through our journey into parenthood! xx”

“Janine’s support was one of the most beneficial and meaningful decisions we made for our pregnancy and postpartum journey. Janine was not only kind, calm and positive but so generous with her knowledge and wisdom. She was genuinely attentive to our needs, both practical and emotional, and offered advice in a caring and positive way. Janine was a huge help when it came to overcoming breastfeeding challenges, connecting us with a range of specialists but importantly offering emotional support during a challenging time. We hold Janine in the highest regard and cannot comment enough!!”

“Janine’s support and the impact she had on my postpartum period with my two children is so significant and meaningful, it’s created one of my fondest memories as a mother. She made a time that most new parents describe as exhausting and difficult to be one full of joy and empowerment for our family.

The way this changes the newborn experience cannot be understated. She not only took away enormous amounts of mental load from me, she enriched it with her expertise and grace, something I find both overwhelming and hard to put into words.

Her emotional intelligence is off the charts, her ability to read what a mother, baby and broader family needs at any moment, and within minutes of entering the home is like a magic skill found only rarely in very special humans. Janine can
- calm a grizzly baby you’ve been up all night with in seconds
- easily draw upon and provide the compassion to instantly make you feel understood and supported as a parent, when you don’t have the right words yourself
- the nurture of a warm bowl of food when you haven’t eaten since yesterday
- do the dirty dishes before you’ve even noticed they are gone
- wave a magic wand over the messy and milk-stained sheets without needing to be asked.

If you imagine the very best baby expert, midwife, therapist, nanny, mother, and cleaner all rolled into one, you’re getting somewhat close to understanding her value.

Yes, Janine’s support really was comparable to 4-5 other professionals for us, she is a tenured and deeply knowledgeable expert in her field whose standard of care is hard to rival by others.

A 3 hour visit from Janine often felt like a week’s worth of support from anyone else for us. She could arrive and I would feel exhausted, confused and completely beside myself, but by the time she left I was rejuvenated, I had a clear mind, a refreshed home and a calm baby (with a sustainable plan to help maintain all of it for myself until she would visit again).

We love you Janine and will forever sing your praises! xxx”

“Working with Janine as our doula was the best choice we made during pregnancy. From the very beginning, she was a calming and reassuring presence, guiding us through every step of the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.

This was our first child and Janine’s wealth of knowledge from decades of experience working with babies, coupled with her warm and compassionate nature, made us feel supported and empowered at every turn. We opted for some postnatal help from Janine and it was a godsend. Post-birth she gave us so many practical yet powerful breastfeeding and sleeping tips that we’re still using 4 months later. Janine’s dedication went above and beyond, always making sure our needs were met and that we felt heard. She was in constant communication with us before, during and after birth and responded quickly to any questions we had. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner during this transformative time.

We are deeply grateful to Janine for helping make our first pregnancy/birthing experience so positive and memorable and highly recommend her to all our friends.”

“Janine was our number one cheerleader from the start. She provided us with expert guidance, but in a gentle and magic way that made us feel like we knew what to do all along. We’ve recommended Janine to so many friends and colleagues. We feel incredibly lucky to have had her in our team as we started out as rookie parents. xx”

“My husband and I hired Janine to support my postpartum journey following the birth of our first child. We are so glad we did!

Janine is like the big warm hug that you need during those first delicate first few weeks. She is a wealth of knowledge, with many practical hints and tips to help ease the postpartum stage. She is a strong advocate for taking care of mum in whatever form that may be. For us, the first few weeks she helped with tasks around the house such as vacuuming and laundry, and as we got closer to the 12 weeks, it changed to taking care of baby so that I could get things done around the house. Janine is so nurturing, comforting and reassuring. You definitely need her in your corner during the postpartum stage.

I would highly recommend Janine to anyone who feels like they could use a bit of extra support during this stage! She definitely helped to take care of me so I could take care of my baby.”

“I had the pleasure of meeting Janine through her virtual “Preparing For Your Fourth Trimester” workshop at the end of my pregnancy, she helped us to welcome our little girl Alyssa.

Janine is very knowledgeable and she has been there for us and supported me through my postpartum journey. All through virtual support as we live away from Sydney. Recently she has helped me with issues I was having with naps. She gave me plenty of information and was always available when I needed her the most. She gave me the strength to support my daughter to sleep in her cot and now, within a week, she is happily sleeping in her bassinet without rocking her for anymore for hours, which gave me a huge relief. I am beyond blessed with what she did for us.

Thank you Janine for what you have done for our family you are an incredible beautiful soul xxxx”

“Janine’s support in the early days with our firstborn was invaluable. She is the reason I was able to successfully breastfeed my daughter from birth til now. Without her, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to continue when told my daughter wasn’t gaining enough weight. Janine’s warmth and experience reassured me and strengthened my confidence in my journey. She provided the kind of support you hope to receive from a close family member. I treasure those early weeks because of Janine’s thoughtfulness and care. Most importantly, she has given me the confidence to trust my instincts as a mother going forward.

I highly recommend Janine to anyone starting their motherhood journey. She has a great network of other professionals who can provide support as needed and also makes AMAZING meals:-)! She truly understands the needs of a new family! xx”

“Janine was an invaluable part of our lives for the first three months postpartum, visiting us weekly and providing the support we needed during such a crucial time. Her warmth and vast knowledge made her not just a doula, but a cherished mentor and my biggest cheerleader.

Navigating the turbulent early days with a newborn was made so much easier thanks to Janine’s guidance. She helped us with everything from feeding and sleeping to play and development, boosting my confidence as a new parent. Her support was a game-changer for our family.

I recommend Janine to all my expecting girlfriends - she’s simply the best in the business! xx”

“Having Janine’s support was an absolute blessing in my postpartum journeys with my two babies. Janine is not just highly experienced and knowledgeable, but her warm, loving demeanour and gentle, calm approach made all the difference. She guided me through sleep, settling, feeding, play and bedtime routines with both my girls and was always available for a chat over text or phone if needed.

What sets Janine apart is not only her expertise but also her extensive network of specialised services she readily refers to when needed. She’s connected to the best of the best in the field. Her flexibility in working hours was a lifesaver, accomodating my husband’s work schedule which often included work during the late evenings. Even after our sessions, she continues to keep in touch, checking in on the family regularly.

Most importantly, Janine played a pivotal role in boosting my confidence as a new mum, easing my anxiety, and helping me truly enjoy motherhood.

I cannot thank Janine enough for her unwavering support, love, and care and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone in need of compassionate guidance during this precious time. xx”

“As a first time mum, I was looking for professional support to guide me through the postnatal period. Janine delivered above and beyond my expectations. From changing nappies, clothes, bathing a newborn to organising my apartment efficiently, her handy advices were a lifesaver and gave me confidence to do the right things on my own.

Janine is a very caring person who listens to your concerns and has tools in her repertoire to help you. She is highly professional and provides not only practical solutions but also emotional support.

Such a great experience with Janine and I would engage her any time again. Janine is just amazing!!! xx

”

“I had a tricky postpartum with my firstborn and I knew I needed practical and emotional support this time around. I feel so lucky to have had Janine’s support during this really pivotal point in my life. Janine’s calm presence always reassured me and her guidance made me feel confident about navigating all aspects of the fourth trimester. I really wish I had had her the first time around! Janine helped look after me as well as baby, which is exactly what I needed. Janine is an amazing human, who genuinely cares about her client’s wellbeing, who has so many tips and tricks for making little ones happy and content and is ridiculously well connected with other professionals to whom she refers if required. Janine checked in regularly and went above and beyond to be available for whatever I needed. Janine is an absolute blessing and I have already sung her praises and recommended her to friends! ”

“Janine is officially amazing! She is so warm and caring and is someone we trusted implicitly to look after both of our babies from the moment they were born - to let me shower or nap, get a massage or just to have some time hanging out with my toddler. She has the answer to every question you could ever ask (and we asked a lot) or knows exactly who will. It has honestly been like having my mum here with much for relevant experience and without all the annoying mum bits! She’s helped us in more ways than I ever expected - someone to chat to when the going was tough, teaching us how to bath, swaddle and burp, how to get my firstborn to take a bottle, what to do when I got mastitis, picking up things from the shops for us.......we could not recommend Janine more highly to support your family! ”

“I couldn’t be more grateful to have had Janine by my side for the delivery of my gorgeous boy Xavier. I made the decision to find a doula to support me quite late in my pregnancy - as a solo mum and expat with no family close by, it’s a no-brainer now, but I hadn’t really researched what a doula might really offer. Turns out, it is A LOT!

At our first meeting, her warmth and experience was obvious - she has that beautiful combination of softness and authority that makes you feel completely safe, no matter what the universe might have in store for you. The peace of mind this brought me was invaluable. She worked with me in the lead up to my delivery to provide a good understanding of what to expect in labour, establish my preferences and plan for all eventualities, which meant I felt empowered to advocate for myself (with her guidance) throughout my labour. She also helped me set expectations and prepare for those first few days postpartum as well sharing tips and tricks that I wouldn’t have known where to start otherwise.

