PLEASE NOTE: I AM AVAILABLE FOR POSTNATAL AND NIGHT SUPPORT ONLY 

I AM CURRENTLY NOT SUPPORTING BIRTHS BUT AM ABLE TO  RECOMMEND  DOULAS  WHOM I HAVE WORKED WITH.

I live in Wandsworth, SW18 with my husband and have two grown up daughters both of whom currently live abroad.  

I believe that Motherhood ranks amongst one of the most amazing and life changing experiences a woman will ever encounter and, as such, believe every mother to be has the right to a birth and passage into motherhood that she can cherish for ever.  It should be a positive experience filled with many precious memories that will help to forge the strong bond that grows between a Mother and her Baby and lasts a lifetime. 

Whilst it is an exciting and wonderful time, for many it can also be a stressful and anxious experience.   Women were not meant to shoulder the huge responsibility of motherhood alone.  Unfortunately, in our society today many women do not have the community support that may have been enjoyed in the past.  Gone are the times when an  experienced family member may have been there to provide support.  Many of us now live long distances from our nearest and dearest and do not yet have a network of friends and supporters nearby.  Today, many women have to try to cope with minimal support from over stretched midwives and health professionals and continuity of care is often no longer possible.  New parents often have no previous experience of newborn babies until they are holding their own. This can be an unsettling and, at times, even frightening experience, creating feelings of isolation and depression . Often parents are left largely trying to cope with the responsibility of caring for their new baby alone.

I have been working as a doula for over seventeen years.  I love my job and feel unbelievably privileged to be asked to share in supporting parents in caring for their babies once they are born.   

I aim to be a companion to new parents, providing as much information as possible to empower them to care for and begin to understand their baby's needs.   I work hard to ensure that couples feel confident, secure and well informed in my care.

As a postnatal doula I help to guide newborn parents through the early days as a family by offering help and support in your home. At our initial meeting (free of charge) we can work out the exact role that you would like me to fulfil as your doula. However, as a general rule my philosophy is to mother the mother (and father)  showing  how to care for their new baby, be that bathing, changing, settling or just taking care of him/her whilst you get some rest.

Night Doula

As your night doula I provide care over a ten hour session for your baby enabling you to maximise your sleep potential.  I share the same room as your baby and am responsible for his/her care during the night.  Your feeding choices are discussed at the beginning of each night session.  

Testimonials

We had a good relaxed rapport with Alison making it easy to talk about any issues that had come up from colic to how to breastfeed and different positions to help cope with reflux. If she didn't know the answer she would go away and find out for the next visit or if urgent text/call that evening (Nicola, SW18) 

Alison helped me massively. I was less stressed about handling a new baby and it was great not to have to worry about the household chores. Alison also helped me greatly with Baby M which made me feel much more confident (Barbara, SW6) 

I think her support and knowledge about breastfeeding was really invaluable, partly just encouragement to keep going and partly technical help. (Lucy, SW2)  

Alison offered reassurance which was really helpful in the early days of being a parent. Her help around the house was invaluable and really took the pressure off me allowing me to enjoy becoming a Dad rather than just doing all the chores all day. It definitely helped L to relax a bit and gain confidence as a new Mum too. (James SW2) 

Alison is friendly without being  intrusive,  encouraging and supportive. She knows exactly what to do to help without having to ask. I was always happy and refreshed on the days that Alison was here. I would have a doula (Alison) again without doubt. (Jemma) 

References available upon request. For more testimonials please see my website http://www.birthingdoula.co.uk