Anne Huygens

About Me

Hi, my name is Anne.  As a postnatal doula and breastfeeding counsellor, my aim is to stack the odds in your favour for you to have a positive and healthy transition into motherhood.  I want to be there for you as you enter this new stage in your life, and give you time, care, information and practical help to recover from birth.  I hope to support you to find your own path and inner power!

What does that all look like?

It’s easy, I will work around what your needs are during that all-important recovery time after birth, while you get acquainted with this Whole New Life.  Whether you:

• need to share your story and emotions around birth and your new role as a mother with someone who will listen without judging;
• could use support with feeding and caring for your baby;
• have any questions about your physical recovery or want to find out about different healing or relaxing techniques;
• want to discuss how to deal with feelings of anxiety or depression;
• need someone to fill your fridge, bring you a cuppa or prepare regular wholesome family meals;
• have a toddler who could use some supervised outdoor exercise while you nap with your baby;
• desperately want a shower while someone keeps an eye on your baby;
• would like someone to take charge of some general house tidying or washing;
• … or all of the above and more;

I can be that person for you and am happy to discuss with you what will help you most to get the rest and care you need, in order to feel like your best self and transfer those positive vibes to your little one.

It may sound like a luxury, but it really isn’t! We are not meant to do this alone and every mother deserves to have this support within reach, for her own well-being, that of her baby, her future self, her family, and, yes, I believe ultimately… our whole society! It really is just that important.

If you think you might like me to be your postnatal doula, we can have a chat to see if we are a good match and to discuss your vision for your postnatal period.
Whatever your goal is, mine is to help you achieve it!

I offer different packages of support as well as individual breastfeeding support drop-ins, and am always happy to discuss your individual needs, and how I can support you best. Every mother, every baby and every family are different, and I will always aim to be flexible to suit your needs. So let’s talk!
Please contact me for a free, non-committal conversation either by phone, via video-call or in person.

Here is some background information about me:

I live in Southampton and am a mama of two amazing children, born in 2011 and 2013. I enjoy practicing yoga and connecting with nature while cycling in the gorgeous New Forest nearby.

Giving birth, breastfeeding and mothering my babies has completely transformed the way I look at life and what I hope to achieve for myself. With every tiny step my babies took, I, as a mother, have found my own path and learnt to trust my instincts and what feels right to me. Breastfeeding, gentle attachment parenting, baby-wearing, signing with my babies and (as they became more verbal) communication techniques such as Non-Violent Communication, have all played an important part on my journey and I am always happy to share what I have learnt with those who are interested in finding out more.

Through my volunteer work as a breastfeeding counsellor, which I started in Southampton in 2014, I have discovered the joy of supporting other mothers to find their own voice and discover what works for them. Time after time, I have experienced that providing mothers with a non-judgmental listening ear as well as access to research based information that allows them to make informed decisions, will always result in the same outcome: mothers growing in confidence with each challenge having a baby brings. I firmly believe in empowering mothers this way!

In 2020 I embarked on a new adventure and started a postnatal doula training course, to add a new dimension to the support I feel I can offer.
As a postnatal doula, I bring my listening and communication skills, my passion for and experience with breastfeeding and gentle parenting techniques, and my love for cooking.

My ultimate goal as a doula is this: a mother who feels satisfied with her postpartum experience and has the odds stacked in her favour to continue on a positive, confident parenting journey, and to reach the goals she sets for herself along the way.
This doesn’t just magically happen though: we’re really not supposed to just bounce back after birth, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Physical recovery as well as the mental and emotional transition into motherhood take time and need to be invested in.
I believe the care a new mother receives and the attention that is given to her general well-being in the early weeks, can have a life-long impact on her over-all health and mothering experience.
So to me, it definitely feels like an honour to provide that support and make that difference in someone’s life. Next to being a mother, being a doula is the best job in the world!