- Postnatal (Recognised since May 2017)
- Birth (Recognised since January 2019)
Lives in: Crawley RH11
Local info and availability:
Living in West Sussex means I can easily drive to parts of East Sussex, Surrey, South, East and West London, and Kent. I'm also very happy to use public transport to reach more central and northern areas of London.
Other services:
Family Doula for babies and children older than 12wks.
How to contact Sassi:
Use the Contact form below or:
http://SassiDoula.co.uk
Sassidoula@gmail.com
07986314370
About Me
- Hi there
Thank you for visiting my profile page. Selecting a doula is a very personal experience; so if my bio resonates with you, then I would love to hear from you. I consider myself lucky to be Mum to three, now grown-up babies, and Nanni to a very active grandson and new little granddaughter. Being present at both of their births, and having the honour of being my daughter’s doula both times have most definitely been two of the most magical moments in my life to date. In my professional life I have had a pretty varied journey, but supporting, empowering and being there ‘with’ people, both emotionally and practically has always been my driving force on any given path. I appreciate all of my experiences which have led me to this point in life and, due to the majority of my previous roles within the NHS being clinical within maternity, I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate to have attended the many births and supported all the women postnatally that these roles enabled me to. After a lot of soul searching, I realised that maternity care within the NHS was not the way forward for me, and having the flexibility and availability of care that being a doula allows is far more at the heart of who I am. My professional journey as a Doula officially began in 2014 and is all I hoped it would be and more. Prior to my experience within the NHS and whilst my youngest child was a baby, I trained as a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter with La Leche League. I’m hoping to further train in the near future as a Breastfeeding Counsellor with The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM). I’ve also had personal experience breastfeeding all three of my children, (my youngest up to the age of four) and have practical and personal experience with bottle and formula infant feeding. My experience so far, and especially as a postnatal doula has shown me how flexibility is vital in the process of enabling and nurturing the bond between babies and their parents. Whether it’s simply listening or fetching food and drinks for a breastfeeding mum, feeding or holding a baby whilst Mum catches up on some gratefully received sleep or a shower, walking the dog, folding the laundry, preparing meals, running errands or ordering the shopping, I am happy to discuss any needs of the families I am helping. Compassion is at the heart and is the foundation of anything I do. My intention as a doula is to offer empathic, flexible, practical and emotional support in a bespoke way that suits the needs of my clients. I work instinctively and intuitively with a fundamentally empowering approach and am passionate about supporting people in whatever form that takes. As well as being a doula around pregnancy, birth and within new families of singletons and twins, I also support families who have older babies and children of all ages, typically daycare, doing school runs, meal-time shifts and babysitting, as well as helping with general home organising and chores, as and when required. I also have experience helping to care for the elderly which may involve just sharing some time for valued conversation over a cup of tea, or practically helping around their homes, with meal preparation and getting dressed etc. I believe that chemistry between people is paramount to any relationship and would be very happy to have a chat, over the phone or in person for you to see if maybe I could be the right ‘fit’ for you. Whatever you feel you need in terms of support from a doula, I’d love to hear from you to see if I can help. Kindest regards Sas x
“Once we started using Sas, we realised how invaluable the support was from someone who was experienced with babies, incredibly caring with them and the support that was offered to me as a mother. I think looking back and from my experience, my expectations where that the Doula would be loving and experienced with a baby and provide me with guidance in looking after a newborn. Also for me to feel safe leaving our baby with someone who is experienced so I could relax and take a break/have a sleep. I had to go back to work for a couple of days and the only person I trusted to look after my son was Sas. I could feel comfortable knowing that even though I was at work on set, my son was at home with someone who was loving and caring towards him, as well as incredibly capable. Also, I had been sick for several weeks after my son was born and I really struggled with my physical health to look after my son, coupled with my husband having to go away for work. Sas provided some much needed emotional support when I was feeling very lonely, exhausted, and insecure about my abilities as a mother and in physical pain. She put my mind at ease, gave me positive encouragement and met all the expectations mentioned above. I’d never met a Doula before, so I had nothing to compare it to. However my friends know me very well and they researched them and found the right one. From experience, all I can say is Sas was very down to earth, relaxed, incredibly giving of her emotions, love and support. I never felt judged, only supported and she fitted seamlessly into our household. She was a grounding force, even when things where quite hectic. I didn’t know what I needed tbh. Sas came in and used her intuition to figure it out. I always felt that Sas worked with me, in ways that supported me being the best mother I could possibly be. She wasn’t there to take over, but to support, help, guide and nurture myself as a mother and to provide love, tenderness and