Mama-Bear Doula
Are you looking for a better birth?
Every women should feel safe and supported during pregnancy and birth to make informed choices.
Someone to listen to them, and empower them.
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to woman who is pregnant, in labour, or has recently given birth.
What is a Doula?
Doula" (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver". It now refers to an experienced woman who offers nonclinical, emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. A doula believes in “mothering the mother” - enabling a woman to have the most satisfying and empowered time during pregnancy, birth and the early days as a new mum. This type of support also helps the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience.Doulas support women and families in all kinds of situations. Where they choose to give birth is up to the mother. It can be at home or in midwife-led units, consultant-led units or birth centres. Doulas do not take a clinical role, but instead work alongside midwives and doctors, Neither are they hired in place of clinical support. They do not advise, instead they offer support to a woman to find balanced information in order to make informed choices in her pregnancy, labour and birth.
The services offered by a doula can vary greatly according to not only the needs of the woman, couple or family that she is working with but also what other complementary skills the Doula is qualified in, such as teaching hypnobirthing or offering holistic therapies.
Birth Doulas provide continuous support, for women and couples, through pregnancy, labour and birth and during the immediate postnatal time. Postnatal Doulas provide practical and emotional postnatal support for new mothers and families in their own homes.
Whilst doulas are not there to change outcomes in birth but rather to support a woman as her birth journey unfolds, there is evidence to support that having a birth or postnatal doula can have positive benefits such as: reducing intervention rates, shortening labour, reducing postnatal depression and improving the condition of babies at birth.
Having a Doula improves many outcomes
You can find statistics that provide evidence to support the claim that having a Doula reduces the use of opiate drugs, epidurals (20%) , forceps, caesarean birth (15%), increases the rate of natural birth (45%), increases the rate of a vaginal birth following a previous caesarean birth (70%). MIDIRS JOURNAL. June 2009.
Statistics are extracted from 165 survey forms returned totalling, 735 births attended by members of DOULA UK.
Mama Bear to 6 cubs
Birth-Keeper
I am a mama-bear to six beautiful cubs and one angel cub. I have also fostered a number of children. My journey through motherhood has undoubtedly inspired my route into the Doula world.
I trained with Red Tent Doulas in 2016, following my university graduation where I achieved a first class with honours degree in social policy. Wherever possible I tailored assignments to pregnancy and birth and my dissertation focused on women’s perceptions of choice during pregnancy and birth in Greater Manchester and analysing policies on maternity care. The difference between policy and practice is significant and as a Doula I pledge to support you to understand the guidelines and adapt them to your own personal circumstances and journey. On a personal level, I am passionate about women having a positive birth experience, whether that be at home, in hospital, or in a birthing unit. I am highly organised, intuitive and attentive to a woman’s needs, and an empath. I pride myself on being able to hold space for women and listen.
If you want a Doula to:
help you prepare for one, if not the most, important event in your life
to care for you in the remainder of your pregnancy, birth and beyond
assist you with positions and breathing
support your partner to do as much as they feel comfortable doing
help you to explore your choices on any subject matter relating to birth and parenting
support you in your transition into parenting
support you while you look back at your birth experiences (past and present)
help you establish breastfeeding or other feeding options
then I am there....
My Services
What I Offer
Antenatal preparation
As part of your birth package I will offer you two antenatal visits at your home. These are good opportunities to discuss your wishes and devise a birth plan. I will also be available to chat via email, text, and phone throughout your pregnancy. This service is available as part of the Birth Package only.
Birth
I will be on 24/7 call from week 37 to 42. During this time I promise to be available and contactable at all times and be no further that one hour away from your home (depending on distance). I will attend your birth and stay with you throughout.
Postnatal Care
Many years ago in the 1960's when many women gave birth at home it was common to have a Home Help who visited very day for a week or two weeks after the birth. These women were an important factor in allowing the new mother time to relax and enjoy those first few precious weeks and I liken the Postnatal Doula of today, in part, with that image in my mind.
Breastfeeding Support
Infant feeding support
Positioning and attachment
Normal breastfed baby behaviours
Expressing
This service is available as part of the Birth or Postnatal Package only.
Library
I have an extensive library of books that are from reputable sources. They are available to loan for all my clients. This service is available as part of the Birth or Postnatal Package only.
Babywearing
I am awaiting training to be a babywearing peer supporter with the school of babywearing. However, I have been using slings since my first son was born in 2000 and I have a collection for you to look at and I can provide basic information on the benefits of babywearing. I can also signpost you to local sling libraries and specialist babywearing consultants. This service is available as part of the Birth or Postnatal Package only.
Cloth Nappies
I have been using cloth nappies for 8 years, on 4 of my children. I can talk you through the different types and discuss how they can work for you. I can also signpost you to local nappy libraries.
This service is available as part of the Birth or Postnatal Package only.
Fees
Birth Package
Two antenatal visits
Antenatal Education
Library Service
Birth preparation and plan
Email, text, telephone support
On call from 37- 42 weeks
Two postnatal visits of 2 hours.
Antenatal total £150
on-call total £150
birth total £240
postnatal £60
total cost £600
£300 deposit upon booking (non-refundable)
£300 payable by the end of week 37
Postnatal Package
Minimum of twenty hours support
Infant feeding support
Emotional support
Meal preparation
Childcare
Light cleaning
Cloth nappies
Babywearing
£280 for the twenty hours, then £14 per hour afterwards, and £21 per hour after 7pm and weekends.
Mileage charged at 50p per mile for return journeys over 4 miles.
non - refundable deposit of £100 payable at the time of booking and the remainder is payable after each session, equivalent to the hourly rate.
“Good beginnings make a positive difference in the world, so it is worth our while to provide the best possible care for mothers and babies throughout this extraordinarily influential part of life.”
“If a woman doesn’t look like a goddess during labor, then someone isn’t treating her right.”
Ina May Gaskin
Areas Covered
Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire
Within one hour of Wigan and Leigh
