Samantha Gunn in Killara | Local service

Samantha Gunn

Locality: Killara

Phone: +61 409 161 262

Address: Lady Game Drive 2071 Killara, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.samanthagunndoula.com

Likes: 226

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• Local service
• Pregnancy care centre

25.01.2022 Want to know which type of woman I care for? ALL OF THEM It doesnt matter how you choose to labour - drugs, no drugs, whether its your first or fourth child - Im there for you through it all. #sydneydoula #duesoon #givingbirth ... Credit to @alirodmd via TikTok See more

24.01.2022 It’s hard to imagine your life with your baby before they arrive. But once they’re here, it’s hard to remember your life without them Do you remember feeling this way? #newborn #nogreaterlove #sydneymums

24.01.2022 HAPPY FATHERS DAY We appreciate dads for everything they do.... even the jokes they tell Whats your favourite dad joke? @wearepaperplane... #fathersday2020 #dadjokes #dadlife See more

23.01.2022 Beautiful and mesmerising #pregnant #beautiful #sydneydoula #Repost @dalijahamelia ... I dont care how you get here, just get here if you can . Song: @samsmith Get Here. See more

23.01.2022 Its fantastic to see Westmeads homebirth program up and running! Thats now 2 hospitals in Sydney that offer home birth as part of their Group Midwifery Program, increasing choice for women and families.

22.01.2022 NEW BLOG POST Bone broth is a big part of my postpartum care, mostly because Ive seen the effect that it has on the women that I work with. This blog explains why its so wonderful, not just for postpartum but for everyday life too! And also shows different ways to incorporate it into your meals. ... https://www.samanthagunndoula.com//bone-broth-benefits-and Enjoy! #postpartumdoula #bonebroth #fourthtrimester See more

21.01.2022 WEDNESDAY 8pm AEST!! Ill be joining @newmumscollective for a LIVE chat on having a positive postpartum. Birth us just the beginning, join us to learn how to prepare for what comes next #sydneydoula #fourthtrimester #postpartumjourney Join me and the beautiful @samanthagunndoula for an Instagram LIVE on @newmumscollective this Wednesday 20 May at 8pm AEST talking all things to prepare for your most positive postpartum!

19.01.2022 This!! #sydneydoula #positivevibes #followyourheart

19.01.2022 My greatest teachers have been my children, even though the lessons havent always been clear at the time. But time passes and clarity can be found, just in time for the next lesson #sydneydoula #parenting #beteachable @kaha.mind

18.01.2022 Sibling love #sydneydoula #socute #siblings by Heather Conley via @hank_knitwear.

16.01.2022 Birth support in a birth centre or hospital looks a little like this right now. Yes, Im asked to wear a mask - but Im still present, providing support and continuity of care to my clients #sydneydoula #birthsupport #facemaskselfie

16.01.2022 How wonderful for those birthing at The Royal Hospital for Women - their policy has changed to allow additional birth support! Here’s hoping that other Sydney hospitals follow suit and reduce stress for expecting families #sydneydoula #hospitalbirth #birthcentre

16.01.2022 Everyone has different priorities! What matters a lot to one person might not even be on someone elses radar. I encourage my clients to think about whats important to them and communicate that effectively so that everyone understands their priorities as they approach their birth. #sydneydoula #itsimportant #birthplan ... Wonderful by @artsyaffirmations See more

14.01.2022 Transition is a change in intensity towards the end of labour. Partners can feel unsure and a little overwhelmed by it but with some reassurance and gentle guidance they find their confidence again. Wonderful post by @midwifemarley on how to support the transition stage Dads & Birth Partners. Watching your loved one in discomfort can be hard. Being there when your baby comes into the world is amazing but there are lots of people who simply feel overwhlemed and ...unsure what to do when their partner is in labour. .Transition is the stage where most of the labour is done and she is approaching fully dilated. At this point it is extremely intense and not uncommon for women to say theyve had "enough", say they want to go home, ask for an epidural having peviously managed without it or make a lot more noise. Transition can make a birthing person feel as though they can't do any more but in fact it means that the baby will be born soon and it's almost over! There are some things that you can do though as a partner, here are some tips: . - offer lots of encouragement unless she prefers you to keep quiet. At this stage, eye contact and touch may be a better form of communication. . - Breathe through the contractions with her to help her remain in control. Remind her to breathe slowly if she appears to start panicking. . - Be there but give her space if she prefers. Not everyone likes being touched especially in transition . - Offer her ice chips/sips of water and a cold towel to mop her brow. If she feels cold, offer her a blanket. . - Transition isn't the best time for small talk or jokes so dont waste words. It will likely be more irritating than helpful. . - if her contractions seem to be very close together and she starts making grunting/pushing noises with noone in the room, best to call a midwife in with the call bell. . - Remember that labour and birth is the most intense event a someone can ever go through so dont take it to heart if you're snapped at! #sydneydoula #postivebirth #birthsupport See more