care for my son. All of which she did with love and kindness. Sas is a very giving person, that is very flexible, relaxed and open and because of that, she really does fit into a family’s home. That can be very difficult, especially when you throw a new-born into the mix. However, because of her qualities, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her as I know she will fit into any family dynamic. Also, the care provided (as mentioned above) make’s her a Doula I would always recommend. I’ve talked about the emotional and physical ways Sas helped us, but Sas also helped out immensely in practical ways too. She would wash the mounds of dirty clothes/muslins/bibs from the baby, clean bottles and generally tidy up the whole house if she had time. That was amazing too. Sometimes, just getting into a nicely made bed for a nap was the best thing ever! If I was having another baby or needed someone to look after my son, I would hire her again as she knows what she’s doing and I’m comfortable with her being a part of our family and in our home.” (Kate, London) “Great to work with Sas during a recent labour and home birth. Another pair of supportive, womanly hands makes all the difference for a birthing woman and her family. Little acts of kindness and nurturing make all the difference; making a cup of tea, playing with a toddler. And as a midwife I really appreciated having her around for companionship and to be there for me when I needed assistance. I would thoroughly recommend Sas as a birth and postnatal doula.” (Kay Hardie, Independent Midwife) “Sas is such a lovely and warming person. She has been our doula in a post natal capacity and I knew straight away that she was the one for us!Sas is extremely approachable and she made me feel at ease instantly. She has provided that reassurance and advice when it was much needed. I felt that I could talk to her openly about anything without being judged and she has always been a text or call away if I needed someone to talk to – this was invaluable, especially in the early days. I feel I have been able to build up my confidence to go out and do things with my daughter with her support. Sas has also used her wide network to obtain further support for me, including osteopathy, which has been great. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sas to anyone, thank you Sas for all your help!” (Mel, Crawley) “Sas is a passionate warm hearted person. She embraces everything with positive energy and puts her heart into it.. She is a genuine warm, giving and compassionate lady. I feel very lucky to have had her as my Doula. One of the many important roles of a post-natal doula is to primarily support the mother, irrespective of her mothering style. Sas was great at this, and she is non-prescriptive and non-judgemental. Also, I never felt like I was asking too much or being too demanding, as Sas was very approachable and helpful. This is so important after the birth as you just want everything to be as easy and hassle free as possible. A Doula has many hats to wear, and Sas was a great counsel to me in my post birth, hormonal addled state. She is very calm and has a positive energy , which is much needed when you’ve been up all hours feeding. I have felt totally comfortable asking Sas to help me with anything. From advice on mastitis, tips on breast feeding in public, articles + advice on labour induction (pre birth) + info on Ina May re positive labouring. Also I felt comfortable with asking Sas for help with mundane household related chores and also looking after the baby whilst I got some much needed sleep. I would wholeheartedly recommended Sas. She is very approachable and easy going, which is vital post-birth and you need that hands on help. ♥” (Susannah, Dorking) “Having A Doula has seemed to have made a big difference this time around to Susie’s state of mind and the baby seems very happy too. It was great Susie had someone to discuss her attached parenting methods with, and it was good they got on so well too.” (Lawrence, Dorking)
“I met Sas and immediately felt comfortable and like she understood me and my wishes, she just ‘got me’. Sas met me several times (antenatally) and was always flexible in what we did (necessary with a toddler!) we talked through how I was & my wishes & hopes & expectations – just what I needed – like a cross between a close friend & having therapy! Sas was the perfect mix of available but un intrusive – I felt she was ust there if I needed her all I had to do was reach out and she would respond – reassuring and helpful regarding all aspects of care especially breastfeeding – very helpful for me that so responsive by text – every text was so warm and encouraging and like she just knew what I needed to hear. Sas is warm and wise – she was a fountain of strength and knowledge. She got me immediately and reflected back and clarified my own wishes in such an empowering way that really helped me feel confident in doing things the way I wanted. The perfect mix of being real and human with her own experience and knowledge but being careful to never give advise – very relaxed easy style that made me feel comfortable straight away and like I had known her a long time. Thank you!” (Anon, Haywards Heath) “I was very lucky to be able to have Sas as a doula when my first baby born especially that I was absolutely alone and without any experience. I needed emotional and practical support. She is very experienced, kind and calm lady which helped me to be a calm mother too. She kindly gave me much practical support, also taught me how should I react and support my baby. She is very amazing doula. Definitely I recommend Sas as a doula” (Puran, Croydon)
“Sas truly works with her heart and soul, I did my initial doula training with Sas and I know she would do all she can in providing you with the best support possible as your doula! Sas has so much experience she can draw on from her experience.. and working within maternity services too. I highly recommend her as a doula!” (Eva, Brighton)
