My fiancé works away in Ireland for part of the week and I was also scared that he may not be present for some or all of the birth, depending on timing. When I looked further into what a doula did, it gave us everything we needed, plus additional support. We looked on Doula UK and found Helen. We contacted her and she seemed really friendly and after meeting her, we definitely decided that a doula was the right thing for us and Helen was the right person. She made me feel at ease, was really easy to talk to and helped me feel more positive about the birth experience. We had a couple of prenatal meetings where we talked about my wishes for the birth and how Helen could help achieve this. She was never judgemental or expressed her personal opinion on anything but simply listened to my wishes to understand how she could fit in with them.
She was also available to call or email outside the prenatal sessions and also loaned me some books to read.
During the labour itself, Helen was very calming, both to myself and to my fiancé. She worked really well with the midwives and they seemed to welcome her being there. She encouraged me every step of the way and explained things to me when I needed it. She took photos (as we had previously agreed) at various points. She also gave me acupuncture during the labour (again, as discussed previously) which was something I had never tried before. Helen also stayed with us for a while after the birth, but was mindful of leaving us when needed so we could enjoy the special moments with our newborn. I would definitely have a doula again and would definitely choose Helen, fingers crossed she'd be available! - Sue
We initially looked into having a doula at the birth as an 'insurance policy' as I work abroad 3 days a week and there was no guarantee I could make it back to be there for the entire birth at short notice.
Having met Helen we both felt she was a good fit in terms of providing a calming influence during the birth and not 'pushing' her own opinions re the birth plan. After a couple of prenatal meetings we both felt at ease with her and felt she would be ideal in facilitating a positive birth experience on the day. During the birth Helen brought a very calm and reassuring presence to the room and worked well with the midwives who were only too happy to have her there. She provided acupuncture for pain relief for my fiancé during the labour and stayed for a few hours after the birth to ensure everyone was settling well.
I would have no hesitation in having Helen as our doula again and would recommend her to anybody considering going down this path during labour. -Keith
"Helen was there with me from the start of my labour and comforted me. Owing to my health conditions, my birth experience had every potential to turn into a traumatic experience; a slow labour, NHS protocols. Because of Helen and her constant support throughout and presence, that I have had the best possible birth experience." -Amy
"After a traumatic first birth, I knew I needed extra support for my second. We also wanted someone who would value and involve Dad and who had respect and consideration for midwives too. Ticking these boxes made the hiring decision easy, and she then brought so much more to the table...Helen's knowledge, experience and instincts were absolutely invaluable during my pregnancy and homebirth. It was so helpful having someone who actually knew me and my backstory to chat through questions and concerns as I navigated what was quite a triggering maternity care journey. The antenatal prep was brilliant and helped rebuild my confidence. It also helped my husband and I build a strong foundation of trust and communication and we then felt prepared for the birth no matter what turn it took.
During my labour and birth, Helen was a calm presence and she had a sixth sense for what was needed. She gave me so much confidence because there was trust and I knew she'd have my back no matter what. She and my husband worked as a team. She held space. She helped smooth what was a painful, business-like 3rd stage. I felt safe and heard throughout - it was such a positive, empowering and healing experience. I cannot thank Helen enough and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula."-Megan