Hello, Becoming a mother is a transformational experience on every level; practically, physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually. It is not meant to be navigated alone. Let me guide you on this wonderful and also challenging journey to motherhood.
I will offer you a perspective on birth that is empowering and celebratory; respectful of past experience and also ready to embrace change.
I will show you how to overcome your anxieties and fears; and how to prepare your body and mind for an optimal birth experience. Once you hire me, I am fully present for you; ready to support you in whatever way you need: whether that is with mindfulness and breath-work or researched independent information or simply a warm mug of tea and a hug. Giving birth was never easy but when you are being looked after, witnessed and supported, lovingly held and gently encouraged, it is a beautiful intense experience; one you will never forget.. I believe wholeheartedly in birth. I trust birth. As a doula, practising since 2009, I have supported over 100 women and their partners on their birth journeys. I prepare women and their partners for the great adventure of birth and postpartum life. It is my intention and wish that you birth with confidence, in power and with trust of your body and in your own ability to rise above all of the challenges you will meet along the way.
My Birth Package
My Birth Doula package comprises three x 2-2.5 hour antenatal birth preparation and pregnancy support sessions, a four week standby period from 38-42 weeks, attending and supporting you and your partner through the birth and two postnatal recovery support sessions afterwards. I also offer you a free place on my 12 week Yoga & Mindfulness live online course. This place is worth £360 and will ensure you are deeply prepared for the experience. Prior to the birth, we meet three times antenatally to discuss, support you in your pregnancy, and prepare for the birth. These meetings are with your birth partner and include tuition in massage and acupressure, birth plan devising support and a full home birth rehearsal as, wherever you are planning on having your baby, all births start at home. During the final session, I offer you a live yoga nIdra to relax you deeply, connect with your baby and visualise your birth experience.
I will support you through your labour and ensure that both you and your partner are being looked after and listened to. During those challenging moments, I will be right by your side; holding you, massaging you and reminding you, that you are safe, and you can trust the experience. I will stay with you until the birth is complete; the placenta has been born and you are settled in your bed with your newborn on your breast enjoying a cup of tea.
After the birth, I will visit you TWO more times to support you settling into your baby-moon, during these visits I will look after you, bind your belly, debrief the birth and troubleshoot any breast-feeding, baby care challenges arising in those early days. I will bring you herbs to bathe in and show you how to wear your baby in a newborn sling and ensure you are fed with a delicious home-cooked nutritious meal. I will also show you how to look after your pelvis and vulva, heal any scar tissue and begin the journey of pelvic reparation and recovery. At the second visit, I will offer you a one hour postnatal recovery massage and show you some baby soothing practices.
My Background I am a Registered Doula since 2008. I have been practising as a doula and birth-keeper since then alongside raising my own 4 children. In that time, I have supported all types of births including VBACS, HBACS, Homebirths, 1st, 2nd and 3rd births. Twins. Inductions, Out of Guidelines births, Solo mums and freebirths. I specialise in VBACs, HBACS, Out of Guidelines, and Homebirths. I am a passionate advocate.
As well as a being a doula, I am a Senior Registered Yoga Teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. I am a Pregnancy Yoga Specialist - Trained and teaching Pregnancy Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Baby Massage and Baby Yoga, Birth Prep classes and Birth Partner Workshops.I run weekly pregnancy yoga and mindfulness classes online - which you are welcome to join. As my client, you get to attend my pregnancy yoga classes free of charge. Additionally as a trained Yoga Nidra teacher, meditation teacher and mindfulness teacher, I offer deep mental and physical relaxation for you. I teach you how to down-regulate your nervous system and deeply relax in pregnancy, during the birth and after your baby is born. I am a Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Trainer and CPD Teacher Trainer since 2020. My Yoga & Mindfulness for Pregnancy & Birth Teacher training has trained and certified 50 + teachers in the last four years. As a teacher trainer I haver worked with the BWY, Birthlight, Yoga Teachers Forum, Battersea Yoga as well as run my own Pregnancy and Birth Teacher Training Programme. I am a fully trained Dancing for Birth Teacher. In fact I have done the training twice! I am also a Trained Holistic Pelvic Health Practitioner - and offer this as part of my birth package; helping you to prepare your pelvis for birth and recover afterwards - not just structurally and physically but emotionally as well.
