Congratulations on your pregnancy and welcome to Natural Beginnings Doula Service. If you’re planning a natural birth and looking for holistic support, you’ve come to the right place!

I’m Virginia Maddock – Doula, Herbalist, and Nutritionist, and I have a deep commitment to supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period.

With 20 years of experience and countless hours spent in the birthing space, I’ve supported many families through labour and birth, in hospitals, birth centres and at homes, bringing a calm, confident presence and a deep trust in the instinctive process of birth. Because I’ve been there many times before, I trust birth, and I trust your ability to birth, even when you are having a crisis of confidence!

My approach blends evidence-based care with natural therapies and intuitive guidance, supporting you physically, emotionally, (and spiritually if you’re that way inclined) throughout your journey. My experience has taught me how to offer the right support at the right time, and when to simply hold space and trust the process.

Advocacy is also a vital part of my role, and it’s something I approach with sensitivity and care. Over the years, I’ve learned how to gently navigate conversations with caregivers to help keep everyone on the same page. I aim to build respectful rapport with your birth team so that your wishes are heard and you feel supported, not scrutinised. Often the right questions asked, a reminder of your preferences, or the simple presence of a steady doula can help protect the birthing energy.

However if you’re ever met with disrespect, coercion, or dismissal, I will not stand by quietly. I will speak when you can’t, with calm confidence, gently but firmly reminding caregivers of your right to informed consent and what you have expressed on your birth plan. My focus will always be on protecting your and your baby’s best interests, so you can feel safe, respected, and empowered throughout your experience, however your birth unfolds.

While less experienced doulas may offer lower rates, I bring seasoned insight that only time and presence at many births can provide, knowing when to step in, when to step back, when to quietly guide your husband/partner to be more actively involved if needed, and how to help protect the sacredness of your birth space.

I’m based in Caringbah South in the Sutherland Shire, and I support births in public hospitals and homes across the Sutherland Shire, Georges River (St George), Bankstown, Inner West (RPA, Canterbury) and Eastern Suburbs (Royal Hospital for Women) in Sydney, + up to 1 hour away for homebirths.

Birth is one of the most transformative experiences of your life, and you deserve support that reflects its importance. So if you’re seeking a doula who honours the natural rhythm of birth and truly respects your choices, I’d be honoured to walk beside you. I can book out early, so to avoid disappointment, please get in contact ASAP to arrange a complementary Discovery Call or local meet up to see if we vibe. :)


THE SCIENCE OF DOULAS

Evidence Based Research on doulas shows that a doula’s presence can:

  • Halve your chances of caesarean, forceps or vacuum extraction.
  • Shorten labour by reducing stress, pain and anxiety.
  • Significantly reduce the need for pain medication relief.
  • Increase relationship satisfaction with your partner and your baby.

I have the following packages to suit your circumstances and needs:

Last Minute*

$2300
  • *For those who realise in the last month of pregnancy that they need extra support afterall!
  • 1 Prenatal Appointment
  • Labour & Birth Support
  • Postnatal Appointment
Book Now
(subject to availability and successful interview)

The Classic*

$2800
  • *Most popular!
  • 3 Prenatal Appointments
  • Labour & Birth Support
  • Postnatal Appointment
Book Now
(subject to availability and successful interview)

Homebirth*

$2500
  • HB midwives are worth their weight in gold but don’t come cheap, so this package is discounted $300 from ‘The Classic’ when you have hired a private midwife and are a member of HBNSW!
  • 3 Prenatal Appointments
  • Labour & (Home)Birth Support
  • Postnatal Appointment
Book Now
(subject to availability and successful interview)

The Works*

$5000
  • *For those who need that EXTRA support, nourishment and indulgence!
  • 3 Prenatal Appointments
  • 2 Holistic Pregnancy Bodywork sessions
  • 2 Photography sessions + edited digital photos: >Pregnancy + Birth >Pregnancy + Newborn/Postpartum, or >Birth + Newborn/Postpartum
  • Labour & Birth Support
  • Postnatal Appointment
  • Birth Healing bodywork session
  • Closing The Bones session
Book Now
(subject to availability and successful interview)

  • All prenatal and postnatal appointments are around 2.5hrs each, in your home, + you have access to me by phone & email in between

  • Prenatal appointments include:
    ~Childbirth education, and/or Birth Trauma Release session for those who need healing from a previous birth
    ~Information about antenatal testing – the pros, the cons, and how to best prepare for them, IF you choose to have them
    ~Spinning Babies / Optimal Foetal Positioning techniques
    ~Birth Planning / Birth Mapping
    ~Natural pain management techniques using mindfulness breathing and guided visualisation
    ~Positions for labour & birth
    ~Basic newborn care
    ~Answering any of your questions

  • Full access to lending library of over 120 natural pregnancy, birth and parenting books & DVDs

  • Complementary ‘Beer + Bubs’ session for your partner/husband (subject to availability)

  • 24 hour on call from 38 weeks to whenever your baby is born

  • Physical, emotional and informational support during labour and birth, from when you are in established labour and in need of that extra support

  • As a naturopathic practitioner, I can bring a Holistic Birth kit that includes herbs, flower essences, essential oils and homoeopathics to use during birth as needed, to reduce the need for medical interventions

  • Complementary Birth Photography: Digital photos taken during labour and after your little one has arrived, taken on iPhone camera (or see professional photography add on below)

  • Your Follow-up postnatal visit is to debrief the birth, go over any newborn issues and ascertain whether further support is needed


The following extras can also be added, many of which are at a reduced rate for doula clients:

  • Professional Pregnancy Photography and/or Birth Photography with ALL the best edited photos of your birth and new baby on USB memory stick to keep forever ($500 for each package)
  • Mother Blessing Ceremonies ($300) and Henna Bellies ($90p/hr)
  • Birth Trauma Release Ceremonies – ($220, or included as one of your prenatal visits)
  • Holistic Pregnancy Bodywork ($150 per session)
  • Belly Casting ($300)
  • Placenta Encapsulation ($300)

If you would like to discuss more about how I can help during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, please contact me.