I have already recommended Janine to a friend who is due in a few months! xxx”

“No-one knew less about pregnancy, birth and caring for a baby than us. When a friend suggested a doula, who they still had a lovely relationship with, we knew Janine would be a perfect fit for us. Janine immediately feels like family and comes with a wealth of experience like hiring a professional consultant.

Everybody’s journey and baby are truly individual and there’s no better way through than having someone who can help you with exactly what you want to achieve, or help troubleshoot your exact problem that you’re trying to fix in the moment, when the baby has arrived. We could not recommend Janine more highly, she’s the secret weapon to us having a pretty great run with our newborn so far! xxx”

“Genuine warmth, professionalism, and deep knowledge of birth and postpartum.

Janine not only has a brilliant background, her personality makes her a wonderful doula and key part of a birth team. She was the perfect fit for us and she certainly has a knack for fitting in so seamlessly.

The best part of working with Janine is that she doesn’t make any decisions for you. She empowers you to make the choice. Through education and support we were empowered to make difficult decisions that we needed to make in late pregnancy and about the birth too.

I know that without having met Janine, our birth and postpartum would have looked very different.

I couldn’t recommend Janine enough to anyone interested in hiring a doula. She is a special one!! xx”

“Janine is an absolute blessing. Her nurturing spirit and practical assistance made the challenging postpartum period more manageable. From emotional support to practical help, Janine’s presence was extremely comforting and reassuring.

We were recommended Janine by friends and have since recommended Janine to others; it is wonderful to know she will forever be in our circle and has played a part in the lives of our “littles””

“Janine is an absolute powerhouse who guided us through the newborn process and beyond. As first time parents, we reached out to Janine to help with the postpartum process. From our son’s first swaddle, to his first bath, Janine was right by our side. Her wealth of knowledge, calm vibes and loving nature were exactly what we needed as two headless chooks navigating our new life. When sleep depravation is at an all time peak, having a voice of reason was worth every penny. Both my husband and I would feel lighter and more confident every time she left, letting us ask many many questions and reassuring us that we were doing a good job

Janine is amazing and I am so thankful to have her support in motherhood xx”

“After arriving home with our screaming little bundle of joy, we were more overwhelmed than we expected (probably due to sleep depravation) - enter Janine!! She was like our personal coach cheering us on, offering killer advice, and being there whenever we hit a snag. Thanks to her, we got the hang of it in no time. She didn’t just drop knowledge bombs; she was there with a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, and sometimes a quick trip to K-Mart for last minute essentials. If you’re about to hop onto this roller coaster called parenthood, seriously consider getting Janine on board. She’s the real deal, and we can’t thank her enough for making our ride so much smoother! xxxx”

“Welcoming our second baby was a whirlwind, but Janine made it a much smoother ride. Her tailored support, understanding of sibling dynamics, and practical assistance allowed us to focus on both children with confidence. We are so grateful for the seamless transition she helped to orchestrate during this special but demanding time:-)! xxxx”

“Janine for was, and is for us, what I can only describe as a professional mother. She is such a beautiful person who has an incredible wealth of knowledge. She was so patient with us asking her so many questions when our little girl first came home. I honestly could not recommend her enough. She is amazing with babies, she has this calming presence that our little girl loves. Janine was our postnatal doula and I wish I had also used her services as our birth Doula too - I have booked her in if we are lucky enough to have another baby. She has given us so many helpful tips and tricks with our little girl that have all worked. I had some struggles with breastfeeding and Janine helped me so much and guided me in the right direction. She is like a family member to us now and we cherish every minute with her. We all need a Janine in our lives - she is the best! ”

“Having the support of Janine during my pregnancy, labour, and post-partum experience was an incredibly important part of my journey. It’s hard to put into words how magnificent this woman is! She is so knowledgeable, understanding, wise, helpful, calm, professional, the list goes on. I credit so much of my amazing birth and post-partum experience to having Janine by my side the whole time. The things I learnt from her after giving birth were invaluable, and so far and beyond what I thought I would receive from her support. The first few weeks of post-partum are daunting, but I never felt overly worried or scared as I knew I could check with Janine and she was always there to provide her expertise, recommendations, suggestions, and hear my concerns. Having the support of a Doula is amazing, but having the support of Janine has been life-changing. From Les, Pearl, and I, thank you, thank you, thank you!
xxx”

“What would I have done without Janine the baby whisperer??? I came home from the hospital completely lacking in confidence and Janine’s knowledge as well as her kind, calm and caring nature was exactly what I needed during this time. She has an incredible wealth of knowledge and is brilliant with babies so you always feel like you and your bub are in the safest of hands. Over the weeks she was with me she taught me how to bathe my little one, gave me much-needed and welcome direction while breastfeeding, advice on helpful products and so much more. I didn’t think I’d ever feel confident enough to not need her help but slowly but surely I started to feel like I could do it on my own thanks to her. I am SO glad I had her by my side for those early weeks and can’t recommend her highly enough. She’s amazing.”

“ Janine initially came to us as Samuel’s postpartum doula however, as we now say, she has become his fairy godmother. Bringing her unique mixture of joy and knowledgeable calm to us whenever we have needed her, she also has the magic ability to settle Samuel in an instant when he is most fussy!! Her advice continues to guide us during the most testing of times and we cannot recommend strongly enough that you follow her guide for newborns i.e. clothing/carrier/wraps as these became the stable items for the first turbulent months as new parents. Beyond helping with Samuel, Janine has been a rock for both us, her warmth and patience are infatigable and she has been a shoulder to cry on after a troubled birth not to mention the cookies that are as good as others mention!! Whether you have no family in Australia (like us) or are full to brim with familial advice, Janine will bring her unique and indispensable talents and make those early days and months with your newborn a little easier.”

“Janine was an absolute saving grace. From the moment that we met her until a month after the birth, Janine was always a text message or phone call away, and always willing to support us in whatever way she could. Her experience has been invaluable for us as first time parents and we loved her regular check ins, advice, recommendations and words of encouragement. There is no way that my partner and I could have gone through the birth experience without Janine, by our side with her magical Doula healing powers every step of the way, especially swooping in when we had an unexpected birth one month early. We will all miss her, as she had become a really caring and supportive person to have in our corner over these past 9+ months.”

“Having Janine help us prepare our birth plan, and support us during the labour made the world of difference, especially as first time parents navigating many unknowns and unexpected changes.

Her post partum care set us up for a wonderful experience for the early days with baby, and has given us confidence and the practical skills to make sure our precious little one is happy and thriving!

We are so glad we had Janine to support us on our journey - it’s been essential to our wellbeing and baby’s too!”

xxxx”

“Having Janine as our doula was one of the best decisions we made for welcoming our little one into this world. Since all our families are overseas we needed a support system that we could trust and rely on. Janine, with her huge heart, tons of knowledge and genuine warmth was exactly that and it instantly felt like having family around. We learned so much from her regarding caring, nursing and raising our baby and we are forever thankful for her help.

For anyone looking for a doula who is understanding, reliable and encouraging, Janine is the person you need”

“As an anxious person, I can’t believe how lucky I was to find Janine and have her as my birth doula. I felt an instant connection with her during our first phone call which made my choice to use her incredibly easy. She fielded texts and calls as my due date came and went, with constant reassurance that I was safe and everything would happen on it’s own time. When labour finally started, Janine was there with all her calming techniques to help me keep my cool. Acupressure points, massage, different positions, kind words, essential oils.....all the good stuff.

My birth experience took some very unexpected turns but Janine provided the most incredible support throughout the whole thing, keeping myself and my partner calm. When things finally came to a head, after trying for a natural labour for 18 hours and finally requiring an unplanned c-section, I was told I could only have one support person with me. I’m not going to lie....I was very tempted to ditch my husband as I knew Janine would provide such great support. It turned out that I was not the only one who was impressed by Janine, as the hospital staff were enamoured by her, her knowledge and demeanour and allowed me to bring her with me into the operating room. I am so grateful that I could do this as I faced some complications in the surgery as well. When our little boy arrived, my husband was able to meet and spend time with our son while Janine stayed by my side the whole time keeping me calm and reassuring me I was safe.

Now that our boy is home with us, Janine has continued to be of great help, only just a text away and always happy to answer all my questions. I am so glad she is part of our story and part of our life.”

“We can’t imagine not having had Janine on our journey to become parents for the first time. She has been invaluable every step of the way from pregnancy to postpartum. Janine helped us advocate for the birth we hoped for with our birthing team - during the late pregnancy we got some tricky circumstances that almost put us off course from the birth we hoped for, but in the end, we had an incredible birth at the hospital and Janine held the space amazingly and was absolutely key in making the experience so special and natural. Janine has also supported us postpartum with everything from feeding and sleep to supporting our son developmentally. She holds so much wisdom and also such grounded and calm energy. Janine has also helped us with great referrals to extend our support network (with a lactation consultant etc). It has felt so reassuring and comforting to be able to reach out to Janine in these beautiful but overwhelming times.”

