Hilary Pengelly

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/).

My virtual doula support service offer: 

I am experienced in offering virtual doula support to couples, both antenatally and postnatally. As your doula my intention is to become a trusted presence, to hold ‘virtual space’ for you, sharing my knowledge and experience with you in our work together 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.

Through our work together during your pregnancy I share information with you about the importance to you and your baby of protecting physiological birth, and how this contributes to establishing the infant microbiome; for example encouraging 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.

As far as practically possible, I will maintain virtual contact with you through labour, supporting you in upholding your choices, and representing your wishes to your birthing team.

I offer timely virtual support after your baby is born, and once you return home, and signpost you to resources and further support with feeding. I am a trusted presence in our virtual space, offering you and your partner an opportunity to share your anxieties about surviving the early days of life with a new baby without fear of judgement.

But the details are up to you – you know what you want and need; I am happy to provide bespoke virtual support to you (and your partner) through your pregnancy, labour, and birth and after your baby is born. I share my knowledge and experience with you on your journey to parenthood, and beyond.

I also offer a range of other virtual support services which can be tailored to meet your particular needs, so please contact me for a chat. I am happy to arrange a no-obligation video call to explore your particular concerns and decide if we can work together.

About me:

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. I work closely with doula colleagues, both virtually and in-person whenever possible.

I am committed to the highest standards of research-evidence-based practice, and protecting your rights in childbirth. I am passionate about promoting and protecting opportunities for physiological birth. I began my work as a doula in 2014, and since December 2016 I am a ‘recognised’ birth doula with Doula UK. I have a wealth of experience to share, and my growing knowledge and understanding of what it means to ‘hold virtual space’ for you has developed over the past three years of working through the Corona Virus pandemic, and beyond.

I love working in this way, and my clients seem to love receiving my support in this way too. But if you aren’t sure if virtual doula support is for you, please check out my website where you can read testimonials from former doula clients of mine whom I have served virtually.

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!