Hi, my name is Beverley and I am an experienced birth and postnatal doula, living in Banstead, Surrey and working within a 20-mile radius of my home. Having volunteered with the NCT for several years I decided, in 2012, to progress my involvement and train as a doula. I became a recognised birth doula in 2014, and have over a decade of experience supporting people in the time surrounding birth. In 2017 I trained as a postnatal doula, becoming recognised in 2019 and going on to support many families through the excitement and tears that a new addition to the family can bring.

As well as an experienced birth and postnatal doula, I am also a Mindful Mamma hypnobirthing instructor, Holistic infant sleep coach, Brazelton newborn baby observation practitioner, and a NCT Breastfeeding counsellor. I am therefore able to offer a comprehensive service to the families I work with, giving evidence based support on the most commonly worried about topics.

I have undertaken training to offer trauma-informed care in the perinatal period, including supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse, giving birth after birth trauma, postnatal depression and stillbirth and neonatal death (SANDS). I have experience supporting women with anxiety and primary and secondary tokophobia. I also have completed additional training to support pregnancy and birth with an eating disorder.

Choosing a doula

Choosing to have a doula, means choosing to have someone with experience, knowledge and training by your side throughout your pregnancy, birth and baby’s early days, to navigate through the ups and downs, twists and turns and highs and lows with you. To share the laughter and joy as well as the tears. I believe that if you have an abundance of support, love and care, you will better be able to engage with your body and mind’s ability to labour, birth and care for your new baby. Finding the courage and strength to make decisions that might become necessary along the way to best suit the needs of you and your baby. The doula services I offer aim to provide the additional support and care you need to make your birth and postnatal experience the most empowering, positive one possible. I will walk with you on your journey towards meeting your baby, and nurture and support you during those precious first months as you make the transition into parenthood, getting to know your new baby and yourself as parents.

Birth Doula

Pregnancy, labour, and birth are such an important time in the life of a family. Your experiences and the way you are cared for really matter, and can have an impact, either positive or negative, on your family for the rest of your life. I will endeavour to offer you the support and care you need to make your birth experience the most empowering, positive one possible. We will meet a minimum of four times before the birth. Spending time preparing emotionally and physically for a positive birth.  If you would like to learn about hypnobirthing, then we will have a couple of additional sessions online. Together we will plan a beautiful birth environment, where you can feel safe and relaxed, wherever you are to have your baby. We will also prepare a birth plan, talking through what you want/don’t want, what options are available and questions to ask. Finally, we will learn and practise some practical skills such as breathing, massage, positioning, visualisation, hypnobirthing, mindfulness, and relaxation. I will come to you once labour begins, my focus to support you to feel calm, in control and comfortable, and help you to use the coping techniques we have practised together. I would not be there to tell you what to do, but to provide the props, space, information, and courage to make decisions that are right for you, your baby and your family. I will advocate for you, making sure your birth plans are honoured and your voice heard. I will stay with you until after your baby is born, and you are settled, and also visit you postnatally. I aim to ensure your chosen partner feels prepared for their role. Giving them space to discuss their hopes, feelings, and worries. I would not take over their role but be there to support them as needed, allowing them to relax and enjoy the birth. If you do not plan to have a partner with you, then I can take on this role.

Postnatal Doula

My role as a postnatal doula is to nurture and support you, and other member's of your family during the precious first months, as you make the transition into parenthood, getting to know your new baby and yourself as parents. The first three months post-birth are known as the fourth trimester (pregnancy making up the other three). It is a period of huge change and development in the newborn, as they adjust to life outside the womb, and is also a time of great change and development in your life as you get to know your baby and yourself as parents. I believe the fourth trimester (the first three months after birth) should be a time when you are well supported, both emotionally and practically, allowing you to adjust, at your own pace, to life with a newborn. You should not be made to feel guilty or incapable if you need help –love and assistance should be something that everyone has available to them, allowing you to grow in confidence in your new role. I aim to offer the loving support you need in my role as a postnatal doula. I love my job, and have a real passion for supporting families through this important and exciting period of transition. Please have a look through my website to find out a little more about me, and if there is anything else you would like to know, then I would be happy to be in contact via phone or email.