I am in my final year of training as a psychosynthesis counsellor which means I hold your mental, emotional and spiritual wellness with deep care all the way through the time we spend together.
I have learned through my experience that learning to remain present, to rise above fear-based thinking, practice embodiment so that you learn to trust your body, and listen to it as well as learning how to down-regulate your nervous system, and stay down-regulated is key to the unfolding of the birth hormonal matrix and to your experience. Childbirth is the ultimate meditation and Mindfulness is at the heart of everything I do.
I have been an attachment mum to four babies - co slept and longterm breastfed all four. That was my path, I will not push my choices onto you. I support you in your mothering decisions. But I am very comfortable with this approach to parenting. Feel free to ask me about it if you wish. I also ran an attachment mums support group for 8 years called the Magnetic Mums.
I became a doula because through the fire of my 4 births (one undiagnised breech caesarean and three homebirths) I learned that even with complications and challanges we can rise above them, expand around them and birth our babies in power and with love. My personal birth experience includes: Breech, breech labour, emergency c-section, HBAC x 3, Post Mature and navigating HBAC, ARM and navigating HBAC.
Feeling safe, feeling looked-after and having someone independent but fully-informed and resourced who holds your best interests at heart is deeply reassuring as we navigate such a major life transition. Pregnancy and birth are times for growth, expansion and empowerment not fear, anxiety and loneliness. My wish is that you look back on this time as one of the most empowering and joyful times in your life. I am happy to answer any questions you have so please reach out and make contact.
Testimonials
Nadia is a fantastic doula, incredibly knowledgable and experienced.
Her approach to pregnancy and birth is very holistic. She encourages women to believe in themselves and to listen to their intuition.
I had a beautiful, unmediated homeburth with Nadia during which she was enormous support to me and my husband.
Postnatally, Nadia is the perfect person to ask for advice and discuss any problem as she embraces her power as mum of four, and is able to listen and offer insights that come from understanding and empathy. It is always such a positive talking to her that I come away completely reset and uplifted.
Kat first time home birth
“Nadia helped us with the birth of our second child and she was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. She kept me calm and relaxed in the run up to the birth, and introduced lots of great techniques and meditations to prepare me and make me feel ready. She was by my side through the final stages of the birth, using lots of massage and other techniques to ease things for the delivery. We had a beautiful and problem-free birth and my husband and I couldn’t recommend her enough for anyone considering a doula. Total game-changer”
CS Second Birth Centre
I joined Nadia’s pre-natal yoga classes and soon realised that I wanted Nadia to be my doula. Her inherent connection to mother nature was so comforting and inspiring and I knew her support would be invaluable to me.
I chose to have a home birth and Nadia was a wealth of knowledge, bringing a sense of calmness to me whenever doubt set in. In the end, I was induced at 43+2 weeks and Nadia was by my side during the early stages of labour. Her presence in the sterile labour room brought me great comfort and warmth, as she supported and advocated for me. My daughter was birthed via C-Section, which was not how I initially had chosen, but Nadia’s after care support both physically and emotionally was something I could not have done without. I am forever grateful to have had Nadia a part of my birthing journey and I have many fond memories of her being so generous with her patience, time and most of all her ability to bring a sense of positivity and serenity to every situation throughout our journey from pre-natal right through to post-natal and beyond.
Catherine Wall First birth Induction at 43+ 2
Nadia, I can't thank you enough for championing, and supporting my beautiful firstborn hue-man earthside, and honouing her divine right to a lotus home birth🪷
After searching for a doula late in my pregnancy and having specific intentions for my labour and home birth, it was Nadia's warm, honest, and open demeanour that immediately placed my partner and I at ease, making it a no-brainer for us. She respected our wishes, affirmed our intentions, and gave us optimism that our vision might be realised.
