Hello! My name is Laura. I live in Willesden Green with my husband, two daughters and four cats. Before becoming a mother, I worked for charities supporting prisoners and ex-offenders and then went on to be a primary school teacher for 10 years before choosing to stay at home as a full-time mother.
My journey to becoming a doula started with the birth of my first child, although I didn’t know it then. Becoming a mother was a profound change for me and sparked a keen interest in all things parenting, baby and birth related. By the time I was ready for our second child, I knew I wanted to approach my pregnancy and birth in a different way. The key differences were the support we enlisted and a focus on mindset shift which had such an enormous impact on the wellbeing of our whole family, but most significantly on mine and my daughter’s birth experience.
I’m passionate about supporting women to achieve a positive birth experience which I believe is every woman’s right. Women are amazing and their bodies can do remarkable things. When women are supported in the right way and enabled to feel safe, secure, heard and loved, birth can be an empowering and truly rewarding experience. Whilst I will support a woman wherever she chooses to birth, I am a keen advocate for birthing at home and enjoy exploring this option with the families I work with.
I am a qualified Hypnobirthing Instructor, Breastfeeding Peer Supporter and am trained in the use of both aromatherapy and biomechanics in pregnancy and labour.
I am a safe provider for women of all races, ethnicities and religions. I understand the importance of providing individualised care and the issues that women from minority backgrounds may face in our maternity system. I am Jewish myself and can ensure provision that is free from antisemitism.
The importance of continuous care My experience of being pregnant, giving birth and becoming a parent has shown me that it is made significantly more manageable by having a good network of support and care available throughout.The most significant difference between my own two birth experiences was during my second, where I received continuous, unwavering, caring support throughout by case loading midwives. We had time to build up a rapport, I felt comfortable and safe in their presence and they were both there alongside me for the duration of my birth. In a similar way, having a doula can minimise fear around who will be present at your birth.
Feeling first-hand the difference this kind of support can make has been a huge part of my inspiration to help other women achieve the positive births they are entitled to.
Why hire a doula?
A lot of pressure is placed on our chosen (or default) birth partners. Many of them are undeniably amazing in their roles, but a doula can hold the whole family and assist the partner to better support the mother. Bringing the energy of a supportive team to a birth goes a long way to ensuring the mother gets exactly what she needs. Training & philosophyI completed my doula training and knew immediately this was where I was supposed to be. I believe the experience of a positive birth can look different for everyone. But what is fundamental to having a positive birth experience is that a woman feels empowered, respected, heard and most importantly - safe. And this is where a doula can help. I am committed to supporting my clients make informed choices and truly understand the system which they are choosing to birth within. I can help you navigate these choices and process information during your pregnancy. I can guide you to the latest, most reliable research to help inform your decisions. I can find out what your specific needs and wishes are and will be there throughout to help you achieve them. I will listen to you and I will support your choices and I hope to help you feel excited and positive about your birth.
