Nicky Bennell

About Me

Hi, my name is Nicky and I am a Recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula, and feel passionately about supporting women antenatally, through the birth process and postnatally.  I became a doula because I believe whole heartedly that women have an amazing gift of giving life and that they should be respected and emotionally supported through all the choices they make in this process.

I live with my four children and husband just 8 miles north of Oxford, their ages range from 11 to 18.  I had my first baby in hospital and had my subsequent three at home, each a unique experience to include an amazing water birth. I suppose I discovered my inner birth passion when I was supported and nurtured by my very best friend who, without her, I would not have had the most amazing birth experiences.  I love her to bits!

My back ground is in Primary school education which I believe has really contributed to my experience in looking after children but also in listening to what parents want and then to support them to try and achieve it – this is very similar to the role of being a Doula!  I am also responsible for setting up a home school in Asia and I have completed a year’s Shiatsu training in London. I love food, music, dance, cooking, riding, sailing, being outside but above all I love being a mum! I have learned so much about pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood through my own experience and I feel so strongly that women should be empowered to make their birth experience their own and that through physical and emotional support they are able to make their own choices.

Birth is a physiological process and for this to work at its best I think calm, quiet, love, warmth, touch are all essential.  Giving birth is not to be feared but to be seen as the most empowering  and exciting thing a woman can do no matter what kind of birth you are hoping for.

I have always been passionate about birth, even before I had my own children, and have recently trained with Kicki Hansard (Doula of the Year 2009) who has just had her first book published.  My aim is to help women and their partners have empowering and fulfilling births and I really think this is possible to achieve with the right level of support.

My role as a doula is to support couples beforehand in acquiring knowledge that will lead them to make the best possible choices for them during their labour, the birth itself and then to support them when they return home.  I do believe that having a Doula is not a luxury but an invaluable support to women who really want to empower themselves in making the right choices.

I am able to suit any family need from helping couples make informed decisions based on collated information, being there in ANY capacity whether it’s just being a presence in helping with practical and emotional support.

I do believe that the most important thing for a pregnant woman and their partner is to be treated with understand, kindness and respect.  To listen, care and reassure them all the way through so that her confidence will grow and therefore able to have the birth they want.

A natural birth is every woman’s right and she should have the opportunity to have the birth she wants no matter what that choice is  and I aim to provide physical, practical and emotional support in achieving this.  Above all, having experienced myself a variety of different birthing treatments I know how important it is to have a strong level of support so that it remains a positive outcome for years to come.

Whatever birth you want to have, I am here to support you in your choices to give you the best possible experience. I am here to give you guidance, emotional support, information and above all to provide a listening ear! I hope to have the privilege of supporting you on your journey.

I trained with Kicki Hansard in September 2015

Lactation study day – Indira Lopez-Bassols IBCLC (sept 2015)

Mindfulness based childbirth and Parenting workshop at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (Nov 15)

1 day workshop with Mark Harris (Nov 2015)

I have experience of attending home and water births

Experience of hospital birth (VBA2C)

Over 100 hours Postnatal work

WEBSITE TO FOLLOW