Doula Support

“When we, as a society, begin to value mothers as the givers and supporters of life, then we will see social change in ways that matter” — Ina May Gaskin.

As your doula, I’ll support you to meet your power throughout pregnancy, birth and motherhood by helping you find peace in the knowledge that everything you need resides within.

Why hire a birth doula?

Having continuous doula support throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth has been shown to have a positive impact on birth outcomes and perception of birth experience.

Birth doulas are there to provide emotional and physical support, to advocate for you and support you in navigating the maternity system.

During pregnancy, we’ll work together to explore your expectations, hopes and fears around birth. I’ll direct you towards relevant resources and information that will help you gain knowledge and power to make the choices that are right for you.

During labour and birth, I’ll be your cheerleader, supporting you physically and emotionally, while ensuring your voice is heard in your birth space and that your wishes are followed.

What does birth doula service involve?

My priority as your doula is to support you to feel empowered and trust your own intuition.

My service includes (but is not limited to):

  • 3 antenatal visits where we will explore your expectations, hopes and fears around birth

  • Whatsapp support throughout your pregnancy

  • 1 private Prenatal Yoga session, including tips on Optimal Foetal Positioning, breathing practices to support you during pregnancy and birth and tailored movement to help strengthen and release tense and tight areas

  • Signposting to relevant information and resources

  • Borrowing books from my library

  • Supporting you to write your birth plan

  • Attending antenatal appointments with you, when required (subject to availability)

  • On call for you 24/7 from 38 weeks onwards

  • Emotional and physical support during labour and birth, including massage and acupressure techniques

  • One postnatal visit, including a birth debrief if requested.

For information on pricing and combining birth and postnatal doula support, please get in touch.

Why hire a postnatal doula?

Often, pregnant people will be given a lot of support in the lead up to and during birth, but find they have little to no support afterwards in the days and weeks after labour.I strongly believe that we’re not looking after or honouring mothers the way we should be in our culture – particularly in the postpartum period.

There is a lot of pressure to “bounce back” after giving birth and we often praise new mothers for how quickly they can get out and about, instead of celebrating the amount of time they take to rest and recover. Babies don’t care about new gadgets or expensive clothes. The only thing they need is for their mother to be thriving and well. 

Studies have shown that a positive postpartum period can help prevent postnatal mood disorders and even improve the experience of perimenopause further down the line. 

I offer a range of postnatal doula services that focus on supporting new mothers and people who have recently given birth through this incredible transition.

What does postnatal doula service involve?

As your postnatal doula, I will work with you to create a plan for your postpartum period and be there for you in the way that you need. This should help you feel supported and nurtured so you can focus on adapting to your new life with your beautiful baby!

I recommend at least 12 visits of at least 1 hour in the first 40 days. Here's an example of what that could look like:

Week 1: 3 visits 

Week 2: 3 visits

Week 3: 2 visits

Week 4: 2 visits

Week 5: 1 visit

Week 6: 1 visit

This wouldn't be set in stone, but I recommend more visits initially and then we taper down as the weeks go on and as you feel ready. We can also add more visits if required.

My Postnatal Doula Package (12 visits over 6 weeks) is an investment of £588. 

My service includes, but is not limited to:

  • 1 x postpartum planning session when you’re around 36-38 weeks pregnant

  • Birth debriefing and offering a listening ear and emotional support

  • Guided meditations and breathing practices

  • Using acupressure points and massage to support postpartum healing

  • Belly binding

  • Breastfeeding support

  • Babywearing support

  • Looking after baby while you take a shower, have a meal or take a nap

  • Bringing nourishing meals, snacks and hot drinks (including broths and herbal infusions) to you or cooking in your home

  • Washing up and light tidying and cleaning

  • Helping with other siblings

  • Closing the Bones - a beautiful ceremony to welcome you into new motherhood, including sharing your birth story (or stories), a herbal bath or foot bath, gentle massage and closing the bones with scarves

What does a Closing the Bones Ceremony involve?

This ceremony is for anyone who has given birth (including miscarriage, stillbirth and abortion), at any stage postpartum.

This a deeply nurturing, restorative ritual that helps you to heal after childbirth, emotionally and physically, by offering a space to rest, reflect, and gently "close" the body—both as a way of honouring the incredible transformation of pregnancy and birth and supporting the journey of postpartum recovery.

The ceremony can include friends or relatives and takes roughly 2.5 hours. We begin with you sharing your birth story (or stories), which can be incredibly cathartic and help you process what you’ve experienced (positive and negative).

I will then pour you a bath with healing herbs and salts for you to soak your body and have well earned moment of peace and rest. The water is a powerful symbol of cleansing and letting go - you may reflect on what no longer serves you and allow it to drain out of the bath.

I will then give you a gentle massage to help release tension and allow you to feel more grounded. This will include a belly massage to stimulate circulation and promote healing in the womb. I will then use scarves to physically "close" the body, wrapping around the belly, hips, and legs in a supportive and comforting way. These bindings are not only symbolic but also help with pelvic alignment, muscle recovery, and even emotional processing.

It’s not just a physical act but an emotional and spiritual one as well. Closing the Bones allows you to honour and respect the process of reclaiming your body and reconnecting with yourself after such a life-altering event. It’s a moment to acknowledge your strength, vulnerability, and the immense transformation you’ve undergone.

Normally, this would be done in the comfort of your home. Please check with me before booking if you are not in my area.

