With You All The Way

Birth Doula

As a Birth Doula, what can I do for you?

"Once my labour started, at 42+5, Helen showed up with tenderness and compassion and she walked alongside my partner and I in the long journey leading to the birth of my son. She offered us unconditional support, love and care, not once did I feel judged or not listened to. Helen’s presence allowed my partner to focus exclusively on helping me, as we both trusted her and felt safe knowing that she was holding space for us. She did a fantastic job of helping my labour proceed with as few interruptions as possible. Helen was instrumental in making me feel empowered through difficult medical and practical decisions I had to make during my labour. Immediately after birth, despite what was going on around me, Helen ensured that my child stayed as close as possible to me at all times.

Helen did a great balancing act of providing support for me, my partner, and our son, ensuring that I understood the implications of all that was going on, providing an extra hand when needed, and staying out of the way when appropriate. She offered drinks and nibbles throughout, she took pictures, she looked after my partner, holding me and supporting me whilst my partner took a nap. She was truly amazing and I cannot thank her enough for helping me achieve a positive, empowering birth." -Susi

Understanding

Understand the physiology of birth and what may affect it
Appreciate and support your emotional and physical needs as a labouring woman
Acknowledge that birth is an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life

Preparation

Assist in preparing for and carrying out your informed decisions for birth
Discuss and understand your thoughts and concerns about the birthing process, with reference to past births
Together create a plan that works for you to bring you in contact with the power and rest of physiological labour
Provide objective information and signposting

Continuous support

Provide continuous support from whenever you call and stay with you throughout the labour and birth
Provide emotional support, comfort measures and objectivity where needed
Facilitate communication between you, your partner and clinical care givers, maintaining contact and reference with the wishes you laid out in your birth plan
Work with and fully support your partner in their role throughout the stages of antenatal, labour and birth

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

The Evidence for Doulas

In 2012, Hodnett, E. D., et al published a Cochrane review of 22 trials including more than 15,000 women

Hodnett, E. D., et al (2012) Continuous support for women during childbirth: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012; 10: CD003766

This research demonstrated that women who had continuous support throughout their births had a:

31% decrease in the use of synthetic oxytocin use to augment their labour
28% decrease in the risk of C-section
12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
9% decrease in medications for pain relief use
14% decrease in the risk of their newborn being admitted to a special care
34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience

Acupuncture during labour and birth

Should you wish, I am in a unique position to be also able to offer you acupuncture/ acupressure during your labour. I am also able to demonstrate to your partner a selection of points to help you work together in your labour.

I have found acupuncture to be useful and some cases pivotal in providing care during labour and birth. It is able to facilitate effective contractions, ease pain and anxiety, boost energy, assist in fetal positioning and descent, and prevent the need for manual removal of the placenta/ active management when delivery of the placenta is delayed.

Recent research demonstrates that intrapartum acupuncture

decreases the time of the first and second stages of labour
eases pain
reduces the use of augmentation
reduces the incidence of assisted delivery and c-section
improves maternal satisfaction with the birthing experience

Please see Acupuncture and Acupressure for Labour and Birth for more information.

Antenatal and Birth Doula Support

In the weeks /months leading up to your due month we have opportunities to meet at convenient times and together create the vision and relationship which will support you through the birth of your baby. During this time, I develop an understanding of what is important to you/ your partner as you share your thoughts, wishes, birth research and insights with me; I come to appreciate the factors which inform and shape your birth plan.

At this time, and in between our appointments, I am able to provide evidence based resources, signposting and advocacy to help support any of your decision making; I am available by email and phone, should you wish to contact me. Throughout these meetings we develop an understanding of how we can work together, and I tune into your 'Birth Language' which helps our communication in the times ahead. I am also available to attend any clinical appointments to support you by arrangement.

From whenever you call me during your labour, and throughout your birth, I provide a continuous support for you and where necessary, your partner. My work respects the role of your partner, who I am also able to support if need be. I stay in communication with you and your partner throughout each stage of your labour, ensuring your wishes are supported practically and emotionally, and any of your decisions are informed, consenting and upheld.

I am also a protector of your birth space, as informed by our antenatal sessions. I work to bring about the awareness in others of your wishes however small or subtle, to create the space you feel contented to relax and birth in.

When your baby is born, I support the transition into 'The ‘Golden Hour', and working mindfully of the immediate situation.

If you have specific wishes in the moment or have made decisions your birth plan- such as wishing to leave the cord intact for as long as possible, skin to skin contact, how baby finds the breast, or wish to fulfil any spiritual considerations, I can support you in facilitating these. Only when you are comfortable, contented with a first feed, and/or feel you no longer want my support, do I leave so you/ and your partner to enjoy this special time with your baby.

We can arrange to meet for our Birth Debrief at a time that suits you in the next week or two. In addition to this birth support, you are welcome to be in contact with me as you many need in the 6 weeks following your birth to assist you in finding whatever support you may need as you transition to your new life together.

Supporting mothers to be- it takes a village to raise (and help birth) a child

I appreciate belonging to a network of birth professionals, and see my role in your pregnancy labour and birth to be one of many skilled assistants who help you may invite to bring your child to the world. My passion for my work brings me to advance my skills continually through seminars and workshops in Continual Professional Development. I am the Doula UK Area Representative and liaise to improve relationships with local doulas and other healthcare professionals. Listening to women and their birth stories continues to teach and enlighten me how best to support birth.

As an avid researcher and scholar, I ground my intuitive wisdom with scientific research, as obstetrics and the wisdom of birth keeping join in an understanding of what birth really is. Through honouring your individuality and needs, and being part of this rich network, you can be assured that I work to find and bring you support whatever your circumstances, and access to any evidence based information you need is not far away.

As a Doula UK registered Doula, I am able to offer support families in a variety of financial circumstances, and have supported births through the Doula UK Access Fund which helps families on low incomes find a doula.

Please contact me to find out what is possible for your particular circumstances.