Hello! I'm Alex, a postnatal doula based in West Sussex. Since there's a high chance you're here because you're either pregnant or sat with your new baby or babies, I'd like to start by congratulating you! This is a momentous time in life, filled with a lot of physical and emotional change, a time in which you deserve to be supported, nurtured and nourished. You're in the right place.

Here are some ways I support families as a postnatal doula:

- I will encourage you to rest, for you to spend as much time as possible skin to skin snuggled up with your baby, bring you food and drinks and tell you how wonderfully you're doing.

- I offer reassurance and encouragement. I help new mums and parents really trust their instincts. With the dizzying amount of information and products being advertised to you, it can be tricky to work out what the best thing to do is. When you take time to hone in on those instincts, you will find you're already the expert in your baby.

- I will support with baby feeding. This may be anything from the basics of getting a good latch, to comfy positions for breastfeeding twins, to spotting hunger cues and sterilising bottles. If more specialised support is needed, I can provide you with details of local consultants and drop in support groups... I can even come along to them with you!

- I can provide you with information. There are heaps of social media posts and various websites, often with conflicting information which can be so overwhelming to filter through. I can share trusted, relevant information with you to support you with decision making.

- I can cook for you. I love to cook, so I will make sure you can stay snuggled with baby and be brought a tasty, nutritious meal. I also offer batch cooking services to stock your freezer for you and family.

- I will entertain siblings. Whether that's colouring in, playing games or dressing up for adventures. I have two of my own silly kids, so I'm very experienced in child entertainment.

- I will take care of baby to ensure you have space. You can use this time how you please; shower, sleep, get a massage or go for a walk, it's up to you.

- If there are some light housework bits that need doing, I will get those off the list. Folding laundry, a quick hoover, washing up - I've got it covered. 

Plus many other things that come up! 

I love supporting mums/parents and family during this transition and it really can make such a huge impact to your emotional and physical wellbeing, both now and for the future. The fact you're considering postnatal support shows that you're making the decision to invest in yourself and your family, which is brilliant!

My experience:

I am a mentored postnatal doula, which means while I am building my official doula experience, I work closely with and am supported by an experienced postnatal doula. This is great because it means I have access to her super-knowledgable self and resources! You also benefit from this by booking my services at a discounted rate while I am mentored. 

I am trained through Developing Doulas, am fully insured and have a DBS certificate. 

Other experience includes:

- Experience in supporting families with twins

- My own lived experience of breastfeeding and I am soon to volunteer as an NHS breastfeeding peer-to-peer supporter 

- Experience in supporting those who have had alternative routes to conception through fertility treatment and donor conception (and my own lived experience too!)

- Lived experience as LGBTQ and continued research to ensure I am inclusive to all LGBTQ+ families

- Lived experience with neurodiversity and continued research on providing support to neurodivergent individuals in the perinatal period

You can read more about me and my services on my website, but please do get in touch for a chat, ask any questions & understand if we'd be a good match! 

Can't wait to hear from you, Alex