Distance Doulaing in a time of crisis
If you are self isolating or limiting social contact currently, but need some support, I am happy to talk to you via skype or zoom. I can offer antenatal sessions and postnatal breastfeeding support sessions. All of the services below can be done ‘remotely’, including a full, ‘Distance Doula’ package of antenatal and postnatal support.
Please contact me to ask questions or book a session. One off sessions are £50 and usually last 1.5 hours. If you are in financial need I am open to offers to ‘pay what you can afford’. Talk to me – we can usually work something out.
I currently offer a number of one off sessions in your own home on a number of subjects.
Preparation for breastfeeding
This is a 2 hour session with you (and your partner) in the second half of your pregnancy. We explore your feelings about breastfeeding, your previous experiences of feeding any older siblings, how breastfeeding works, what to expect in the early days and we practice some positions to help comfortably breastfeed in and talk about how to latch your baby on effectively. This session costs £75.
I just wanted to send a little note of appreciation once again for the breastfeeding session…Almost three months into motherhood now, your words and lessons have continued to ripple through my days and offer subtle reassurances…Breastfeeding has been an incredibly positive, bonding experience and I owe a great deal of that to the fact that she wasn’t the only one between us who knew what she was doing. The knowledge from your session gave me confidence from day one and most importantly, gave me an inner tool kit to pull from during any tiny bumps in the road – recognising why certain things may happen and knowing that they weren’t necessarily problems has kept me feeling at ease, even during the fussy moments.
Yours has been a gift that has continued to echo, and is one I am very grateful for.
Birth Preparation
Two, 2 hour sessions to explore your childbirth choices, debrief from any previous birth experiences, help with preparing your birth wishes and intentions, talk about strategies for labour and birth, comfort measures and breathing techniques for you and for your partner to support you with. Tips and ideas for the early days with your baby.
Sessions in the comfort and privacy of your own home. These sessions cost £150 in total.
Birth Debrief
Having someone listen to your story without judgement can be very cathartic. A doula can validate your feelings, explore what happened and allow you free rein to express your emotions. We can investigate various ways to work through to a place of peace, from ‘birth art’ to journaling to guided visualisations. I can also signpost you to other sources of support. This process can be a cleansing way to prepare the way for a new baby.
Rewind Session
The 3 Step Rewind is a deep relaxation and hypnotherapy technique that allows traumatic memories to be processed and filed away, instead of remaining stuck, constantly triggering feelings of anxiety and stress as though the event were still happening in the here and now. I have been trained in this simple, yet amazingly powerful technique. Rewind is great for birth trauma, other traumatic events that leave you with symptoms of stress, and phobias that can be traced back to an upsetting incident. Rewind is safe, effective and can be used in conjunction with other therapies. I trained with clinical psychologist Mia Scotland. You can read more about this simple technique here
“I feel the word to describe is it perspective. Like I’ve taken a step back and can see the big picture. It’s like at the end of a horror movie and the lights come on and you realise the monster isn’t real and it was all just a film and you’re safe.”
One session: £60, follow up sessions in required, £50.
Baby Led Weaning
Have a baby heading towards that 6 month milestone? This session is roughly 2 hours and helps you explore how you might like to introduce solid food to your baby. We talk about knowing when your baby is ready for solids and share tips on making the transition to solids a fun and easy process. £25 per family. A minimum of 4 mothers/couples needed.
One to one session: £75
Breastfeeding Support
There is lots of really skilled breastfeeding support available free of charge. However, some mothers need a postnatal doula who has good breastfeeding support skills. If this is what you are looking for, I may be able to help.