Kelly Zantey – Birth Attendant / Doula in Melbourne, VIC

Kelly Zantey

Unfortunately Kelly is currently unable to take on any more clients for 2008/2009 due to time restraints. If this changes this page will be updated.

”...having Kelly there was a really good source of encouragement, especially at the end when I wanted to give up. She knew the right ways to encourage me to go on, to get through the pain, and also showing me useful tips to get the labour progressing faster, and helping me get into certain positions.”—Yael

Located in: Camberwell
Will work in: From CBD to Knox and Caulfield to Eltham. Further suburbs may be accomodated on prior arrangement, please email Kelly (her first name @bellybelly.com.au) if you wish to discuss.
Trained by: Rhea Dempsey’s ‘Birthing Wisdom’ Birth Attendant course.
Trained in: 2005
Births Attended: Kelly attends 2 births per month to ensure maximum time and focus with clients.

About Kelly

Kelly has birthed two beautiful children in two different private Melbourne hospitals. Her first labour involved a horrible labour augmentation (a drip induction, only labour had already began), she then opted for pain relief with an epidural after trying gas. Her second was a drug-free birth which involved labouring at home until 9cms – basically going to hospital to push. She now has such confidence in her body that for her next baby, she’s set on a home waterbirth!

Kelly has been busily and consistently attending many births since 2005, and will now be cutting back the amount of births she attends, to only 1-2 births a month due to other commitments, mainly the opening of the BellyBelly Pregnancy Centre in June ‘08.

Range of Births Attended

Waterbirth, vaginal twin birth, vaginal breech birth, natural birth, homebirth, Jewish birth, inductions, VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean), caesarean birth, HypnoBirth®/CalmBirth®, single mothers, in hospital (public & private) and birth centre settings.

Appointments

Kelly sees all her clients in the BellyBelly Pregnancy Centre on Mondays to Fridays, from 9am to 7pm. Weekends are no longer available as she places a strong importance on family time working such long hours during the week.

Pre-requisites

Kelly is a dedicated and committed birth attendant who strives to help her clients achieve the best birth possible for their situation. In order to work more effectively with clients, Kelly requires that you have/will attend any of the following courses or information sessions for birth preparation (click to view):

Kelly understands that this is an extra expense to couples, however she believes that independent birth education is crucial to the birthing process to help achieve the best outcome. Other courses may be accepted – please ask Kelly, however a course outside of hospital is absolutely required.

Attendant’s Charges

All of Kelly’s Complete Care packages receive a FREE annual membership to the Australian Breastfeeding Association worth $50 (not redeemable or exchangeable for cash or a discount).

Birth Only – $750

Support for the duration of your birth, without any visits before or after the birth. Not recommended unless exceptional circumstances (i.e. if Kelly is used as a back-up), as birth support works best where you know your birth attendant.

Complete Care – $900

  • Two pre-natal visits to get to know you and your partner and to discuss the birth
  • Email and phone support 24×7
  • Support for the duration of the birth
  • One post-natal visit to de-brief the birth
  • 12 month ABA Membership

Pre and post-natal visits are up to two hours in length.

Complete Care Plus – $1100

This package is specifically limited to those within 40 minutes from Wantirna, including Hawthorn, Richmond Malvern, Templestowe, Coburg, McKinnon, Oakleigh and Dandenongs.

  • Two pre-natal visits to get to know you and your partner and to discuss the birth
  • Email and phone support 24×7
  • Support for the duration of the birth
  • One post-natal visit to de-brief the birth
  • 12 month ABA Membership
  • One post-natal visit with Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant, Infant Massage Instructor and Baby Sleep expert, Pinky McKay, to help you overcome any breastfeeding and/or sleeping issues and she can also teach you infant massage. Alternately, you can receive a Hug-A-Bub baby carrier/sling for free.

Pre and post-natal visits are up to two hours in length.

Download a Booking Form for Kelly HERE.

Additional services

Birth Photography

BellyBelly regularly works with and recommends Samantha Jayne Photography for birth photography services.

Sam’s packages include an initial meeting, photography of labour and birth and all images placed onto CD after post-production work to get the best out of the images. Sam also offers pregnancy and newborn photography for an additional cost. For more information, email Sam at info@samanthajaynephotography.com.au and let her know you found her details on BellyBelly and/or will be using Kelly Zantey as your birth attendant.

