Hi, I’m Emily
I am a pregnancy, birth and postpartum Doula and founder of The Birth Ally. I am the mother of two beautiful little boys and I live with my husband and children, in the western area of Adelaide. I love to bake, spend time as a family, try new child free restaurants with my husband or enjoy our beautiful wine regions and am generally up for any new crafty project with the kids, that keeps my hands and head busy! I’m an absolute birth nerd – often opening social media and happily scrolling through birth videos in waiting rooms and public places, much to the mild horror of anyone sitting next to me, that might not share my enthusiasm!
With lived experience in hypnobirthing, chronic health conditions, secondary infertility and IVF, I provide support that prioritises informed choice, advocacy and healing. Viewing birth as a rite of passage, The Birth Ally helps women connect with their inner strength, wisdom and resilience, striving to support every birthing woman to feel seen, heard and deeply satisfied with their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journeys.
WHY DID I BECOME A DOULA?
Because 20 years of social work changes you – It opens your eyes to the small moments that matter, the voices that need to be heard and the impact of true advocacy.
Because woman deserve to be seen and heard and I became fiercely committed to women’s rights, because every woman deserves respect, autonomy and empowerment.
Because I found out what the maternity care system is really doing – One in three women leave their births carrying trauma instead of joy – I couldn’t stand by knowing what should be a transformational experience, is causing harm, disempowering and is avoidable.
Because I experienced my own incredible birth – Birthing my first son, hypnobirthing allowed me to experience my birth calmly, with confidence and empowerment. It was a profoundly joyful, life altering experience, that showed me what is possible in birth
Because my next birth challenged me and changed me – This birth came with hurdles, loosing trust in my body following a chronic health diagnosis, navigating secondary infertility and IVF and a maternity system that created fear, instead of confidence – but despite it all.
I did it anyway – It was intense, transformative and it again reshaped how I see birth, bringing my almost 5kg baby into the world at 41+3 weeks, in the private maternity care system, without fear, trauma, drugs or medical intervention during labour and birth (or even an episiotomy or tearing!).
That is my why. After everything I’ve seen and experienced, my goal is simple: to support women to feel heard and in control of their journeys into motherhood and empower women to reclaim the power of birth.
WHY THE BIRTH ALLY
The Birth Ally was born out of my own personal experiences, birthing my babies, alongside my background in Social Work, where I developed a strong commitment to women’s rights and advocacy. This has shaped my belief that every woman should be empowered to reclaim the power of birth, within a system that truly supports her.
MY MISSION
I believe that birth shouldn’t be a medical event, it’s a human one. How decisions that need to be made, are communicated, can matter as much as the decision itself. The likelihood of experiencing birth trauma decreases when your care providers explain why an intervention might be necessary, provides transparent information rather than fear mongering tactics, seeks informed consent, welcomes questions and discussion and pauses and holds space for you to make the best decision you can for you and your baby. The difference between an intervention feeling supportive, safe and welcome or terrifying and violating – is communication. Most birth trauma doesn’t come from the birth or birth outcome itself, it comes from how women were treated and were communicated with, during their experience of birth. With one in three women experiencing birth trauma in Australia, The Birth Ally’s mission is to change the narrative and support women to reclaim the power of birth.
MY ROLE
Pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period are powerful transitions — and having the right support can make all the difference. I believe that you already have what you need within you to beautifully birth and parent your baby. My role is to help you feel confident, informed, and supported — however your experience unfolds. I hold space without judgement and with deep respect for your choices.
SHAPING EXPERIENCE
Through prenatal, birth and postpartum support, I help women navigate their journeys with confidence, connection and authenticity. Bridging empathy with evidence, I support women to make their birth experience transformational, healing and a deeply personal experience, while fostering informed choice, advocacy and lasting empowerment.
My name is Emily Bartlett, and I am an emerging doula who is completing training at the Doula Training Academy. I service the Adelaide metropolitan area. I aim to empower women to reclaim the power of birth – if you would like to talk more about how I can support you, please get in touch.
Phone:
0422 036 895
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
https://www.thebirthally.com.au/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584872488806
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thebirthallydoula/