Introducing some of the newest members of our Ideal Birth family ...
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Initially I was sceptical of a doula, being that it is unregulated and I didn’t quite understand what value it would add. After the first time I met Cheryl my concerns were immediately removed and I knew that she was going to be instrumental in my wife and I achieving the birth we wanted. Cheryl was a constant source of information and support in the lead up to the birth, providing us with the tools we needed to get ready for labour and birth. These tools meant that my wife was able to labour at home for far longer than I think would have otherwise been possible, at which point Cheryl came over and we discussed our options. Once we got to hospital I was able to focus 100% on my wife and the experience that was the birth of our daughter, knowing that Cheryl was there to provide the support and knowledge required to ensure the path we followed would result in a good experience, based on what was in our control. I could focus on the moment, not worrying about what in the birth plan I may have forgotten or what each scenario could lead to and what the potential outcomes were. We had a private OB to ensure that if something went wrong we were in the best medical hands, and Cheryl was there to ensure the birth went as close to the plan we had set out in and that is exactly what she did. Thanks to the support and guidance of Cheryl, my wife achieved a completely intervention free natural birth. I have no doubt that this would not have been as easily achieved had it not been for Cheryl’s assistance both in the lead up and on the day. Our plan is for a second child, and we will absolutely be calling on Cheryl to provide her services once again the second time around.
Cheryl was an incredible support to have through my first pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. I can honestly say that I don't think I would have had such an empowering birth without her there. To be honest, I didn’t even know what a doula did at the start of my pregnancy, but after reading a few pregnancy books, I realised that the type of emotional support and advocacy provided by a doula was exactly what I was looking for. I found Cheryl online, and after meeting her in person and reading her book Stork Talk, I knew I wanted to have her on my team.
Leading up to birth, our bub was breech and Cheryl recommended an excellent acupuncturist and physio to help my pelvic alignment. Although bub didn’t flip on her own, I had a successful ECV at 37 weeks which I largely credit to the help I received from Cheryl and the practitioners. For birth, bub decided she wanted to stay posterior, which led to a long and challenging labour. I was really keen to have a physiological birth with no intervention or pain relief, and Cheryl was absolutely instrumental in helping us achieve that. Our baby Sloane was born vaginally despite her posterior presentation after a few hours of pushing.
For anyone who is thinking they may benefit from a doula but aren't sure, I would urge you to reach out to Cheryl. My husband and I both felt that having her present at our first baby's birth made all the difference, and allowed us to navigate the challenges of labour with confidence. Having Cheryl’s support there allowed not just me, but my husband to feel supported through the ups and downs of labour. He even commented afterwards that he felt it was the best thing that we did for the whole pregnancy. I’m so grateful for all that Cheryl did for us, and would absolutely use her again!
After a very long fertility journey I was super keen to make our pregnancy and birth experience the best it could be. I had heard of the concept of a doula before and thought it seemed like an excellently idea. I asked around for recommendations through my network and found Cheryl.
She was so responsive and came over and met my husband and Mum and talked us through what her support would look like. We decided to go on the journey with Cheryl and so glad we did. We connected early in my pregnancy and it was so useful, even learning things about how to sit properly to get your baby in the best position meant I upgraded my office chair early on.
Cheryl had a huge amount of recommendations and referrals about how to make pregnancy as comfortable and health and possible and I think I did just about all of them, things like Osteo, pregnancy yoga, Acupuncture, the list goes on. I think this all meant I had a comfortable and healthy pregnancy, right until 42 weeks! Unfortunately, baby did not decide to come and Cheryl was a great support helping us navigating our options as we got post term.
We did end up with a c-section whilst not what we were hoping for I felt like I had done everything I could and I got to make the choice. Cheryl’s support has continued post birth and meant I have got the support I needed quickly like a lactation consultant to ensure I could improve breast feeding quickly.
I would highly recommend Cheryl such amazing support, and network that has given me so much confidence in navigating my first pregnancy and birth.
'We found Cheryl through my cousin who had also had Cheryl as her doula, and after reading Cheryl's wonderful book, 'Stork Talk: Delivering Strategies for Your Ideal Birth' I knew I wanted her to be part of our birth journey. Cheryl is warm, kind, practical, reassuring and an all-around great support through pregnancy and beyond. We really enjoyed our birth preparation sessions with her, particularly the practical strategies for labour and fourth trimester planning. She is very responsive and was available whenever we needed some advice or a chat. We are so grateful to have had her in our lives for this very special time".
We cannot recommend Cheryl enough!!! This was our first baby and we had no idea what we were in for. Right from the start, Cheryl recommended I apply for birth centre - which meant I ended up getting (I think) the best support and care throughout my pregnancy and an amazing team of midwives. If it wasn't for Cheryl, I never would have known this type of care was available. We felt so much more confident going into the birth having someone as experienced as Cheryl with us. Being well informed and having that support meant we got the birth we were hoping for, and were left with the most amazing experience. My early labour was also long and irregular - I would have been so out of my depth if I didn't have Cheryl there for advice and support during this time. We are so grateful to have had her with us during our pregnancy and highly recommend her services to anyone looking for that positive birth experience!!
I found Cheryl late into my pregnancy and I’m so glad I did. My hope was to have a VBAC for my second birth, however I was finding navigating the public hospital system on my own to be suffocating. I felt my confidence to make decisions that I believed would bring positive outcomes for my baby and myself diminishing.
Cheryl provided us with practical guidance and support, with evidence-based research on topics that were the focus of my pregnancy, including big babies and mal-positioning, and additional reading on the physiological process of labour, which I found to be critical to my preparation. Meeting with Cheryl and discussing our first baby’s birth, and then confirming what we’d like my ideal birth to be this time supported me to prepare my body and mind and feel confident that my intention for a VBAC was achievable.
Having Cheryl at my birth gave me confidence that I would have support in the room to ensure I was guided in the direction that was right for my baby and me, based on the preparation I’d done, and appropriate to the way my birth was unfolding. There were times in the labour where I very much thought things were going to go in a different direction and Cheryl coached me through those moments, bringing me back to focus. Cheryl believed in me in the moments I couldn’t believe in myself. I only had my partner at my first birth, and while he did an excellent job navigating that difficult and long labour as my sole support, having him as well as Cheryl at my second birth was exceptional. They’re two very different roles.
I was able to deliver my ‘large baby’ via VBAC, with some intervention that I felt part of the decision-making process for. I’m thrilled I did it. I don’t believe I would have achieved a VBAC birth without Cheryl’s support in the lead up to and on the day at my labour.
I wanted to set myself up so that on the other side of my birth, when reflecting on my how things went, I would be confident in knowing I’d done everything I could to ensure I’d given this birth my best shot, as opposed to second guessing and wondering what if for months like I did after my first birth. It feels good now thinking back on it all and having such positive reflection on the experience. Cheryl is a mentor, a non-judgemental, friendly, informed expert on birth. I can’t believe how lucky I was to find her.
“ Cheryl became our counsel, our rock, our calm as we transformed from two to three and from three to four. She will always have a special place in our lives and hearts. ”
Lynn
Give yourself the best chance of a positive birth in a hospital setting. A new book by one of Australias leading doulas, Cheryl Sheriff.
Sharing wisdom from her 30 years experience as a midwife and doula, and her presence at over 1000 hospital births.
After reading this book you will have more direction, and feel confident, excited and less daunted by the experiences to come.
