After my undergraduate studies, I completed an MA in Art History at the Courtauld Institute. Shortly afterwards , I became pregnant with my first child. Knowing very little about birth and babies, I was fortunate enough to come across Janet Balaskas and the Active Birth Centre. I found that the confidence and knowledge gained from the Active Birth Centre ethos formed the basis for the way in which I was able to cope with the enormously powerful experience which is labour and birth. Instead of pursuing an Art History career I felt compelled to share with others the wonderfully empowering benefits of a birth without fear. I had three more children over the next couple of years and came to realise just how important the moment of birth is for a woman and her child. I trained with Janet Balaskas to become an Associate of the Active Birth Centre. As an Active Birth Teacher I frequently attended births at the requests of women who attended my yoga classes. Following on from these experiences, I came to appreciate the invaluable contribution of a sentient birth companion in the creation of a calm, constant, mother centred birth space. In such spaces a woman can easily access all the strength and courage she needs to birth her baby.I observed that when a woman is able to freely focus all her energies on being at one with the birth process, it is common for her to feel joyful, proud of her achievements, no matter what form the birth takes. I subsequently formailised my doula training with Michel Odent whom I had initially met through my Active Birth studies. copyright Gillian Nevin 2010 What takes place during the birth of our babies has a profound and lasting effect upon the way in which we feel about ourselves as women. Most women have a body which is perfectly designed not only to grow her baby, but also, to birth her baby. Society does not offer adequate role models for expectant mothers. We do not see babies being born, we seldom observe breastfeeding at close hand and we do not see pregnant women being especially cared for and nourished by the environment in which we find ourselves. Apart from the abundant theoretical knowledge which we glean from books we have little or no practical insight into this period in our life as a mature woman. In the animal world, lionesses for example, mothers, sisters and daughters work together, instinctively pooling their individual knowledge and experience to survive against enormous odds. As a doula, I am with you, in the deepest possible sense. I do not tell you how to give birth. I simply remind you that you are a woman, a being to whom giving birth is a normal event, something well within her capabilities, and not something to fear. As a doula, I am doing something which has been done for centuries. I am a woman, experienced in birth, there to hold you, to help make your birth space safe. Birth is an organic process, rooted in the earth, developing instinctively and a unique creation directly dependant upon the energies of the mother. The woman is in control, she is the one doing, and as Michel Odent notes, the best carers are simply present in the wings. The quiet reassurance and understanding offered by a doula to the mother in labour has a noticeable effect on not only the way in which the birth unfolds, but, perhaps more significantly on the way in which the woman feels about her birth. As a birth doula, I offer a service which I design around each particular woman and her specific needs. A minimum of two visits before and two visits after the birth are included in all my doula services. I offer a full birth preparation workshop to the woman and her partner at a reduced price and on a one to one basis should they prefer. I will stay with you throughout your labour and leave only once you have birthed your baby and are comfortable for me to do so. Copyright Gillian Nevin 2010 I am a qualified Active Birth Teacher I trained with Michel Odent and Lilliana Lammers in 2005 I trained with Pam England completing the workshop "Birth as a Hero's Journey' I trained with Janet Balaskas to teach Preparation for Labour and Birth to Couples I trained with Birthlight in Cambridge to teach Preparation for Birth to couples I am a qualified Baby Massage Instructor and trained with Peter Walker I am a qualified Birth Art Cafe Mentor and trained with Tamara Donn I am trained to teach the Active Birth Centre course for Postnatal Yoga with your Baby Other trainings include: Anusara Yoga Immersions with Bridget Woods Kramer, Breath work with Sandra Sabatini, Babiesknow at Viveka with Yehudi Gordon, Optimal Foetal Positioning with Jean Sutton , SANDS one day course. I have attended births in hospital, birthing centres and at home. I have been present at births using pools, both at home and in a hospital setting, Caesarian births, as well as births using some form of medical intervention. I am very happy and comfortable attending a woman in whatever space is needed to birth her baby safely.