Birth Doula

Be guided during your birth to trust and experience the wisdom within your own body

Work towards a birth that’s calm, grounded and meaningful to you

By sharing my offerings as a Doula and Childbirth Educator, my goal is to hold space for mamas and birthing parents in a safe, non-judgmental, and loving way.  It is my mission to bring empowerment to all women on this journey.

What is a doula?

Birth is sacred and women supporting women through labour is an ageless tradition common to all cultures.  Traditionally, labouring women were surrounded by family members and experienced women from their community.  As childbirth became the domain of the medical profession and women moved into hospitals for birth, women lost their essential connection to one another during this time of intense physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual work. 

Women/couples need to be supported and nurtured so their babies can be welcomed with love and respect.  The word doula comes from the ancient Greek meaning 'a woman who serves'.  Thus, a doula serves as a guardian helping women/couples journey through the transition of childbirth and motherhood in a smooth, positive and nurtured way.  

In essence, a doula believes in ‘mothering the mother’, offering continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect.

Doulas are not trained medically (that is the role of the midwife) but are knowledgeable in many medical aspects of labour and delivery.  Should a birth become complicated and require medical assistance, a doula will remain by the woman’s side and assist her through the decision making process.

Numerous studies have documented the benefits of having a doula present during labour.  With the support of a doula, women are less likely to have pain-relief medications administered and less likely to have a caesarean birth. In addition their births tend to be shorter.

My Birth Doula Package

    • Throughout your pregnancy I am available via text, call, facetime, email etc for emotional support and to answer any questions you may have

    • I offer (at least) 2 antenatal sessions so we can discuss your goals and/or fears of birth, and I can help you create your birth preferences document

    • We will cover the physiology of birth, the stages of labour, how to work with the perfectly designed hormonal process, breathing techniques, comfort measures, active birth positions, your birth options, how to create the right birth environment, the role of the birth partner, and hospital procedures

    • I will be on call for you from 38 weeks to 42 weeks

    • If you would like any pregnancy yoga classes with me (1:1or with your birth partner/pregnant friends) this will be at an additional cost

  • I will be there for you during your entire labour and birth process

    Trained to listen and love, I will hold space for you in a safe, loving and non-judgmental way. I will nurture you and encourage you to courageously open to your primal nature and trust your own power. I will protect your space and privacy, create a peaceful atmosphere and give confidence to your birth partner so that they can calmly support you. I will help your wishes to be respected and heard by your care providers and will liaise with the midwives and doctors.

    I can provide suggestions for labour positioning, and if needed offer tools to help you feel comforted, such as essential oils, breath and body awareness techniques, reiki, visualisations, positive affirmations and counter pressure

  • I will be present for the first couple of hours after your baby is born, to offer initial breastfeeding support and help you achieve the first latch with your baby

    I will encourage/advocate for skin-to-skin contact and family bonding time.

    • We will have one appointment post birth to follow up and check in. We will chat about your birth and this will help you to process your experience

    • I will be there to answer any questions and offer additional breastfeeding support

    • I will be available for you via phone or email for 6 weeks after birth if you have any questions or concerns

    • If you would like to receive a Closing of the Bones postpartum bodywork session, this will be charged at an extra cost

    • My Birth Doula Package is charged at a flat rate. Please contact me for more details

  • "From the moment we met you we felt inexplicably reassured. Your approach to the prenatal sessions was always really educational without overwhelming. Your pregnancy classes were so nourishing."

    Rosie

  • "Having dear Emily join my birthing tribe was THE best decision I made in my childbearing year. I did not get to have the birth I had hoped for, and there was unnecessary trauma and negligence that came from the hospital's end, but Emily united our family in that unsupported birth (I imagine her when I look back as hugging my husband, my daughter and I metaphorically). She made sure that I met my daughter with dignity and grace, even when there was none in the hospital.

    Ashley

  • "We feel so lucky to have had you as our doula, Emily. Your constant loving care, support, good humour and general lovely presence made everything bearable. You gave me strength and courage when I needed it most, and to my husband as well...thank you from the bottom of our hearts - you are a very special lady"

    Tess