“Janine is like an angel entering your home at one of the most raw, testing and incredible times with a new baby.
It is Janine’s nature coupled with her depth of experience that makes her the only post-natal doula you would ever want. Janine is highly qualified; she is a trained nurse who has worked for many years in the world of pre and post-natal care in addition to supporting families through their IVF journeys. As a Doula, Janine enters your home with the most beautiful energy, knowing just what you need as a mother and family and providing support in a way that is gentle, supportive, and non-invasive. Janine supported our family during a challenging time being separated from our families due to Covid. Her emotional support was incredible and even though she supported us with our 3rd baby, she taught us skills in settling, feeding and how to read your baby that we wish we had of known from the beginning.
Amongst our friends Janine was known as “Saint Janine” and “The Baby Whisperer” ! You will be the lucky ones should you choose to invite Janine into this incredibly precious time as a family.”

“We absolutely loved Janine as our doula and can’t recommend her highly enough. As first time parents we were nervous however Janine gave us confidence and reassurance throughout our birth/postpartum journey.

Despite feeling overwhelmed or anxious at times Janine was always calm, gentle and knowledgeable, which helped us feel relaxed, informed and in control. During the postpartum period Janine was a wonderful support and available to answer our questions, show us tips, assist with breastfeeding and was a great source of comfort. Thanks Janine for all your help and being a true fairy godmother.”

“I am forever grateful and fortunate to have been introduced to the extraordinary Janine.
Her warmth, expertise, calming presence, steadfast support and genuine care were invaluable during numerous rounds of IVF, pregnancy loss and most happily for the birth of my daughter.

Whilst I had an amazing IVF specialist and obstetrician, the support and guidance Janine provided over a journey that lasted a few years was, I believe, integral to achieving my dream of becoming a mum.
Janine also has a network of other professionals including accupuncture, womens health physio, massage, nutrition, birthing courses and more. You know when Janine provides a recommendation you’re receiving the best of care. She has also been an incredible source of knowledge around what baby related products would work best for us.
Towards the end of my pregnancy, Janine accompanied me to my OB appointment so our ‘team’ was all in sync for the arrival of my daughter. We required a caesarian, throughout which Janine’s obstetric nursing experience and calming presence provided wonderful reassurance.

Janine also brought us home from the hospital and ensured we were settled and cocooned in our newborn ‘bubble’.
Again her experience as a mum and professional ensured I gained confidence in caring for my precious newborn in those early days and she has continued to be an incredible source of advice as my daughter grows and we experience illnesses, teething etc.

I have a significant vision impairment which was never an issue for Janine. She ensured information she provided was accessible for me. During our hospital stay she explained the environment around me and spoke of what was happening throughout my daughter’s delivery so I felt confident and comfortable. My Guide Dog loves Janine as much as my daughter and I do!
I can not recommend Janine more highly. I’m confident anyone who is fortunate enough to have Janine as their doula and support throughout any point of their preconception, pregnancy and/or postpartum journey will feel as blessed as I do for having her in our life”

“Janine supported us after the birth of our son. I loved her visits, feeling very comforted by her presence. She provided some much needed emotional support as well as delicious nourishing food to counteract that early postpartum hunger and a few light duties around the home. Janine was amazing with our little boy, always able to settle him off into a deep sleep, giving me some much needed rest. Thank you so much Janine, we have recommended you to so many friends and are so grateful for your help xxxx”

“Janine is incredibly warm, kind and knowledgeable. She was an absolute godsend for us in those early newborn weeks - a real life fairy godmother. We found her through word of mouth, and we’re so lucky we did. Janine helped us all recover from a traumatic birth, while teaching us so much about everything from baby sleep, to feeding and pumping, to working out a new rhythm as new parents. She always came to us with a beaming smile and fresh coffee, along with other bits and pieces we needed from a loaf of bread, to a little stool to put under my feet to make breastfeeding more comfortable, to freezer bags for expressed milk and even a loan carrier when our baby wasn’t happy in the one we had at home. She took care of everything and truly goes above and beyond - responding to my anxious new mum texts around the clock with reassuring advice, setting up and showing me how to use our pump so I didn’t have to use my tired brain to work it out, cleaning up the house and doing laundry so we didn’t feel like we were in total chaos, showing me how to safely and gently clear a clogged duct to prevent mastitis and taking our little girl for walks in the pram so I could rest or get to appointments. She helped us as our baby progressed over the weeks, offering supportive tips when we needed them, without judgement and in the most gentle and loving manner. I didn’t know about postpartum doulas until I needed one, and I wish that everyone could be cared for by someone so special and knowledgeable in that precious, overwhelming time of life.”

“Since the moment I met Janine I knew I had found an earth angel. I felt comfortable and at ease and completely safe to share any of my hopes, fears, questions and concerns about pregnancy, birth and beyond. All of which was met with warmth, compassion and comfort. Not to mention the wealth of knowledge and practical solutions and advice that was shared.

Janine’s depth of experience as professional and as a mother herself meant any problem I perceived myself having, quickly melted away as she would calmly offer me suggestions and strategies.

I would highly recommend Janine to any expectant parents out there. The support, information, wisdom and care she provides is priceless and transformed my postnatal experience from previously suffering with PND (with my first born) and overwhelm to instead feeling cocooned, held and guided.

Thank you Janine xxx”

“How lucky we are that Janine came into our lives as our doula for the birth of our second baby. Despite having an excellent obstetrician, we wanted someone we had grown to know and trust to support us through labour from beginning to end. Covid lockdown hit, which changed our expectation of having Janine with us in hospital but we were nevertheless thrilled to have her support at home through the anticipated long stages of early labour.

After my waters broke, labour took a long while to kick off and I was emotionally and physically spiralling with an induction looming. Janine arrived like an angel, transformed our birth space and calmly worked her magic. Before long contractions were flowing and we were rushing to hospital. Unexpectedly, Janine was able to remain with us and we are still in awe of how she stayed by our side all night til the next morning with absolutely no warning and nothing but tea and biscuits! Her commitment and care is second to none.

Janine was a seamless part of our birth team, highly respected by everyone in the room. She provided the perfect balance of knowing when to give expert guidance and support, and allowing space when simply having her loving presence was perfectly enough. There is no doubt that our birth would have had a very different outcome if it wasn’t for Janine’s support. We don’t know what we would have done without her. She’s such a ray of sunshine, and the only thing we regret is not having Janine with us for our firstborn - perhaps we’ll have to have another baby just to keep her in the family! ”

“Janine at Blossom Doula Care, is a true professional. Compassionate, caring and extremely knowledgable. As our postpartum doula, Janine has been incredible, so supportive in helping us navigate our daunting and exciting journey into parenthood. As a new and first time mum, with my family living in the UK, Janine has helped me grow gently and confidently into my new role as a mother, she’s taken great care of me and guided us through so many “firsts”.

Working with Janine has helped both myself, my husband and our new baby, settle in together as a family, she’s our real life Mary Poppins. Thank you Aunty Nene for everything, we cannot recommend your services highly enough and look forward to working with you for many years to come xx”

“Having Janine as our doula made the world of difference to us. After a very difficult birth with our first child, we were determined to have a more positive experience the second time round. When I reached out to Janine in the very early days of my pregnancy, I instantly knew I wanted her to be our doula. Janine really understood what we were looking for and prepared us so well for the upcoming birth and beyond. Over time I completely lost my fear of giving birth again; I knew if Janine was present at the birth, I’d be absolutely fine.

Eventually, we had the most magical natural birth; we couldn’t have wished for more. Janine also supported us in the early days postpartum, which was such a game changer for us and it felt as though we had family around.

Janine has a wonderful sense of calm, is super knowledgeable and has always managed to make us feel so capable, even at times when our confidence was at its lowest. I would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to feel empowered, safe and cared for during pregnancy and birth.”

“I first booked Janine as we were planning a home birth and I wanted extra, professional support as it was my first labour. It was also during the peak of covid, so my family and friends were not able to travel interstate.

My aim was to have a natural birth and therefore I needed all the help I could get. I chose Janine as she has a nursing background as well as being a doula for many years. Others I was looking into seemed lovely, but didn’t have the full scope of experience I felt I needed first time around.

From the first call I knew Janine was the right fit for my partner and I. I asked a lot of questions and she was happy to stay on the call as long as I needed. She also mentioned supporting my partner too, which was important for me as I wanted to make sure he felt included through the whole process.

I had a very easy and enjoyable pregnancy, however there were still numerous calls, emails and texts. Having Janine’s professional advice stopped hours of ‘Doctor Googling’, I knew she had the right advice and it was suited to us. She has an extensive database of professionals such as acupuncturists, birthing class instructors, massage therapists, etc which meant I was always seeing the best people (and quite often with a referral discount).

