“What are the benefits of having a Doula?
- 50% reduction in caesarean rate
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery”
“Why would I need I doula if I have a birthing companion already?”
I support both you and your birthing partner. Its tricky to navigate the protocols of birth when in the thick of it! I help to simplify things. I provide support for you and your partner in the run up to the birth so you feel informed and confident. With the experience of having attended over 50 births, the guidance and reassurance can make birth a truly different experience.
My role as a Doula
I support and protect your birthing space. We talk about your vision of how you would like your birth to be and we work out how to best make it manifest. We meet to go through your birth preferences, I provide the information, the pros and cons and I support the decisions that you make. This is your birth and no one can tell you otherwise. The ball is in your court. Always. I support your choices and suggest ways to make the best of them.
You’re amazing! You have grown your baby inside you, and with that same innate wisdom, you will bring that baby into the world too!
Where do we go from here?
Let’s meet for a chat and cuppa where I’ll tell you more of what you need to know and in your own time, you decide it you’d like me to be your doula. If we go ahead, we would arrange a time to meet for an in-depth 2.5hr factual session to go through the birth preferences, tips and techniques to use before and during birth and air any concerns. We pick those worries apart and so often they are based on fear or misinformation and hold no ground.
This session is to reassure you, get to know each other and make sure you’re informed about all aspects of birth. The goal is you leave feeling excited, worry-free and supported!
During the 2.5hr factual session we will cover:
- Your birth preferences
- Information regarding all aspects of birth, both natural and medical
- Birth positions
- Go through any fears or concerns
- Tips and techniques on how to help make birth swift and effective
- Ways to avoid unnecessary medical intervention, and if there is any, how to make the best of it
- Breastfeeding
- Helpful techniques for the partner to use to assist and reassure you
- Informative videos - such as the importance of waiting at least 5mins before cutting the cord
“Doulas are there to listen, give confidence and not judge. They offer flexible, practical and emotional support in homes and hospitals throughout the UK ”
“How does the Doula Service Work?”
I will be 'on call' from 10 days before your due date to 2 weeks after. You can call, text or email me at anytime and I will be on standby for you! I would expect you to get in touch if there was anything bothering you and update me with midwife appointments.
Early Stages - You would let me know if your waters break or feel the beginnings of surges. From this point we would be touch initially by phone and then when things were established and progressed, I would stay with you.
During Labour - I help reassure both you and your partner, reduce fear of the unknown by explaining what stage you’re at, what to expect and suggest techniques to help make the birth more comfortable.
We work as a team. You, your birthing partner, the baby and midwife. I am as much a support to the birth partner and baby as the mother. I inform the birth partner what is happening and what your needs might be. I protect the baby’s peace by guiding parents to make informed choices and reminding to wait before clamping the cord, facilitating skin on skin.
During surges I suggest things you can do to help and a bring together your ’surge routine’. Whether mothers have practiced Hypnobirthing or not, I help guide them to use their breath and listen to their body. I use Shiatsu massage, acupressure and a Homeopathy kit.
After Birth - I stay with you for couple of hours after the birth, or until you are all settled. I then visit you a few days later and offer general guidance and help for you and your newborn. We discuss the birth and it gives you both an opportunity to share your experience and to clarify each stage of the birth in retrospect. It can feel like such a whirlwind - this part can be really nice - but also important! There is also an optional second visit.
I aim to be a guardian to the birth experience, a support to both parents, make it the best birth possible and take the pressure off…Enjoy.
“If I don’t know my options, I don’t have any”
“Feeling supported enabled me to surrender to the birthing process and trust that my body knew what to do”
“Stina helped us look forward to the birth with confidence and excitement.” - J & W Forbes
(ps - that’s me with a beautiful newborn!)