We were fortunate to have had Zan along for our pregnancy, birth and post-partum journey. Their support was holistic, nurturing, inclusive, evidence based and endlessly practical.

Their sessions were well planned and guided in response to what we wanted to chat about - exploring everything from the physiology of birth, through to our hopes and fears for the process, helping us plan the details of our planned home birth and then navigating the many questions and practical and emotional skills for having a new Bub postpartum.

We really appreciated how inclusive they were of both of us - ensuring that we both were taken along on this new journey. Zan has a wealth of knowledge - but will always point you to the evidence - and they lent us many incredible (queer friendly) resources to support our decision making.

Zans support during our home birth was phenomenal - they provided a calming / encouraging and warm presence when my partner and I needed it, liaised with the midwifery team and then were absolutely invaluable in helping with the logistical and practicalities during our transfer to hospital.

We are so thankful that we were able to have Zan along on our birth journey and whole heartedly recommend them.

Zan was the most calm, reassuring presence at the birth of our second child. During my labour, there were times when they sat quietly and held space, but then had the most valuable suggestions and reassurance just when it was needed. It was a fast labour and Zan was so skilled at reassuring me through the intense moments and communicating with the midwife . Practically, they also made things go so smoothly - helping to prepare the pool and the birth space and then looking after me immediately postpartum. They were two steps ahead thinking about what I might need. 

I credit having Zan on my birth team with feeling confident and safe throughout my labour. They helped to create several layers of support which I think made the birth go as well as it possible could. 

Honestly, I am not sure how I would have gotten through my pregnancy and birth of my second bub in 2023 without the unwavering support of Zan. I asked Zan to be my doula because I needed a doula who had the skills, ethics and analysis to help me, as a racialised, queer refugee-settler, to navigate the public health systems. They guided me with such care, love and attention during my rollercoaster pregnancy and birth journey. Because we live in seperate cities, I had all of my doula sessions with Zan online. This worked really well - which speaks to Zan’s warmth, relational ways of being, and creative energy. There were so many insights and offerings from Zan that I found useful like their: advice to connect to a student midwife; respect for my agency, advocacy and understandings of hospital systems, skills in helping me through uncertainty and BIG decisions, and audio meditation recording that I listened to during labour and birth! Deep respect and love for Zan’s work. 

We felt so completely held and deeply supported by Zan during our pregnancy, birth and postpartum. From an emotional perspective, having someone to help us create space to debrief about our first birth, to be really intentional about what wanted from this birth and to honour the babe I was growing, (which is not something we were finding time for in our day to day while caring for our toddler) was invaluable.

It was so helpful to be reminded that anything offered to us by medical professionals was something we could accept or decline, and to have a space to practice our self advocacy before using it in real life. This was particularly helpful as a fat birthing person! Zan also did incredible work holding space for big feelings and helping us protect our energy once we were past 40 weeks and were receiving pressure to be induced.​

From a more practical perspective - Zan offered so much support, particularly throughout the birth. Helping to set up the birth pool, offering non medical pain relief suggestions, words of encouragement when I needed them, being with our toddler, taking photos, making cups of tea and banana bread, constant tidying and assisting, putting on washing...the list goes on. Zan's presence at the birth and throughout our whole experience working with them was so reassuring and encouraging, but in a way that let the experience be fully ours. The support we received from Zan helped me to trust more fully in my body.  This had a hugely positive impact on our birth experience, which was amazing!

I had the honour of working with Zan for my daughter’s birth in Feb 2024. I only started my doula journey quite late into the pregnancy and I connected with Zan in October 2023. I had been struggling with making the financial decision to get a doula, however I had been told repeatedly by numerous different people that it would be the best financial decision I ever made and truer words have never been spoken! 

For me I knew this journey would be one filled with challenges as I was attempting a natural med free vaginal birth after previously having 2 emergency caesareans! From the get go, Zan never doubted my bodies ability to birth my baby vaginally. I also had to face a lot of restrictions with ‘hospital policies’. However Zan never wavered in their support and belief in me! Throughout the journey to the big day, Zan gave me plenty of resources and research to look at, to provide me with the educational tools I needed to know. This included what rights I had in the hospital, what rights I had to my own body and of course labour techniques, tips and tricks and a lot of statistical information! I am a plus size woman and often in the past felt like the medical care I received during pregnancy was often biased towards the fact I was overweight. It was almost like, instinctually the medical staff thought I was a risk because of my size even though I had had 3 perfectly normal pregnancies without any complications! 

Zan also had regular zoom meetings with me and in these meetings we would discuss, my mental health at the time, birth plan and letting go of any past traumas from my previous labours. Zan always held space for me to be open and honest about my feelings without ever passing judgement. Zan saw me for more than my size. For more than my 2 c-sections. Zan was more than just my doula. Zan was my hero. When the big day came Zan showed up in ways I could never have imagined! When Zan arrived at the hospital to meet us in the labour and delivery ward, their presence brought a sense of calmness to my room and an authority which provided a strong sense of security.  Ultimately Zan made me feel supported but above all made me feel safe. Because Zan and I had discussed at great lengths my expectations and hopes for my labour they knew exactly how to hold the space for me. Zan spoke up for me and ensured everyone working that day knew what I truly wanted! In any moments when I was wavering from the plan, Zan kept me grounded. When I quickly, without hesitation jumped at the chance for strong pain meds, Zan invited me to take 5 and think about my decision first. Zan explained the side effects the medication would have on not only myself but also my baby. This information came from my doula. Zan. Not the nurses, midwives or doctors. And why this is significant is because upon hearing this information, even when I was questioning if I could go on, I said no. I chose to not have any because I didn’t want my baby to feel any side effects from what I put into my body in the moment! Without Zan I 100% know I would have said yes. After that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I never wanted to do this again without Zan by my side or at the very least a doula!