India Elyn

About Me

Hello

All women deserve the birth of their dreams. I shall walk alongside you throughout your journey of birth and beyond, offering the support that is right for you and your family. Birth is a sacred window of time, where you are called to root deeply into your being and find the strength to bring your baby into the world. My belief in your ability to birth your baby and trust in your body to do as female bodies have done since the beginning of time, is central to my work as a doula.

I believe that all women hold an innate birthing wisdom in their bodies,  when a birthing woman is surrounded by those who trust her capacity to birth and who believe she is capable of birthing in her power, then she is likely to feel empowered at all stages of birth.

I have a background in herbal medicine, flower essences, ceremony, shamanic work and holistic massage.

I can offer mother blessings before the birth, and closing the bones ceremony at any point post birth.

Birth

I shall spend our time together before the birth listening to your hopes, wishes, fears and dreams. Using art as a tool to support this process if necessary. We shall craft a birth preparation plan that gives you all the confidence you need. I can attend any classes or appointments should you need extra support.

I shall offer tools for you and your partner to support the process of labour, and ways that to support a physiological birth.

I shall walk by your side at all stages of the birth no matter how it unfolds. I shall be a calm and grounded presence throughout, listening to you always and offer my voice as an advocate for your wishes should that be needed. I will support any partners/family member or other children who are present.

Post-Partum

‘Mothering the mother’ is the ancient way of tending to the mother after birth. I shall honour this time of post- birth as a sacred and special time for you, your baby and your family. My support will ensure that you feel nourrished and held during the tender days and weeks following the birth.

This support could involve cooking delicious nourrishing meals for you and your family, light house work, simply listening to all that may be present for you, taking the dog for walk, holding the baby so you can have a bath, massaging your womb with warm oil and wrapping your belly with cloth to support your body to gently close again.

Training

I trained with Kaz at Continuum Doulas which was a great comprehensive training around all aspects of birth and post-partum and offered a new model of doula work that includes up to 6 pre-birth visits and 6 post-partum visits. This offers women and their families an extended period of support before and after birth. Honouring the way it used to be for all women in communities, where the birthkeeper provided continuous support for a lengthy period of time to ensure that the mother was never alone and had all the care she needed.

As a birth and post-natal doula I offer:

• An initial free meet up, where we can get to know each other and gives you time to decide if I am the right doula for you.
• At least 3 in person visits pre-birth, building a relationship with the family and creating a birth plan, attending any appointments, discussing hopes,fears and dreams and anything else which feels relevant for that family.
• I shall be on call 24/7 from 37 weeks.
• I offer 3- 6 post-natal visits. The first one being within 24 hours of the birth and the subsequent ones being as needed by the family.

‘ I usually claim that pregnant women should not read books about pregnancy and birth. Their time is too precious. They should, rather, watch the moon and sing to their baby in the womb’. Michel Odent.

I look forward to connecting and walking this path alongside you,

India x