Postnatal support I don't believe we are designed to raise babies alone and it really does 'take a village'. I love supporting new mothers and understand how overwhelming it can feel in those early days. As a postnatal doula I can provide you with some daily support to help you while you find your feet as new parents. I offer a range of services which can be modified to suit your own particular needs. From practical assistance such as helping you with feeding issues, signposting relevant services in your area, or helping you to safely use a sling or baby carrier, to simple physical assistance such as making you food, doing a load of laundry, walking your dog or holding your baby while you have a shower/bath/nap. I will be there to listen to you, help you understand your new baby and reassure you about any concerns you might have.* * * * *
“I can highly recommend Laura - she is a wonderful doula! I went down the solo route to motherhood, and my initial thoughts about having a doula were solely about having a knowledgeable and supportive birth partner. I came across Laura’s flyer at a local yoga studio, and contacted her very early in my pregnancy. She was very responsive and we had a virtual appointment set up within a week. Laura ran through the different services she offered, my first exposure to the breadth of benefits from having a doula! I immediately warmed to Laura and asked on that very call if she would please be my doula. I opted for the prenatal sessions, the birth and 2 postnatal visits. The first time Laura visited my home, I began to understand that having a doula is so much more than having a birth partner. She came armed with books, teaching me about all the different birth options available to me when I was just planning to do whatever the doctor told me to do and not take drugs if possible. I learned about this whole world of home birthing, risks of common procedures like induction, and natural ways to manage pain experienced during birth. She also helped me navigate the health system and lots of difficult decisions as my pregnancy went past my due date and I was being pressured to induce. Despite my preparing for a home birth, I ended up having an emergency c section. Laura came as soon as she heard and helped me in the recovery room as I breastfed for the first time, and looked after my basic needs like eating, drinking and managing the midwives. She stayed with me until a post natal room was available around midnight and got me settled before leaving me to bond with my little angel. She has since visited me at my home to check on me following my return home, and most recently wore my koala baby for a walk while I left her for the first time to attend a yoga class. My little and I both adore and appreciate Laura and I’d be happy to provide more information to anyone considering asking her to be their doula!”— Sara, March 2023
“We had experienced so much negativity around birth and birth stories. Long before we even got pregnant, we had committed to each other to prepare as much as we could for the arrival of our first child. So much research confirms the positive influence of doulas in the birth process and postpartum recovery — even in birth stories that do not go to plan — that we realised it was not a question of whether we should have one but whether we could find the right person at such late notice and whether our local London hospital’s birth centre would allow an extra partner inside the room during Covid restrictions. We had to wait a few weeks for the hospital to grant permission, and by this time we were pushing the clock. Then Laura entered our lives. Our hypno-birthing instructor at the time recommended her to us, and Laura stepped onto the scene as an indispensable member of the team we wanted to build and surround ourselves with in the final weeks leading up to our daughter’s entry into the world. We sensed she would be the perfect companion within the first few minutes of speaking with her. Everything just clicked, for all of us. There was a definite sense of “before” and “after” that meeting. Before it, giving birth still felt a little patchy, vague, and somewhat (unnecessarily?) grey; after, we felt ready. Things came into view and we got a vision of what birth could be. Final fears and questions were answered. We were even excited to get things going and and step into the unknown, knowing we would have Laura’s calm and reassuring presence with us along for the ride! And it was a ride! Like all good stories, things didn’t go to plan. Laura handled the situation so gracefully, navigating the ups and downs of everyone’s emotions, the surprises, and our own disappointments, and providing the reality checks and reinforcement when we needed them the most. She left every decision ultimately up to us, but we knew our decisions were grounded on solid evidence, experience, compassion, and expertise. Our story would have most likely gone down very differently had Laura not been with us; it was by far the best “baby prep” expense we ever made. If you were to read about this kind of story on paper you would probably have thought it unnerving, but I can honestly say I had so much fun. Of course there were difficult moments, but I always knew I had my team behind me — right there with me — and so I had nothing really to fear. Ultimately, we had too much to celebrate to spend time being discouraged about not having a fully natural birth. The friendship we developed with Laura helped us realise that giving birth is not about actualising or achieving a particular narrative. It’s about careful planning, yes, but it’s also about staying open to the unexpected blessings that come when things don’t go the way you had hoped. For us, looking back, birth was about relationships. We had always expected joy when the baby came out, but we never expected it to show up en route and in the wings, in disguise as new friendships that grow in walking through this kind of season with others. We want Laura to be present at the birth of all our children. You are missing out if you don’t ask her to join you!”— KR, March 2022
