Congratulations Lovely Parents and Welcome to my Doula page
I can help you have an Amazing Birth during these challenging times - wherever and however you birth your baby :)
You may well be feeling excited, nervous, anxious or even scared about your first birth, You may be pregnant again following a difficult or traumatic experience.
I would love to be by your side throughout your journey, enabling you to feel ready for birth, confident and trusting your body. Underpinned by physiology, evidence, hypnobirthing (20 years' experience) and HOW to have a positive birth - I will be there: reassuring, advocating, helping you navigate your way through the system and towards an amazing birth and gentle start to parenting - for you and your baby :) If you've suffered a difficult or traumatic first birth, I can gently support you towards a healing, wonderful experience.
Post natally I can offer gentle, evidence based care (whatever you need) to support more and better sleep for the whole family, and happier early days as you ease into this new world :)
I'll be delighted to support you, so Call or message me on 07806 994636 to see how my 20+ years' experience of supporting parents in the NHS and Private sector, can help guide you towards a beautiful birth, (even if you've been told you're high risk, or might need an induction or csection 🙂 Rosie xx
Some parents' words:
Anna: I chose Rosie because of her experience, as well as her warmth, easygoing personality and expertise in hypnobirthing. She was amazing throughout. During the antenatal period, I had a lot of anxiety around what was to come during labour – Rosie helped me enormously. In birth, Rosie was an oasis of calm. She advocated for me and my wishes based on my birth plan and what we had discussed. She listened to me and spoke up for me while I was focused on breathing and giving birth. She was incredibly supportive and made me feel in control.
Sophie said: “Thank you so much for all your support today Rosie (and all the other days) – it was perfect. I told P yesterday I feel euphoric and am still very much on a high! ” Sophie had an amazing VBAC in a birthing pool – vaginal birth after a traumatic c-Section. We negotiated a home birth or birth centre, and that I was able to be with her in birth as well as her husband during covid times]
Laura: You felt like my mum supporting me throughout today. We are so grateful to have you🙂 Katie: I had an incredibly positive birth experience – very positive memories – and our doula Rosie was a big part of that. Rosie was wonderful in every way. I can’t think of anything she could have done better. Her personality is pure warmth and positivity. She is honest about labour and birth and extremely knowledgeable.
Call or message me now 07806 994636 /rosie@hypnobirthingworks.co.uk
After two very different birth experiences and for over 20 years, I've been passionate about supporting women and their partners through pregnancy, a positive birth, and calmer, happier parenting.
- I will support you to birth however and wherever you wish.
- If you have certain 'risk' factors and want to birth at home, in a birth centre in a pool, I will help you access the support you will need to make it a reality. If you're an older mother or have gestational diabetes, higher bmi, group b strep, larger baby, want a VBAC, are growing TWINS- you CAN birth physiologically and where you choose,
- If you have a medical condition or special circumstances which may require more monitoring, I'll help you navigate your way to best possible birth.
- Normal breech birth in a birth centre (that was me!) did you know that Kingston and St Thomas's have a Breech Specialist Midwives ? I can help access support.
If you want support for a gentle c section or the best possible induction (if medically necessary)... I can help you find the team to support you
I also have a wonderful support network to share with parents: physios, osteos, acupuncturists, lactation consultants, gentle sleep support ...
Call or message me now 07806 994636 / rosie@hypnobirthingworks.co.uk
'Essentials' Birth Doula Plan (Other options available)
As a birth doula, I typically offer 3 meetings before your baby is born and one with baby, plus unlimited contact by phone/messaging. I'm on call from 38 weeks until your baby is born and support you from the point you feel you want me with you, until you see your baby and for a few hours after, to support feeding.
1. Birth Ed/Hypnobirthing Programme Underpins my Support
- Birth physiology - your body and baby already know how to do this !
- How to support your body and baby to birth smoothly
- Effective breathing techniques - breathing your baby down
- Deep relaxation (guided visualisations/self hypnosis/meditations) for a positive birth
- Create confident, positive, informed birth plans - covering all your options
- Practical techniques for your husband/partner
- HOW to get the birth you plan - advocacy and assertiveness - essential tips & support to navigate an increasingly medicalised system
- How to enjoy it !
- I hear "it was amazing" all the time!
Includes: Minimum 4 hypnobirthing relaxation/confidence building audio tracks, Hypnobirthing resource pack, birth plan templates, massage techniques, email/phone support from start of the course and signposting to other resources (eg osteopath)
Following the 3 Ante Natal Sessions ...
2. On Call: I'll be on call for you 24/7 from 38wks until you see your baby, and initial postnatal support. You can call or message me at any time, to ensure you're feeling confident and ready to birth your baby 🙂
BabyCalm - optional (+fee) - Week 36-40 or with baby: 2 hr session. Evidence based and reassuring. What to expect around baby sleep, and practical techniques to make early days of parenting easier and happier for you & your baby!
Hypnobirthing/Clinical Hypnotherapy Additional Sessions available.
3. Pre Labour and Birth
We will be in contact from the first signs of pre labour, and we will discuss when I'll join you at your home. I will support you throughout, and travel with you to maternity unit, (if that's your plan) and I will remain with you throughout.
You and your partner can ask me questions, share how you're feeling. I'll support you, practically and emotionally through your birth with massage/aromatherapy/hypnobirthing /breathing etc. Following your lead. A reassuring, calm presence in the room. And advocate for you, adapting to the flow of your birth.
I will communicate and work as a team with your midwife to ensure that you're feeling safe, that you are belng listened to and your birth plans are respected even if adaptations are necessary.
