Birth Doula

Giving birth to your baby is one of the most awe-inspiring, wonderful, challenging and rewarding things you will ever do but it can sometimes seem one of the most frightening and daunting of things to do too, and memories of your labour may stay with you forever. This is why having a positive birth is so very important. You, your partner and your baby are my priority. As far as I am concerned, when you are giving birth the world revolves around you. It is all about you and your baby and what you want and need to give you a positive and empowering birth experience and an easy and happy transition into parenthood with your new baby.

As your birth doula, I would be your constant source of support and encouragement before, during and after the birth, working as a team with you and your partner (if you have one). I would support and help you and your partner with your informed choices, answer any questions and address any concerns to the best of my abilities and reassure and encourage you that you are more than capable of having a wonderful birth experience, the way you want it to be, be it at home, in a hospital or anywhere else. I try to ensure you are aware of all the options available and will always fully respect whatever birth route you decide is right for you. I would listen to you and support and encourage you emotionally and practically every step of the way, always without you or your partner feeling observed, judged or intruded upon.

I can help with massaging, breathing, relaxing, encouraging different positions to help with an active labour, including with the use of a rebozo. I am also there to help your partner to help you and to give them the opportunity to step back if you or they feel they need to do so or when they may need to have a rest. I can be your advocate and to help reinforce your birth preferences and what you feel is most important to you and your partner during this time. I will protect your right to privacy, respect and a safe, relaxing, calm and positive environment while helping you and your partner stay calm, in control, positive, happy, strong and motivated.

In addition, I can also help with practicalities during your birth that you may want or need such as making cups of tea, a light meal to keep up your and your partner’s energy levels, pick up any older children from school or take photos for you to look back on.

As a birth doula the package that I offer includes:

  • An initial, free, no-obligation meeting to get to know each other and see if I would be a good fit as a doula for you and to chat about how I can support you and what you want and need.
  • You can contact me by email or telephone throughout your pregnancy with any and all questions you may have.
  • Two antenatal sessions. There is no time limit on how long these run for; I do not want you to feel at all rushed or stressed. During these sessions we would spend time talking about what kind of a birth you want, your preferences and wishes and any fear or concerns you may have as well as all your options and the physiology of birth, providing you with information on topics such as the role of hormones in labour, pain-relief (natural and medical) and feeding.
  • I will be on call for you from 38 weeks until 42 weeks, though if your baby decides to make an earlier or later appearance then of course I will do my absolute best to be with you.
  • I will support and encourage you and your partner throughout your labour, and whilst you settle in with your new baby. I won’t leave you until you have happily fed your baby and have comfortably settled and are happy for me to leave you to continue bonding with your new baby, unless otherwise requested by you.
  • If you wish to breastfeed I can help you to ensure your baby latches on easily and painlessly and show you different positions for breastfeeding comfortably and confidently.
  • I will visit you once postnatally at your home. This is when you can debrief your birth (as much or as little as you feel you want to) and we can go over any questions you may have. I can also help you with your baby, around the house or just sit and chat with you while you show off your new baby.
  • You will also be able to contact me during your postnatal period by telephone or email for six weeks after your baby has arrived with any questions etc you may have.

I have a large number of pregnancy, birth, and baby/childcare books and birth DVDS that I am happy to lend out.