After raising five children and working for 35 years with kids aged between 0 and 10 years as a crèche co-ordinator, paediatric dental nurse, scripture teacher and integration aide for the deaf, Jo discovered a new life.

It was while she was supporting a children’s mission program overseas that Jo discovered that they trained women in various villages to assist each other during child birth. With her appetite well and truly whetted she discovered through a website that there were people right here in Australia trained to do the same thing.

They are known as Doulas or Birth Assistants and, what’s more, she discovered that Doulas are widely used in the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand and the US.

This was enough to see her enrol with the Optimum Birth Association Doula Training and at age 50 she gave herself a birthday present - a new business called Pregnatal.

Today the business incorporates preconception and pregnancy massage and relaxation, antenatal classes, labour and birth Doula services, with infant massage instruction classes and belly masking keepsakes to help create a beautiful, well rounded business where women can go and be pampered and nurtured throughout their journey.

Born in Annandale, Sydney, Jo left school in Year 10 and somewhat shocked her careers adviser when she told her “I want to be a professional mother”.

After starting work in a pharmacy and then as a dental nurse, Jo married and moved to Wollongong – she lives at Tullimbar these days – and became involved in assisting with deaf students at Wollongong Public School where she used and taught sign language as a means of communication before developing her other “business” interests.

The passion shows through  

Jo says that as a certified Doula she is passionate about encouraging women to have empowering and positive birth experiences.

“I feel blessed,” she says, “to be able to share such a special journey with parents as they prepare for birth and then to witness the arrival of their bundle of joy.”

She also says that every birth she attends is a miracle and a privilege to be part of.

“I believe that with thorough preparation of the birth plan and a Doula’s presence, knowledge, wisdom and trust in the birth process, any birthing experience will be one to remember with joy,” she says.

At the same time Jo says it needs to be made quite clear that Doulas do not take the place of midwives or medical staff; they are there for the parents’ emotional and physical needs throughout the pregnancy, labour and birth of their baby.

Wanting to offer parents the very best help, Jo also trained with the International Association of Infant Massage to become an infant massage instructor, which enables her to educate parents how to massage their own baby or toddler.

A client's plaster "baby bump."

Jo runs courses in the local communities around the Illawarra, with each course running for an hour a week over five weeks, which is an ideal way to bond with the baby, helps the baby to relax, promotes good sleep patterns and helps to relieve colic.

She is also available for private tuition.

In March Jo completed her training in pregnancy massage with Mothercare Massage and is now able to offer a complete massage and relaxation service.

Jo stresses that as a Doula she now needs to educate mothers-to-be and medical staff in a Doula’s ability to offer suitable support programs in the areas pregnancy.

“We would like people to know we are, in fact, an asset to up and coming mothers,” she says.

For more information about Pregnatal Doula Services give Jo a call on 4256 8874 or 0449 068 984 or visit her website on www.pregnatal.com.au