I ended up birthing in hospital and Janine couldn’t join due to covid restrictions. Having her on speed dial really helped my partner and I navigate the labour and remind us of the natural pain relief options on hand. It also helped with the conflicting information given by the hospital, I could turn to Janine for one source of truth. Janine has an incredible ability to read the personality and the situation and tailor her advice from soft and warm, to medical professional, to tough love, even over the phone.

We booked the postpartum package, so the care didn’t stop there, as she helped us navigate bringing our little boy home. Janine was always happy to offer advice, and still is 7 months on.

Pregnancy, labour and becoming a parent is an incredible and also overwhelming time. Having a professional mum and personal professional on hand was invaluable. I could not recommend her highly enough xx.”

“Covid lockdowns are an absolute nightmare for any first-time mum giving birth. My family from interstate couldn’t visit, there was no help or guidance from my community, and my partner could only see his newborn and me for 3hrs a day at the hospital.

Montgomery was a very sick, reflux baby, and I’m not sure if I would have made it through those first months without Janine. She was exactly what we needed from the beginning to the end of our pregnancy and birth adventure. Janine guided my partner and me through the often confusing choices of a birth plan, and although unable to be at the birth due to hospital restrictions, she did her best to assist from afar. Post-partum, she truly understood the toll it was taking on me and, with her resources, was able to advise on a multitude of solutions I would have never known possible without her.

There was never any question she didn’t know the answer to, Janine is an encyclopedia of baby intel and the best replacement Mum I could have wished for in those tough early days.

I could not recommend Janine more, and I plan to keep her coming back for visits well into the future as there is no-one I trust more with my baby than Janine.”

“Having Janine support our family after the birth of my son Lachie a few months ago made our life so much easier. We don’t have much family support so having Janine come each week to help out was amazing. Her warm, gentle and nurturing nature was exactly what I needed after going through a tough birth. I was given the support I needed while healing and getting to know my new bub. I felt so grateful that she could also help with tips on breastfeeding and healing postpartum.’

Thank you again xx 😘”

“One of the best things my husband Kevin and I did when preparing to have our baby was booking Janine as our postnatal doula.

Kevin and I both had limited knowledge of how to look after a baby and with our families all in Ireland Janine was a complete blessing.

Arriving home Janine was waiting for us armed with delicious home-cooked food and warm and supportive care.

We are so grateful for Janine’s support over the first few months of Ella’s life. I felt reassured that I could call on Janine with any questions about settling, sleep, milestones etc. I recommend Janine to all my friends as I know parents and babies are in the most loving and supportive care.

When I describe Janine I always seem to mention her likeness to Mary Poppins! She arrives and makes everything better.

Thank you Janine from the bottom of our hearts. You made our fourth trimester so much better. Love”

“Warm, genuine, knowledgeable, experienced and reliable are all words I would use to describe Janine. We hired Janine while pregnant and she was invaluable in preparing for birth, labour and post . I, like many others, gave birth during COVID and was without family and lacked support. Janine quickly became that support system for myself and my partner. Janine was by my side during the entire labour experience and knew exactly what I required and what my needs and wants were through it all. I trusted her to be a liaison between myself and partner and the doctors and staff at the hospital.

Her incredible help post birth was exactly what we needed. Janine offered expert advice and tips in the first weeks of having baby at home. We had some hiccups along the way including tongue tie, and she knew exactly who to contact and what to do. Janine is very well connected and through her network was able to guide us to the right professionals for the best assistance.

Janine was also a confident through my journey and helped to balance emotions and responses I was having to being a new mom.

I would whole heartedly say that we hit the jackpot in finding Janine and would recommend her to anyone looking for Doula services throughout pregnancy, labour and post birth. She gave me the confidence in a very difficult and exciting time and transition in my life that I am eternally grateful for xx”

“We were first time parents with our families back in Europe, who were unable to travel to support us during the pandemic. We did not have the first idea what we were doing and with no ‘village’ around us, we needed some help.

We reached out to Janine for some support and guidance but what we got was so much more.

Her kindness and positive energy was boundless. Every visit was magical - she had the right kind word or gesture and she really was there for us. Outside of the visits we were able to text and she would often reach out to us to see how we were getting on.

Her approach was to take us on a journey and to not be scared of being parents, supporting one another and believing that we could do it. She taught us so many tricks and tips, we still follow her bath time routine, 9 months on! Also we did not just get Janine and her expertise but access to her network. She introduced us to a lactation consultant, chiro, massage therapist, women’s physio and sleep consultant, all of whom became our ‘village’.

Janine’s support never ended, when we reached the dreaded 4 month sleep regression, she was there to provide advice on sleep consultants.

Thank you so much for always being there for us and beyond. Everyone deserves a Janine in their lives”

“One of the best thing my husband Kevin and I did when preparing to have our baby was booking Janine as our post natal doula.

Kevin and I both had limited knowledge of how to look after a baby and with our families all in Ireland Janine was a complete blessing.

Arriving home from hospital Janine was waiting for us armed with delicious homemade food and warm and supportive care.

We are so grateful for Janines support over the first few months of Ellas life. I felt reassured that I could call on Janine with any questions about settling, sleep, milestones etc. I recommend Janine to all my friends as I know new parents and babies are in the most loving and supportive care.

When I describe Janine I always seem to mention her likeness to Mary Poppins! She arrives and makes everything better. Thank you Janine from the bottom of our hearts. You made our fourth trimester so much better.”

“Janine’s postpartum support was remarkable. As first time parents with no extended family in Australia, my husband and I knew we needed help. So I spoke to a friend who highly recommended Janine. From our first meeting, Janine made me feel very comfortable, was empathetic and gave me precious tips already. She visited us on the first day back from hospital and helped settle us in. Her visits were always pleasant and enlightening as she would do the whole feed/bath/bed routine with me to ensure I was on the right path. Only a message away, I could count on her advice whenever I felt insecure and lost. Having Janine’s support after we brought our baby home made our experience and the phase we were in even more special.

Thank you for being there for us Janine! Love”

“Being first time parents, we had no idea what was in store for us during the first few weeks of being alone with our baby.

Janine came highly recommended by a friend who emphasised the importance of having a postpartum doula. Choosing Janine was the best decision that I made during the last weeks of my pregnancy.

Janine is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and a lover of all things baby! I call her the “baby whisperer”. She prepared my husband and I well, and gave us a list of things to consider on baby’s arrival (to prepare us mentally). She was the first to visit us when I arrived home from hospital and remained a great support mentally and physically during the first few weeks of having a new baby at home.

Janine is there to support you with advice on breastfeeding, settling the baby, nap times, postnatal recovery and more. She is just a text message away when you need her and also she has a great network of professionals around her to recommend.

Thank you for being my family when I didn’t have any. Anyone would be lucky to have you by his or her side.xx”

“No matter what your situation, you absolutely, 100% will never regret hiring Janine and welcoming her in to your life. We initially hired Janine as my parents are in the UK and covid left us without support for when our gorgeous boy arrived. I was very much so preparing for the absolutely worst possible scenario and assumed my PP period was going to be an awful, emotional, anxious disaster. Luckily everything went incredibly well, our boy arrived safely, breastfeeding came easily and we were home in just 24 hours.
Despite it all going remarkably well, Janine was an absolute saviour! Her support and advice from day 1 was utter magic. I will never forget her floating in like a fairy godmother in that first week, we’d had a very long night and Eric just wouldn’t settle.. we were both exhausted and I perfectly remember being sat in bed, breastfeeding in tears while Janine listened and made up some padcicles. Once Eric was fed and she’d given my husband and I some fantastic trips and tricks, she took him off me and Jamie and I went and had a proper, long, lovely shower. We came out, the house was tidy, Eric was asleep and it felt like the most humongous weight had been lifted. It can’t have been much longer than 90 minutes, but it was completely life changing and ever single one of Janines visits have left us feeling the same!
On top of the magical visits, she was always at the other end of the phone. Only a text away and always had the answer I needed!
Janine will forever be one of the most important people who has ever come in to our lives and I sincerely hope we will be lucky enough to have her support and help through any future newborns we are blessed with! xxx”

“Janine came to see us on our second full day back from the hospital and basically turned our life around. Within 45 minutes she had me showered and while I was showering she cleaned all the sheets on my bed, put clean sheets on and when I came out of the shower she suggested I went to bed as I was so overtired. Didier was sent out for a swim and given a list of things to get from the pharmacy as I was having trouble breastfeeding. Meanwhile Janine had Callie our beautiful daughter bathed and settled down for a sleep. This was all within 45 minutes, and she brought a tray of frittata for our dinner so our dinner was sorted. She was absolutely amazing from the get-go. She helped me with the issues I was having with my breastfeeding, so that put me on a really good path, and I’ve been happily breastfeeding for three months. We still have Janine in our lives and we’re holding onto her for dear life, she’s also the only person we really trust with Callie, except for my brother, and Callie really looks forward to seeing her and we know she loves being with her. If you’re thinking of getting a doula then think no further. Janine is the one for everyone. We literally call Janine our “earth angel” because that is what she is like when she comes in. She swoops in like an earth angel, she’s always so beautiful, encouraging, supportive for me and Didier my husband. For both of us. She helps you, so you feel supported but she manages to never give a judgement as well. She is amazing and I would highly recommend her to anyone. The only thing I could say that is wrong with Janine, is that there are not enough of her in the world, I wish there could be 10 Janine’s In NSW, as I feel everybody should have a Janine. We love her very much and will always cherish her and hope that she will always in some form be part of our lives. xxx”

“Janine is amazing. She’s been such an important part of Cat’s postpartum journey. She has been there from day one and always been there for us at the other end of a late night text or phone call. She is always a delight and pleasure to have in our home and she feels like part of the family. Due to covid my mum couldn’t come from France to help us out (as planned) so having Janine made us feel so supported and our daughter loves her. Her eyes and smile light up when she sees her. Janine is still working with us and we hope to continue this as we all love having her around, and always value her input. She is warm, professional and a beautiful person.”

