-
Birth (Recognised since December 2016)
Lives in: Barnstaple EX31
Local info and availability:
North Devon
North Cornwall
Other services:
COVID-19 UPDATE 11/01/2022 At the present time restrictions on birth support remain in place at North Devon District Hospital, so regrettably, this would prevent me from attending your hospital birth. However, the situation is constantly changing with regular updates on hospital attendance of birth partners, so do please get in touch for a chat if you are interested in accessing my birth support, and we will take it from there! Email me on hillypen@hotmail.com
Also offered:
Birth reflection service. Stillbirth support, and support to those who have experienced miscarriage. For more details about my antenatal, birth and postnatal support services please see my website www.devondoula.com
How to contact Hilary:
Use the Contact form below or:
http://devondoula.com
hillypen@hotmail.com
07714 307066
About Me
Hi, I am delighted to meet you! I believe we know how to birth our babies; our bodies hold the ‘birthing wisdom’. Giving birth is a transformative experience, a deeply spiritual experience for many of us. Birth can be intensely joyful, and empowering, and it has been shown that where you have a constant companion throughout labour and birth, someone who is there for you first and foremost, such as a doula, this can lead to better outcomes for both you and your baby (http://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/).
So this is where I come in; my intention is to enable you (and your partner) to make informed choices about your options in labour to achieve a positive birth experience for you and your baby. I can stay with you throughout your labour and the birth, protecting your birthing space and supporting you in your birth choices. I will encourage you to have skin-to-skin and optimal (delayed) cord-clamping after your baby is born, to maximise the physiological benefits to you and your baby and to enhance your opportunities for bonding. I support you after your baby is born, particularly with the first breast/chest-feed, and I protect your emotional and mental wellbeing as parents in the early days of life with a new baby.
But the details are up to you – you know what you want and need; I am happy to provide bespoke support to you (and your partner) through your pregnancy, labour, and birth, and after your baby is born. I use my knowledge and experience to encourage and support you on your journey to parenthood, and beyond.
I am committed to the highest standards of research-evidence-based practice, and protecting rights in childbirth. I am passionate about promoting and protecting opportunities for physiological birth. I have many years of life experience to bring to my clients, in addition to my growing knowledge and understanding of what it means to ‘hold space’ for birth. I accompany you on your journey, whilst enabling and encouraging you to find your own unique path to parenthood. I offer knowledge and experience, and I can provide support and nurturing to you and your new family.
I completed the Paramana Doula course in January 2014. I regularly update my knowledge and experience through (online) training, and reading and researching the latest information on labour, birth and supporting parents and babies through the Fourth Trimester. Since December 2016 I am a ‘recognised’ birth doula. I invite you to explore my website, where you can read more about me and the range of support I offer (www.devondoula.com). I look forward to meeting you!
