Hello, I'm Alice, welcome to my page. Originally from Cambridge, I have lived in North London for over 28 years and am a mum of four young adults born between 1998 and 2005. My eldest was born in hospital on a very hot bank holiday weekend, and the younger three were born at home. My first home birth was a BBA, 'Born Before Arrival' - with the midwife arriving after my new daughter. It made me very aware of how your environment can influence birth in a positive way and this is something I carry with me in my work now. Feeling in control of my own choices and experiences made an enormous difference to me. As a breastfeeding specialist, working on hospital postnatal wards, understanding what new parents had gone through and listening to their stories, I felt sure there had to be another way. Another way to support those parents so they could feel held, and heard. Another way to make sure their wishes and knowledge were at the heart of their care, with each decision fully understood. This is why I became a doula. Outside of my work, the things that sustain me are spending time with my family and friends, walking and cycling, seeing new places, watching films and listening to music. I am a positive person, not easily fazed. Navigating maternity services at the moment can be challenging (far more so than it should be) and it is a privilege to stand alongside families-to-be and new parents at such a formative time. I would love to support you to have a positive birth and postnatal experience. Pregnancy and birth can be unpredictable, whatever path you find yourself on I will listen, help you to explore your options, provide evidence-based information, and be there for you, helping you to trust your instincts, and feel secure and relaxed. My birth package includes at least two antenatal sessions, the 24-hour-a-day on-call period from 38 weeks until your baby is born, birth support, a postnatal visit, and unlimited email and WhatsApp contact from time of booking. For a free, no-obligation chat (on the phone or face-to-face in person or via Zoom/WhatsApp) to find out more about me and how we can work together, do get in touch. I can also be booked as a postnatal doula, to help with anything you need in those early days and weeks. It is an amazing, but frequently overwhelming, time. If you need feeding support, a chance to rest, time to explore and debrief your birth experience, help with an older child as they adapt to their new sibling, or someone to take on some cooking, laundry, housework, or cake making (cake is very important) please let me know. 

Training and experience includes: 

Breastfeeding specialist - I have been working in this role continually since I first trained in 2009, on hospital wards, in the community and at home visits; Birth Companions volunteer (since 2012) supporting vulnerable women and their babies at birth and postnatally; Biomechanics for Birth with Molly O'Brien; Human Rights in Childbirth (with Birthrights); SANDS training - Supporting families through loss; Tongue tie study days and update sessions; Rebozo training; Solihull approach training, supporting families with containment and reciprocity; Antiracism training with Rebbecca Hemmings (Strawberry Words); VBAC course with Carmen Rocha & Kemi Johnson; Sleep workshop (with Islington CAMHS); Perinatal mental health (with Whittington Health); Paediatric first aid; From Pregnancy to Lactation – a Physiological Continuum, with Michel Odent; Alternative methods of feeding; Child Protection Level 3; Safeguarding adults; Supporting women with interventions; I ran a postnatal group at a Children's Centre for two years (until funding ended), a calm, supportive space for new mums and their babies up to crawling age. 

Testimonials: 

'We are so grateful to have had Alice as our doula and cannot recommend her highly enough! From the very start, she was incredibly supportive, informative, and respectful of our views - never pushing her own opinions but instead empowering us to make the choices that felt right for our family. When my waters broke unexpectedly at 33 weeks, Alice was an invaluable source of guidance, helping us navigate that uncertain time with clarity and reassurance. She provided us with information about our options and ensured we felt confident in every decision we made. We had originally hoped for a home birth, but after my waters broke, we had to give birth in the labour ward. Having Alice with us in the hospital was absolutely invaluable. A doula isn’t just for home births - her support in that medical setting made such a difference. She helped us stay calm, understand what was happening, and feel more in control of the experience. She went above and beyond what we expected, providing reassurance and advocacy when we needed it most. If you're looking for a doula who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and wholeheartedly dedicated to your journey, Alice is the one.'

