Hello & welcome, my name is Jay and I am a doula working in Bristol and the surrounding areas, to support mums and families through each unique pregancy, labour and birth and to prepare for the wild and wonderful ride of growing your family! 

Childbirth is a true rite of passage!  A complex event that can be at once joyful and daunting, exciting and confusing and benefits from lots of time, space, strength, courage and love.   

Being heard, respected and supported throughout this amazing, transformative time should be a given! I feel that every woman should be supported to explore giving birth in a way that they can fully own and inhabit, whether completely free of interventions, or with the support of the many medical options on offer, and to follow their intuition to tap into any other elements of birth that they wish; physical, emotional or spiritual. 

As your doula I whole-heartedly support you in whichever direction your journey takes you and provide you with non-judgmental, comprehensive information in order for you to make informed decisions and choices towards your best possible birth and the all-important postpartum period. 

Birth Doula 

During pregnancy, we will arrange two or three preparation sessions, designed for us to get to know each other so we can feel comfortable and where we can explore the fundamentals of physiology alongside who you are and what you need and plan for your optimum and best birth experience.   

My role is to listen to you and signpost information and resources, to create space for you to navigate the options available to you so that you can follow your chosen path with confidence and with independent and objective doula support all the way through your labour, birth and beyond. During labour, I will be with you throughout and provide continuous support, following your cues and holding the space for you to follow your instincts.  We will explore creating the best atmosphere possible for you to do your thing and I can provide that extra pair of hands that can allow you to stay with your self and/or birth partner in the way that you want, and someone to check in with and offer reassurance or ideas to help you follow the birth path that unfolds for you with the maximum possible confidence and enjoyment of this incredible time! 

If things unfold smoothly, fantastic - If the road is longer or more complex and you need extra resourses and help, i'm well versed in many useful techniques and have a fundamental trust in the process and respect for any choice you make along the way.

I can also unobtrusively take photos if you want me to.  I always aim to meet you wherever you are in this extraordinary journey.  After the birth, I will stay with you until you are settled and then arrange to visit you to hear your reflections and make sure everything is going well as you settle into your new family dynamic. 

Please get in touch if any of this resonates -i'd love to meet you! 

Postnatal Doula 

As a Postnatal Doula, my aim is to be there so that Mother and Baby can concentrate on bonding and establishing feeding, listening and signposting so that as a mother you can rest and restore more and worry less. Postnatal work, like every birth, is very individual.   

I will always endeavour to tailor how we work together to meet your specific needs. I will listen to you and can help you to debrief your birth experience, assist with feeding or anything you are unsure about – signposting resources and aiming to increase your enjoyment and confidence, without taking over.    

I am very experienced with infant babies, a trained cook, very practical and calm, can do light housework, shopping, washing or tidying and massage.   I can walk the dog, play with older siblings, or watch the baby so you can sleep.  Often much of this at the same time! 

About me 

I have lived and worked around Bristol and Somerset since 2002, and had my 2 children, Louis (14) and Betty (11) who were both born at home in Bristol.     The invaluable support I had from friends and family and the wonderful midwives who were with me throughout and fulfilled the doula role for me, ignited my passion for this vocation. 

The evidence showing the difference having a doula can make to a family blows me away, and I’m so very honoured to be able to offer this support. I love the outdoors and camping, have travelled widely and now love being a mum and all that it brings! I have experience of supporting water births, home births, birth centre & hospital births, and elective cesaerean birth.   

Labour, birth and early parenthood are unique experiences and I consider it a privilege to support you in your journey whichever choices you make for yourself and your family. 

My continuing personal development 

Cultural competency & Safety with the SMC Community of Cultures - November 2021 Birthrights training - November 2020 Biomechanics for Birth with Molly O'Brien - November 2019 Beyond Rebozo with Nicola Nelson - June 2019 Sands training for Doulas - May 2019 Postnatal Recovery Massage with Sophie Messager & Teddy Brookes (Chiropractor) - February 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Awareness Training - November 2018 Safeguarding Training - September 2018 3 Step Rewind Trauma Release Technique with Mark Harris - April 2018 Loving the Multiple Mamas - Twins Training with Mars Lord - July 2017 Closing the Bones massage with Sophie Messager - January 2017 Gentle Birth Creative Healing Massage with Gowri Motha – Oct 2016 When Survivors give Birth workshop with Penny Simpkin – April 2016 Breatheology Acadamy Training - March 2016 Birthbliss Doula course with Kicki Hansard – Feb 2016 DBS certified Food Safety for catering certified