More info about Virginia’s Birth Experience:
  • 19+ years as a doula
  • Over 130 births supported
  • Experience with homebirths, hospital and birth centre births, planned caesareans, VBACs, HBACs, and lotus birth
  • A vast array of clients ranging from first time to 4th time mothers, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha’is, Muslims, and lesbian couples
  • Over 4000 hours of prenatal, birth and postnatal support
  • High success rate of natural, intervention-free births
  • 10 years of experience with Spinning Babies, (+ Optimal Maternal Positioning!)

Virginia keeps up to date with ongoing pregnancy and childbirth education, and has attended the following courses and conferences…

  • Doula Certificate (Marie Burrows & Sandra Robinson) – Birthings Rites Australia, Sydney 2006
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Geelong 2006
  • Doula conference – Gold Coast 2007
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Sydney 2010
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Newcastle 2011
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Hobart 2012
  • Birthkeeper Intensive (Jane Hardwicke-Collings) – Sydney 2012
  • Birth Into Being (Nicole Moore) – Sydney 2013
  • Intro to Birthing From Within (Virginia Bobro) – Sydney 2013
  • Trust Birth Conference – Sydney 2013
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Brisbane 2014
  • Midwifery Today Conference – Byron Bay 2014
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Melbourne 2015
  • Intro to Birthing From Within (Virginia Bobro) – Sydney 2015
  • Creative Ways Of Making Space For The Baby (Jenny Blyth) – Melbourne 2016
  • Spinning Babies workshop (Ginny Phang) – Brisbane May 2017
  • Spinning Babies workshop (Ginny Phang) – Sydney August 2017 (x 2)
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – Sydney November 2017
  • Mizan Therapy training (Bushra Finch) – Sydney November 2017
  • 2 day Spinning Babies workshop (Gail Tully, Marcello Windolph) – Sydney March 2018
  • 4 day Spinning Babies meets Birthwork retreat (Gail Tully, Jenny Blyth, Fiona Hallinan, Marcello Windolph) – Sunshine Coast March 2018
  • Spinning Babies workshop (Ginny Phang) – Auckland NZ July 2018
  • Spinning Babies workshop (Ginny Phang) – Sydney July 2018
  • Certificate of Pregnancy Massage (Pregnancy Massage Australia) – November 2018, Sydney
  • Mizan Therapy Pregnancy and Post Natal Training (Bushra Finch) – November 2018, Melbourne
  • Urogenital Osteopathy Grade 1 (Natalie Lejeune) – December 2018, Hobart
  • Holistic Pelvic Care (Tami Lynn Kent) – March 2019, Gold Coast
  • Homebirth Australia Conference – March 2019, Geelong
  • Optimal Maternal Positioning (Ginny Phang) – May 2019, Melbourne
  • Holistic Treatment of the Pregnant and Postpartum Body (Lynn Schulte) – June 2019, Melbourne
  • When Survivors Give Birth (Jennifer Fontaine) – November 2019, Sydney
  • Optimal Maternal Positioning (Ginny Phang) – November 2019, Sydney
  • Becoming Us (Elly Taylor) – November 2019, Sydney
  • Birth Mapping (Catherine Bell) – March 2021, Sydney
  • Working with Perinatal Trauma: Where to Start (Fiona Rogerson) – October 2022, online
  • Deeper Than The Scar: C Section & Perineal Scar Support For Doulas (Janelle Gullan) – January 2023, online
  • Birth After Caesarean (Hazel Keedle) – February 2023, Blue Mountains
  • Trauma-sensitive Birth Debriefing (Nisha Gill) – March 2023, online
  • Doula Conference – March 2023, Maroochydore, Qld
  • Rebozo & Closing The Bones (Naoli Vinaver) – June 2023, Currumbin, Qld
  • Homebirth Australia conference – November 2023, Sydney
  • Rebozo & Belly Binding Circle (Sarah Smits) – November 2024, Sunshine Coast
  • Homebirth Australia conference – November 2024, Sunshine Coast
  • Homebirth Australia conference – November 2025, Adelaide
  • Homebirth Access Sydney (now HBNSW): Various roles including: Memberships Coordinator, Birthings magazine Editor, Coordinator and Social Media Coordinator – 2009 > 2021
  • Organiser of Australian College Midwives AGM rally to protest for homebirth reforms
  • Australian College of Midwives ‘Privately Practising Midwives Advisory Committee’ consumer rep – 2013 > 2014
  • Homebirth Consortium Australia co-founder – 2018
  • Co-Organiser of ‘Mothers For Midwives’ AHPRA rally to protest for homebirth reforms – 2018
  • Doula Network Australia: Various roles, including Vice President – 2017 > current
  • Homebirth Australia: Assistant Coordinator + Conference Organising Committee  – 2021 > current


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Check out this interview with Virginia on Mysticmag.com!