'Working with Alice has truly been the best decision we made after our baby was born. Without family support and with my husband back at work after just two weeks, my days were challenging - especially as we struggled with breastfeeding and reflux. Alice was there to reassure me and provide the best breastfeeding advice. Knowing that she wears multiple hats - birth doula, breastfeeding consultant, and postpartum doula - felt like a dream come true for a new mom. She has been an incredible source of support, and I felt I could trust her completely - not just with my life, but, more importantly, with my baby’s. I would choose Alice again without hesitation!'

‘We worked with Alice around the birth of our second child and it was an empowering, supportive relationship for which I am so grateful. While I had originally planned a home birth, medical complications meant I had to switch my birth plan to the labour ward and re-frame my expectations entirely. Alice was brilliant – she offered evidence-based advice at every stage which helped clarify what was important to me, and built my confidence back up in pregnancy after complications. During labour Alice was a wonderful, calm presence who advocated for me which meant that my husband and I could focus on staying in more of a bubble. She had wonderful advice throughout for birthing positions, unmedicalised pain relief and navigating each stage. For me, having a kind, empathetic woman accompany me on this journey was incredibly important. I’d recommend Alice to anyone looking for a positive birth.’

'We couldn't have been happier with the choice of you as our doula. I enjoyed my pregnancy and was very happy with how our birth went. You helped us reason through and find the 'right' answer to so many questions and doubts that we had in this journey and we will be forever grateful to you.' 

'Thank you for being our doula through the birth of our little one and breastfeeding support after... You were part of our village away from home and we feel we could have not gone through it unscathed without you. Your advice, hugs, encouragement and compassion were invaluable - especially in helping us navigate a medical system, your care felt positively radical.' 

(Working as a shared care doula with Sherridan Stymest): 'Having Alice and Sherridan as our doulas was the best decision we made among all the hundreds of decisions that pregnant people and new parents face. From the first meeting and continued into postnatal care and communication, they have been so kind, caring, and knowledgeable. It's hard to imagine how we would have navigated the system without their help. If you're considering hiring a doula, we can't recommend these two enough.'

'Your warmth, kindness and knowledge helped so much before, during and after our birth. I know we could have done it without you, but I know the experience would have been more stressful and perhaps not as empowering as I found it to be. I am so grateful that our birth will be a really happy memory for me and a moment I feel really proud of.' 

'From when you first came to visit us I felt I was in safe hands. Birth stopped feeling so insurmountable. I know my husband felt much more prepared, too, and more confident and positive about being a birth partner. At each stage you knew exactly how to guide us, and with every mini-hurdle you knew exactly what was needed. Thank you for seeing us over the threshold and beyond with tremendous kindness, wisdom and patience.' 

'Alice was at our birth and we are so overjoyed that she was there. My partner and I often turn to each other and say that getting a doula was the best decision we made and that Alice was a true angel to us. My mother died the previous year and my good friend who I had hoped would be at my birth was out of the country. I really wanted to have some female energy at my birth which I had hoped would be at home. Alice was always there when we needed her; before, during and after the birth of our baby girl. She was available in person, by phone and on WhatsApp in the antenatal and postnatal period and really helped calm any anxieties or questions we had. At the birth she arrived so quickly and supported my partner throughout the birth which meant that we could be present together. She worked closely and easily with the community midwives and helped me in those initial moments to start my breastfeeding journey, as she is also an experienced breastfeeding specialist. As I had a difficult start to breastfeeding, this skill was invaluable. Like so many before me, I was wary of whether I wanted someone I didn’t know very well at my birth - but honestly, Alice was the perfect balance of being in the foreground and in the background when I needed her to be. She was a calm, strong, kind, benevolent guiding presence that made me feel utterly supported and at ease. I was in safe hands and I am sure that her presence was part of my surprisingly (as it was my first) fast 8 hour labour. I cannot thank Alice enough for her help and support, such a guiding light.' 

