Shirley Stump

About Me

Hello My name is Shirley and I live in Fernhurst, West Sussex with my husband and our four daughters. My work has always revolved around babies, I have always been passionate about supporting women. I gave birth to my first two babies in hospital, third baby at home and fourth baby was a home birth/transfer into hsopital. With my third birth I practiced hypnobirthing and found it made such a positive difference that I trained as Hypnobirth teacher with Katharine Graves and have been teaching since 2012. Although my fourth baby I transferred into hospital I found my Hypnobirthing practice helped keep me calm to make the eight decisions for me and my baby and overall it was a positive experience.

Having had four babies I understand how each birth and baby is an individual experience. Each baby has different needs. With a little encouragement from a wonderful doula friend I took that step and trained with Nurturing Birth (fantastic course) in November 2014. I am so happy to be a Doula and really enjoy supporting women on their birth journey into motherhood and beyond. Music, birth, babies and family are my passion Birth to me is an amazing moment in a womens life, every woman deserves to be nurtured, informed, respected and supported during this time. If every woman receives this kind of care no matter what path her birth takes she will have a positive and empowering experience.

I support women to understand her birth options and to feel their informed choices are supported. I want her to feel calm, happy, nurtured and confident. I love playing music, dancing, walking through the woods, walking my dogs, running, gardening, cooking and spending time with family and friends. Please feel free to give me a ring and have a chat. Shirley x  

I am a Trainee ABM Breastfeeding Counsellor Sound Healing Practitioner March 2018 Indian Head Massage Sep 2017 Closing Ceremony and Massage 2017, 2019, 2020 (2019/2020 with Dr Rocío Alarcón) Birth Trauma Rewind Technique 2016 Reiki Master July 2016 Sara Wickham Study Day 2016 Story Massage FHT accredited Feb 2016 Rebozo workshop Nov 2015 Reiki 2 September 2015 Developing Spirituality in Birth 2015 Reiki 1 June 2015 Nurturing Birth Doula Course November 2014 Waterbirth Study Day with Dianne GarlandSRN RM ADM PGCEA MSc 31st October 2014 Michel Odent Study Day Birth and the Future of Homosapiens 1st March 2014 Sheila Kitzinger Study Day 2013 Registered Hypnobirthing Practitioner Teacher Training Course Trained with Katharine Graves July 2012 Hypnobirthing 🙂 I absolutely love hypnobirthing, I have birthed without it, dabbled in it and made it part of my pregnancy. My last birth although my longest was enjoyable. It was such a wonderful experience that I then trained to become a hypnobirth teacher with Katharine Graves in 2012. What I enjoyed most from hypnobirthing was being able to get myself into a deeply relaxed state and able to tune into my body and baby. Instead of looking out and feeling vulnerable needing others, I felt so in control and could go into myself really working with my body. Every woman has what they need to birth their baby but hypnobirthing helps you get rid of what you don’t need. Being a mother I feel being a mother is wonderful and valuable expererience. Having birthed in hospital and home I feel I could help a woman create a positive birthing environment no matter where she chooses to birth. I breastfed my daughters and happy to support a woman breastfeed or however she chooses. Having four children has showed me that no two babies are the same and they all have individual needs, so I know the importance of an open mind and heart.

My Birth Support, I am currently able to work as part of shared care with another Doula or more. This is actually really helpful for clients as it means they get a huddle of love from two or more doulas and can access all the different services and skills they offer. 

My postnatal support availability is currently Monday and Wednesday 9.30am – 11.30am and Tuesdays is 11.30am – 2.30pm. These hours will increase from January 2022.

Supporting you practically and emotionally following your flow, offering non judgemental support helping navigate those early months of transition, Whether its your first time becoming a parent or having more children –  every mother/person deserves to be surrounded with love, support and understanding.

From practical support in the home to cooking you delicious nutritious food and “feel good” food (who doesn’t like cake and rocky road?) to helping with feeding, to creating a cosy nest for you to rest in, to being totally present for you whether its to listen or just be there.

The postnatal period to me is such an important time that really sets us up and the more rest, good food, love and support we receive it pays off long term emotionally and physically. I also offer treatments that clients enjoy such as relaxing massage, closing ceremony massage and other useful and helpful therapies such as the Rewind Technique.