“Sas is has been an amazing doula to my family and I since my little girl was just a few weeks old. We could not recommend her highly enough; she has been of enormous practical and emotional support and my now 8 month old absolutely adores her!” (Kersty, Epsom)
“Sas is an outstanding woman and was put on this earth to love and nurture others. I would not hesitate in recommending her as a doula” (Zara, Godalming)
“Sas was my first port of call in helping my Brother and sister-in-law to find the postnatal support they were in need of. Her quiet guidance and support transformed worry and battered confidence into self-belief and empowered parenting. It was such a relief for the whole family to know our family were getting the evidence based and loving care they needed in those first tough weeks. Thanks for what you do from all of us Sas x” (Sam, Stroud)
“Sas is such a professional, caring, positive, friendly and supportive person. I felt like I knew her after a 10 minutes conversation. She is passionate about her work, and very reliable. She is obviously very experienced and I felt she was so easy to settle in my house and help us with very little direction. She also sent us lots of information regarding subjects that I wanted to know more about, breastfeeding, co-sleeping and others. Nothing was a problem, very confident with baby, lovely to be with. She made me feel like I really am the best mum for Edward and I know best. He is a healthy baby and now I am exclusively breastfeeding finally, it took a while but he is growing healthily so I really have nothing to worry about but I didn’t always felt this way. I feel very lucky to have met her and I know Edward likes her too :-)” (Isa, Lingfield) “I don’t live near to all of my family so knowing that they had some dedicated support from Sas was so valuable and reassuring.” (Tessa, Stroud) “We were lucky to be able to use Sas as a doula when we had our baby girl, Harriet, from when she was a couple of weeks old. We had been having feeding problems and I had had a difficult c-section, and we were in dire need of emotional and practical support. Sas’s help was a huge factor in helping us to cope during this difficult period. As soon as she came into our home she was a reassuring and calming presence. She managed to make me feel hopeful that I would be able to cope with being a new mum, even during the times when I was sure that this would never happen! She quickly became like one of the family and was wonderful not just with the baby and myself, but also with my husband and our cats (who were also somewhat disturbed by the upheaval of our new arrival!). I always felt completely at ease leaving Harriet in Sas’s very capable and experienced hands while I got some much needed sleep or caught up with chores. Sas was happy to help with any chores to do with Harriet, and also around the house which was fantastic. We were very reluctant to let Sas go when we found we were coping with parenthood so much better. Sas is a fantastic doula and a delightful person who has an enthusiasm and love for the world that is truly infectious; we will really miss her. We would have absolutely no reservations in recommending Sas as a doula and to entrust your family with.” (Kersty, Epsom)
“Sas has asked me to write a few words about the experience of having her work with me, and in summary it has been an absolute delight. She has helped me through the first few months of having a baby, with loving care and sensitivity. I have felt nurtured, supported and gently guided along the pathway of becoming a mother and breastfeeding my baby. It’s not always easy to have someone in your home, especially when you are feeling exhausted and emotional, but from the very first moment Sas arrived, she has been wonderful to have around. She is so helpful and easy to get along with, she thinks of what you might need before you know you need it. If you have the opportunity to have Sas helping you through your pregnancy and recovery, you are very lucky! I cannot recommend Sas highly enough.” (Natasha, Fletching) “Sassi was an amazing doula for me, she was very passionate about what she was doing to help me keep focused on bringing my son into this world safely I could not have done it without her my son has just turned 5 I will never forget the effort this lady put into making my birth that bit easier for me as I had a traumatic experience but she really kept things positive for me Thankyou so much Sassi much love – Kavan born 1/4/12” (Mo, Crawley) “…..During her training Sas’s responsibilities were to provide holistic care for women throughout their pregnancy and the postnatal period at home. Sas showed considerable talent in being able to listen, empathise and support women through their concerns and difficulties, such as pregnancy concerns, breastfeeding, and newborn baby concerns with sleep and skin care. She always listened to their concerns and supported them with the utmost respect through any difficulties they may have whilst giving them the skills and confidence to grow as parents. Sas has excellent communication skills and is able to communicate with people on many levels. She has the ability to converse in a way that enables women to feel comfortable to ask any question that is bothering her without feeling silly or judged. This non-judgemental approach that Sas has will enable women and their family have the best experience possible be that with the birth or gaining skills as new parents. Sas has shown commitment during her training, even in the event of adversity, she has also shown patience and stamina and does not give up when things get tough. I would happily recommend Sas as a doula, maternity nurse or nanny and believe she will be an asset to anyone needing these skills.” (Tania Pearce (Registered Midwife), Sussex)