(From a new Dad) 'I felt totally at home with Alice from the initial meet ups we had, and really felt like we were in safe hands. From my own perspective, I felt as if she understood who I was, and what role I hoped to be able to play in the birth of our baby, so would be able to help and aid my own birth partner experience too. When the time came, having an extra knowledgable person with us really helped. The hours we had together were utterly magical, and I still to this day marvel at how precious and private everything felt, even with someone we hadn’t known for very long in the room with us. A testament to Alice’s ability to read the situation. One of the things I’d initially been worried about was whether there might be any issues between midwives and doulas. I needn’t have worried. When our midwives arrived, Alice seemed like part of the family, and everyone worked really well together. It truly was the most magical day of my life, and I feel so lucky to have met Alice and have her help us on our special day. I hope everyone gets to have an Alice, just like we did!' 

(Working as a shared care doula with Sherridan Stymest): 'Alice and Sherridan were our doulas for the birth of our son in October 2023, and whenever anyone asks me about my birth story I tell them the best decision we made was to work with them. I had thought having a doula simply meant having support during the actual birth, but it was so much more than that. Alice and Sherridan were both incredible throughout the entire process: they were available on text to answer any questions or concerns that we had in the months leading up to the birth, sharing evidence based articles and offering words of support; they came by multiple times in the final weeks of my pregnancy simply to go on a walk and to listen; they gave me the confidence to advocate for myself when faced with a recommended induction; they both came by multiple times after the birth to help me with breastfeeding techniques and tips; they formed a great relationship with my partner…and the list goes on.  We cannot recommend Alice and Sherridan highly enough. Every step of the way, they were there—supporting us, advocating for us, and ultimately empowering us to have the birth we wanted. If we are fortunate enough to get pregnant a second time, they will be the first call we make.' 

'After a difficult first birth with our eldest son, we hired Alice as a birth doula to help us prepare for the birth of our second son. I was heavily monitored but Alice helped us understand what were the options that were being presented to me for our second son's birth, going above and beyond to provide information that would help inform our choices. During the birth, Alice was there for my husband and I, helped eased pain with acupressure, and once again helped us ask the right questions which allowed me to make the right decision for that birth and our family (including eventually to have a second caesarean), making the process an empowering experience. Alice was warm, friendly, supportive and always available in the early days and weeks. She is hugely knowledgeable on breastfeeding, and provided hours of support and ideas. Alice is also extremely good at just slotting in to family life, which in pregnancy, birth, and in the early postpartum days is a blessing. I could not imagine having gone through that second pregnancy, birth, and post-birth period without Alice.' 

'There are no words we could use to recommend Alice more as a doula: we felt really lucky to have found such a nice, warm and professional person to accompany us in this important time of our life. Alice offered us the greatest support as a postnatal doula by being at the same time an expert regarding our baby and the recovery from giving birth, and in the meantime deeply reassuring and caring.' 

'Alice was the first person my partner and I were able to talk to about the trauma of my birth experience and I knew immediately she was the perfect person to help us in the first few days of parenthood: empathetic, kind, and a calming presence at a sometimes difficult time. Not only did she help us to process the emotional impact of what we had been through, she also gave me valuable advice on how to physically recover, and enabled me to rest as much as I needed in the first few weeks. I found her breastfeeding advice invaluable. She helped me get the hang of it at the start, and later on taught me new positions and techniques that made the whole thing feel less daunting. Crucially, she was non-judgmental when so many other people around me had strong opinions. I felt completely comfortable having Alice in my home and she was brilliant at seeing what help we needed before we did. I can’t recommend her highly enough as a postnatal doula and would welcome her back with open arms if I had another baby.' 

(Working as a shared care doula with Sherridan Stymest): 'Our doula-share was a fantastic decision that made the world of a difference and made our birth experience very positive despite some surprises along the way. This was our first child, we were in the middle of Covid and didn't have a lot of in-person information, and we were quite nervous without family close by. Alice and Sherridan visited us three times before the birth and were on hand for any questions leading up. They helped walk us through what was to come, in detail, and helped us make our birth preferences (not plans!). During my labour, Alice was "on call" and was a steady but very warm and reassuring presence. She helped us speak up at key parts during the birth, for example the transition from the midwife-led centre into the delivery suite, the quick decision to get an (unplanned) epidural, and the decision to use the kiwi cup. Straight after the birth, Alice helped me breastfeed our son without any challenge and this continued on for many months with ease. Myself and my husband would thoroughly recommend working with such fantastic, caring and steady women.' 

