Birth Doula

If you are pregnant and find yourself thinking….

• I would really like a natural birth but I'm not sure how I will cope with pain
• I think I might want an epidural - but I would like to know more about the risks
• I would love it if there were someone experienced who could be with me while I'm in labour, to leave my partner free to be with our older child if necessary
• I still feel disappointed/angry/confused about my previous birth - I would like it to go better next time
• All this advice and information about pregnancy and birth is confusing - I need someone to talk me through it
• It would be nice to have someone there during my whole labour and birth instead of being passed from midwife to midwife

…then perhaps you should think about hiring a birth doula.

The support of a doula during pregnancy and birthing has been shown in a number of studies to have real benefits for women:

• lower rates of caesarean and instrumental deliveries
• better birth outcomes
• better start to breastfeeding

I am a recognised birth doula and member of Doula UK with years of experience supporting women through pregnancy and childbirth.

What is a doula?

“Doula” (pronounced doola) is a Greek word meaning caregiver or “woman servant”. It now refers to an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a pregnant mother (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. A doula enables a woman to have the most satisfying and empowering time that she can during pregnancy, birth and the early days as a new mother. This type of continuous, personal support also helps the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience.

We are fortunate in the UK in that we have a great tradition of midwifery and there is a strong culture of respect for birth as a normal and natural event, not a medical event. Our childbirth practices are still based on the concept that a doctor is only needed if something goes wrong.

Ideally we would have one midwife for every mother and we would not need doulas. Despite the ambitions of campaigners and the promises of politicians, a modern hospital birth can still be impersonal and frightening. The mother finds herself a strange environment, surrounded by a succession of strangers using increasingly threatening jargon - all these factors can make the birth more difficult for her.

A doula, by contrast, makes a hospital birth more human. She takes time to get acquainted with you. She stays with you from your early labour until after the birth, when you are resting with your new baby in your arms. She is a reassuring presence and a comforting, friendly and well-informed voice.

My own experiences of giving birth (I am a mother of four) told me that it was an exciting but often daunting process. I profoundly wanted to empower other women to make the same journey confidently, and to have the best birth they can have. I believe every woman who has the physical ability to carry a baby to term should end up feeling she was in charge of the birth of her child, if that’s what she wanted.

For the perinatal period, as your doula I become your well-informed friend – I am not part of the hospital team. I am “on the side” of the parents-to-be but I am sensitive to hospital culture. Unlike medical personnel who work on a shift system, I am “on call” for the contracted client 24/7 over a four week period around the due date, so that the client is confident that I will be there for her on the big day.


I trained as a doula in 2004 with Dr Michel Odent, the natural birth advocate who developed the first birthing pools in France. I work with mothers in the West London area. I am also a trained HypnoBirthing® practitioner.
I believe in supporting my clients, emotionally and practically, in their own decisions and helping them towards the most positive birth experience possible. My fees are reasonable and I can provide references.

I am a recognised doula affiliated to Doula UK. This is a non-profit association which assesses doulas and doula training and aims to maintain high standards of doula practice.

My clients know they can call or email me whenever they like and have me on call for two weeks before and two weeks after the date their baby is expected. If your baby still hasn't arrived by 42 weeks, I will either extend my on-call period for you (if possible) or help find a suitable doula to take my place.


What to expect when I'm your birth doula....

From the moment the one-page contract is signed, my clients can call or email me whenever they like. I do not accept clients whose official due dates are within ten days of a previously booked client's due date - it's not worth the risk of letting one of you down.

My clients know I am on call for two weeks before and two weeks after the date their baby is expected. If your baby still hasn't arrived by the 42nd week of your pregnancy, I will either extend my on-call period for you without extra charge or help find a suitable doula to take my place.

Before your baby is born

We have at least three antenatal sessions in the client's home, at times to suit the client. If I can't be your birth doula I would be delighted to offer these sessions as a separate antenatal doula service.

Session one

• getting the baby into the right position: very important! Position can make the difference between a tough labour and an easy one. We will look at how to maximise your chances of baby starting in the right position
• your feelings about your pregnancy and the birth
• how you want your birth to be
• prenatal bonding with your baby
• preparing your birth preferences (birth plan) together (I bring extra copies of the finished plan to the birth with me)
• what to prepare in advance

Session two

• the labour and birth environment
• pain management
• use of movement
• relaxation before, during and after labour
• breathing techniques
• Dad/birth companion’s needs and role

Session three

• rehearsing the birth: every birth is different, but I can help prepare you for the most likely scenarios
• practising movement, breathing and relaxing
• breastfeeding basics

During labour:

I support the mum with hypnotherapy (if prepared), aromatherapy, homeopathic remedies and lots of encouragement! I massage gently using Tui Balme. I will help you to decide when is the right moment to go into hospital and support you in working your way towards decisions. I will suggest strategies for coping with labour and ensure that you remain rested and nourished. And I will trust you: if I have learned anything in my years as a doula, it is to TRUST THE WOMAN.
I come to my client's home as soon as she feels she needs me, accompany her into hospital where this is required, and stay as long as she likes, usually until she is settled happily with her baby in her arms. I am equally happy working alongside the dad-to-be, or as sole birth companion.

Afterwards

After the birth I will visit you twice (as required) to listen to you if you want to talk about the birth...help you get breastfeeding support...whatever you feel you need from me. I am also a postnatal doula, and this service can be booked separately in advance, subject to availability.

Birth Story

For all my birth clients I combine my skills as a writer and doula by preparing for you a detailed “birth story” – a narrative of your labour and birth for you to keep for ever.

2011 update: I get hundreds of requests from prospective parents to attend their baby's birth. Please contact me - but be prepared to hear I'm not available. You should not hire a doula without talking to at least two different doulas first.