“Having Janine was such a great experience for me. She helped me with my first son Dylen, and he absolutely loves her. He was always happy with her. I was expecting my mum to be here but regarding the covid 19 situation I could not have her. I was lucky enough to find Janine who was so kind and caring - like a mum. She always answered all my questions, even late at night and she always managed to be here when my baby was crying and I had no clue how to calm him. She is like an angel, I highly recommend her to all mums ”

“Janine was our modern day Mary Poppins over those crazy months pre and post baby. She was a calm voice of reason, an empathetic ear and an absolute gun helping us around the house and with our billion newborn questions. It was so lovely to feel looked after, especially when our families were overseas and unable to come due to COVID. Any mum would be lucky to have Janine by their side - if only she could be our life doula! xoxoxox”

“Janine came with a glowing recommendation from a friend. Not really knowing what a doula was, we contacted Janine early into our pregnancy. From the first phone conversation with Janine we instantly felt far more at ease with the pregnancy and birthing journey we were about to embark on.

As first time mums, new to the labour experience, Janine was of tremendous comfort to both myself and my wife for support during delivery. Janine never left our side throughout the whole birth and we don’t know how we would have managed without her being there.

When we came home from the hospital Janine was on hand by any means possible, day or night until we eventually found our groove. Janine was a great wealth of knowledge and helped us navigate a number of newborn obstacles.

We would recommend Janine a million times over, she is like fairy dust, she makes the world a better place”

“Prior to engaging Janine, I had no idea what a postnatal doula was. Now that I’ve had the benefit of Janine’s help, I want to recommend her to everyone! Janine has been amazing at giving me support as a first time mum. Not only is she a wealth of practical advice but she’s also able to help out around the house with things such as dishes and picking things up from the store. She’s even provided a lovely home cooked meal for my husband and I which was unexpected but so so welcomed when we were struggling with sleep and a newborn baby. Most of all, I have really valued the way Janine has shown me practical ways to settle my baby and develop a great routine when I felt anxious and everything felt chaotic and exhausting.


Janine’s lovely demeanour, and calming approach also meant my baby was relaxed and happy around her. It’s difficult to trust another person with your baby, but I can confidently say that I could do so with Janine xx”

“I cannot recommend Janine more highly. From the moment I met Janine I knew I wanted her a part of my birth journey. She was the kindest, most sincere spirit and energy. She is truly divine and anyone would be blessed to have her with them. Unfortunately I birthed in the peak of Covid and I wasn’t sure what that would mean for our journey together, but it ended up being a blessing for me. Janine was with me leading up to the birth and right up to the hospital entrance helping me breathe through the contractions. And I carried that technique, as well as her energy, into the birthing suite right up until the moment I birthed my son. She lent me all of her oils, burners, affirmations and everything else I needed to help me birth with as much ease as possible. I truly mean it when I say I couldn’t have done it without her. I had a traumatic experience with my first child and thankfully the second time around was completely different. A memorable, beautiful experience and having Janine with me definitely helped me have that experience. Post-partum Janine is always in contact and happy to help and she visits with a gorgeous care package full of love.

Janine from the bottom of my heart thank you. Thank you for supporting me in the most beautiful, heartfelt, sincere and supportive way possible during such uncertain times xxxxxxxx”

“Our birth was in times of Covid which added to the normal stresses of having a baby. Janine provided us with great mental support. She was there to advise on any health related matter but also to build our confidence and to calm us with her nurturing energy. She was a pivotal member of our birthing team and we had a fantastic natural birth of 3 1/2 hours.”

“Dearest Janine, I feel very lucky to meet you just before going to the hospital and meeting you straight after we got home. I was confident coming home with my newborn as I knew I had help and you would teach me and support me all the way through our first days. Your presence was indispensable: meals were delicious and nourishing, the way you took care of us as a part of our family was so important when I did not have my mum here. Thank you so much and I wish every woman could have such great support and care as a doula plays a very important role in the wellbeing of a new mum and her newborn xx ”

“Dear Janine. As I’m watching our video of our birth I see glimpses of you supporting where you can and mostly what touched me was that you are holding the phone for us. The phone connected me with my mum and sister from the other side of the world so they could be with us in the room. It means so much to me right now that you took the time, as I can imagine you didn’t want to hold a phone and support me with the other hand. I am so grateful that you did that because that was the only way for my mum to experience this special moment. Besides it all no words can describe how you looked after us, nurtured us, helped us and be with us through all the new and insecure moments for us as new parents with none of our own parents being close by to help us through.

Your warm and gentle character was really what I needed to go through this new season of our lives. Even when Nova was born and we had to go back to hospital a few times you never hesitated and within 30 minutes or less you were with us to help, bringing us cookies, groceries or to just be there with us so we didn’t feel alone in this. Tears can fall again when I look back on how I probably wouldn’t be able to come out of it all rested if it wasn’t for you.

Janine you are such a kind soul and even though I’m not Australian and english is not my first language, nothing was a barrier as you were basically like a mum and a friend to us. I will never forget your warmth and love to us and your beautiful fresh picked flowers that made my day always:-)”

“Janine was recommended to me from a friend and was a valuable support during and after my pregnancy. I ended up having an elective c-section and Janine supported me through the operation with her experience as a past nurse and encouragement, walking me through the steps to keep me calm and allowing me to enjoy the birth. Janine gave me the confidence and advice for the first six weeks settling in at home, especially with understanding a newborn feeding and sleeping rhythm and checking in frequently via text messages, phone calls and visits and made sure that I was also well. Her support made my pregnancy and settling in at home a wonderful experience and her hands on approach made the transition into motherhood easier and enjoyable.”

“When I got pregnant with my first baby, I started to look for options to get the most out of my pregnancy and to have a natural birth. After doing some research and talking to friends, I was recommended to get the support of a doula during the whole process. So when my husband and I first met Janine, it was love at first sight! Her knowledge, experience, friendly face and positive attitude made us agree that she was the one. She walked along with us from the beginning, being present and always professional, recommending good tips and clarifying doubts and concerns.

Dylan’s birth followed almost none of my birth plan but she was there all the time and made the 27 hours of “labour” easy, and inspired me to have confidence and thrive. After being induced and learning that I hadn’t had much progress with my dilatation for five hours ,(which was very frustrating), Janine performed a specific stretch/massage to help the baby make his way down, and magically 20 minutes later he was born!!

In the days following his birth we had lovely visits from her, she brought delicious food and the most amazing cookies I have ever had! I cannot thank her enough for the great job and support she has provided us.

We definitely recommend her to all our pregnant friends and mums to be! ”

“Every new parent needs their own Janine.

She is incredibly caring, patient, understanding and knowledgeable when it comes to babies and new parents. She never judges. Always listens.

As a single mother, with a daughter who has a milk protein allergy - Janine was a ray of sunshine in red lippy amongst the sleep deprivation and stress. Her ongoing postnatal support allowed me to gain confidence as a new mother. And in doing so, my daughter Chloe thrived as each month went by. Her tips and tricks from settling to bathtime were indispensable.

I couldn’t recommend Janine enough!!”

“My family in Ireland call Janine “the angel”. The first time we met Janine, my husband and I instantly said she is our person, she is the most beautiful, motherly and calming presence to have with you on this incredible journey.

Janine made us feel secure and supported from labour to bringing our little one home, to answering all my questions about life with a new baby from breastfeeding to nappy rash!

We couldn’t have done this without Janine, her wealth of knowledge and network of experts are incredible.

We feel blessed to have met Janine and have her as part of our family. Our daughter just adores Janine as do we x”

“I found Janine through a recommendation from one of my sisters’ friends who had recently had a baby. I hadn’t planned to have a doula at the birth, as we were already paying a lot of money going private and having an Obstetrician, however as my due date was approaching I got the news from my OB that an epidural was not an option for me (due to a pre-existing medical condition) which on top of a number of complicating personal and medical factors going on at the time, led me to decided I needed an experienced, calm support person to help me through my labour. I reached out to Janine very late in my pregnancy, at 38 weeks, and she arranged to meet me within days. Janine made me feel immediately at ease and comfortable and I knew she would be just the support I needed. While we didn’t even end up having time to put together a birth plan, and she only met my husband for the first time in delivery suite, Janine felt like a close friend throughout my labour and honestly was the best support, physical and emotional, for me and also for my husband. I really don’t think I would have got through the natural birth with no pain relief without her! She even called around and arranged a TENS machine for me on the day (a Saturday!) as I hadn’t gotten around to hiring one yet. In the days and weeks that followed Janine visited us in hospital and at home, brought lactation cookies and messaged me regularly to check in and provide very helpful advice!

