Hi I’m Lauren, I believe pregnancy and birth can be a wonderful, daunting, empowering, challenging, exhausting and exhilarating process, and during such a momentous time all women deserve nurturing, caring, knowledgeable support to help them navigate their unique motherhood journey. For so many people this support just isn’t available amongst their family and friends. This is why I became a doula, to stand in the gap and be the supportive presence you need to forge your own path. Afterall no-one knows you better than you. I live in the countryside outside Ashford with my husband, 2 daughters, cavapoo puppydog and a handful of chickens. My first birth was a planned homebirth turned hospital induction due to pre-eclampsia, my second birth was a beautifully serene freebirth. To prepare myself for both my homebirth and my freebirth I learnt all I could about birth (I am a planner at heart and a lifelong learner by nature). In the process of empowering myself I developed a passion for helping and supporting others to have the births they desired. I breastfed both my children, with my fair share of issues and challenges that gave me a deep appreciation for having the right support from the beginning. My life centres around my family. I consider myself a crunchy mum, always following the natural path to health and wellbeing wherever possible. I am a Christian and I love to pray with others, but I am just as happy supporting families of other (or no) faiths. I love animals, I’ve kept or cared for all sorts of pets and farm animals over the years, and I’m always keen to make more furry friends. I believe in the sentiment that “it takes a village”, and that parents need the support and care from many people to navigate the challenges of bringing a new person into the world, whether it be their first, second or tenth child. I’m a calm and compassionate person, level-headed and dependable, but I am also fiercely protective of those in my care and very experienced at holding boundaries for others. I find power in knowledge; information gives me confidence and focus, but I also respect the different experiences, opinions and wishes of others, because there is no universal right way, there is only what is right for you. I am currently a mentored doula, which means I receive advice and feedback from a more experienced doula. I am happy to support you no matter what type of birth you are planning, be it homebirth or hospital. I can act as your primary birth partner or support you and your partner as part of a team. I can offer one-off help sessions or a full birth-doula package, please get in touch to discuss your needs..