BIRTH DOULA servicesInclusive and experienced support for families in London
Choosing me as your birth doula means you are not only getting dedicated support during labour and delivery but also expert feeding guidance as I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
This combination allows me to provide seamless care from the moment you book me in pregnancy through to the critical early days of breastfeeding. My dual expertise ensures that you receive comprehensive support, addressing both the emotional and physical aspects of birth and any practical challenges with feeding your baby.
With my guidance, you can feel confident and empowered, knowing that you have a knowledgeable advocate by your side who is committed to your well-being and the health of your baby. This holistic approach can significantly enhance your birthing experience, reduce stress, and promote a successful start to your parenting journey.
Support From Pregnancy To Postpartum
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Support From Pregnancy To Postpartum ✽
01. How do I support you?
My goal is to help you find and achieve your birth vision. This doesn’t simply mean whether you are planning a water birth, caesarean or otherwise. I mean, when you close your eyes and picture what your ideal birth will look like- how are you feeling? where are you? and who is with you?
You might be thinking, ‘Well I don’t know yet what I want’ or ‘I have to have a certain type of birth, due to my risk factors’. Well, let me tell you that a positive birth experience does not lend itself to any particular type of birth. You can have a positive birth whether you have an induction, a caesarean or a homebirth.
It doesn’t matter to me what sort of birth you’re planning; what matters to me is how you feel about it afterwards. I have 5 wonderful children and have had 5 very different births! However, if your goal is to have an autonomous birth, then I can certainly help.
My goal is to give you the education and information needed to really dig deep into what a positive birth experience means to you. What makes your birth a positive experience, is that you feel prepared for anything that comes your way, that you feel educated about your birth rights and that you feel informed about all of your options. As your Doula, I advocate for you and boost your confidence about making decisions that are right for you and your baby.
Sadly, the UK maternity system is so overstretched and underfunded that you often see different Midwives or specialists each time and have to explain your story again and again. Health care providers have strict policies to follow and this often can lead to you being offered tests, procedures or interventions that you either do not want or do not need.
Having a constant companion there from the start can really help you feel supported and cared for. I will know your story, your birth preferences, and how you want things to go. I will ensure that you feel respected and listened to. I will help you understand what is being offered so you can decide if it is right for you. I will explain clearly the risks, using statistics and evidence so you can be clear on what to do next.
I have a passion for providing personalised care, and it's the heart of everything I do. Navigating the maternity system can be challenging, but with me by your side, you'll have unwavering support and guidance. Unlike others who are bound by hospital policies and shift changes, I am solely dedicated to serving you and your unique needs.
02. Why choose me?
Perhaps, you are looking for a Doula to advocate for you whilst also working in collaboration with any midwives or doctors. I have a vast amount of experience and have supported many births including; homebirths, waterbirths, freebirths, Ceasarean births, inductions, epidural/ medical pain relief births and preterm birth.
Perhaps, breastfeeding is really important to you and you feel reassured having a Doula who is also an IBCLC Lactation Consultant- to prepare you in pregnancy and offer practical support after your baby is born.
Perhaps, you are considering a Doula as you are unfamiliar with pregnancy, birth and postpartum and want access to evidence- based information from someone experienced that you can trust.
Perhaps, you want someone by your side who understands how birth works and can normalise things for you and instill confidence in your ability to birth your baby.
Perhaps, you are searching for someone who has a deep understanding of neurodiversity, alternative family units, anxiety and mental health and will never judge you or your birth team.
Perhaps, you are looking for a Doula who is also a trained Hypnobirthing teacher- so can help keep you calm and help you work through your affirmations, visualisations and breathing techniques..
Perhaps, you want a Doula to bring over all of the essential labour tools needed and work with you during your labour on positions, massage and comfort measures.
Perhaps, you want the reassurance of having an experienced person who is able to give reassurance to your birth partner(s) and take over from them, when they need to eat or rest.
If these sound like the types of things you are looking for in a Doula, then please do reach out and book a free chat with me.
I am often booked up months in advance, so it is usually best to talk to me as early in your pregnancy as possible.
My doula package
In pregnancy:
𑁍 You will receive a welcome gift pack; including colostrum harvesting kit and lots of other goodies.
𑁍 Unlimited Message Support: Available from the moment of booking for questions and guidance.
𑁍 You will have exclusive access to my antenatal and postnatal preparation course, which will enhance your knowledge, confidence and compliment our sessions together
𑁍Access to my Hypnobirthing workbook, relaxation tracks and printable affirmation cards.
𑁍 2 Antenatal Sessions: To go through your birth choices in detail, discuss what physiological birth looks like, share any worries, plan for postpartum and prepare for feeding your baby.
During birth:
𑁍 On call 24 hours per day from 10 days before your due date until your baby arrives.
𑁍 Reassurance of emergency back up doula at no extra cost
𑁍 Use of my TENS machine, free hire of my professional birth pool (subject to availability), a birth comb for you to keep and an array of other comfort aids to use, as needed.
𑁍 During early labour, we will stay in touch via messages or calls so that you feel well supported.
𑁍 During active labour, I will offer emotional, physical and informational support in person.
𑁍 I can help you implement any Hypnobirthing techniques you wish to explore, as a trained Hypnobirthing teacher.
𑁍 I will take photos of your labour and birth (with your consent) so that you can have beautiful memories to look back on. These will be sent to you through a private Dropbox link.
𑁍 I stay up to 2 hours after your baby is born and will offer you specialised assistance with establishing feeding after the birth.
Postpartum:
𑁍 Postpartum Visit: I will visit you at home (usually within the first week after birth) to assist with early postpartum needs and debrief your birth. I can support with helping around the home or simply look after your baby so you can grab a shower.
If feeding isn’t going as expected, I am able to offer you support with positioning, improving latch, checking milk intake, helping with your supply and checking baby for tongue tie. I also have a Spectra S1 pump that I can borrow you, if needed.
𑁍 6 weeks message support: To help you settle into parenthood and be part of your village.
TOTAL FEE: £1850
Meet my doula team
I work closely with a small group of doula's who share my core values. This means they can cover me in an emergency. You'll have an extra layer of support in case of any unforeseen circumstances- like severe illness.
Your well-being and peace of mind are my top priorities, and having a backup doula ensures that you will always have the support you need. If you do not want a back-up doula, that is totally your choice of course! It is still very unlikely for me to miss a birth. I haven’t yet in over 60 births.
My Back-Up Doula’s
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Lyddie
Lyddie, also known as Lydia, is a full-spectrum doula who offers comprehensive support throughout the perinatal period. Lyddie founded her doula company in 2018, aiming to provide top-notch services to expectant parents before, during, and after childbirth. She is dedicated to offering care and support through various stages, including fertility, pregnancy loss, termination, antenatal, birth, and postnatal care.
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Lisa
Lisa is an expierenced Antenatal teacher, birth and postnatal doula. She also offers free monthly positive birth group meetings, birth debriefing and three step rewind support. Lisa says ‘I come with no agenda other than to support you in your choices as your birth and look after your baby… my sole interest is helping you work out what you want, and then to achieve those goals.’
Take the next StepThank you for considering me to walk this journey with you and your family.
I'm here to empower you to achieve the birth you deserve and desire.