I would highly recommend Janine to anyone looking for a positive birth experience. Her lovely genuine nature, calm presence and pre and postnatal knowledge really made all the difference for me!!”

“Janine was an absolute life saver. After a difficult birth and family overseas, Janine helped us settle into home life with our new baby. She is happy to help where you need and also suggest things to help. Going home can seem a little daunting and you can feel a overwhelmed but Janine can help you navigate those first few days/weeks and help you build confidence in yourself as a new parent. She has a wealth of experience to draw on and every piece of advice she gave us has helped us to have a very settled baby. We are so happy to have met Janine and would highly recommend her.”

“As a first time mum, the idea of giving birth was quite daunting. After announcing the pregnancy, we had so many people in our ears telling us that “it was the worst pain you’ll ever experience” and “how to get through it” which made it all seem quite scary. Needless to say, there was feeling that we needed some informative information and some positive support in the process. We were given Janine’s contact details from a friend who had engaged in her services and had nothing but great words to say.

Janine helped us to the best possible outcome for our pregnancy, labour and birth. She did this through support and equipping us with valuable information about health and healing in pregnancy, labour and postpartum.

She’s not only supportive to the mum which is so important, but she gives your birth partner support, confidence and knowledge which is invaluable. During my labour, when any decisions needed to be made, Janine made sure that my husband and I knew fully what was going on and was a strong and calm person in the the room, which put us at ease. My husband commented afterwards that he felt like he would have been anxious and a little left in the dark if it weren’t for Janine being there with us.

Combining the SheBirths course we did, having Janine by our side made my husband a superman birthing partner, he was beyond incredible when I needed him the most.

Postpartum, she checked in on us making sure we were recovering and taking care of ourselves. She was there if we had any questions and she never came empty handed either, she came with much needed supplies for my recovery which worked a treat and even came with hearty meals.

Needless to say, our experience could have been so different. We’re forever grateful for your help Janine and we will be calling in again when we our next child.

We highly recommend Janine’s services!! xx”

“Janine is the second birth doula we have had the pleasure of supporting us. With our first two babies born in the UK, we had the support of an amazing doula there. Being our third baby, but first born in Australia, we were unsure if we ‘needed’ a doula again, and as we had such a special bond with our first doula, we were unsure if we would have that connection again starting from scratch. Janine had big shoes to fill! But the moment we met Janine, we knew that we ‘needed’ her and felt that special connection that expecting parents and a doula have. We had very regular contact throughout the pregnancy, and Janine brought a wealth of knowledge in regards to the hospital system we were unfamiliar with and unsure how to navigate. On the day of the birth , Janine provided exactly the support that was needed, giving space at the right times for Ben to step in, and also knowing when her comforting words, warm hands and support were needed. With a slow burning induction and needing to ask for more time before moving along the induction process, Janine was a much needed soundboard for making decisions along the way.

We achieved the birth we had hoped for, my body was given time to progress and I was able to deliver our third baby as we had hoped, in the same way as our first two - all natural, no pressure for unnecessary interventions and with the warmth only a doula can bring. Thank you for being our doula for our lucky last baby! xx”

“When I found I was pregnant with our third child we made the decision to get some extra support. My previous two pregnancies, though fairly straight-forward, both ended in emergence caesareans despite trying and hoping for a vaginal birth. This pregnancy and labour would be labelled by the hospital as “high risk” due to me wanting to have a vaginal birth after 2 caesareans (vba2c).

I found Janine at Blossom Doula Care through a recommendation on a Facebook group. I had looked into having a private midwife but the costs were more than I could afford. From the beginning Janine was positive and welcoming. We met at a coffee shop for a no obligation chat about my previous births and what I was hoping for this pregnancy. Janine listened to my experiences, how they had affected me emotionally and physically, and offered support and to be part of the team to help me achieve the healing birth I so desperately needed. I decided at our first meeting that she was the support person I needed to help me on my journey and my husband was on board with my decision. Janine came to our house and met my husband and he felt at ease with her straight away. Janine also accompanied me to a couple of obstetrician appointments at the hospital where I felt I needed more support due to their ‘advice’ in wanting me to have a repeat caesarean. Her presence allowed me to be strong and have faith that what I wanted for the birth of my third child would be possible.

In the lead up to my labour I had a few nights where we texted back and forth as I would have contractions that would fizzle out when I went to bed. Janine reassured me that she would be ready whenever I was, so I didn’t worry. I finally went into labour at 41+2 weeks at about 1pm. I wasn’t sure for a few hours if was in “real labour” but at about 5.30pm I knew and called Janine. We talked about how I was going and she suggested I phone the hospital to let them know, and she was at my house by 7pm. She had me feeling relaxed in no time, reminding me to breathe and “drop my shoulders” as I was tensing up, while she timed my contractions. At 8.15pm my husband drove me to the hospital and Janine followed in her car, meeting us there with her “bag of tricks”. Once in the room she got to work creating a calming environment with subdued lighting, aromatherapy diffuser and talking to my midwife about mats and a ball. All this time I had my TENS machine on which Janine had also suggested I hire for my labour (wonderful idea!).

Throughout my labour Janine supported me by being a calming influence, her voice reminding me to breathe and relax, making suggestions for positions to labour in and what to do to keep my oxytocin flowing when doctors had to turn on all the lights for a ‘just in case’ cannula, which later came out of my hand. She also kept me cool with a face washer, ice chips, made sure I drank enough fluids, held my hand throughout contractions and took photographs of the wonderfully healing vaginal birth I was finally able to experience! My beautiful baby girl was born (spontaneous, natural, drug free labour) at 1240am - also my heaviest baby at 4.135kg!

I know in my heart that Janine was a big part of me being able to prove to myself (and to the Obstetrician who said I had NO chance of a vaginal birth!) that I could birth my baby safely.

Due to the support team of my husband, MGP midwife and Janine, I only ever felt supported, cared for and in control during my labour. The whole experience was healing for me in many ways and I would recommend her services to any mum-to-be! I also wouldn’t hesitate to have Janine at the birth of my next child - if I go down that road in the future!

Thank you Janine for everything xx”

“I met Janine through a friend who highly recommended her. I was already 36 weeks pregnant when I first contacted her and after our first meeting I was sure I wanted Janine to be part of the the birth of our baby girl. She was so understanding and supportive of our wishes and I am thankful she suggested things in preparation for labour that really helped me achieving my so wanted drug free birth and Janine kept me calm all along. She was also a great support to my partner. And to top it all off she took some amazing photos registering the first moments of our baby girl coming into the world which I will forever cherish.

I’m so glad I had Janine supporting me through my pregnancy and birth, I wish I had met her earlier when I had my first. With her help I had the most amazing birth experience. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

Thank you Janine!!”

“Thank you so much Janine for sharing and being there for one of the most precious times of our lives! Henrique and I are so grateful to have had you as our doula.

I knew from the moment I spoke to you over the phone - we hadn’t even met you yet - I knew you were the one I wanted to support us.

You made the childbirth experience of our first born Kaikoa so very memorable. He came two weeks earlier than expected but somehow, it all worked out and my wishes, without them being officially written out yet, were carried out! I wished for a very minimal medical intervention and our healthy darling baby boy was born, spontaneously and without any pain killers or the use of a cannula, etc. Only with the help of you, the midwife, TENS machine, breathing techniques and lots of massage from Henrique during contractions!

You have such a beautiful and genuine, nurturing energy about you which was so appreciated from the beginning to the end. Your knowledge and expertise in how to nurture a newborn was invaluable as well as making sure we were supported and looked after as new parents.

Henrique and I have highly recommended you to our friends who are looking forward to getting in touch as they’re expecting their first child in July:-)

Many thanks again!”

“Janine has been a blessing in my life. Being a first time mother is one of the most challenging things I have ever experienced. I met Janine when my son, Oliver, was about five months old and I was the most sleep deprived and exhausted I’ve ever been.

Janine started coming to help me a few hours each week and it made a huge difference right away. Her countless years of professional experience and first hand knowledge as a mother of three has made her invaluable in my world. I know I can ask her advice about anything and I trust her implicitly with Oliver, who loves her.

It would have made the world of difference if I had come home from hospital truly knowing what to expect and having someone like Janine around to help navigate the chaos of early motherhood. I only wish I had met her sooner!!”

