I am married with five lovely grown-up children and seven gorgeous grandchildren. I am a qualified infant teacher. I taught until my first baby came along and subsequently became a supervisor at the local playgroup, where I was involved for many years. I took a change in direction and trained to teach E.S.O.L. (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Literacy. I was an Adult Education tutor for about ten years after which I taught for six years on a voluntary basis to residents and lately to asylum seekers. I have been very fortunate to have given birth to all my children naturally and consider each one as an amazing miracle. I believe passionately in the ability of a woman to birth her baby. Whilst there is a place for medical interventions, most women, with loving support and care, can give birth without them. I became a doula because, after having the privilege of being at the birth of one of my grandchildren, the midwife asked me whether I had thought of becoming a doula. Because I wanted to help other women to have a positive birth experience and be able to look back on it as being a fulfilling, joyful memory I decided in 2007 to train to become a birth and postnatal doula. My calm presence in the birthing room can be an asset to you as you labour and birth your baby. I bring with me knowledge and experience gathered over the years as a doula, having attended nearly attending over 50 births and also as a mum and grandmother. My calm presence in the birthing room can be an asset to you as you labour and birth your baby. I can provide you with the knowledge and information to help you navigate your way through all the decisions and choices that you are faced with along your journey to parenthood. I am very well informed about women's choice and rights in childbirth.
The Birth Package: My service includes an initial free consultation to talk about my services, answer questions and for you to decide whether you want to employ me, as having a doula is such an individual choice. I have a contract, which we will both sign, I am police checked and am insured. I will meet with you and your partner for two antenatal sessions to get to know you both in order to build a good relationship with understanding and trust and to ensure I know your plans and requirements for labour. I will prepare you for the birth of your baby. From my knowledge I will familiarise you of your birth choices so you are able to make informed decisions. I will give you different tools you can use as pain management tools through your labour and birth, and help you write your birth plan as well help you understand the physiology of birth and the importance of oxytocin, to name but a few topics we can look at during these sessions. I will endeavour to help you feel empowered to birth your baby in the way you have planned and will respect all you decisions and help and support you to abide by them. You can contact me at any time with questions or worries and I will help you get the information you need. I will be on call for you 24 hours a day for two weeks either side of your due date so that you can call me as soon as you are in labour. I have backup if for some reason I am unable to reach you. I will stay with you throughout labour, however long, providing you with nurturing, continuous support and reassurance, bringing empathy and compassion into the birth room. I am concerned for your practical, emotional and spiritual needs. I can also be a support to your partner, if necessary, and we will work together as a team to enable you to feel nurtured and cared for. I will be a calm presence in the birth room quietly getting on with supporting you in any way that you need it. I will remain with you until after the birth of your baby to ensure you are comfortable with your new baby and your baby has had his first feed. I will help you have a bath or shower if you feel this would be helpful. After the birth I will make two postnatal visits to debrief the birth with you, give you any emotional and practical support you may need. I can help with baby care, do light housework and be a listening ear.
I also offer 1 to 1 antenatal sessions for women/couples who do not require a doula at their birth, these would cover topics which would be tailored to your requirements.
I have a La Bassine Birth Pool, which you can hire from me.
Qualifications; I am a recognised birth doula with Doula UK October 2009.
I am a Certified birth doula with Nurturing Birth - July 2009
I am a recognised postnatal doula with Doula UK and Certified post natal doula with Nurturing Birth 2012
I am a Doula Mentor with Doula UK, which means I support, help, guide and supervise trainee doulas through the recognition process.
Further Training: Nurturing Birth doula and postnatal doula training course - April 2008.
Experienced Birth Doula Workshop - Level 2 - May 2009,
Michel Odent Study day - March - 2009.
Waterbirth study day with Dianne Garland - October 2010.
Twins course with Naomi Kenemy - Sept 2011
Spinning Babies Study Day with Gail Tully June 2013.
Breastfeeding Study Day - Developing Doulas - 2014.
Robozo Workshop with Stacia Smates Hill - Oct 2014.
Supporting Every Birth workshop, focusing on pregnancy and infant loss - Nov 201.
I attended the Surrey and Sussex Annual Breastfeeding Conference with speakers Dr Coleman Greenway - neonatal consultant at ESH and Mark Harris RMD - September 2017.
I have attended the Homebirth Conference - 'Inspiring Women', with speakers Ina May Gaskin and Sheena Byron - March 2016.
BA Practitioner 3Step Rewind Process Training - Mark Harris - November 2020
Low Milk Supply workshop January 2021
The Emergence Stage workshop Workshop May 2021
Pelvic Health workshop - Sylvia Farrell April 2022
I have experienced hospital births at Worthing Hospital, St Richard's Hospital Chichester, Princess Royal Hospital Haywards Heath and East Surrey Hospital, Redhill as well as numerous home births. I have supported births which have been induced, births with epidurals, emergency caesareans, elective caesareans and those with and without medical pain relief or intervention. I have had experience of births where the mum-to-be has a bicorunate uterus and also a mother with SDP. I have had experience of VBACs (virginal birth after caesarean), and water births and mothers with gestational diabetes and strep B. I am particularly passionate about home birth, believing home is the safest place to birth your baby. Here you are in a familiar environment where there are no interventions and you are able to birth your baby in your own time. I run a Home birth group on Facebook and we also meet regularly at my home.
I have gained so much experience through being a mother of five (although I had six babies and so I am empathetic to those experiencing or have experienced baby loss) and a grandmother, of eight and a doula. Because of this I can offer a wealth of experience and information which enables me to effectively support families in their journey through childbirth and beyond.
Whether you choose to birth at home, a birth centre or a hospital, I am honoured to be by your side. Let's work together to create a beautiful and empowering birth experience.
