Meet the doula on a mission to help families thrive through prioritising wellbeing throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I am working to help women and families build trust within themselves, connect with their developing identity, find comfort in knowledge and community and own their birth and postpartum by being able to hear their own voice. 

 

I know first hand how prioritising your own wellbeing, knowledge and trust in pregnancy can be protective postnatally. After a lockdown pregnancy and being able to fully submerge myself in learning, understanding and connecting with the journey, my birth left me feeling completely powerful. I found out the next day that my grandad had died 2 hours after my baby was born.

 

What followed was a deeply emotional postnatal period, juggling recovery, infections, breastfeeding challenges, grief and isolation. I was bent in all directions but did not break. This could have been and frequently is so different for others. 

 

Knowing that I didn't need to be desperate for support to deserve it, I booked a doula for my second birth. I planned for the homebirth I had always wanted and arranged for live-in postnatal support. A dream scenario that, again, protected me from the intensity of a postpartum haemorrhage that resulted in an emergency transfer and surgical procedure. I still feel that my birth was incredible and felt safe, strong and cared for throughout. Because birth not going to plan doesn't have to leave you emotionally scarred. 

 

I feel fiercely passionate about trying to promote the strong sense of fulfilment, achievement and strength I felt after birth for everyone I work with. That "did everyone just see what I just did?" feeling. The shout it from the rooftops kind of feeling. That "HOW did I just do that" moment? 

 

But equally, I want families to face postnatal life with gentle guidance and unwavering support that helps them believe that they can face anything that comes their way. 

 

Births you feel held through. Connected to. Excited about. 

A firm sense of support when you feel unsteady.

The confidence to know you can face these challenges. 

Understanding what you truly want, who you want to be and how you want to get there. 

 

Drawing on my unique experience working in Perinatal mental health, my academic background in family and child psychology and my strong passion for physical and emotional wellbeing, I bring an evidence-based and holistic blend to doula and hypnobirthing support. I have been fortunate enough to work alongside my local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership and train as a perinatal LGBTQIA+ ambassador, This Mum Moves ambassador and Maternal Journal facilitator.

 

I pride myself on being ND and LGBTQ+ inclusive, evidence-led and trauma-informed to bring a sense of safety, comfort and trust to all families who welcome me in. Each family teaches me something new to take on to the next and it is always such an honour to be even a small part of the journey.