I will remain with you until a couple of hours after you have birthed your beautiful baby, to ensure you are comfortable, and feeding is supported.
4. Post Natal at Home
1 x postnatal visit ideally within two weeks of your baby's birth, to check in on your '4th trimester' - and bir
Throughout Pregnancy/Post Natal - You can call or email me at any time for evidence based information, reassurance, tips, signposting to other expert support
Call or message me now 07806 994636 / rosie@hypnobirthingworks.co.uk
Katie : "Thank you SO much. It was wonderful for me that you met Jess (midwife) and also to spend some more time together. I actually feel really excited about giving birth now and a huge part was down to our chat! So thank you" ... Postnatally: D and I are very much still pinching ourselves. We loved having you with us. I will be forever grateful...
Physiology & Hypnobirthing - underpin all my support
As a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Hypnobirthing specialist - I can support you with highly effective breathing, relaxation, confidence boosting techniques, which with practise, will enable you to have a let go mentally, and have positive birth in any circumstances. Your partner will also be supported in their role. Start early for the gentlest birth. (Trained with Marie Mongan 2003/4 cohort and personally taught over 5000 mothers/ couples).
Sophie : planning a normal birth, but due to medical condition, having a 'gentle' CSection at C&W:
"Dear Rosie - Thank you so much, you really do make a massive difference to the whole experience. We had such a laugh again all the way through, and felt so relaxed. It was brilliant - and she latched straight onto the breast as we were coming out of surgery, which everyone was very impressed with. Thank you again, and we will see you again for sure for baby number 3!
Clinical Hypnotherapy - releasing stress, anxiety, birth trauma & improving sleep
Clients can self refer and Consultant Midwives also refer clients to me, suffering from anxiety and birth trauma. Working with a wider community of clients, I help clients improve sleep, help alleviate the symptoms of stress, phobias, anxiety, depression and PTSD (using the highly effective Rewind Technique), and can help boost confidence in all areas of life 🙂
Post Natal Doula Support : Includes: protecting the space of your new family, attending to mother and baby’s needs, practical baby care, allowing confidence to grow in your abilities without taking over, infant feeding support, signposting to useful resources, information and support groups, listening to any questions or concerns you may have, debriefing your birth experience, supporting other members of the family, shopping/running errands, making light meals, snacks and treats, School/nursery runs, Playing games and having fun, Caring for pets
My qualifications and experience
I've had 20+ years supporting mothers/couples in birth at home, Kensington Wing, Lindo Wing, Portland and at Chelsea & Westminster, Queen Charlotte's, West Mid, St Mary's, St George's, Kingston, St Thomas's, King's, UCLH, Homerton, Royal London, North Mid.
I have excellent relationships with numerous Directors of Midwifery, Consultant Midwives and health care professionals at NHS and Private Maternity Units throughout London. Consultant Midwives refer clients to me (anxiety and trauma).
Hypnobirthing expertise - Trained with Marie Mongan 2003/4 cohort and have personally taught well over 5000 mothers/ couples). Hypnobirthing throughout London.
BabyCalm Teacher and Trainer- Sarah Ockwell Smith's wonderful post natal courses. 4th trimester - gentle parenting in the first 3 months. Evidence based - happier days and nights for parents and babies.
Clinical Hypnotherapist - I can help alleviate the symptoms of stress, phobias, anxiety, depression and PTSD (using the highly effective Birth Trauma Rewind Technique) DHypPsych(UK) 2003
Happy Baby Community and Neighbourhood Doulas - I'm honoured to be part of these wonderful groups, providing doula support to vulnerable women who would otherwise be birthing alone. (Woman who may be have been trafficked, asylum seekers, suffered modern day slavery).
I delivered NCT Post Natal Exercise & Discussion Courses in 1990s (Wimbledon & Wandsworth)
Developing Doulas - delighted to have trained with Maddie McMahon and Zara de Candole.
Active Birth Midwifery Training - I co-designed and have trained midwives how to teach Active Birth Workshops at St George's.
I'm affiliated with Doula UK. I abide by their rules and code of conduct and am Fully Insured.
I'm involved in NHS /research groups to ensure that the voice of parents is heard and so that I'm up to date with latest research including:
- Midwifery Unit Standards Network – Founding Advisory Team – with Dr Lucia Rocca
- NICE Birthplace Action Team – Advisory group- City Uni Centre Maternal Health Research
- Steering Group NIHR research study – Induction of Labour methods – with Dr Amar Bhide
- Chelsea & Westminster Induction of Labour Forum – Improving info and experience for parents
- Original Chair Kingston and then St George’s Maternity Voices Partnership - working to improve services at St George's
- Board SWLondon Local Maternity System (‘Transformation’ Board) - improving services at 5 London hospitals
- Birthrights Training (St George's) www.birthrights.org
- Co- applicant on feasibility study/research into methods of induction (St George's)
- I was thrilled to have been shortlisted for St George's Achievement Award 2018 (250 nominations) for my 'unerring support of parents and midwives' 🙂
I regularly attend CPD study days to ensure my ongoing learning and development . Most recently: Allyship with Mars Lord and LGBTQ Competency with AJ Silver of Queer Birth Club. MIND Mental Health First Aider Cert.
I'll be delighted to support you through this amazing experience, so please get in touch and we can discuss various options. Rosie x 07806 994636
You can read some of my Pregnancy/Hypnobirthing Articles in Get the Gloss, SheerLuxe, Hip & Healthy:
https://www.getthegloss.com/article/the-most-common-fears-about-childbirth-and-how-to-conquer-them,
