Before I became a mother I worked as a Maternity Care Assistant on the labour and postnatal ward in Brighton. I quickly became very passionate about supporting families postnatally. I then moved to the community in Haywards Heath to become a Maternity Support Worker. My passion for postnatal support grew enormously, I could see how alone and overwhelmed new families could feel once they were home, or once midwives had left after a homebirth. I often wished I could stay longer with the families we visited to give further support as well as wanting to come back another time to give continuity. When I became a mother myself for the first time I found it an absolutely amazing, wonderful and at the same time exhausting and vulnerable experience. It was a very confusing situation, to feel so happy and in love but scared at the same time. I feel families need the Village to come back, for people to bring food, shopping, offer to do chores in the house, sit and listen for however long is needed. Families need time, time to learn to trust their gut instinct, not feel judged or pressured to parent the way others believe is right. Families should be allowed to enjoy their new baby/ies, have a protected babymoon without worrying about visitors and housework. For those who already have children, having another baby, or babies indeed, can be really hard to adjust to, splitting themselves between the new born and previous children, helping the older sibling/s with having another baby in the house. I am also a certified Infant Feeding Coach. My current offer is: I will be there to support the new parent/s through emotional support, by listening to the experience so far, any concerns or listening to you gush about your new baby of course! If you have any concerns about postnatal depression, anxiety or trauma, I am very keen to support you through this by listening, helping you slow down, rest, eat well and feel safe as well as signposting you to local services where helpful. Practically, I am happy to run basic errands and do some basic house chores, if this helps the parent/s to spend time with their baby or older children. I am happy to help involve or distract older children to help you get to know your new baby and for the siblings to get attention, or find ways in which they can help too and be involved. If you need a rest but worry about baby, or baby does not settle I can hold your baby for you whilst you rest, shower or eat. I can help by cooking basic meals and go shopping for you. I have also got years of experience of giving Breastfeeding Support as a Maternity Care Assistant and Maternity Support Worker, as well as having qualified as an Infant Feeding Coach. I am more than happy to use my experience to help you establish Infat Feeding and of course signposting you to relevant services. My main aim is for the new parent/s, baby/ies and older siblings in some cases to get to know each other in a calm, happy and relaxed environment. I want to help the family to enjoy their experience to the max and to learn to trust your gut instinct. I have had personal experience of difficult pregnancies overshadowed by hyperemesis, Breastfeeding issues, instrumental deliveries, abandoned homebirth and with baby being extremely unwell in NICU, as well as postnatal mental health issues. I am an advocate of Hypnobirthing and mindfulness, I would loath for anyone to ever feel judged, I wish for all to feel supported by me, no matter what birth or feeding choices you make. In addition, not everyone can afford the fees of a postnatal doula. This is very unfair. I need to make a living, but would also like to fight the injustice of money, I will consider skill swaps when I can afford it. I am also a Access Fund Volunteer, if you find yourself in severe need, please do check out the access fund on Doula UK.