Bryony Rastrick

About Me

First, a huge congratulations on your pregnancy or in your new journey as a mummy!
It’s great to know you are thinking of using a doula!

My name is Bryony, and I am a mother of one, a beautiful 16-month-old girl. I am from a very large family which makes it very normal for me to either be around pregnant women or newborn babies often.

I believe that every women should have a positive birth experience, no matter how that looks to them individually and having the support of a doula will increase the chances of that happening.

My interest was sparked in all thing’s pregnancy, birth and beyond when I was going through my own pregnancy, birth and feeding journey. I felt that the NHS was and still is really lacking the emotional and practical support mothers need! I am passionate about women being able to make their own choices and it be based on non-bias information and as a doula it would be extremely important to me to advocate for you.

Although it isn’t possible to guarantee you the perfect birth or the greatest transition into motherhood, I will be here listening to you and provide the emotional and practical care that you require, my support will be tailored to your specific needs.

I have recently completed my doula training with The Doula Training Foundation (Doula UK – accredited course provider) and along with my own life experiences, I feel equipped to be able to support families with antenatal, birth and postnatal support.

The support which I offer includes antenatal session which will be tailored to your own needs and will be carried out in your home setting to make you feel more comfortable. Frequent contact through pregnancy to see how you are getting on and to offer helpful tips.

At a birth I will be hands on and will make sure your birth space is set up as you wished and that if possible and relevant that all your birth preferences are being followed, even if the birth goes off track, there is always some preferences we can use to make sure you are still in control.

I will also be offering postnatal support which again will be specific to your own needs, but may include emotional support, feeding support, night support (If you feel your sleep is too important to miss!), helping with baby, helping with light house duties. Anything that I can do to help ease your transition into motherhood I will be happy to do (apart from Ironing!).

I have breastfed and still do breastfeed my daughter and I am a breastfeeding peer supporter at my local hospital, I volunteer once a week and help mum’s who have not long given birth to start there breastfeeding journeys. I have been given full training on how to support a breastfeeding mother in any stage of feeding and this will be included in my postnatal services, if required. I will also be happy to support other feeding choices as I will support you with any choice you make, I do have experience with bottle and formula feeding as well and have been trained on pace feeding.

I have joined the MVP (Maternity Voices Partnership) at my local NHS trust hospital with a view to make maternity services better in my local area.

• The Doula Training Foundation – June 2024
• Breastfeeding Peer Support – CHFT – April 2024