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Birth (Recognised since February 2020)
Lives in: Stroud GL5
Local info and availability:
I live in Stroud and cover the local area including Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stonehouse, Nailsworth, Dursley, Tetbury and surrounding villages.
Other services:
Yoga for Pregnancy - Mother & Baby Yoga - NCT & Blossom Antenatal Teacher - Mother Blessing celebrant - TENS - Birth Pool - Birth Balls - Birth & Parenting books
How to contact Gillian:
Use the Contact form below or:
http://www.gilliantenatal.org
gillian.m.holmes@icloud.com
07957384780
About Me
“You were such a valuable and significant presence in what was the most transformative, powerful and spiritual experience of my life! …it was truly perfect and healing… you have such a warm presence that made me feel calm and comforted in the birth” – SR
Hi, I’m Gillian. If you’re looking for a supportive, calm and confident doula to be part of your birth journey, I’d love to hear from you! I am passionate about helping you to find your own inner strength in pregnancy and achieve a positive birth outcome.
“I would highly recommend Gillian as a doula. She is very dedicated, knows her stuff, has a very serene presence and makes you feel in control in any situation” – ST
I will bring a calm, relaxed and joyous presence to your labour environment, helping to make your birth the magical, empowering event it should be. I’ve been a birth worker for many years: I’m a National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and Blossom Antenatal teacher – so I know the theory; a Pregnancy Yoga instructor – so I know the practice; I’ve worked at Stroud Midwifery Unit as a Maternity Care Assistant – so I know the reality and I’m a mum of three – so I know the feeling! My aim is to make you feel safe, supported, listened to and held, in order for you to achieve your best birth experience. I love supporting women and birthing people throughout different pregnancy and birth situations including home and hospital births in water and on land, induction – or declining induction – and caesarean. I can be with you if you are by yourself, or support both you and your partner. I, and the people I work with, thrive on the connection that is formed between us –
“Gillian brought the positivity to my birth. Her calm and smiling presence kept the mood serene. She consistently gave me encouragement and seemed to know intuitively what I needed. Her support enabled me to have the birth I had hoped for, a natural home birth” – EP
I teach Yoga for Pregnancy and Baby Yoga as I am a huge believer in the benefits of yoga for people throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond. I also run occasional Couples Yoga Birth Workshops and there’s a 50% discount for doula clients on all classes and workshops. For more information on either please see www.bookwhen.com/birthandbeyondcotswolds
“As soon as I knew Gillian was on board I felt more relaxed” – JL
I am a Stroud Maternity Matters volunteer, organising birth pool hire locally and I sit on Gloucestershire Maternity Voices Partnership committee. Between 2017 – 19 I worked with photographer Emilie Sandy to produce The Yoga Mum Project .
“Gillian worked well simultaneously with my partner to support me emotionally & practically. She is knowledgeable, approachable, caring & thoughtful; the perfect doula!”- DS
I have an extensive library of books on birth and parenting which you are welcome to borrow, I can loan you a TENS machine and supply a pool if you’re having a home water birth. For more about me see my website
“Gillian is a very kind and empathetic fellow mother whom you feel you can trust to have your best interests at heart. She is a very good listener and very respectful of your views and wishes” – LA
A little bit about my background… After going to drama school in London, I quickly gave up any ambition to tread the boards and went to work for Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace for many years, before having my first baby and becoming fascinated by the processes of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood. Having another baby and supporting a friend in labour as an informal doula confirmed for me that I had to come home to the Cotswolds and immerse myself fully in the birth world, becoming a NCT antenatal teacher in 2008. During my training I put the theory into practice by birthing baby number three at home in water on the night of a full moon..! Subsequently I went on to work at Stroud Maternity Unit as a Maternity Care Assistant. There I saw how hard NHS midwives work and developed a huge respect for them – whilst also realising that working outside of the system was the right place for me, where I could be fully focused on each unique individual growing new life and giving birth.
I look forward to hearing from you.
“Thank you for being with us in one of our lives’ most important moments. We couldn’t have wished for a better support” – IC
“I felt supported, safe and positive, so thank you.” – LG
Training and CPD courses:
Nurturing Birth course for Birth and Postnatal Doulas 2018-19
Doula UK recognition 2019
NCT Antenatal Teacher since 2008
Yoga for Pregnancy practitioner since 2011
Mother & Baby Yoga practitioner since 2015
Microbiome and Birth & Breast-feeding Workshop 2018
Twins & Multiples online module 2019
LGBT+ Workshop with The Queer Birth Club 2020
Mother Blessing workshop with Emma Ashworth 2020
‘Becoming Mothers’ University of York webinars on Perinatal Mental & Physical Health 2020
Cultural Competency Workshop with Abuela’s Red Tent 2021
‘Perinatal Mental Health in Fathers’ – University of Surrey webinar 2021
Human Rights in Maternity Care – Birthrights workshop 2021
Biomechanics of Birth – Molly O’Brien, Optimal Birth 2021
Neurodiversity awareness – Ruth Jenks, NCT 2022
Working with Grief & Trauma – Sam Robb-King, NCT 2022
Safeguarding Adults and Children with Astute Training 2022
Biomechanics of Birth update – Molly O’Brien, Optimal Birth 2022
