Donella Gunnell

About Me

Hi, I’m Donella.

I’m a birth & postnatal doula, passionate about supporting families through the incredible journey of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.  I am a qualified infant feeding peer supporter, so supporting mothers in their breastfeeding journey is a huge interest of mine.  

I am a mum to two wonderful children and since becoming a mother 11 years ago, I have always had a deep passion towards birth and motherhood. The magic created is just incredible, its an absolute privilege I never take for granted. I also understand how incredibly overwhelming it can be so my main focus is making sure you get continued support and care navigating your pregnancy, birth and postnatal journeys.

I’m a big softy, I’ve been told I wear my heart on my sleeve too much, but I’ve grown to realise that’s what helps me respond to others. In my doula practice I see it as a strength, I will always bring raw kindness, care and compassion to my role.

In your pregnancy and birth I promise you will feel nurtured, supported and empowered throughout your journey.  I want you to feel physical and emotional strength to enjoy every second of this beautiful experience. Every birth is different and you only get one chance to capture that moment, so I will always advocate for you and build a trusted relationship with you, your family and healthcare providers to ensure your pregnancy and birth wishes are heard and met.

I’m a great believer that preparation is the key, I will help you to prepare for your birth in a number of antenatal sessions together, ensuring that your wishes are at the centre of everything, helping you to feel  in control throughout.

My aim as your postnatal doula is to make sure the whole family is supported, you may only require me for a few days, weeks or choose a more long term plan, whichever way, I will ensure you are left feeling  supported and confident. I will become part of your team for as long as you need me. My main focus will always be on the healing process of the mother, making sure she is resting as much as possible, fed with nutritious meals and listened to. I will always be a sound board for any concerns and hold space for you as your companion.

Other then the love I have for my children and family, nothing makes me happier then making a positive difference to someone. This has become even more apparent since volunteering at a local infant feeding café. I love supporting families through their feeding journeys, and watching a mother leave a little bit lighter and confident.

I love learning, and improving a skill set, and continue to look for things which will enhance my role as a Doula. I am currently studying to be a Mindfulness Breastfeeding Practitioner, focusing on lactation support and education that priorities emotional wellbeing and infant-parent relationships. This education enables me to provide the best possible care in your postpartum stage.

Before I embarked upon this wonderful role, I was a photographer (children & newborn), I love photos and the ability to capture a memory for a lifetime, so you can absolutely guarantee I will be capturing your magical moments (if you so wish). After the birth of my own babies I realised my priorities needed to shift, and as amazing as it was to capture images of these special moments, I knew I wanted to share these beautiful moments in a way that would really benefit these families. I wanted to support and nurture them and make sure that the fairy tale story they wanted me to capture in their one image wasn’t just for a moment.

Thanks to my incredible training with Developing Doulas, I am now excited and ready to walk along side you on the most amazing journey you will ever take. Ensuring above and beyond support, with my heart always nurturing yours.

Please feel free to contact me for a chat to get to know each other, finding the right Doula is incredibly important, I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Doula Love

Donella x