Mathilde Dhoosche – NW4

About Me

Congratulations on your pregnancy or new arrival!

About Me:

I am Mathilde and I live in Hendon with my husband and three children (2 girls and 1 boy) born 2013, 2015 and 2017. I am French and grew up in a very quiet residential area near the city of Paris. I moved to London, England in 2008 to reunite with my husband who just started his career in Asset Management. My 3 pregnancies and childbirths have each been very different, with each their own challenges, worries and miracles. My personal experiences make it then easier for me to understand your own story and feelings. Every woman in labour deserve the calm, peace and tranquillity, they deserve to feel secure in a private environment. Every woman and their partners deserve to receive non-biased information about the development of their pregnancy and baby, and their childbirth options. As a doula, I provide pregnant woman with emotional and physical comfort and support before, during, and after labour and childbirth. I will also provide evidence-based information and guidance, and can sometimes be your advocate with your caregivers. I do not give medical advice nor do I undertake examinations or perform any other clinical task. I cannot make decisions for my client. I can only act as a spokesperson for my client in the absence of her partner if this has been clearly stated in her birth plan.

Your Birth Doula Package:

An informal chat for around 45 minutes. Before the birth  You and (if applicable) your partner will have two 2 hours antenatal sessions. The first meeting is used for getting to know each other. We discuss your desires for birth, your overcoming birth fears. I will assist you in understanding your options and help you to clarify your preferences. During the second meeting, we usually look at your birth preparation and discuss the birth physiology. I want to become familiar with your birth preferences and I also want to know your natural coping mechanisms and how your partner and I could help with these. During the birth I need you to call me immediately (at any hour of the day!) when you believe that you may be going into or are already in labour. To be able to give you the best care I need to know about bowel movements, shows, how you feel and any signs of bleeding, discomfort and pain. I will be on call for the birth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 2 weeks prior to your due date until week 42. You will receive continuity of care throughout your labour and birth After the birth I will stay with you until you are happy for me to leave. I can provide breastfeeding support immediately after the birth of your baby to help him/her to latch successfully and encourage the establishment of breastfeeding. I would like to meet with you within 10 days after the birth to see how you are doing, admire your baby and listen to you and your partner’s story. During this postnatal visit, we will reflect on your experience and it will give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about you or your baby and what to expect in those early weeks. I will be available to give you continuous advice and support via email, phone and WhatsApp to answer any concerns and offer suggestions throughout your pregnancy and early labour from time of booking up to 6 weeks post birth. Additional visits at home or to accompany on appointments can be arranged if required.   Your Postnatal Doula Package My aim is to empower you and your family to feel confident in making the decisions that are right for you in a relaxing and stress free environment. I will offer information, tips and encouragement in the comfort of your own home, as well as providing a supportive, non-judgemental listening ear. The goal is to support you and your partner with the day-to-day running of your household so that you can concentrate on getting to know your new baby. My postnatal package includes: Two weekly visits, a few hours a day, for approximately the first 8-12 weeks. Each client has specific requirement and needs. We will agree on what is best for you, but here are a few example of what our session could look like:

• Taking away some of the pressures of ‘day-to-day’ living by looking after the baby so you can rest, helping with some light housework such as tidying up, walking the dog or helping you to do some shopping.
• Supporting you with infant feeding- be it breast, bottle or a mix of the two- along with practical newborn tips. We will discuss any concerns and issues you have and I’ll offer lots of information – or just a supportive listening ear, if that’s what you’d like.
• Sharing my knowledge on different methods and philosophies on raising children, to help you discover how you want to do things. There’s no ‘right way’: every mother has their own ideals and instincts. I’ll help you find yours.