About Me Hi, I’m Manuela. I am a mum of two amazing young adults, the first of whose pregnancies led me to become a Doula. I have been supporting new families since 2004 as a birth and postnatal doula. I am a certified Breastfeeding Counsellor and Infant feeding coach, and am passionate about making sure you know how to get breastfeeding off to the best start. I also teach Childbirth Classes and Hypnobirthing, and bring my extensive knowledge and experience to our antenatal birth prep sessions. I returned to London in 2014, after living in Singapore for 16 years, where both my gorgeous children were born. As an experienced Doula, I have been working for over 20 years in Singapore and London supporting couples through their pregnancies, births, and beyond.
A friend once asked me why I enjoy my job so much. My response was easy: I get a huge rush when the baby is born! The baby is placed on mum's chest and the parents meet their baby for the first time. There’s this magical moment when baby is peacefully lying on mum and intently looks at mum and then at dad as if to say “Hello, I finally made it, and I’m right where I need to be”. What an honour! It's a privilege to share in their accomplishments - not only in pregnancy, but the birth of their baby too! Seeing parents talk, touch, sing and fall in love with their baby is a priceless experience. It doesn’t matter what kind of birth they planned for or experienced, just seeing them hold and bond with their baby makes the whole journey worthwhile.
My Philosophy The journey into parenthood is a deeply personal and precious time. The support I provide to families is unique according to their individual needs. I do not have an agenda to see women birth ‘naturally at any cost’ – rather I aim to support parents through their birth journey, whatever path it takes. My goal is for new parents to feel respected, informed and nurtured in their early days of parenthood. As parents, it is important that you learn and understand what birthing choices are available to you. This will enable you to make informed decisions, based on your needs and wishes. With this knowledge, coupled with the invaluable support of a doula, you are steps closer to achieving the birth you hope for.
Dads Are Important Too I'm there to support both of you during your journey to having a baby. It's as much about the dad as the mum and I make it a priority to involve the dad as much as possible from the very first time we meet. Giving the dad the tools and information he needs to best support you, means we works as a great team and he feels at ease as the responsibility of caring for his loved one is shared. I love seeing dads blossom in confidence during a birth, as I gently remind them of things they can do to support mum and the bond they build is magical. Mums get the best support possible, and know that not only are their needs being addressed, but so too are those of their partners, (no dads standing around scared senseless, clueless of what to do, wanting to "fix it", feeling lost and out of place!)
How I Can Help You I offer support during pregnancy with evidence-based birth preparation sessions to ensure you fully understand what to expect, what your choices are, how to create a great birth plan and how to plan for after the birth. I also offer tailor made antenatal classes or Hypnobirthing classes if you are interested. As your Doula, I work with both you and your partner, getting to know you both and deciding on what support you want during your labour. As a certified breastfeeding counsellor and infant feeding coach, I offer breastfeeding sessions and breastfeeding support once your baby is born. You can also hire me as your postnatal doula to support you in the weeks following the birth of your baby (babies). As you learn the ropes in your new role as a mum, getting used to the sense of chaos and sleep deprivation, having to look after a little person 24/7, more than anything YOU need to be looked after too! If you'd like to have a chat to find out how I can support you please give me a call.