13.01.2022 Moulding of babys head is often a surprise to new parents, trust me when I say that a few hours will make all the difference @beforethebirth gives a great explanation of it below... #sydneydoula #birth #newborn Why does my baby have a cone-shaped head? Will it go away? Is this normal? .... Your baby is experiencing molding! Molding is an asymmetrical head due to pressure exerted on the head in the birth canal! It is a very normal finding. Since the bones of the skull are not fused together at birth, they have the ability to shift as baby makes their way down the canal. . A babys skull is made up of different bones with suture line separating these areas. A suture line is the connective tissue between the skull bones. If you touch a newborns skull you can actually feel along these suture lines, they feel like small gaps in between each of the large bones of the skull. Sometimes, these bones overlap along a suture line due to molding; this will feel like a small ridge. . Molding is more often seen with a vaginal birth than a Caesarean section birth. There may still be molding seen during a C-section, if a baby has started to makes its way down the birth canal already! Molding usually disappears within 72 hours after birth. . If you want to take some pictures right after birth and you are intimidated by the cone-head look, pop a cute hat on your newborn and no one will know the difference See more

13.01.2022 Thats 3.37kgs.... Ill share my babies birth weights in the comments (spoiler alert - nowhere near average ) #sydneydoula #birthweight #newborn @bumptobabynj

13.01.2022 I would also add that its always changing Great from @mamaguide #sydneydoula #newmum #sydneymums Lets be real, there are way too many things we are not told before having a baby. It might be that people forget, just dont want to scare us, or maybe make it sound like they got the hang of things. Who knows?! ... What would you add to this list of things you werent told before having your baby? See more

12.01.2022 Whether youre expecting your first baby or your third, doula support can help you feel more positive and confident as you journey through your pregnancy and into parenthood. Contact me or see my #linkinbio to learn more #sydneydoula #postpartum #pregnant @tiiamaria_s

11.01.2022 Theres so much more to having a baby than giving birth. And having a doula means that you have someone who is just there for you. Through it all. Support that helps you find the way that you want to parent and gives you the space to process and accommodate your shift into motherhood. Get in touch if youd like to know more about my support, Id love to hear about you and your journey so far #sydneydoula #motherhood #postpartumdoula ... @mymirrorau See more

11.01.2022 My partner is concerned about his role on the day if we have a doula I get this A LOT, its a very common initial concern and its very understandable - but the truth is that a doula brings you closer, not further apart. This starts during your pregnancy by building your confidence, easing your worries and teaching you what to expect along with tools to navigate your labour. ... And during your birth the only thing we take from the partner is the mental load of thinking about comfort measures to try, positions that might be helpful, understanding what the medical team are saying. If were thinking about these things then partners can be more emotionally available and a much better support on the day. And importantly, were there for the partners too, not just the birthing woman. Partners go through their own journey during birth, it can feel overwhelming and can definitely feel out of their comfort zone - but we give reassurance, help them feel confident and even provide the opportunity to take small breaks when needed, knowing that theres still good support in the room. So doulas are great for you both - get in touch if youd like to know more. #sydneydoula #birthsupport #thereforyou Beautiful from @aimeesugarphotography See more

11.01.2022 NEW BLOG 9 WAYS TO HAVE A POSITIVE INDUCTION Yes, the induction rate is too high in Australia (and many other countries) - but if youre having an induced birth how can you make it the most positive experience? Here are my top tips! #sydneydoula #induced #doulatips

10.01.2022 NEW BLOG POST Did you know that bodywork can help support your breastfeeding journey? This blog post is written by Kirsten Hannan, a local Osteopath and IBCLC and dives into common issues faced by mums and babies in the early days and weeks and how bodywork and lactation support may help. ... Check out the blog on my website (#linkinbio), I hope you find it as interesting as I did! #sydneydoula #newblogpost #breastfeeding See more