Doula FAQs

  • A midwife is a trained professional who provides medical care to women during pregnancy, and childbirth. A doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

  • A birth doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and childbirth. Their role is to ensure that the birthing person feels safe, supported, and empowered throughout the process. Here’s what a birth doula typically does during labour:

    1. Physical Support:

    • Comfort Measures: Doulas use a variety of techniques to provide comfort and pain relief, such as:

      • Breathing exercises

      • Massage

      • Acupressure

      • Positioning and movement suggestions

      • Encouraging the use of a birth ball or water (if the birth plan allows)

      • Applying heat or cold compresses to alleviate pain

    • Pain Management: While doulas don’t administer medication, they help the birthing person manage pain through non-medical methods, creating a more comfortable and less stressful environment.

    • Hydration and Nourishment: Doulas can remind the birthing person to stay hydrated and can help ensure that they are eating or drinking.

    2. Emotional Support:

    • Reassurance and Encouragement: Doulas provide continuous emotional support, offering words of encouragement, calming affirmations, and reassurance during difficult moments. They help reduce anxiety, fear, and tension.

    • Partner Support: A doula also provides emotional support to the birthing person’s partner, offering them guidance on how to be helpful, comfort the birthing person, or take breaks when needed.

    3. Advocacy:

    • Informed Decision-Making: Doulas help the birthing person understand their options by offering information about the different stages of labor, procedures, and medical interventions. They help the birthing person ask questions, so they can make informed decisions, while respecting the birthing person’s birth plan and preferences.

    • Communication with the Care Team: While doulas are not medical professionals, they assist in facilitating communication between the birthing person and their medical team, ensuring the birthing person's wishes are clearly communicated.

    4. Labor Progression:

    • Monitoring and Encouraging: Doulas monitor the labouring person’s progress and offer guidance on how to cope with each stage. They help the birthing person stay relaxed and focused on the task at hand, allowing them to navigate contractions and the changing phases of labour.

    • Repositioning for Comfort: Doulas suggest positions that may help the baby descend or rotate (such as hands and knees, squatting, or side-lying) to relieve pain and promote a smoother labour.

    5. Creating a Calm Birth Environment:

    • Minimizing Distractions: Doulas work to help create a peaceful atmosphere in the birth room, encouraging a calming environment by dimming the lights, playing soothing music, or using aromatherapy if desired. They may also assist with controlling noise and managing the space.

    • Birth Plan Support: If the birthing person has a birth plan, the doula ensures that the plan is respected and followed (unless adjustments are necessary for medical reasons).

  • A postnatal doula (also known as a postpartum doula) is a trained professional who provides support to new parents during the first weeks or months after childbirth. Their role is to assist the family in adjusting to life with a newborn, ensuring the birthing person’s physical and emotional recovery, and offering guidance with infant care. A postnatal doula focuses on nurturing and supporting the whole family, especially during the often challenging and overwhelming period following birth.

    Newborn Care Support:

    • Feeding support: They assist with breastfeeding, including latch techniques, positioning, and helping with any issues such as sore nipples or low milk supply. They can also support bottle-feeding or help parents with pumping, if necessary. They may also refer to a local lactation consultant if additional support is required.

    2. Physical Recovery for the Birthing Parent:

    • Postpartum Recovery Support: A postnatal doula assists the birthing person as they recover from childbirth by offering practical advice on caring for themselves, such as perineal care, managing stitches or cesarean care, and pelvic floor exercises.

    • Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Support: Beyond basic guidance, a postpartum doula can help with any breastfeeding or chestfeeding challenges, ensuring the parent is comfortable and their milk supply is adequate.

    • Self-Care for the Parent: They remind the birthing parent to rest, hydrate, and take care of themselves, especially when they may feel overwhelmed or fatigued. Doulas encourage parents to take breaks and practice self-care, which is essential for overall well-being.

    3. Emotional and Mental Health Support:

    • Emotional Reassurance: The transition to parenthood can be emotional, and a postnatal doula provides essential emotional support by offering reassurance, encouragement, and a listening ear during what can be a stressful time.

    • Postpartum Mental Health: They can help identify early signs of postpartum depression or anxiety, and guide the family to professional mental health support if needed.

    • Relationship Support: Postnatal doulas can also help partners navigate the emotional and logistical changes that come with a newborn, strengthening the family bond.

    4. Assisting with Household Tasks:

    • Light Household Support: While postnatal doulas don't provide full cleaning or household management, they often assist with light chores like laundry, preparing meals, and keeping things organized, which can alleviate stress for new parents.

    • Food Shopping: In some cases, doulas may help with food shopping or provide guidance on organising the home in preparation for the baby’s needs.

    5. Guidance on Sleep:

    • Sleep Tips: They may help with strategies for safe sleep practices, such as swaddling or co-sleeping guidance, based on the family’s preferences.

    6. Support for Siblings:

    • Sibling Adjustment: If there are older children in the family, a postnatal doula may offer suggestions on how to help them adjust to the arrival of a new baby, and may even assist with caring for them while the birthing parent focuses on recovery or bonding with the newborn.

    7. Postpartum Planning:

    • Referrals: They can connect families to additional services, such as lactation consultants, therapists, or support groups, if needed.

    • Birth Plan Follow-Up: While they’re not involved in birth planning, postnatal doulas can help the family revisit any birth plans or goals and provide guidance on how to handle unexpected challenges or changes after birth.

  • The cost of hiring a doula depends on the services you require and the level of support you need. Contact me for more information on doula service costs.

  • Some doulas may only support homebirth while others may support you no matter where you want to give birth.

    I support hospital and homebirth.