My  Personal and Professional Journey

I was 21 when I had my firstborn, and it was quite a traumatic experience. Although I had my husband by my side, who had been very supportive, the midwives in the hospital in Zimbabwe at the time were quite cold and not interested in the young scared but otherwise healthy woman who just had to "grin and bear" it and not make a scene. From my side, I was quite ignorant about the birth and absolutely horrified. Because of my fear the pain intensified and became unbearable. I was not given any tools to cope. Not one nurse came to me and told me as much as "Just breathe". When I asked "How long will this last for"? or " Will I have the baby today?" They just scoffed and said "You should, if you stop screaming! If you keep on screaming and straining, you will swell up!" This frightened me even more! Hours passed, I was restless on and off my bed, they gave me Pethidine, which only made me drowsy and nauseous, but did not take the pain away. Eventually I felt the urge to bear down and push, I called the nurses, and they  started patronizing me once again  by saying that it was too early and that I must not push or I will hurt my baby. Finally, they wheeled me into the delivery room, where my obstetrician, the most wonderful Dr, Doctor Bernie Tatz,  who had just arrived, welcomed me with a smile and reassured me. He was the first person to do so, besides my husband, who himself had been under considerable stress as well. And so our first son was born. With my second and third pregnancies, I was wiser, I attended antenatal classes, and although I still had my babies in the same hospital, I knew much better how to handle myself. My life changing event occurred when we moved as a family back to South Africa, to Durban. I was expecting my 4th child and found  an amazing private midwife Tracy Roake, who had  opened her Birth Center. My my 5th child was born  in Durban as well , both, Home&Water births. Tracy changed the way I viewed birth. It was then when I first thought of becoming a doula. We moved again for a few years as a family, to live in Israel and thereafter - Australia. I had my daughter in Melbourne, in the midwife led Birth Center of  Monash University, it was the most wonderful Water birth. 12 years ago we returned to the South African shores of Cape Town where we are residing since. My youngest son, who is now 10, was born here, in Vincent Palotti Hospital, under an experienced and warm care of midwife Sandy Standish, also a peaceful Water birth. Just over 4 years ago I was fortunate to come across an advertisement for the Mama Bamba Doula Training course facilitated by  incredible Robyn Sheldon, Angela Morton and Amy Mongie . Finally my dream to become a birth doula  realised. I completed my theory and practical requirements, volunteered in Hanover Park Hospital Maternity Unit and in New Somerset Hospital Maternity Unit. I have worked in Christiaan Barnard Maternity, in Vincent Palotti Hospital Maternity as well as in Origin Maternity Hospital. I hold a Hatha Yoga teaching diploma from Aura Yoga Teacher Training and have been teaching Yoga for over 12 years, I am a Black Belt ( 1st Dan ) in Karate. I believe in the potential of our bodies and in the mind and body connection. I bring this into my Doula practice and coaching techniques, the Yogic and Karate breathing and Mind control. Positive visualisation and Meditation. Having brought up 7 children, and having lived in 5 countries, I am well equipped to give parental advice on variety of topics. Some things we learn in the University of Life. It is always my pleasure to either offer advice or be an empathetic ear to parents who are like all of us experience the pleasure and the travails of child rearing.