“I met the beautiful Janine at the SheBirths birthing course. Once I engaged in a conversation I felt like I had known Janine all my life. This calm, compassionate and knowledgeable soul chatted to me about her past 25 year nursing experience, having 3 beautiful kids and the journey she is on now to help mothers and their partners experience childbirth in a very difference way than most expect.

My preconception on childbirth was that it was going to be scary, so painful and like out of the movies, screaming all the way to the hospital just after your waters have broken. My love for naturopaths and alternative medicines found me talking to mothers who described their natural births as calm and empowering. I soon realised that the movie theory of childbirth was a whole lot of bull.

This lead me to meeting Janine and I was so excited now about giving birth as I will have a mother of 3, and an ex-nurse with over 25 years experience and a doula all in one throughout my labour.

Janine came over to the apartment and met the whole family and rubbed my feet with essential oils as she began talking to all of us about what to expect. My hospital bag was checked and given more suggestions of things to take like jumbo pads for the bleeding which I had no idea about. Her insight and motherly nature made me feel at ease throughout the whole lead up to my labour.

I had my water birth plan but knew that anything could happen, and when my waters broke I didn’t expect to be induced in a hospital room due to meconium being present in my amniotic fluid.

Janine spoke to the doctors to see if we could not rush this action so I could get my head around not having a water birth in the birthing rooms. I was devastated to say the least but Janine’s calm approach in explaining what was about to happen helped me understand that it was out of my control and now it’s about delivering my baby the safest way possible.

Janine turned the sterile hospital room into a beautiful dimly lit room with calming essential oils burning.

The contractions came on very quickly once induced and the active labour was such an amazing and empowering feeling with Janine guiding my husband where to push on my pressure points. Both Janine and hubby pushed on my lower back while I straddled a chair in the shower for 6 hours. Janine encouraged me every step of the way and never left my side.

Without Janine being present from the beginning of my labour til the end I would have been scared and terrified throughout the whole experience.

My birth was so calm and without Janine present I fear this would not have been so pleasant. Hospital’s can get very busy so you don’t have a midwife with you as often as you think.

Having Janine with me the the whole labour period was the best decision I ever made. I feel every woman giving birth needs that special someone who can help you, your partner and family members understand what’s happening and how they can help when you are helpless.

I loved every moment of my labour and deeply thank Janine for being that one person I could totally surrender to and trust my life and baby’s life with.

When I got home from hospital with bubby Janine came over and prepared meals for the whole family and did anything to help while I adjusted to motherhood. Her phone was on 24/7 if I ever needed her, especially in those first few weeks.

Janine now has such a special place in all our hearts and we thank you deeply for being our doula xxxxxxx”

“Janine is everything that you could possibly dream of in a doula and more! From our first meeting Janine made me feel safe and comfortable and my husband confident in her support. Janine made sure that we got to know each other, that all our questions were answered and that everything was ready for our baby’s birth.

During our long labour, Janine was on the phone regularly and was then with us for the remaining 30 hours or so! While I was labouring at home and when we went to the birthing suite, Janine offered many invaluable suggestions to help my labour along. There were many times I felt like Janine was reading my mind and meeting my needs before I even knew what they were, which allowed me to go into my body and not worry about anything else. As the midwives and medical staff changed their shifts Janine was with us there through it all - what an incredible person to share the most challenging and most special journey with us. Janine was also great support and advocate with all the other medical staff through many tough decisions.

After the birth Janine was the first to once again recognise what we needed to recover and start us on that very important path. Her support all along has been unswerving. Janine’s care has meant the world to us and our little girl. We hope you are lucky enough to experience it too!”

“A doula is absolutely essential for a first time parent and if you have the opportunity to work with Janine, seize it! She was our guardian angel throughout the whole process for whatever we needed, a word of encouragement, vital information when making critical decisions or a much needed home cooked meal when we were settling back in. She has an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience and the warmest of hearts.

We cannot recommend her highly enough!! Thank you for making this time in our lives so special.

Much love”

“I truly believe my little family is thriving because of Janine’s support and guidance. Janine’s support before and during our son’s birth enabled us to bond with him in such a special way. I do think I didn’t tear during birth because of Janine’s coaching during the birth. Janine’s support has enabled me to be the mother I always wanted to be. Thank you! Janine has guided our family to develop feeding, sleep and play routines that are so joyful. As a result we have such a contented baby. The bath routine Janine taught us has become the most special time for our family and is such a joy to watch my husband thoroughly enjoy bathing our son. Janine has had a huge impact on our lives and our family’s future. We are truly grateful.”

“Janine is an amazing person and a wonderful doula. Her calmness grounded me and kept me focused throughout the labour, which at times was very intense. On the day she helped me to release tension to be able to labour more effectively, gave me relaxing massages, decorated the room and took pressure off my husband, which helped him feel more confident so he could support me better. She knew exactly how to keep me calm and focused on my breathing, and she was also great with the Doctors and nurses. We both are so grateful to Janine for helping us before, during and after the birth of our beautiful daugher.”

“I hadn’t even considered having a doula until we did our birth course with She Births. It was then that we realised how valuable this could be in helping us to have the birth we wanted. With the rest of our family in the UK, it was amazing having Janine on hand for guidance and support throughout the pregnancy and birth. She never failed to reassure us and definitely helped me stay calm and level headed. We loved having the support with writing our birth preferences and picking our favourite essential oils for birth.

Janine was fantastic during the labour and birth, really helped us create the perfect atmosphere and helped us use all the tools we had learnt. There’s no way I would have remembered any of them so it was great having her and my husband to make suggestions and help me::-)

At the very end of my labour, we ended up needing extra help to get him out and this is where Janine really saved us, by offering different suggestions then changed the course of action taken. This meant that I could still have delayed cord clamping, an hour of skin to skin and breast feed for the first time, which were really important to me. Janine did all of this in her super calm and gentle manner and we are so truly grateful to Janine for her help with bringing our little man into the world.

Initially we hadn’t planned on having any postnatal support but changed our minds after he was born. Having Janine around in those first few weeks really helped reassure and guide me when I was questioning every little decision I made. From breastfeeding, bathing our baby for the first time, to answering all my “is this normal” questions. The food was definitely an added bonus in those early weeks and always tasted delicious!

Janine is always available to talk and also happens to be the nicest person you could meet. We would recommend her as a doula to anyone. Thanks again Janine :-)”

“When I was about 36 weeks pregnant I had a freak out moment: our closest family is an hour away (by plane), how are we going to raise a baby without local support? Do we know what we are doing? I knew about the term Doula and googled Doula’s in Sydney and was so impressed reading Janine’s wonderful recommendations that I had to contact her! She came over for coffee and we connected straight away. We were mainly looking for postnatal support and that was exactly what Janine offers as one of her packages.

Janine has been helping us for the last two months. In the end my birth was a bit more complicated than expected and it was the best decision EVER to have Janine around. She just knows exactly what we need......She is always available via text or phone, which has been amazing. She is so motivational and I find her very calming to have around. She has taught us so much in terms of looking at our baby’s cues, feeding, settling and wrapping techniques, and basically how to be good parents. She has really given us confidence in being parents.

I really underestimated the first few months after giving birth and I am so glad Janine helped me through this. Every time she came over to our place I felt instantly calm and because of her I am really enjoying and loving being a mum.

Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us and I don’t know what I would have done without you! We can’t thank you enough and would recommend your services to everybody who is looking for support.”

“Janine was introduced to us us by friends, she had recently helped with the birth of their daughter. While it was baby number two for us, our first was delivered by caesarean and our preference was to do it naturally second time around. There is varying conjecture regarding the safety of natural delivery post-caesarean which resulted in some uncertainty and concern on our part. These fears disappeared after our first meeting with Janine. She listened to us, reassured us that everything would be ok and explained how she will be able to help us through the later stage of the pregnancy, birth and beyond. And in hindsight now, Janine was much more helpful and needed than we were ever able to imagine. You cannot comprehend how much you need a doula by your side until you birth your own child.

Janine was always available to talk, offer a calming word when needed and when circumstances changed and we had to move hospitals a month prior to the due date, her experience and know-how really came to the fore. This disruption caused us some anxiety, only for Janine to step in and use her contacts to help make this transition smooth and leave us feeling that we were in an even better place than before. Her support continued, culminating in her being ever-present as labour commenced and progressed.

Labour was an unknown quantity for my husband and I, given the prior caesarean and safe to say, an incredibly challenging experience. Janine however, had seen it all before, had all of the answers and her smile, calm words and knowledge contributed hugely to what was a successful natural delivery of our son. Her support didn’t end there with regular visits and contact to ensure that we were handling the postpartum well and to also have a cuddle of the little one.

First, second or tenth baby, I would not hesitate to recommend Janine’s partnership. While pregnancy and childbirth will never be easy, she certainly makes it a lot less difficult.

Thank you Janine and lots of love!!!”

“I hadn’t heard about seeing a doula until I had my baby and I felt I would need some professional support. I am so glad my friend introduced me to Janine........she was an angel in my life!!!!!