“As soon as I became pregnant I knew I wanted to engage a doula to help us navigate my pregnancy and birth, given how the previous one had gone and given that I knew I’d be labelled high risk due to being VBAC, IVF and over 40. But it was not just any doula I wanted! I knew Laura already and had every confidence that she would have the right contacts, knowledge and resources to help us make informed decisions about our care. Plus I knew she would have a similar world view and approach to birth and what birth should be, and that she would do her very best to help me feel empowered and in charge of my body, my birth and my baby. And above all, I knew she would be the voice of reason, calm, compassion and humour when the going got tough - which it did! In the run up, her considered responses to every question made it feel like nothing I asked was ever too much or too silly. She lent me evidence based books and signposted to resources but was careful about not conveying her own opinions or “the answer”. Where she didn’t have the information she made use of her network and invariably was able to direct me to someone who could help. It felt like she was always there for me (ready with a virtual hug at the end of the phone) as things became more and more difficult - including a transfer of hospitals when the booking hospital wouldn’t accept me in their MLU and then when my carefully laid plans for a MLU physiological water birth were being undermined and eventually derailed. On the day itself, although the birth wasn’t what I hoped it would be for various reasons, her presence and support gave me the courage to stand my ground and advocate for myself and thereby avoid the cascade of interventions and achieve the VBAC without drugs and intervention that I so wanted. Having another person who “had my back” and who was 100% unconditionally on my team made all the difference. Although women shouldn’t have to fight the system, having Laura alongside me was invaluable when I did have to. Where Laura really came into her own was in the emotional support she gave me post partum - mostly via phone but also in person. Being able to talk things through and fill in some gaps really helped me start processing some of the grief, shame and anger around the birth and the systemic failures that had occurred. Her non-judgemental empathy helped me feel safe and held and allowed me to begin resolving some of my own feelings of failure. She helped me to start feeling proud and powerful for all the things I had done. In all of this let’s not forget how wonderfully Laura supported my husband too - supporting him, so that he could support me. For us Laura is not just a doula. She’s a Friend, Birth Partner, Prepper, Protector and now Soul Mother to our baby. And our baby will always be aware of the important part Laura played in her arrival and our journey. Thank you, Laura for everything!”— Cogs, July 2021
A huge thank you for your support yesterday, it really meant so much to Amie and I to have you at the birth. Not only that but thank you for all the support you have given us over the pregnancy itself. The stability of being able to call or message you and have you on our team has been immense and has been absolutely key in us getting the birth we wanted, which was fantastic beyond words. I think its extremely important that fathers are on board with any decisions. Having you there was so helpful to both Amie and myself, and if anything it made me feel more supported as a birth partner because I knew you had our wishes in mind and that had I needed to 'fight' with the midwives or anything that you would be on our side. It was an incredible experience for us and I'm so happy you were there. (Max C, January 2020)
“Laura was our doula at the birth of my son in March 2019. It was the most wonderful home birth and everything I’d hoped. Laura kept me feeling incredibly relaxed throughout; I just remember her being present in a comforting non-intrusive way. Laura was an incredible support in the lead up to the birth too, and I know that even if things hadn’t “gone to plan” she would have made sure my birth was a positive experience, and that my child entered this world as calmly and beautifully as possible. She is passionate about helping people achieve the type of birth they hope for, and is flexible in the way she can support you. I would highly recommend her. Laura was a frequent source of emotional support prior to labour. I often discussed my birth choices with her and shared anxieties and concerns I had over the labour. She pointed me towards places I could find relevant information and reminded me of my birthrights. Laura is open and flexible as to how she will support each individual or couple, and takes time to listen and reflect upon what she has heard; how she can help; or what might be useful. She is empathetic towards previous birthing experiences, or other experiences/anxieties that are shared with her. I found her extremely patient, nurturing and calming before, during and after my labour. I genuinely don’t feel the birth could have gone better both physically, emotionally and practically and Laura was crucial in enabling this – it simply wouldn’t have worked without her.” (Rebecca B) ‘Throughout both my pregnancies, Laura was a constant source of information and comfort, particularly when I had my first child and things were new and scary. Laura has the most kind and generous heart and cares deeply for those around her. She is a champion of women and mothers and raises them on high so that they can give and be their best. I couldn’t have gone through my pregnancies without Laura’s help. She gave me strength, knowledge and empowered me to believe that I could have the birth I wanted. Without her, I have no doubt in my mind that both my labours would have been terrifying ordeals where I felt I had no control. To this day, I know that I will always have Laura’s support and for that, I am extremely thankful.’ (Jaye C)
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