References

Relle (Doula) & Rod – 2007

“Kelly was an awesome source of support for me during the pregnancy and birth of my son Angus. Even though it was my 3rd pregnancy, I had experienced 2 previous labours that were not ideal, so I sought a highly experienced and understanding Doula. I ended up having an AMAZING experience for my birth with just a 90 minute labour and completely drug and intervention free birth. After going 9 days past my due date, Kelly support every morning after a night of pre-labour, reminding me of my goals and that my body was doing some real work throughout all of this pre-labour, kept me going until my body finally did decide it was time to happen. Her support during that time meant the world to me. I will forever be thankful to Kelly for reminding me that I COULD DO IT and when it does happen it would be worth it! It was worth it!”

Catherine & Jason – 2006

“A very special thank-you to you. You made such a difference at the birth for us both, encouraged me when it all seemed too hard and helped me achieve the birth that has given our little girl the best start in life. Thanks for sharing this special time with us.

I hope our paths cross again. You are a beautiful person with much to give the world.”

Meredith & Chris – 2006

“Thank-you for helping us achieve a wonderful birth experience. I felt safe and far more relaxed knowing I had the right support. Everything went exactly as I wished for with minimum intervention and stress… I feel sooooo grateful that we had such a great outcome. I am sure it is even helping me get through these difficult first months. I now know I CAN get through anything with determination, knowledge and support!”

Bronte & Michael – 2006

“Wow I’m still in shock when I think about that long labour and the fantastic result – it was sooo worth it. I truly know that I couldn’t have done it without you – that is a fact. You are amazing and are truly made for the job Kelly – I really can’t thank you enough.

Tadhg and I recovered really well. I think that the midwifes were in shock. After the birth I was surprised that I had absolutely NO pain at all, none. Every day the midwifes would come in and offer panadeine forte / panadol. I had to giggle to myself – if only they saw me in labour – and I got through it! As if I was gonna need a panadol afterwards!! Hee Hee. After you left I was up and about. He latched on well and has a good sucking reflex. My milk also came in early… it’s amazing what the body can do when left to do the job.”

Yvette & Lindsay – 2005

“Kelly Zantey was my birth attendant for the birth of my twins on 24th August 2005, at Birralee, Box Hill Hospital. I’m very grateful to her, and highly recommend her to any expectant parents.

As soon as my husband and I met Kelly, we knew we would be very comfortable with her in this situation. She’s just the sort of person it’s very easy to feel relaxed with. She has a natural warmth and caring nature perfectly suited to being with a birthing woman. Her support during the pregnancy showed that she is committed and motivated towards helping others achieve the kind of birth she would want for herself, that is one where the woman’s choices and preferences are supported, her birth plan taken seriously, and her feelings considered at all times.

Kelly has a natural empathy, and was a wonderful source of emotional strength for both my husband and myself for the birth of our babies. Her intelligence and sense of fun make her great company too. She gives a great back rub, and is an excellent hand holder and toenail painter. She’s interested in and always learning about all things birth related, therefore very easy for me to talk to about all the issues I was facing with a twins birth. And of course having two young children of her own, she can relate from a mother’s point of view.

A twins birth, with a mother who wanted to do it her way, the hospital wanting to do it their way, 3 shifts of unknown midwives and a Registrar nobody had met before, husband, children and mother present as well, and a long tiring day, would be a challenge for anybody. Kelly handled it beautifully!

If I was having any more children, I would want Kelly there with me again.”

Yael & Rob – 2005

“Having a birth attendant support me during labour was single-handedly the best decision I made about my pregnancy/birth! It not only made a tremendous difference to me in having a positive birth experience, but it also gave me so much confidence beforehand going into labour.

I had a few concerns with having a birth attendant there, but in the end I realise all of them where unfounded! I wasn’t sure that I needed somebody, I mean after all, there were going to be midwives there and my obstetrician. Also, my husband and I are very private people and we weren’t sure how we would take having somebody there during such a special and private time. I was also worried that they would pressure me into doing what they though that right for birth, or at least not be as supportive when I wanted pain relief/intervention etc.!

Besides my husband, Kelly was the only one there for all of my labour. Having 14hrs of labour in a hospital meant that I was there for 3 different shift of midwives. All of them were too busy (even in a private hospital) to be with me constantly. They had other patients and responsibilities and when they were with me, they were doing their observations – definitely NOT holding my hand throughout contractions! It takes a while to get to ‘know’ or feel comfortable with each midwife so it’s good having somebody there who you feel at ease with the whole time. Even at the end of the birth when the midwife was there the whole time (I think by that stage everybody else had already given birth!), she was helping the doctor, and didn’t help me at all. Kelly and my husband were the ones standing by my head.

