Doula
Birth Doula Home birth Woking
When I tell people what I do for a living, I so often get “What on earth is a doula”?
So… a doula is [primarily] a woman who gives support, help, and advice to another woman during pregnancy, the birth and in the postnatal period. It is often described as ‘Mothering the mother’ which I love and to me encapsulates it perfectly. There is also much growing evidence that shows having a doula brings numerous benefits such as reduced risk of intervention, a shorter labour and improving conditions of babies after birth – check out the Doula UK website for more.
As well as being a crazily exciting time, pregnancy, birth and the post natal period can be totally overwhelming and as a doula I really can act as a vital support for you. Aiding physical and emotional comfort at the birth, I can help with hypnobirthing relaxation techniques that will allow you to trust in your body and feel informed of your choices should your birth deviate from what you imagined. As well as having a well rounded knowledge of the whole birth story, I can be that extra person that you know you can call on 24/7 around what can be such a daunting time. And by support, I mean someone to share your fears with, sleep deprivation, laughter, help with feeding, to offer encouragement, someone to hug it out with or to quite honestly just chat it out over tea and biccies. Yes there is always tea and biscuits.
I have gone through the accreditation process with Doula UK and am proud to say that I am a Recognised Birth Doula and Doula Mentor supporting new doulas with their learning. I am also a Course Facilitator for Developing Doulas supporting Doulas through their Companionship Programme.
Most importantly of all, I passionately believe that as women we should have the choice to feel empowered to birth exactly as we want. A positive birth experience is something I wholeheartedly believe in and I would love the chance to talk to you about embarking on your wonderful journey together. I offer both birth & postnatal doula support packages, so please have a look at my prices below, get in touch and lets suss out your needs together.
Hospital Birth
Doulas aren’t just for home births. More than ever, having Doula support to help you navigate the NHS can be absolutely vital in helping you to have an empowering birth with informed consent rather than decisions being made out of fear.
The majority of the births I support are at the Royal Surrey Hospital & Kingston Hospital, alongside Epsom & St Helier.
Bare Birth Package £2,000
2 x antenatal sessions where I can get to know you and your family. We can discuss feeding & birth preferences, relaxation techniques for labour and beyond, hopes and fears, practical logistics for birth and the wider family and most importantly discuss how I can support you at such a special time
1 x session to prepare for your postnatal period & get a plan together
An antenatal massage tied into one of your antenatal sessions.
Fear release/trauma recovery work
Access to my extensive library of books & evidence based articles
I will be on call from 38 weeks until your labour starts and will be with you throughout your labour and birth for as long as you need me.
1 x postnatal follow up
Continual support over the phone throughout your pregnancy.
I am happy to accompany you to antenatal appointments.
Birth Plus Package £2,300
All of the Bare Birth package plus…
Two extra antenatal sessions which can include: Hypnobirthing, massage, birth planning prep, 3-step rewind trauma release, walk and talk, relaxation session.
Birth & Beyond Package £2,580
All of the Birth Plus package plus…
10 hours postnatal support
Around Birth Package £960
8 hours of antenatal prep - a bespoke full antenatal education tailored to you and your needs
20 hours postnatal support
Shared Care Doula Support
Shared Care is where you have the support of two Doulas. We share your antenatal sessions, so you get to know us both equally and benefit from all our joint experience and skills set. Then when you go into labour, one of us will be at your birth.
I work with some wonderful Doulas who share my beliefs in birth and your ability to birth - offering truly women centred care.
Most of the shared care work I do is with Zara de Candole. Zara and I have been working together for years and truly compliment each other with the way we support our families. We can offer individualised care, putting your requirements at the core of our offering.
Shared Care packages start at £2,500.
Postnatal Support (from £28 p/hour)
For that extra care and support, in the first few days or weeks of your little ones arrival. Whether its to debrief your birth, keep you company, help with siblings, nourish you, support your feeding choice or just care for the baby so you can have a hot shower – I’m there.
Adhoc hourly support or packages of 12+ hours available. Check out more about postnatal support here.
