Alex Schifter
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Women’s circles, Mother blessings, Birthmapping, Birth and Postpartum Education
Supports families within an hour of Diamond Creek in person or offer online support for those further away.
she/her
About
I’m Alex, a mother to two incredible little people, a partner to an excellent human and an experienced doula and facilitator (I don’t love that word but I’m still landing on the right one!). I’m a curious, deeply feeling person who loves to laugh and connect. I’ve recently discovered I’m neurodivergent and it feels like I’m finally finding the many missing pieces of my puzzle. I’m comfortable with big feelings, love new experiences and connection and my hyperfocus skills are next level. I’m an extroverted introvert and can’t live without coffee and fizzy water.
My biggest initiation was that into motherhood. It decimated me, remade me and showed me it’s how we are made to feel through times of transformation that really stays with us.
I’ve been many women in this lifetime and I am sure I will be many more yet. I’m loving being in my 40s- aging is amazing and I am so curious about my next rite of passage and what it will teach me. I am all about celebrating our strengths and vulnerabilities, whatever they are, and love a good D&M (deep and meaningful, in case that’s now an acronym for something else I don’t know about!). I’m passionate about your rights (hello justice seeker) and reminding birthing families of their power.
I believe in you and in individualised continuity of care. You are worthy of being celebrated and my work is always guided by my values. I don’t support birth and postpartum just because I adore babies, but because I am mad about caring for mothers and families (though no denying it, the babies are adorable!)
As your companion, I don’t empower you, because you’re powerful already! I hold you, provide you with confidence, skills and information so that you own doing birth your way. We talk a lot about advocacy, rights, decision making, your needs and the resilience you have during pregnancy so that you can meet birth in an embodied way. This time is YOURS.
We will deep dive into the physiology of birth and postpartum, how we can prepare mentally, physically and emotionally and what you need to feel safe, heard and loved at every stage, which is completely unique to you!
We’ll look at birth and postpartum as a journey that can take many pathways, and plan for them. We’ll deep dive into what’s important for you and why, and focus on how you need to feel during this experience.
I’m always learning and deeply curious about holistic care for mothers, and connecting you with the resources you need. I love working with skilled individuals in the space who bring their own much needed expertise and care. We’ll build up a network of loved ones, health professionals, bodyworkers and supporters that feels aligned for you because you deserve your chosen village.
I’m a matrescence advocate and am passionate about providing neuroaffirming and trauma-sensitive care and I never make assumptions about the stories and experiences you hold.
Training and experience
Birth and Postpartum Doula Certificate (2021)
Birthmapping training with Catherine Bell
Rachel Rose ‘Together’ Circle Facilitator
Short courses in breastfeeding, physiological birth, optimal maternal positioning and postpartum care
Background working in education
Offerings
Birth Support ($2999)
My Birth Support holds you and your family at the centre.
From the time we connect I’ll get to know you and your family; your lived experiences, your values, what you need in this powerful time, what makes you feel loved and safe. Oh, and your coffee order, too. I’m not just there for our in person sessions, but chats (love a chat), check-ins, celebrating the exciting moments, offering a listening ear and acting as your very own pregnancy, birth and postpartum professional directory.
When we work together, we’ll focus on your unique needs and the many pathways birth and postpartum can take. I am trained in Birth Cartography, Supporting Neurodivergent Birth and the physiology of labour and bring all I know to you.
We’ll chat about hospital policy, your options, your rights and responsibilities and advocacy. I’ll help you access the information you need to inform your decision making. We’ll deep dive into your sensory profile and figure out what you need to feel safe, loved and present.
But, the real power of our time comes from connection. I can’t wait to get to know the authentic you; your story, what matters to you, what makes you feel safe, loved and powerful. How this experience belongs to you and your family; I am there to honour you all. I offer you my presence to meet it all – the discomfort, the vulnerability and the power – and embrace your birth and postpartum as an extension of you.
By the time your birthing day arrives, we’ve done so much of the work, so you can relax fully into the experience. I will centre you and take care of all the little things so you and your support people can be fully present. Sometimes that means setting up the space as you need it, getting the heat packs and making sure you and your team are hydrated, and others I’m barefoot in the shower applying a cold compress to your head or giving you hip squeezes. I’m deeply feeling and empathetic and am great at anticipating needs, so you don’t have to want or wish for anything. I’ll validate your experience and hold space for you through a crisis of confidence. I’ll be there to encourage you, remind you you’re so incredibly powerful and be there for your birth team, too, whether it’s a reminder that what is happening is okay, or reminding them they can go to the bathroom, too!
I’m there until your baby is and after they land, I make myself part of the furniture as you share this special moment – I might take photos if you’d like that, start packing your things away, get you comfortable with a warm drink and keep the environment as you need it.
Once you’ve had time to soak in your baby and birth experience (this could be days, weeks or even months later), we’ll catch up to celebrate you and debrief your birth. We’ll chat, acknowledge you and your family, and probably laugh and cry!
This can look like:
4 sessions before birth to dive deep together
Ongoing support from the time of booking via email and text
A digital copy of The Birth Map(R) by Catherine Bell
Your personalised Birth Pathways created in my signature template
Birth affirmations and labour tools.
An on call period from 38 weeks until your baby arrives.
A network of back up doulas.
Labour and/or birth support up until 2 hours after your baby is born.
Discounted access to all Alex Elisabeth events and circles during your pregnancy.
A postpartum visit to debrief your experience and celebrate you.
Gifts along the way.
Birth, postpartum & motherhood support ($3799)
You’d love continuity and companionship through your pregnancy, birth and early parenting – OMG, this is my favourite! This is for you if you want all the support of my birth offering, plus some extra loving as you integrate it all and settle into your new identity as a mother to 1, 2 or more.
You are worthy of nourishing, wholehearted care as a new parent. All your baby needs is you, but you need community, support, and probably the washing hung while you take a nap. I can help with the practical (sharing the mental load and the jobs you need to do but don’t want to), and support you emotionally as you integrate your new role.
This can look like:
4 sessions before birth to dive deep together, one of which will be a postpartum planning session, and 3×3 hour sessions after birth
Ongoing support from the time of booking via email and text
A digital copy of The Birth Map(R) by Catherine Bell
Your personalised Birth Pathways created in my signature template
Birth affirmations and labour tools.
An on call period from 38 weeks until your baby arrives.
A network of back up doulas.
Labour and/or birth support up until 2 hours after your baby is born.
My Postpartum Planning Guide
Discounted access to all Alex Elisabeth events and circles during your pregnancy.
Debriefing your experiences with a gentle, listening ear and holding space for all feelings you have.
Supporting you with newborn life, transitioning to parenthood and navigating matrescence.
Linking you in with aligned resources and specialists.
Popping on the washing, loading the dishwasher and meal prepping.
Creating spaces and rituals to honour your pregnancy, birth and mothering experience and integrate this into your new identity.
Chatting about newborn feeding and sleep.
Running you a bath, holding baby while they sleep or offering you a shoulder rub and foot soak.
Providing you with love, reassurance and holding space in this tender time.
One off sessions
Mother Blessing (enquire for pricing)
Women’s circle (enquire for pricing)
Testimonials
Hiring Alex as our doula for our first baby was easily the best decision we made during my pregnancy. From our first conversation I knew Alex was the perfect fit for me and my baby. Being my first pregnancy I had a lot of concerns about interventions and not having the birth I wanted. My main desire was to have someone who could advocate for me in the hospital to ensure me and my wishes for my birth were respected.
Alex did all of of this but so much more. She helped my husband and I prepare for our birth with so much valuable information, resources and thoughtful conversations. She helped guide us to deciding what we most wanted from the birth. Leading up to birth I had a little scare about my baby’s size and was given little information about what this meant from the hospital and my GP. Alex supported me through this by providing me with information and also helping me process emotionally what this meant for me. My labour was a long three days and nights and Alex was by my side almost the entire time, either in person or a phone call away. She supported me so much physically but it was the emotional support during this time that was so incredibly valuable to me. Once in hospital Alex was a true advocate, asking the questions I wasn’t able to in amongst contractions. She continually communicated with the midwives and was able to relay information to me and ensure I knew exactly what was going on. In the end I had the low intervention birth I wanted and I know this very well may not have been the case were it not for Alex being with us at home and at hospital for my labor and birth. Her follow up home visits were also so wonderful.
Alex knows exactly what a new mum and dad needs. My wish is for every birthing woman to have access to a doula - you will not regret it! And Alex is an exceptional doula with so much knowledge, kindness and compassion. Can’t recommend her highly enough!
- Victoria
