Many congratulations if you are pregnant or a new parent! 

Bringing a new life into the world is a beautiful and transformative experience. However, the postnatal period can also be overwhelming and challenging.  Navigating the physical, emotional, and practical demands of caring for a newborn with the presence of a postnatal doula can make a remarkable difference.  Gaining invaluable support, guidance, and empowerment for families can ensure a smoother transition into parenthood. The power of postnatal doulas and their transformative impact on families' well-being can be unparalleled. Emotional Support: During the postnatal period, emotions can run high as a huge adjustment is needed to new roles and cope with sleep deprivation and hormonal changes. Providing a comforting presence and a compassionate ear to listen without judgment. With their empathetic guidance, families can navigate the highs and lows of early parenthood, feeling validated, understood, and empowered.

 My name is Leila Gardiner. I live with my husband and two teenage boys in Reigate, Surrey. I am bilingual, speaking fluent Persian.  Embarking on your journey with a postnatal doula can become a transformative one, providing you & your family with the support, knowledge, and empowerment needed during the delicate postnatal period. With compassionate presence, practical wisdom, and commitment to nurturing families, postnatal doulas can play a pivotal role in fostering confidence, connection, and well-being. Embracing the power of postnatal doulas can be a game-changer for families, empowering them to navigate the early stages of parenthood with grace, strength, and joy.

 I am delighted to also offer personalised Hypnobirthing, enhanced by my hypnotherapy and NLP coaching for Doula skills and support. This winning combination can provide a better birth experience. Pregnancy and childbirth can be overwhelming, especially for first-time mothers. Hypnobirthing and hiring a doula have become increasingly popular choices for expectant mothers who want an empowering birth experience. I used hypnobirthing/hypnotherapy and doula support to achieve a beautiful and natural home birth. 

Hypnobirthing is a childbirth technique that uses relaxation, breathing, visualisation, and self-hypnosis techniques to achieve a calm and positive birth experience. The approach is based on the idea that fear and tension can create pain and complications during labour, while relaxation and a positive mindset can help reduce pain and promote natural childbirth. By learning to trust the body's natural ability to birth, hypnobirthing helps mothers feel confident and in control of their birth experience. 

When I discovered hypnobirthing in my second pregnancy, I was immediately drawn to its philosophy of empowering women to have a better birth experience. I enrolled in a private hypnobirthing course and began practising relaxation and visualisation techniques with my husband's support. As my due date approached, I felt calm and confident about my ability to give birth naturally, without the need for medical interventions. Having my doula every step of the way made me feel supported and not alone. Having a supportive birth team is crucial to success. Hiring a doula, a trained birth companion who provides emotional, physical, and informational support during labour and delivery, can make all the difference, especially one that you have chosen yourself. Research shows that having a doula can lead to shorter labour, less need for pain medication, and a more positive birth experience overall, which can be further enhanced with hypnobirthing and hypnotherapy.

 I aim to offer valuable guidance and support throughout pregnancy and during the birth itself. I help you and your partner create a birth plan that aligns with your values and preferences and provide evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions about your care. During labour, as a doula, I use comfort measures like light touch massage, breathing techniques, and position changes to help increase relaxation and comfort levels. 

The combination of hypnobirthing and a doula proved to be a winning one for me. I experienced relatively short (5-hour labour) and uncomplicated labour and was able to give birth to my baby without any need for medical interventions. I credit this success to the confidence and relaxation techniques I learned through hypnobirthing and the emotional and physical support provided by my chosen doula. 

Studies have shown that hypnobirthing can lead to shorter labour, reduced need for pain medication, and higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth. Meanwhile, research on doulas has found that they can lead to shorter labour, reduced need for medical interventions, and higher rates of breastfeeding initiation. 

For expectant mothers considering hypnobirthing and doula support for their birth, it's important to do your research and find a qualified practitioner who can provide evidence-based information and support. Hypnobirthing and doula support provide a valuable framework for achieving a positive birth experience that is empowering, calm, and centred on the mother's needs and preferences. In cases of a medicalised journey, claiming skills and support can be even more valuable, especially for a calm caesarean birth, which I have experience supporting, either elective or emergency. 

My personal experience using hypnobirthing and doula support for my birth made me passionate about sharing these powerful techniques during such a major event in pregnancy, birth and early days. 

Get in touch here, or call 07775 425 301. 

If you'd like to chat further about working together. 

Every best wish, 

Leila Gardiner x

Testimonials from past families - with permission to share -

 “So we'd like to thank you for all your help and the techniques you taught us. I wish I could go back and have the birth again! I'm sure there will be plenty of tough days and nights ahead, but I'm hoping we can continue to use the tools we have learned to stay as calm as possible!”  

Laura, Mike and baby Finlay, Guildford, Surrey 

“I had a hypnobirthing course with Leila Gardiner when I gave birth to my first and this time did a relaxation evening with Leila and read lots of Leila's affirmations and other home birth stories she had sent me, which focused my mind on visualising the birth that I hoped for!” 

Lora, Jake and baby Indy, Salfords, Surrey

I was so proud to have been able to achieve what I did, especially given the extra intense labour. My husband was my greatest supporter, and I couldn't have done it without him. Hypnobirthing gave me a greater awareness of what my body was doing, and the breath gives you control and courage to believe you really can achieve the birth you want, whatever the circumstances.” 

Jessica and baby Heidi Haywards Heath, Sussex 

Thank you so much for all your help and support on the run-up to Sofia's birth. I don't think I would have had such a positive and empowering birth experience had it not been for the techniques I learned from you.” 

Michelle, Chris and baby Sofia, Walton On Thames, Surrey 

1. Reduced rates of medical interventions: A study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that women who had continuous support from a doula were less likely to have pain medication, instrumental vaginal birth, and C-sections. The study also found that women who had doula support had shorter labours, on average.
2. Increased satisfaction with birth experience: Research has shown that women who had a doula present during their birth were more likely to report feeling satisfied with their birth experience. This may be due to the emotional support and reassurance that doulas provide, which can help women feel more confident and in control.
3. Improved outcomes for babies: Studies have also found that having a doula present during birth can lead to improved outcomes for babies. For example, a study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing found that infants born to women who had doula support had higher Apgar scores at one and five minutes after birth.
4. Lower rates of postpartum depression: Another study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing found that women who had doula support during birth were less likely to experience postpartum depression. This may be due to the emotional support and guidance that doulas provide, which can help women feel more confident and capable as new mothers.

Overall, the evidence suggests that having a doula present during birth can lead to better outcomes for both mothers and babies. By providing emotional support, physical comfort measures, and advocacy, doulas can help women have a more positive and empowering birth experience.