When I was pregnant with my first child, I started to question common beliefs and practices in pregnancy, childbirth and (early) parenting, which led me to adopt an approach as natural as possible. I see my role as a doula to support you to birth and parent your way, with encouragement and without judgement. I am not here to advise or draw conclusions. What I will do is assist you to explore information, evidence and options so you can make informed decisions which are right for you and your baby. I believe that childbirth is a natural process, not a disaster waiting to happen - women have been giving birth since the beginning of time.

What I offer I offer birth preparation for women and couples, support during labour and birth as well as postnatal support based on your individual experiences and aspirations. This includes developing an understanding of the natural processes in labour and birth, transforming fears and promoting truly informed, evidence-based decisions, weighing up the reasons for different choices, their realities, risks and benefits as well as any alternative options. I do not believe that one size fits all in pregnancy, birth and early parenting. A choice is a good choice only when it feels right to you and your baby. I am committed to supporting families in whichever choices they make - be it a natural home birth or elective cesarean section - whilst ensuring they have access to evidence-based, unbiased information and are well-supported and not pressured into any decisions. I have experience of supporting natural home and hospital births, water births, hypnobirthing, of working with families who had their labour induced for various reasons, of VBACs (vaginal births after cesarean) as well as cesarean sections. In my postnatal work, my emphasis lies on promoting conscious and responsive parenting practices which are informed by evolutionary biology, infant psychology and brain development research, whilst ensuring the needs of the entire family are met. I have experience of supporting families through the tragedy of baby loss.

Qualifications I am a qualified holistic childbirth educator, birth and postnatal doula and trained with Birthing Wisdom in 2014. I have trained in applying myofascial release and the use of the rebozo. I am a qualified and practicing breastfeeding peer supporter with Action for Children; providing mother-to-mother support and information to breastfeeding mothers and mothers-to-be who are interested in breastfeeding. I hold a Certificate in Counselling awarded by the Iron Mill Institute (BACP accredited). I hold an advanced DBS disclosure. References available on request.