Birth & Postnatal Doula
“IF A DOULA WERE A DRUG, IT WOULD BE UNETHICAL NOT TO USE IT”
Dr John Kennell
Birth Doula
What is a Birth Doula?
As birth becomes ever more medicalised there is far less continuity of care. A doula is a valuable support during the antenatal period and through the birth itself, enabling parents to make informed choices about their care, signposting relevant research based information and being a reassuring presence.
As a Birth Doula I not only attend your birth, but help the pregnant woman and her partner make informed decisions in the weeks leading up to the birth. I’m an advocate, a cheerleader and put the parents and their choices at the centre of all I do.
Pregnancy can bring a wealth of anxieties and I believe that whilst birth is special; having the right support by your side is crucial in minimising these anxieties as well as reminding you how empowering birth can be.
My knowledge and continuous supportive presence provides much needed calm to clients and their partners at this most vulnerable time of your lives inspiring confidence in the woman’s ability to give birth and helps reduce fear of the unknown.
Postnatal Doula
What is a Postnatal Doula?
As a Postnatal Doula I attend your home in the first six weeks post birth to help you adjust to the new parenting challenges.
Be that feeding support, understanding sleep expectations, physical and emotional recovery from birth, sitting on your sofa listening to your birth experience, helping you with basic domestic chores, holding the baby whilst you shower or sleep, playing with older children, making family meals, support with breastfeeding counselling, formula feeding, encouraging good mental and physical health recovery.
My presence brings continuous support and much needed calm to the family at this transformative time; inspiring confidence in your ability to parent, helping reduce the overwhelming emotions, understanding the biological norms of baby behaviours as well as easing the life changing experience of parenting.
It's been reported
A succession of reports in major medical journals have shown that the presence of a Doula can:
- Shorten labour by several hours
- Halve the need for caesarean and forceps deliveries
- Reduce the need for use of painkillers and epidurals
- Ensure a more positive mental experience for the parents
The benefits go on.....
Women who have had Doulas present at their births:
- Are more confident of their ability to birth their baby
- Show higher self esteem about their labour
- Are less likely to have postnatal depression
- Feel more confident in understanding their new baby’s needs
Success in numbers
The continuous support of a birth doula can help achieve the following:
- 25% shorter labour
- 30% reduction in analgesia use
- 40% reduction in synthetic oxytocin use
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery
- 50% reduction in the caesarean rate
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993
Next Steps
Enquiry Form
If you would like to talk to be about birth or postnatal doula then please complete the form below and I will email you.
If you wanted to do some more reading then please click on the book now buttons below. I would not expect you to make a payment until we have had your free 30 min consultation and I have confirmed dates with you.
Last Step
How to book
I would only expect you to make payment once we have had our 30 mins free consultation and we have confirmed dates for the diary.
Once you have received my confirmation email then you are free to make payment here. If you wish to do some more reading on both services then please use the book now options below.
Birth Doula
Includes
- 2 antenatal appointments to discuss your pregnancy care & your choices
- A dedicated WhatsApp chat to ask me any questions from the time of booking until 6 weeks post birth;
- 2 weeks on call either side of your due date – 14 days before your due date until 14 days after your due date
- Dedicated care from the time needed in labour until you’re happy for me to leave post birth.
- If breastfeeding, I won’t leave until we are all satisfied that you are breastfeeding happily
- 1 postnatal appointment at your home within 2 weeks post birth to discuss the birth and to ensure you have any early parenting questions answered. This can include breastfeeding support
- Free access to me on WhatsApp, email, phone until 6 weeks postnatally.
Price £1000
Postnatal Doula
Includes
- 20 hours postnatal care within six weeks after birth
- Your flexibility of how to use the hours. Anything from 0-4 hours a day (weekdays only from 10-3pm)
- Help with older children
- Basic parenting chores eg laundry, washing up, tidying kitchen, making up formula bottles, changing nappies, helping parents learn basic parenting skills
- Holding the baby whilst mum showers / sleeps / connects with older children
- Making meals for the family
- Feeding support
- Listening to parents and helping them adjust to new parenting experiences
- Dedicated care from the time needed postnatally until either 20 hours are used or if additional hours you’re happy for me to leave.
- If breastfeeding, I will support you to breastfeed comfortably and help iron out any early issues
- Free access to me on WhatsApp, email, phone until our time is up.
Price: £900
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Breastfeeding Counsellor
I have been supporting parents since 2014. As an experienced breastfeeding counsellor I can help with all areas of feeding. Be that the basics of good position and attachment, understanding feeding cues, explaining a baby’s development and sleep behaviour, helping with any problems, signposting to a local infant feeding team and am happy to show you how to introduce bottles and keep the baby feeding responsively and contently.