Her practises of mindfulness in breathing, meditation, massage, and yoga were invaluable in the run-up to and during my labour. These qualities nourished and aided the alignment of my mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
My labour was difficult for a variety of circumstances, and it was through this that I could turn to Nadia. Her assistance in advocating for my needs, birth plan, and desired objectives meant that I felt secure, reassured, and heard during this sacred rite of passage. Throughout, she was a continual source of strength, boosting my energy when I was exhausted and reminding me of my own inner strength at the most crucial times.
Her advice, support (both before and after the birth), and wealth of knowledge is empowering, and inspiring, and just what is required in an era when natural childbirth is under threat and maternal instincts are told to be ignored or neglected. I thank my lucky stars for her beautiful energy entering my life at such a becoming time 💕👑
Ayesha Lotus home birth
Nadia has been an incredible support during my pregnancy, labour and post partum. I felt stronger and safer with her by my side. During labour, she protected my birthspace and I felt relaxed. It was a magical journey. Thank you so much." AP
Nadia supported me and my husband during the most important time of our life. At the beginning I wasn’t sure on getting a doula as this is something we don’t have in Italy, and to be honest is highly recommended especially if you are a foreigner. She never lived my side for almost two days at the hospital, taking care of every single aspect there. Thank you so much Nadia for being so supportive.
Federica Hospital birth first
Nadia is an extremely experienced, knowledgeable doula, who is able to draw on her own personal experience as a mother of four, as well as her long career in supporting mummas as they journey into this new realm of motherhood.
She brings unique insight into the real birth prep necessary focusing on the mind / body connection, as well as the physical and spiritual elements to birth.
My partner and I developed a trusting and meaningful relationship with Nadia, and we felt well informed regarding our choices, wholly supported, and most importantly - held in a safe and secure place which enabled us to feel ready and relaxed for birth, and excited to meet our baby.
Nadia is a truly special person with unique talents and skills, and we could not think of a better person to be by your side during this wonderful rite of passage.
Bonnie Homebirth 2024
Voluntary Work
2020 Organising and Hosting the Empowered Birthing Mother Summit -Fundraising for Doula UK Access Fund
2014 - 2017 - Positive Birth Movement Group Facilitator
2011-2016: Magnetic Mothers Attachment Mothering Group Facilitator/Director
Additional Relevant Qualifications:
Doula and Birth Preparation Certification
2023-Current Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling
2023: Yoga for Pelvic Health with Leslie Howard
2022 - Holistic Pelvic Health Practitioner Training with Tami Lynn Kent
2022: Somatic Yoga for Pelvic Health with Jane Dancey
2021 Advanced Biomechanics for Birth CPD
2020 Biomechanics for Birth with Optimal Birthing CPD
2018 Mother-Warming Workshop with Wyse Women 2017 - CPD Womb Power - Weekend Intensive with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli at Yoga Campus
2017- Hypnosis for Birth Study Day Maggie Howell
2016 - Yoga for Pelvic Health - CPD Yoga Campus
2016 Midwifery Conference - Strasbourg 2015 Breastfeeding for Doulas - CPD with Breastfeeding London
2014 - Weekend CPD - Shakti Power Osho Leela, Dorset, UK
2014 Yoga Birth - Postnatal Yoga - DIp with Lolly Stirk 2014 Dancing for Birth Instructor Training- (DIp) 2012 Spinning Babies CPD
2011 - Indian Head Massage
2011 Ecstatic Birthing (1 days) With Debra Pascali-Bonaro 2011 CPD Mavis Kirkham Informed Choice or Informed Compliance
2008 Doula.Org.UK - Full Accreditation as a birth doula
2008 - Birthlight CPD Yoga forVBAC with Ingrid Lewis 2007 Paramana Doulas - Training with Michel Odent and Liliana Lamis - 2007 Birthlight mummy and baby yoga (Dip) Levels 1 and 11 with Francoise Freedman and Sally Lomas
2005 Birthlight Trust,Teacher of Antenatal Yoga Levels 1 and 2 (DIP), with Dr Francoise Freedman
London School of Clinical Hypnosis - Diploma in Hypnotherapy (2008)
University of London, (Royal Holloway Collage), 1992-95, Double First BA Hons English and Theatre Studies.