I guess everybody pictures birth as a private moment, but unless you are having a homebirth, it basically isn’t. You get whatever midwives are on the shift and as I went private, I had never met any of them before. They definitely didn’t share my philosophies on birth, so it was fantastic having Kelly there advocating what I wanted for my birth! Kelly and I had gone through it when we had met beforehand, so I knew that she was 100% clear on what I wanted for my birth. I spent the whole time with the first midwife arguing that I didn’t want to have artificial oxytocin to speed up contractions, and despite this she must have come in at least 6 times to tell me she wanted me on the drip!

Kelly was the one who made sure the midwives had seen my birth preferences, and with the hospital environment being quite daunting I found it very easy to become submissive to what the midwives wanted you to do. I found having Kelly there in some ways a source of strength for me, it helped me stand up for myself, and she also did it when I was in to much pain to but referring people to my written intentions.

Having somebody there meant that when something was needed or somebody needed to find a midwife, I didn’t have to send my husband out and be left all alone, which would be extremely hard, especially towards to end. Kelly was there to do this, and infact she knew when to do it without even being asked!

I was worried Kelly might try and get me to do things differently, or she might not approve of what I wanted, but I didn’t get that feeling at all. She was there to support me, and not once did she tell me that she would do. Even beforehand when we were discussing things, she gave me to information and left the decision up to me. The midwives definitely can’t answer things in an unbiased manner, so by having somebody there who is not part of the system, you can really find out what your options are.

I also found having Kelly there was a really good source of encouragement, especially at the end when I wanted to give up. She knew the right ways to encourage me to go on, to get through the pain, and also just showing me useful tips to get the labour progressing faster and helping me get into certain positions during contractions. She was able to read the signs and give me an indication how I was progressing, and she was there to explain things to me such as medical terminology used so I knew what was going on. It’s very hard to concentrate on things being said during intense contractions, but she was there to repeat it to me and let me know what my options were.

She also knew the ‘right’ way to encourage me, to get the best out of me. By contrast the 3rd midwife I had instead told me I wasn’t pushing well enough, which she might have though was a good way to encourage somebody, but on me it had just the opposite effect! The only thing I wanted to do was ask her to leave. I’m just glad I had Kelly and my husband to listen to during that time.

One of the biggest benefits was that she able to help my husband to help me. Just like me, I’m sure he felt a little lost, and it’s hard to know how exactly to help somebody when you are not to sure yourself. My husband could encourage me in ways nobody else can, simply because he knows me the best. Kelly helped to guide him to when I needed help, and when to keep going, and also when to back off because I just needed to concentrate. I didn’t feel for an instant, and nor did he, the Kelly took over his role. Rather, I felt she brought my husband and me closer together by helping him to give me undivided emotional support. She helped him to be more involved and more effective. I believe she played a completely separate role (just as the midwife does to the doctor), that instead complimented his irreplaceable job being there!

Just because you have somebody there who loves you, I don’t think that necessary qualifies them as the best person to help you in that situation. Sometimes you and your partner just need that little extra ‘professional’ help. Both my husband and myself didn’t feel it was a reflection on his ability to help me, nor on my desire to have him help me through such a personal experience. It enhanced the experience, rather than detracting from it as one may think!

After the birth she backed away and infact I probably wanted her to be closer by! She definitely didn’t ‘push in’ during labour or birth, and many times when my husband was helping me get through contractions I didn’t even notice her in the room.

For many of the above things you could have another person there besides your husband/partner such as mum or sister, but I found somebody with some training the best part about having Kelly there! She knew what was going on medically speaking, but wasn’t there as a medical person. She was there to keep a level head, explain to us what was going on, and help to give us space to make the final decision. Also, I think its hard to watch a loved one be in pain, so even if you bring a mother or sister who knows who you want and can be unbiased even though its their daughter etc going through it, they might not be able to help you hold out and achieve your goals. I found that not being offered pain relief was the best way to try and hold out; if people were urging me to take it I probably would have caved in earlier.

In the end I felt that the midwife/doctor’s primary responsibility was the baby or my medical wellbeing, but a birth attendant’s primary responsibility is my happiness and satisfaction – which are two very different roles! Having a birth attendant there gave me the confidence and power to feel that I could give birth the way I wanted to. I am so glad I had Kelly there throughout this, and can’t wait to have the opportunity to have her there in the future!”

Kelly Zantey

Kelly offers free, no obligation initial consultations in the BellyBelly Pregnancy Centre in Canterbury. Appointment required.

BellyBelly Pregnancy Centre
Level 1/89 Canterbury Rd
Canterbury VIC 3124
Ph: (03) 9836 7734
Map

Download a Booking Form for Kelly HERE.

The BellyBelly Online Store contains many books which Kelly recommends pregnant couples read. Choosing the right books is very important!