What is a doula?
The role of the doula is to give mother-to-mother emotional and practical support to a woman before, during and after childbirth. A doula is not a lay midwife; she will be there to support you and your partner during the birth but will not deliver your baby. In combination with a good midwifery team, your birth doula will help you with your birth plan during pregnancy, at the birth and during the first weeks with your new baby. Your doula will protect your birthing space along side providing practical and emotional support during labour and birth.
I grew up with the knowledge that my paternal great grandmother was a lay midwife. She had successfully birthed eleven children of her own and was called upon by the local doctor to attend all the births of her neighbours in her community. Home birth was the norm back then with women in the community supporting each other. Mother to mother support has always existed, our modern lives can separate us from female relatives and establishing close community support networks, meaning that many women have no experience of mothering until they nurture their first baby. Doulas bring with them the kind of support that our grandmothers knew and trusted.
My birth was a home birth, I am strong advocate for home births, unfortunately a series of events in my own life meant that I had caesarean births. I view home birth as the perfect birth however not all births happen this way for various reasons. Where ever and how you give birth will be your experience of birth. I have two children, my son was very, very premature - he stayed in hospital for ten weeks - yet I persevered with breastfeeding and continued to breastfeed him for over a year. I feel that most obstacles can be overcome with a little support and encouragement from those around us. For mothers with a difficult start to motherhood having a doula around in the early days can make a huge difference to how they cope.
I'm a member of Doula UK and Scottish Doula Network and have completed Adela Stockton's Birth Consultancy Doula Preparation Course. This is in addition to my professional qualification as a homeopath - I hold a Licentiateship of London College of Classical Homeopathy and am a registered member of The Society of Homeopaths.
Birth Doula £200
Introductory meeting (free of charge) with no obligation to hire my services, this is time for us to meet, discuss your vision of your forthcoming birth and ask me questions about my role as a doula at your birth.
Up to three antenatal home visits to discuss your birth plan and for birth preparation.
Email and telephone support during pregnancy.
On call during two weeks either side of your due date.
Support during labour and birth.
One postnatal visit.
Homeopathic Support is a separate contract of services.
