About
Carol Burroughs is a passionate doula (birth coach). She uses her own experience of having birthed eight children plus her doula training to provide personal support to women and their partners during pregnancy, labour and birth. She established Freedom Births in 2015 and is the creator of Birthing with Passion workshops designed to inform, inspire and impart practical ways to manage labour and birth. Participants leave the class equipped with a vast array of resources ready for their upcoming birth whether at home or hospital.
As another piece to the puzzle of support for mothers, she also offers postpartum support in the form of very practical assistance and encouragement. Not taking over, but as a friend who has very much been there and totally understands.
Carol holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and is a member of DONA International (Doulas of North America) and Newborn Mothers Collective (Julia Jones, Australia).
Having lived in Britain, Dunedin, Auckland and the Far North, she now calls Taranaki home. She has decided to not only survive but thrive a near empty nest by Living with Passion for her next 50 years with her ever faithful husband of 33 years, Nic.
Here For You
I love helping woman and their partners to experience pregnancy, birth and their first days of babyhood in a positive, empowered and nuturing way.
I love helping women connect their passions with their labour. This has a beneficial effect of keeping the feel-good and natural pain relief hormones flowing which is so important.
I believe birth is not an isolated medical event. It is an integral part of who you are.
What can really help you for labour and postpartum is not to disconnect yourself from the things you love doing.
The first six weeks after your baby is born is a sacred window of time to
heal physically and emotionally from nine months of being pregnant
and then the birth of your baby. Ysha Oakes coined the term, 40 days
for 40 years. This sacred window is an opportunity to heal emotionally
and physically for the next 40 years.
I am here to guide and support that transition.
I am a fellow mother and postpartum doula . I am part of the
renaissance where a mother is cared for and nourished after giving
birth.
Recognised Doula
I completed a birth doula course with DONA (Doulas of North America) International run by Caroline Tranter in Palmerston North and received certification in 2017. I belong to several doula support groups (Doula NZ, Doulas of Aotearoa) as well as an Australian doula mentoring group.
I quickly realised the importance and significance of postpartum support as being the other piece of the support puzzle, and in November 2018 I became a Newborn Mothers Postpartum Professional. An Australian College of Midwives Continuing Professional Development Recognised Course with Julia Jones.
Testimonials
The situation surrounding my pregnancy was a bit different to most. I was caring for my mum who was terminally ill, my dad had passed away several years ago and my husband worked offshore. Being that this was my first baby I had no idea what to expect and felt seeking additional support was the right decision for me.
Two days before I was due to be induced we were told that mum only had a matter of days left. When I checked into the hospital I wasn't sure if I would see her again. My induction took two days. My birth took six hours with just gas and no stitches. A few hours after my birth I was wheeled over to hospice so mum could meet her grandson.
We were fortunate enough to have the best part of two weeks with her which we would not have got had I not recovered from my birth so quickly. Carol played a large part in this and I will always be grateful for her care. Personally I believe the doula service should be made publicly available. The right support can make all the difference.
- Steph Phillips
Carol provided great support after I had my second child, Rosie. She would come in and help with Rosie when I was busy with Garth or vice versa, help with housework and would leave us with a meal cooked for dinner. More importantly Carol makes a great cup of tea and is a fantastic person to talk with and have a laugh with. She is understanding, non judgemental and very caring. Every time after Carol had been to visit I felt so much more in control and better within myself. Carol was flexible, punctual and also made herself available to help when I needed it with little notice.
My only regret is that I never knew about Carols services when I had my first born. I would 100% recommend her to anyone about to have a baby, be it their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or more.
Thank you so much for all your help Carol, I’ll be sure to let you know if I need your help again!
- Tracey Dickson