'My husband and I decided to get a post partum doula for our 2nd baby as we had no support in London and a 3 year old to manage. Alice supported us in the first few weeks after birth and was the extra pair of hands and mental and emotional support that we needed at the time. She was happy to help with anything, from the day to day household tasks of folding laundry and cooking healthy nutritious meals, to listening to my worries / concerns and most importantly being a huge support on my breastfeeding journey. After having had a tough time with my first child, this was an area that I needed guidance and help from. Alice was the perfect person to provide that, she was caring and understanding yet hugely knowledgeable and instrumental in identifying my son's tongue tie which was impacting his feeding. We are so grateful for all of her support and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for help during those first few weeks.' 

'Alice was the best decision we made in the lead up to the birth of our baby. Gentle and compassionate, Alice was a constant source of reassurance and guidance, while always respecting our wishes and making us feel 100% at ease. She provided a continuity that was lacking in the busy healthcare system and a thorough knowledge of maternity services which helped us to better understand our options. We felt so much more relaxed with her presence at the birth (for me her use of acupressure was better pain relief than gas and air!), and her readiness to answer any question big or small in those early, sleep-deprived days of parenthood was an enormous comfort, as well as enormously helpful.' 

'Alice was an incredible help during the first few weeks of our baby’s life, bringing calm, empathy and reassurance to our topsy-turvy new world. We struggled to establish breastfeeding and her deep experience in this area was a real benefit. I’d recommend her to anyone looking for postnatal support.' 

'Feeling fragile after a somewhat traumatic birth, it was a salve to the soul to have Alice’s calm, wise, and warm presence and assistance as a postpartum doula. Nothing was too much trouble and she always seemed to sense exactly what we all needed at any given point in time, whether that was her looking after our son to give time to me & my husband to take a nap or doing laundry or dishes. We also both found very informally debriefing our birth experience with Alice to be really helpful. Most importantly, she was fundamentally important to the success of my breastfeeding journey with my son. She identified a posterior tongue tie when even all the midwives and HVs missed it and having that revised made a massive difference. Particularly after a traumatic birth, having a successful breastfeeding experience was very healing for me and also very bonding with my son and I wouldn’t have had that without Alice so I’ll always be grateful.' 

'Alice was with us in the early weeks after our daughter was born, when I was at low ebb following a Caesarean section and rough overnight stay at the hospital, and we - as first-time parents - were most in need of some emotional and practical support. Alice was such a kind, calm and reassuring presence throughout. We were grateful for all her help and advice, and for the precious hours of sleep she granted us by sitting with our baby for us some afternoons. But most of all we would like to thank her for her support with breast-feeding. It would have been so easy to feel discouraged, in the early days especially, but with Alice’s many tips and words of encouragement, we have persevered and made a go of it. We have no hesitation at all in recommending Alice to you. She has made all the difference to our first weeks as parents; we honestly can’t imagine having lived through it without her.' 

'Alice is a wonderful doula. Her calm presence while I was in labour helped keep me calm and set the tone for the environment I wanted. She was an extremely valuable sounding board for both my husband and myself when it came to making decisions about the best way to move forward during my labour. Alice’s was cool-headed while being our advocate to the healthcare professionals and knew the best ways to productively interact with them to remove tension, and also assert our interest in an environment that was more about risk prevention defining labour than an ideal labour experience. Alice helped me to create the best labour experience I could have in the circumstances and to feel really positive about it, even when it didn’t go the way I had hoped. My husband and I were both very grateful to have her there.' 

'Having Alice as our doula at the birth of our first child was the best decision we made. Alice met with us several times before the birth and listened to our hopes and concerns of the birth. She made it comfortable to talk about any issues that concerned us and would follow up with recent studies and research, to help us make informed decisions. She never imposed her own preferences but allowed us space to form our own views. Alice’s kindness and generosity reveal that this is more than a job for her, she genuinely cares for her clients and wants to see them thrive. We would highly recommend Alice as a doula. She was an asset in our birth experience; we’re so thankful for her support before, during and after.'