Pregnancy, childbirth & parenting

Pregnancy & childbirth is a time of transformation on all levels: physical, mental, emotional & spiritual. It is a rite of passage, through which once passed we are forever changed. It is up to us how we prepare for and approach these intense periods of change. With the virtual world at our fingertips we are able to research innumerable amounts of information, as never before. Yet in our busy world it feels of utmost importance that we give ourselves, and our growing child, the precious gift of time. The presence of our attention increases self-awareness, which is extremely important when preparing for birth & parenting. Many answers we seek, lie within. My work is about holding a safe, sacred space for you.

I have been working with the energy of birth since 2004 when my beautiful son was born. Then, in 2006 I started supporting others through this life-changing process, as a birth doula. I am recognised by Doula UK, I am also author of the booklet: A Birth Path: Stages & states of Consciousness. You can read more about me HERE

*covid update – all sessions are offered at a distance using video, voice and text messaging, until further notice. Please get in touch to discuss.

Offerings:

Birth doula – individual support during pregnancy, labour & birth, and postpartum. See below

Weekly Pregnancy Well-being Circle – Ideal for pregnant women and their partners in the Exeter area. This is online group offered via The Nest, click here for more info http://thenestsw.co.uk/

Individual sessions – Private one-to-one sessions, flexible and individually tailored. Online only.

Birth doula

My role as your birth doula is to support you to have the most positive experience possible. The way this works is that we meet a few times during pregnancy so I get to know you & your family. Each birth is as unique as you, so we work together to find the best way I can support you. This could include information about how the birth process works, talking about previous birth experiences, building up a toolkit of comfort measures, preparing mentally for the challenges of labour, helping you and your partner become an effective team, working with fear-processing techniques to promote calm & relaxation, meeting your young children to help with child care during the birth or any other myriad of issues. I have many years of experiences and feel confident that whatever happens I will be there with you and your partner to help navigate some of the most memorable months of your life.

Then at 38 weeks of pregnancy I go on call for you 24 hours a day. When you need me, I will be there to offer continuous support for the whole labour.

My goal is to help you to feel safe and relaxed. I do not lead nor advise, yet assist you to find the right choices for you. I work in a home, hospital or birth centre setting, and work alongside midwives, obstetricians and other professionals to help create the ideal birth team whatever kind of birth you are preparing for.

My full *gold* doula package includes

At least three antenatal sessions
Continuous labour and birth support
At least two postnatal sessions
Ongoing email / text support from when we start meeting to 6 weeks postnatally
Access to my extensive lending library of pregnancy, birth, parenting and positive living books
Signposting to local groups, practitioners, national organisations & useful websites
A complementary copy of my book – A Birth Path: Stages & States of consciousness

All services are currently offered virtually until national social distancing guidelines change

Cost: £750 (plus travel expenses)

**For other types of doula support (postnatal or a different kind of birth package) please get in touch**

I am a member of the National organisation Doula UK, and am committed to abiding by Doula UK’s Philosophy, Code of Conduct and Infant Feeding Guidance.

Some useful pages for further reading: