Birth Doula Services
My role as your birth doula, is to be your constant, peaceful, source of knowledge, support and encouragement, before, during and after the birth. Working with you and your partner. I will support and help you with your informed choices, answer any questions you have and address any concerns. I will help you navigate the UK NHS system ensuring that you get the most from this wonderful service. I will help you to trust your abilities, 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 midwifery unit, or in hospital.
During our comprehensive antenatal sessions I will ensure you are aware of all the options available to you, and the choices you are likely to have to make regarding the birth of your baby. I will never tell you what you should do, my job is to ensure that you are fully informed with up to date, evidence based, information so that you can make your own choices. I will always fully respect whatever birth route you decide is right for you. I will listen to you, support and encourage you, emotionally and practically every step of the way, always ensuring that you and your partner don't feel observed, judged or intruded upon in any way. I will work with your medical team to ensure you feel truly supported.
I can help with hypnobirthing techniques, massaging, breathing, relaxing, and encouraging different positions to help with an active labour (biomechanics). I will help your partner be the best that they can be for you.
I will be your advocate and help reinforce your birth preferences. I will protect your right to privacy and respect, ensuring you have a relaxing, calm and positive environment while helping you and your partner stay calm, in control, positive, happy, strong and motivated. I will protect your birth space as much as I can. Giving you a feeling of being safe, calm and uninterrupted.
Giving birth to your baby is one of the most awe-inspiring, wonderful, challenging and rewarding things you will ever do. It will literally be a life changing event.
My philosophy is "Your Body, your baby, your birth". It is all about you, your partner and your baby, and what you want, and need, to have a positive, joyful and empowering birth experience.
SESSION ONE
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The role of a doula.
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What makes a good birth?
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Hopes and fears, myths, or rumours
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Oxytocin and other hormones
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Due date
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Physiology of Birth and the Uterus
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Biomechanics for birth
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Birth preparation – mind, body, partnership, and logistics.
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Induction and the membrane sweep
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Preventing tearing
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Exercises during pregnancy
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Path to birth
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The Doula Toolbox
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Sample Birth preferences/Plans
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B.R.A.I.N.
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Navigating induction conversations
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Guided tour of the Client area on our website
My birth doula package includes:
Full back-up support
I would exclusively with my doula partner leti. We will explain how we work during your initial, no obligation, interview.
Initial Interview - usually via zoom (in person if preferred)
An initial, free, no-obligation meeting to get to know each other and see if we would be a good fit and have good chemistry. I'll give you a bit of background and how I came to become a doula. Also the type of doula I am, we come in many flavours!! I'll also cover in detail what is covered in the birth package.
Coffee chat - usually via zoom (in person if preferred)
This is a non-baby chat. A time for us to get to know each other as people rather than pregnant person and doula!! Usually about 45 minutes to an hour. during this chat we will schedule your antenatal sessions.
Two antenatal sessions.
There is no time limit on how long these sessions run for, but a guide would be 3 hours per session. The sessions are primarily to spend time creating a solid and trusting relationship between us. We will discuss what you already know and what you want additional information about. This information will be fact based and complied from case studies, not anyone's 'opinion' on childbirth. We discuss the kind of a birth you want, your hopes and wishes. Your birth preferences for you to share with your healthcare provider and/or midwife and any wishes and any fears or concerns you may have.
SESSION TWO
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Your birth preferences document
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logistics for birth
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Partner’s role
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Positions for birth
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Practical techniques for comfort in labour - massage, acupressure, and aromatherapy tips.
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Hospital/Home bag
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The golden Hour
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Practical techniques for comfort in labour - massage, acupressure, and aromatherapy tips.
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Stages of labour. What to expect and actions to take as labour begins, Positions and places to relax as labour progresses.
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The importance of the Golden Hours.
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Postnatal period – reality and planning. Building the Baby Bunker
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The Doula Hub – your back-up doulas
Birth
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Myself and my doula partner Leti, your back-up doula, will be on call for you from 10 days before your EDD until your baby arrives. Though if your baby decides to make an earlier appearance then of course I will do my absolute best to be with you.
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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.
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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.
Postnatal
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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 signpost you if you need additional help with feeding, especially if you baby has suspected tongue tie.
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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.
Unlimited phone and email support throughout your pregnancy and six weeks+ postpartum. You will receive prompt responses to any queries you may have and links to useful information about a whole host of relevant topics. WhatsApp works really well.
Zoom/WhatsApp/phone support
From the moment our contract is signed I will be available to you via all of the above. Usually a WhatsApp group will be set up immediately with the two of you, myself and your back-up doula, which you can use as much or as little as you want to. This is particularly useful before or after your midwifery appointments. As the birth gets closer we will have regular zoom coffee chats just to remind you of all the good stuff we discussed during the antenatal sessions, like exercises to get you baby into the optimal position for birth, what to put in you r hospital bag, when to call me etc etc etc,
I am also a co-founder of The Doula Hub, a very select group of doulas who work together to ensure you are fully covered. As well as having me as your Primary Doula you will have Leti, my doula partner, on standby just in case in the very unlikely event that something happens to me and I can not attend your birth. Full profiles and details of how we work can be found here or on our website