08.01.2022 These foods are wonderful to include in your diet postnatally. Theyre readily available and will help you recover as well as support your body in making breastmilk. My other general recommendations for postpartum nutrition are to focus on whole, slow cooked foods that are easily digestible and include warming herbs and spices where you can, such as cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger etc. #sydneydoula #postpartum #fourthtrimester ... This is a great from @tranquilitybyhehe - her words are below Weve been talking a lot about what to eat after having a baby in the DMs! During postpartum, your body is working SUPER hard to heal, to replenish, to create colostrum then breastmilk then establish and regulate that breastmilk supply. You can eat things like bone broth and water to help you body heal. Foods like oatmeal, flaxseed, peanut butter, and brewers yeast are all what we call galactagogues which are simply foods that support and increase milk supply. In The Birth Lounge, I share my fave postpartum boobie balls recipe! What was the first thing you ate after labor?! See more

08.01.2022 Great post from Amy at @balancedbumps !! Im a HUGE fan of the side-lying release and go through the technique (and others!) with many of my clients. Amy outlines the benefits below - and check out her ebook, its has some fantastic info. #sydneydoula #pregnant #2020baby ... SIDE LYING RELEASE Heres my gorgeous hubby showing hand position for the Side Lying Release. Side lying release is a technique created by Dr Carol Phillips for creating mobility and alignment through the body to allow favourable fetal position. A common mistake I see when partners attempt this move is too much of a rotational force between the hands - this May feel nice but it is not the objective of the position. The stretch is intended to create space in the side of the body. The more space the baby has to move, the better they can navigate your birth canal mama. Make sure your shoulders, knees and hips are stacked, and the bottom leg nice and straight. I thought I was straight, but I can see in this picture my top hip could be rotated backs little more. Being stacked is important so the pelvic floor can completely relax. This is why this technique can be effective for helping labour progress! During pregnancy hold for 3-5 breaths, or up to 3-5 minutes if your babe is not in a favourable position. During labour, if labour isnt progressing, hold during 3 contractions on each side. I teach you more ways to UNWIND your body in the UNWIND section of my ebook 5 HACKS TO EMPOWER YOUR PREGNANCY FROM HOME. See more

07.01.2022 My postpartum care starts in the kitchen. The right food helps us heal, helps us feel better physically and emotionally. Simple, whole, slow cooked foods that are nourishing, that warm your body and are easy to digest are key for a wonderful recovery. Bone broth is amazing for postpartum recovery and I make it for all my clients. Its a great source of vitamins and minerals that encourage repair, reduces inflammation and can even aid sleep. ... If youd like some support in your postpartum, then do get in touch. #sydneydoula #nutrition #fourthtrimester See more

07.01.2022 Doulas support ALL types of birth! Here I am yesterday, about to go into theatre and support a beautiful client in her planned caesarean birth. Many people think of doula support for natural (or physiological) births but doulas are valuable in any setting. Understanding your options, navigating your care and meeting your baby is often an overwhelming and always emotional experience.... Having continuous support that is based on trust and connection can help you to experience an empowered birth and give you the best start to your parenting journey. #sydneydoula #caesareanbirth #thereforyou See more

07.01.2022 Its been a while since I introduced myself so I thought Id say Hi again! Theres an About Me story highlight reel for my previous posts... here are a few more random facts about me : I grew up in a pub in England I have one tattoo, and I got it when I was 42 years old! Im fascinated by humans, what makes us tick and the stories that we have. I moved to Australia 15 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest child, we then moved to the US and came back agai...n (because Australia has always felt like home) Since having my children I will cry at anything.... movies, books, adverts, @humansofny posts, songs... anything #sydneydoula #aboutme #hi See more

06.01.2022 Skin to skin, its so important for newborns. There is a focus on skin to skin for the first few hours after birth but it is beneficial for much longer than that. So try and have good periods of skin to skin over a longer period of time. Why is this? Well, the benefits can include: helping to regulate babys heart rate, breathing and body temperature improvements in babys blood sugar allows for baby to be colonised with parents bacteria ... is calming for baby supports bonding between parents and their newborn creates an environment that supports a slower postpartum, allowing for parents to rest helps normalise mums hormones can help establish breastfeeding And dont forget skin to skin with dad! If mum isnt available, even for a short time, then having that skin to skin with dad provides many of the same benefits for baby. #sydneydoula #newbornphotography #skintoskin Credit to @belle_verdiglione for this gorgeous photo See more