It was a Sunday afternoon when I came back home from hospital with my 4 day old baby. I couldn’t stop crying. It was a mix of feelings (happiness, excitement, fear, discouraged, lack of confidence). I was feeling emotional highs and lows. I had no idea having a baby would require a big emotional and physical adjustment.

I called a friend that had a 1 year old baby at that time and asked her what to do. She gave me Janine’s contact details. I called Janine and couldn’t stop crying on the phone, I didn’t know what was happening but I knew I needed help (my family was there but they couldn’t understand what was happening to me). Two hours later Janine was at my house. It was the best thing that could happen. I felt so much better after talking to her. I felt relief and safe. She helped me to understand all these mixed feelings. She showed me how to look after my baby, how to feed her, bath her etc, and I started feeling more confident and that I could do it :-).

She helped me so much! She knew what I was going through, I didn’t have to keep explaining to her my feelings and that I was mentally demanding.......Working together she helped me to grow my confidence and to connect with my little baby. After a few days I was feeling so much better and happier! She was always there for me, whenever I needed her.

Janine, thanks so much for all you have done!! Because of you, I have really good memories of my first days as a mummy.”

“Having Janine as a doula was the best decision we made around our birth! Being from overseas we had our first baby without family support. Being a new parent was quite overwhelming to us and Janine was my mum, my friend and my support before, during and after birth. Having her on my side gave me reassurance and confidence in a very challenging new life situation. Before the birth she helped me pack the hospital bag and we made a birth plan together. On the day I was in labour for 22 hours and ended up with a caesarean section. Janine stayed by my side for the whole time and with her warm and calm nature she was a big help to me and also my partner. After we left the hospital she came to our house and gave so many helpful tips about feeding and settling techniques. Thanks to Janine, I know what’s the most comfy positions for feeding my baby and which tricks I can use to put him to sleep. I don’t know what I would have done without Janine, I would highly recommend her services to everybody who is looking for support around birth.”

“Six months in and I decided to see a doula. My husband didn’t understand why I needed to have one when I already had a good OBGYN who was looking after me. I found myself explaining not only to my husband but to a lot of people what a doula was and why it was at the top of my list.

Janine was my birth angel. Looking back to our first meeting, she was practically a stranger, but I found myself breaking down about all the things I have been carrying for six months. Not even my husband has heard it before. Yes, it took a while for me to get out of that solitary confinement I felt I was in. That’s why Janine played an instrumental role in my journey. I only had one goal - have a healthy/stable state of mind to be a good mother to my daughter when she arrives. Janine’s encouraging care and support allowed me to have that, making me physically, spiritually and mentally ready for my birth and postpartum time.

Janine was very respectful to my decisions. She never once pushed anything out of my requests. So did my birth go as planned? NO. I was scheduled for an induction due to alarmingly low amniotic fluid causing my baby to move less and less. I was worried that Janine would not be able to participate any more as I won’t have a natural induced labour, but she was there throughout from start to finish. She was with me in every wave of overwhelming pain. Calmingly putting me in another state of consciousness to get my mind off the excruciating pain. Her gentle whispers reminding me to breathe, making sure I was hydrated, nourished, comforting foot massages, the efforts of creating a zen embience with oils, candles and music and reassuring me that midwives and doctors are working on my requests. My husband is thankful for her as she was able to accentuate his involvement in the birth of our daughter. She was able to calm him down by keeping him informed about what was happening. Her presence alone reassured my clueless and stressed out husband that we are going to be okay. And she got me through until the last push because all I had to do was focus on delivering my baby. 5.03pm in the afternoon on the 14th of February, nine hours after, we marvelled at the sight of the tiny human that was crying on my chest. The skeptical midwives and doctors that questioned her presence at the beginning were in awe of her.

After all the emotions flying out in such a momentous moment, when all the midwives and doctors had gone out of the room, Janine was there to stay and give me a hand in the shower and made sure I was all set for my first night with bub.

I had a planned medicated birth. People tried to convince me that a doula might not seem necessary. I hired one to save my sanity in the midst of all the overwhelming emotions I had during my pregnancy. My husband and I are extremely grateful to have crossed paths with such a beautiful soul. We can’t thank you enough for making our birth experience a story of a lifetime.”

“Working with Janine was the single best decision we made in the pregnancy, birth and beyond journey.

From the time we made contact, nothing was too much. Janine was on hand via text, email and phone if I had any questions (despite actually being on holiday at the time). Having her there at the antenatal appointments was extremely useful especially towards the end of the pregnancy when various decisions had to be made, she provided insight, perspective and above all unconditional support.

Despite having to be induced and having a long labour, I believe Janine played a huge part in making my birth and labour experience a positive one.

Janine coached me very effectively throughout labour and birth and made me feel extremely supported, empowered and loved. She never left my side! She also provided the same support to my husband.

Janine’s support did not stop after my daughter was born. In fact I later learned that it had only just begun. Having Janine on hand for postnatal support was amazing. Having that level of experience, knowledge and care on hand when needed was just the best, especially because she had grown to know me and then my daughter so well, and neither myself or my husband have family nearby to lend a hand.

It’s very hard for me to put into words how Janine has helped me and how she can contribute to your birth and postnatal experience. What is easy to say, is that my husband and I both consider Janine to be part of our family and has become very very special to us indeed.

Worth every cent and a 1000 times more.
Thank you Janine x”

“I’m so grateful we found Janine. She gets along so naturally with each of us. Between her and my husband, I knew that the two of them would have both me and our toddler covered during the birth.

She’s so easy to get along with and has helped us in so many ways above and beyond. But most important, she had the intuition, forsight and experience to come before I asked - which proved invaluable in her catching our beautiful baby just minutes before our midwife could arrive. She has always helped me feel confident and reassured, from the twists and turns during pregnancy, intense moments of the birth, to the haze of the newborn weeks.

Thank you endlessly Janine!”

“We met Janine through a friend, and my husband and I instantly connected with her. Having no family around, Janine gave us all the support during my pregnancy, birth and postnatal with frequent visits and calls offering assistance with anything we needed, and also words of encouragement through the most challenging times.

Janine attended some Specialist and Hospital appointments with me during the pregnancy and postnatal which was very important as she helped me to understand some very specific medical terms.

Our meetings with Janine during my pregnancy were always fun. We talked about everything from normal daily life to our birth plan and preferences, which always made me feel very relaxed and confident.

Everything was going as planned until 39 weeks when I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and I had to get induced urgently. Janine was there from the moment I was admitted to hospital, until Mia was born, and I was medicated and out of risk. She not only gave her support to me, but also to my husband who was very worried.

It is difficult to write in a few words the importance that Janine had and still has in our lives. She was without doubt one of the reasons why I had an amazing birth experience. She is now part of our family and our most beloved friend. Our family wouldn’t be the same without her.

If you or your partner want to have a wonderful birth experience we highly recommend Janine as your doula. ”

“My husband and I met Janine at our birthing course and instantly connected with her calm, positive and caring nature. By the end of the course we knew we wanted Janine to be part of our journey, not only in pregnancy and birth, but parenthood.

Janine attended several appointments with me during the pregnancy and decoded the hospital lingo and encouraged me along the way when I was convinced Kaian would never come out. Janine was a critical part of our care and support team as my husband had just broken his arm.

During labour Janine was calm, supporting and positive......everything we needed, and more. She held my hand as I pushed, wiped my forehead in the bath and cut the cord of our baby boy once he was born. We truly believe that Janine made our birthing experience what it was, and as beautiful as it was. Janine has since come around to visit us just because, and we look forward to building our relationship well into the future with her.

We didn’t really know what a doula was going into the birthing course, but cannot recommend doulas, and more importantly Janine, more.”

“Janine was the perfect doula for us. My husband and I are so glad we had her support and care with our first baby. I could trust her professional experience, broad knowledge and understanding, to give us guidance and sense of assurance. She was truly helpful with all my questions and worries, and was actively supporting me in hospital and at home. It has made all the difference in my first labour and birth, to make it a smooth and stress-free experience. ”

“I always wanted to be a mother, but I was always scared of giving birth. So for me, an elective caesarean was the way I would move quickly from the terrifying thing that was being in labor. And that was the theory in my mind until I feel the first kick and everything changes: your baby is the priority, and a natural birth would probably give her a better experience on coming to this world. So when I was 35 weeks pregnant I met Janine, and she was everything that we needed to support us through the now known as the happiest day of our lives. We couldn’t ask for someone better, an experienced nurse, mother of 3, a doula that held my hands during contractions, gave my husband the comforting eye contact reassuring everything was fine and gave my daughter the chance to learn how to latch correctly to enjoy breastfeeding. For any type of labor you wish to have, we highly recommend Janine as your doula, your friend and your extended family.”

“Me and my husband were so glad that we had Janine as our doula, she is awesome and helped me to achieve my perfect birth even though it didn’t go as planned. I love how she supported and helped me to make my decisions. She was always available and ready to answer all the questions and doubts I had. I really think that the positive birth experience that we had this time was due to her emotional support.”