Covering: Frimley Park Hospital,
Royal Surrey
Royal Berkshire
Wexham Park Hospital
Basingstoke Hospital
and beyond!

Hello, and thank you for stopping by. If you are pregnant, Congratulations to you!

What makes you feel at ease, happy, safe, and secure? This is a worthy exercise, as it is one of the best ways to see if, as your Doula, I will suit you. Whether you feel that we"click" together is just as important.
You (and your partner ) will undoubtedly grow in strength and knowledge during your pregnancy and are likely to birth your child with more power than you'd perhaps ever imagined. This, in turn, will provide you with a solid foundation as you become a parent.

If making you feel at ease, happy, safe, strong, and secure is essential to you, we will do everything possible to make this happen for you and your partner.

I embarked on my journey as a Doula after the birth of my gorgeous and incredible daughter! I had chosen my best friend to attend both births alongside my husband. She provided us with invaluable support on both occasions, which, even today, I still cannot put a value on. There is no way to quantify the comfort and knowledge she provided us. In a world that can be pressurised and where expectations are high, I can help you realise your choices—focus on what is achievable and how your wishes can be translated into reality for your upcoming birth.
If you need me to assist you both in advocating for your choices, I will guide you and help you find your voice. I will listen to you and ensure that you are heard. As a Doula, I refer to this as " holding your space". I will maintain sufficient emotional distance from any situations that may arise, ensuring that choices are presented clearly and objectively.
My passion for birth allows me to believe all women deserve the best birth. The sense of empowerment you can achieve from birth, regardless of the mode of birth, must never be underestimated. It will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Please get in touch with me regarding my fee as a recognised birth and postnatal Doula. If you are interested in Hypnobirthing, I can offer this as a qualified KG Hypnobirthing instructor. Please visit - Hypnobirthing. All women possess the power within themselves to achieve the best possible birth outcome, given the right environment and support. My mantra is that "our bodies are meant to do this", and I genuinely believe that if you can remove any worries or fears you may be holding onto, you will be in a better position to achieve a positive birthing experience.

With me as your Doula, fear becomes manageable, reduced, and even obsolete. I will support you with all my heart so you can one day say, "I did it!"

Extracts from my full testimonials, as well as additional information, are available on my website.
Erika was a fantastic source of comfort during my labour. She has a gift that can not be put into words. Erika was so calming. Whenever I was anxious, she was always supportive and had many ideas to help me cope with my anxieties.

Wow, where to begin? Erika was a positive and calming presence for our labour...... We decided to have Erika as our Doula after a Positive Birth Meeting. I found her very reassuring—for the first time, I felt more relaxed. Erika brought a lot of positive energy and expertise into the labour process and helped us calmly deal with labour; she championed my desire to have an intervention-free birth, helping to negotiate with consultants and hospital staff. Furthermore, she always helped us focus on the positives - having someone I trust during labour was invaluable....as the hospital midwife panicked about not being able to see the baby, Erika was already there with a birth mirror. She was so well prepared.........

Come and visit my website at Erika Townend Birth, where you can find more information about me and the options I offer. I trained under the guidance of the renowned Michel Odent and Liliana Hammers at Paramana Doula in London and have completed several CPD courses.
-Birth Crisis workshop with Sheila Kitzinger
-MBE Waterbirth Workshop with Liz Nightengale, Independent Midwife
-Practical skills to prevent and resolve malpresentation with Magical Birth
-When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding & Healing the Effects of Early Trauma on Childbearing Women - Penny Simkin
-Katharine Greaves Hypnobirthing Teaching
-Birth of Essence Birth Photography Workshop with Birth Becomes You
-Videography Workshop with Birth Becomes You
-Through the Dark Lens with AbuelaDoulas (Mars Lord and ASAM)

I also currently work with Frimley Trust, collaborating on maternity workstreams as co-lead for the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership. This role enables me to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of birth, and I have had the opportunity to complete numerous CPD courses, including those focused on cultural competency.
 
I have experience in:
-Gestational Diabetes in pregnancy and at birth.
-Rhesus-negative blood groups
-Induction
-NICU
-Labouring at home
-Supported births both at home
-Supported births in hospitals
-Supported use of gas & air, Pethidine, Epidurals
-Supported VBAC (Vaginal birth after Caesarean)
-Supported  C-sections, both elective and emergency sections

This has allowed me to understand the choices and some of the possible situations that could arise during labour and how to support you best when options are presented.

I manage several Facebook and Instagram pages where I frequently post interesting articles related to birth. Please pop by and take a look.
http://www.facebook.com/Erika.townend
https://www.instagram.com/erikatownendbirth/

My mobile number is 07942931612. Let's chat♥ Erika