06.01.2022 With restrictions being lifted in so many areas of our lives how are birthing women still being left to go through such a crucial life stage with minimal support? Queensland have lifted the restriction, EVEN NEW YORK recognises the importance of additional support during birth and their numbers have been so much more serious than anywhere in Australia. At the moment you can have more support birthing down the pub than in a birth centre or hospital - does that make sense to... anyone?? How can hospitals continue to justify these rules? #sydneydoula #birthmatters #makesnosense @hygieiahealthltd See more

06.01.2022 We are stronger together. This is true for me in my personal life and also as a doula - Im lucky to be supported by some wonderful women and so, in turn am able to support women through the most transformative experience of their lives. Thank you for the nominations yesterday, I took a very candid selfie late last night #challengeaccepted #blackandwhitechallenge #selfie #womensupportingwomen #womanstrong #strongasamother #mum #doula #woman #bettertogether #keepgoing #femaleentrepreneur #womenempowerment #womenempoweringwomen #womeninspiringwomen #blackandwhite #bnw #sydneymums

05.01.2022 IT’S HOMEBIRTH AWARENESS WEEK!! I love homebirth, it’s an incredibly special thing to witness and experience. But it is severely limited in Australia. A few public hospitals now offer a program to some women and these are wonderful but it is not an option for many. And this means that women must mostly choose to birth ‘outside the system’ if they homebirth, and this is expensive. I’ve supported homebirths as a doula but I have also chosen it for myself (3 times!). These p...hotos are of a beautiful birth I attended earlier this year and of my own last 2 births under private midwifery care. Why did I choose to birth at home? Homebirth is private and undisturbed in a way that cannot be achieved outside of the home. For low risk women homebirth is safe and the care is woman-centred, meaning that it is focused on her individual needs and not the policies of her place of birth. And on the topic of care, it really is second to none. Long, unhurried antenatal appointments in your own home, full birth attendance with midwives that you have developed a special trust with and lots of postnatal follow up during those tender first 6 weeks. Homebirth midwives bring medical equipment with them - much of what would be immediately used in a hospital is already in your home under midwifery care. So they are prepared for a range of scenarios and will recommend transfer to your local hospital if necessary. I trusted myself, my baby and my team. I felt safe and supported - just look at my midwife’s face in one of the photos! And fundamentally I didn’t view birth as an illness or an abnormal event. It is a physiological process that my body was designed for. Is it right for everyone? Of course not, no one model of care is. But if you’re considering it and would like to chat to someone about your options then I’m here for you. - @samanthagunndoula #sydneydoula #homebirth #waterbirth @ Sydney, Australia

03.01.2022 Things are returning to normal for the care of pregnant women! Now we just need the hospitals to publicly and consistently open up for additional support in labour (many areas have been great but its still a mixed picture in Sydney )

02.01.2022 Not everything works all the time, and it can be hard to think clearly when your baby is crying. I love this ‘cheat sheet’ graphic from @moomysmilk So if what worked before isn’t working, give something new a try. #sydneydoula #fourthtrimester #newbaby

02.01.2022 This is why Im so passionate about my work. Theres nothing technical about it, its based in connection and love - things that we often lack in our society today Beautiful, beautiful image and words below from @nourisherdoula Why new mothers are like sponges.... I use this term a lot because I think it gives a good visualization of why what we say to new mothers matters so deeply. When a woman has just gone through the transformation into motherhood she is open, vulnerable, and often desperate. Think about how much you would have paid to have someone come in and just give you the answers to everything motherhood was throwing at you in those early days. I bet you would have emptied your piggy bank... I would have! Our culture comes at mothers with a fire hose of information, unwanted advice, and fear mongering in order to profit from the mothers vulnerability. Most of us fall right into it too! Not because we are weak, hear me on this! Its because we are an open book, , soaking up and taking to heart anything and everything we can in order to learn how to be a better mother, and survive what may feel unsurvivable. So what are you depositing into the beautiful neediness of a mother? Do you tell her what she must buy or spend her money on rather than turning her focus towards what she already has, like rest, intuition and breast milk? Are you criticizing rather than believing in her? Have you compared her experience with yours instead of validating her hard work and small wins? Have you filled the space with words or have you simply listened? Have you told her not to cry or have you offered feeling is healing, its ok to feel sad.? Because the truth is... the best gift you can give her is to help her feel that she is enough, and then watch her rise to the occasion. Women always do! See more