“…During our time together, Sas demonstrated her extremely sensitive, caring and nurturing nature. At all times, I found her to be honest, dependable and conscientious. She took pride in listening to the needs of our clients and their family, to aid in providing the best possible experience for them. Sas consistently wanted to ensure that she gained as much experience and knowledge as possible. Due to the above, our clients and their families were always complementary of the care they had received from Sas, grateful for the time and consideration she had shown to them. She was also always compassionate towards her colleagues, working well within the team.” (Heather Dewhurst (Registered Midwife), Surrey)
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Sas for over 30 years. She has always been a part of our family life and helped out during times of need. I have four children myself, two of which are the same age as Sas’s two eldest children, we were pregnant together and our children spent a lot of their younger childhood years in each others company. I returned to work and on various occasions throughout the years and Sas has been our childminder. The children have loved spending time in her company and she has always been a big part of their lives. They still now call upon her for advice and support or just a listening ear. More recently I have had another two children and Sas proved once again invaluable with her advice on everything from eating healthily to breast feeding. Sas supported me after both births which were C-section, both emotionally and physically she was an extraordinary help. I particularly needed support as both births had been under general anaesthetic, this made breast feeding a real challenge, however Sas is very holistic in her approach which is wonderful, often offering an alternative viewpoint, she is always able to listen and offer advice never forcing her own beliefs. Sas is honest and trustworthy, thoughtful and loyal. Being a Doula is a role that utilises the valuable life skills that she has acquired over the years, and I know that she will give her best in whatever task is asked of her.” (Rose, Rochester)
“Sas helped us on a couple of occasions, one of which was at extremely short notice, to look after our newborn premature baby when we had an engagement we could not cancel. With her calm and professional approach she immediately inspired confidence and we were very happy to leave our son in her care. When we returned she was carrying him in a sling, having successfully managed to feed him with a bottle (something we hadn’t yet tried as I was exclusively breast feeding), and gave us a very good report of how he had been. Our friends and family who met her commented on how lovely she was and we couldn’t help but agree. Her approach is gentle but confident, perfect attributes for the person you would entrust with a young baby. I highly recommend Sas and hope we will be able to use her again in the future.” (Catherine, London)
“…Sas is an intelligent, capable, dedicated and personable woman. She is quick on her feet, and sensible in all situations I have seen her in. I am confident in saying she is capable of handling any situation with thoughtfulness and in a very level-headed and trustworthy manner.” (Lisa, Frimley)
“In the time that I have known Sas, she has always demonstrated a tremendous capacity for focusing on the requirements of her clients/customers and finding pro-active solutions to potential problems that may arise. It was these very evident skills that led me to request Sas assist with the setting up of my company which in the two years since has exceeded all expectations and continues to grow. I credit a large amount of its success to the emotional support, encouragement and organisational skills that Sas brought with her into this role. Sas has exceptional people skills and a natural presence around people that both calms and relaxes those around her whilst also maintaining a much required sense of humour at appropriate times. One of Sas’s clear strengths is her ability to demonstrate levels of empathy and nurturing that provide comfort and reassurance to those who come into contact with her, both clients and colleagues alike. I would not hesitate to recommend Sas for any role, in particular those that bring out Sas’s natural people skills and her ability to make those around her feel both understood and empowered. Sas has a natural gift in this respect and I feel very fortunate to have benefitted from working alongside her.” (Jonathan Pyle (Founder of the Purple Teapot Puppet Company), Dorking)
“Sas has always possessed a kind and caring nature and been ready to help people in anyway she can whether it be listening to them, talking or just giving her time regardless of who they are or their age. Sas is always interested in meeting people and positive in her approach at building new relationships with them. Sas has a long-term passion for new mothers/parents, wanting to work alongside them and enable them the tools to feel empowered in confident in their approach to parenting. Personally, Sas helped me so much when my children we babies, making feel comfortable in my parental choices and formed a loving bond with my children. She is extremely honest and tenacious and is a wonderful person for new/first time parents to work with and gain their trust.” (Lisa, Warnham)
“Sas has worked with our family for over six months… Sas is always charming and a delight to have around. She is punctual and reliable and we very much enjoying having her working with us.” (Louisa, Cuckfield)
“…Sas loves helping people and is a very caring person. She helps me to undress in the evenings and I always look forward to her coming to visit me. I never worry because I know she won’t let me down. I don’t know what I’d do without her….” (Vera (age 92), Crawley)
“..Sas is responsible, organised and quick thinking, she has a versatile, hands-on skill set with both a creative and practical eye. She works well as part of team but can also work just as competently under her own initiative and independently…” (Mimi Banks (Co-Director @ Home Live Art), Brighton)
“I haven’t seen Sas in over 13 years and I still regard her as one of the most loving and caring women I know. Anyone who is fortunate enough to spend time with her will reap the rewards for years to come.” (Patrick, Canada)