Your informed choices and wishes should be central to your experience. I can help you to to navigate maternity services and get the best, well-rounded care. My focus is to provide you with informational and emotional support through your pregnancy and to reinforce this with advocacy, emotional and physical support throughout your labour and in the post partum period. I am a specialist women's health practitioner using the natural methods of homeopathy, herbal medicine, massage and yoga. I can also help to remind you of your awesome power when you may have forgotten it is there. I see in women who have achieved an empowering childbirth experience (whatever they view that to be) a confidence, which they carry into their parenting and every area of their lives. Babies born in loving and peaceful circumstances to empowered, informed and well-supported mothers, have the best possible start on their journey to becoming confident, secure adults. It is my intention as a birth doula to facilitate this using the knowledge, skills and experience I have accumulated both in my training and in my own parenting life. As a mother to two daughters, I have a passion for helping transform the birthing world into one where women feel safe, and experience their births as empowering and expansive. I am  fully qualified and insured to deliver homeopathy and herbal medicine as well as nutrition and bodywork. I am holistic in approach recognising how the 'wholeness' of women impacts on their birthing, their parenting and their identity. I am experienced in working with clients with a history of trauma. I have supported home births, water births, C Section and VBAC births in labour wards and birth centres within Homerton, Whittington, UCH, Barnet, Royal Free, Portland, North Middlesex, St Thomas's, Whipp's Cross, Hillingdon and Royal London Hospitals. My approach as a doula is to be adaptable, well-informed, pragmatic and highly sensitive to the unique needs of each parent I work with. I am constantly updating my knowledge and refining my approach to ensure I support pregnancy in the best way possible. I like to think my love for birth and greeting new life shines through in my work and the relationships I build with my clients. Additional Training: Vaginal Steam Facilitator - I am trained to administer bespoke herbal blends for vaginal steaming in the pre-conception, and post partum periods. Steaming with appropriate herbs can help accelerate healing and elimination, reduce post partum bleeding, improve uterine tone, help hormonal equilibrium and help to prevent and heal infections. It is also deeply healing and restorative on an emotional level helping to address trauma in the body. 'Spinning Babies' - Techniques to encourage optimal foetal positioning and descent to help achieve a comfortable, quick and effective labour. 'Closing the Bones' a post-partum massage technique intended to help re-align the pelvis following childbirth and bring emotional closure to the pregnancy and labour. When Survivors Give Birth - Specialist training in supporting birthing women who have experienced sexual abuse. Embodying Social Justice - recognising and working to reverse the trauma of members of subjugated groups and the impact of this on physical health and wellbeing Somatic Awareness - An approach which recognises how trauma can be carried in the tissues of our bodies to impact our experiences, and how to work with these to live a freer, more connected life. Acupressure for Labour - a modality using specific points on the body to help relaxation and pain relief Yoga for Pelvic Health - Supporting post partum recovery  and ongoing reproductive health

Testimonials

“I wanted a Doula for the birth of our first child together, but my husband ruled it out saying he didn’t want a ‘stranger’ present at the birth. As it was my first pregnancy, I decided to ‘go with the flow’, yet my lack of awareness about the intricacies of birth, especially my birth rights, meant I was fearful and disempowered during labour. When we fell pregnant again over two years later, my husband and I both agreed that working with a Doula would be a good idea. I am so glad I came across Vicky’s kind face in an online search. Seconds after meeting her in person, I knew she would be present at the birth of our baby, empowering and supporting me every step of the way. Nothing was too much for Vicky during the run up to our daughter’s birth. She provided a kind ear, a warm heart and tonnes of great, practical advice that saw me approach birth with confidence and excitement. She gave me a beautiful treatment a month or so before my due date where she brought all kinds of wonderful items, including affirmations and a homeopathic remedy, that were all geared to preparing me for the birth I wanted. On the night I went into labour, things moved much quicker than expected - with just 90 minutes of established labour (and not much forewarning of that!). We had to call an ambulance, as our baby’s head was already starting to show as I was making my way down the stairs! Vicky arrived at the same time as the ambulance and hers the voice I tuned into most during Tegan’s birth. Her calm dulcet tones of pure love and encouragement helped me feel strong and empowered at every stage - especially as I was having an unexpected home birth, with 4 paramedics present. Our baby was born safely and Vicky came with us to the hospital to ensure that all was well as I went on to deliver the placenta. I can’t thank Vicky enough for bringing such wonderful female energy and wisdom to my pregnancy, daughter’s birth, and beyond when I was struggling to breastfeed. I would recommend working with a Doula to anyone who wants to feel completely empowered during their pregnancy and birth. It was one of the best decisions we made, and I only wish I had stuck to my guns the first time round.” - Rosie Cuff. "From our very first meeting, I knew that Vicky was the right doula for me. When she came my house for the initial meeting, she exuded an aura of friendliness, warmth and calmness and we hit if off straightaway. What also made her stand out was that she offers homeopathy, rebozo, massage therapy and various other natural treatments throughout the pregnancy period. Vicky met up with me regularly through the pregnancy, during which time she helped with my birth plan, birthing positions, breathing techniques and performed some reflexology – all of which helped me bond well with her. This also provided a good solid foundation between us, that would be so necessary for when I went into labour. She is also extremely knowledgable and experienced, having been there for so many births, and this was a great source of comfort for me. Having Vicky by my side throughout  my labour made a huge difference and really helped me get through the pain and stress barrier – she gave me just the right amount of (emotional and general) support, reassurance, motivation and comfort. She was simply fantastic. She turned my birth experience into one of the most positive experiences of my life. Vicky helped me believe in myself and I managed to give birth completely naturally and without any significant medical intervention. Because of this, I can actually put this birth down as one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. Also, during the labour, Vicky’s presence was always very reassuring and she guided us (me and my husband) about what to do at the various stages, but in a manner that always left me feeling in control – she completely respected any decisions I made during the labour. Vicky will always hold a very special place in our hearts." Divya Mehta Shah

 

 

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! for walking my path with me and helping me create the most precious environment from which I was able to birth Barney. I can't begin to express how 'backed-up' I felt in the lead up to the birth, knowing I had a wise goddess to support me. I was proud of our relationship and my choices. Your intuition was spot on, your words were few but wise. You have given me memories I will hold forever of the most mindful and beautiful birthing."

 

"In the run-up to the birth Vicky was incredibly supportive and drew on her knowledge and expertise as a homeopath and nutritionist which is exactly what I wanted. She is sympathetic, attentive, positive and learned and I greatly appreciated and valued her support. She was incredibly respectful of my wishes and played a huge role in creating and maintaining a calm, sacred space.

Thank you Vicky - you were fantastic!"

Angie Litvinoff

  Post-natal Support I offer treatment packages for healing and convalescence in the fourth trimester to address mother and infant health. My intention is to support the natural processes of bonding , breast-feeding, neo-natal development and physical and emotional nourishment and the delicate process of establishing and nurturing this powerful new relationship. I bring my skills in natural health and nutrition, holistic parenting as well as specialist bodywork and herbs to aid post-natal recovery. I am relaxed, flexible and adaptable and happy to work with families from many different backgrounds, faiths and lifestyles.