Birth of Finnley

Ahhh where to start when trying to put into words the impact that Ugne had for me as my doula! Before, during and after the birth of our first child, Ugne empowered me, as a first-time mum, to have the intervention-free birth I had hoped for. She held mine and my husband's hand through it all and advised on everything from the physiological process of birth, body/mindset preparation, nutrition, foetal positioning, diet, acupressure, Rebozo, and how to navigate the Danish hospital system. Her unwavering confidence in the female body (brought about by expert understanding), passed gently through to me and gave me confidence and tools in which to really trust the natural process. My husband and I are both Australian expats living in Denmark, and having no family over here to support us through the crazy experience of pregnancy, birth and post-partum, Ugne had a sixth sense that we needed a bit of extra help to feel less vulnerable. Her warmth, generosity made me feel safe and seen, while her fierce advocacy made her a powerful ally to have when I had questions for the hospital/midwives. Post-partum, when I was home feeling elated yet so terrified to have a new baby in my arms, she came over to our place with teas, food and, most importantly for me, a session in which she helped me unpack some of the emotional difficulties I had faced during the birth itself (including a closing ceremony). My pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences were tough but deeply humbling and empowering-- I truly credit Ugne for this and I will forever be grateful for the love, support and knowledge that she gave my husband and I for our first birthing experience. 

___Mikaela

Before my wife fell pregnant, I knew very little about childbirth -- honestly, just that I always felt relief that I wouldn't have to be the one to do it!! Through working with Ugne, this changed completely. With her consultations and expert knowledge on the physiology and powerful spirituality of birth, she armed my wife with profound confidence that she could trust her body, but she armed me with the invaluable gift of knowledge. As a man, I was intimidated by what I did not understand -- childbirth seemed terrifying and complicated to me, but I was simultaneously committed to being an active participant in the birth of our son and to be an unwavering support for my wife. Ugne's expertise allowed me to understand the phases of labour, what to look out for at different stages, massage techniques, acupressure points, affirmations and comprehensive birth planning. I called her as soon as labour started and she provided reassurance, and after the birth came over several times to debrief on the experience, bring over nourishing foods and ensure my wife was recovering mentally and physically. As a birthing partner, to have a trusted expert by my side to help me be supportive in this was such a relief. My wife wanted to aim for as little medical intervention as possible while still going through the hospital system, so gently and with expert knowledge, Ugne armed me (and her) with the knowledge I needed to advocate on her behalf when we got to the hospital. Prior to the birth, she also gave us specific exercises to do that helped ensure the baby was in the right position. I loved this, as the stretches became a nightly routine for the two of us and it made me more of an active participant. Our families live overseas and so Ugne essentially became our family over here and trusted source of knowledge. I have since spoken to many male friends about pregnancy and birth and I couldn't recommend Ugne and the services of doulas more.

___Sandy