Nadia Raafat

About Me

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 challenging journey to motherhood. I will offer you a perspective on birth that is empowering and celebratory; embodied and filled with trust of the process. 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 you never forget..

I believe wholeheartedly in birth. I trust birth. As a doula I have supported over 70 women and their partners on their birth journeys over a fourteen-year period. I prepare women and their partners for the great adventure of brith and postnatal 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 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.

I also offer you a free place on my 12 week Yoga & Mindfulness live online course. This place is worth £200.

Prior to the birth, we meet three times antenatally to discuss, support you in your pregnancy, and prepare for the birth.  I will support you through your labour and ensure that both you and your partner are being looked after and listened to.  After the birth, I will visit you TWO more timers 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 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.

I finish by writing up my version of your birth story which is my gift for you to keep as a record of the experience you have had.

My Background

I am a Registered Doula since 2008. I have been practising as a doula and birth-keeper for 14 years.

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 and Solo mums.

I specialise in VBACs, HBACS, Out of Guidelines, and Homebirths.

As well as a bering 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 classes both in community and online. 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 30 + teachers in the last two 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 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 offer a Mindful Birthing online course which you can join anytime.

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 (none of which went smoothly) 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 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.

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

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.