If you are expecting the arrival of a new baby, you have taken the first steps towards ensuring that your pregnancy and birth is calm, confident and supported.

I trained as a doula with the wonderful Valerie Goedkoop at Nuturing Birth, and I am also an experienced HypnoBirthing practitioner, and so am able to help you achieve your best possible birthing experience.

I hope you find the information here helpful.  If you would like to know more or would like to discuss some of the options open to you, contact me by phone or email and I will be pleased to talk it through.  And do have a quick look at the following photos of Kelly and baby Mia.

Jon, Kelly and Baby Mia's Birth

I met Jon and Kelly in September of 2009.  After spending a couple of hours chatting, they decided that they wanted to hire me for HypnoBirthing classes and also as their Birth Doula. Their first baby was due in January 2010.

We met for the four HypnoBirthing classes, and so by the time we met up for the first of the two Doula antenatal appointments, we already had got to know each other pretty well.  During these meetings we discussed what Jon and Kelly hoped for during the birth of their baby - what was important to them, and how I would support them both during the birth.

Although Kelly always wanted a home birth, she booked into a midwife led unit.  However after talking to it through with me and then a very supportive midwife, Kelly decided that she would go for the home birth she had always truly wanted.

Early on January 13th 2010, Kelly started her birthing - very gentle contractions that she described as no more than uncomfortable.  About 8pm she felt that the contractions were changing, but when the midwife came out to check on her she was only about 1cm dilated.  She rang me to say that she was going to go to bed to sleep and that she would probably ring me in the morning for me to go and join her and Jon.

A couple of hours later and Jon rang to say that Kelly's waters had broken and that things were moving.  I jumped in the car and headed through the snow (luckily the roads were clear) to their home, arriving just after the midwife.  And at 12 minutes past midnight of the 14th January, Baby Mia arrived in the world.  Good job Kelly and Jon!



Kelly and Mia
Mia's first breastfeed, about 30 minutes old


The first family photo
- Jon, Kelly and Mia

Staring into Grandma's eyes as Mia is dressed, whilst Mum has bath
- about an hour old.


Mum bathed, Mia dressed
- time for a nap!


Mia having a bath, 4 weeks old,
- in her tummy tub

http://www.nurturingbirth.co.uk