my story
About Me
I'm Jess. I've got two daughters and they are what inspired me to become a doula.
Outside of birth, I love to read, I have tried to write poetry and am committed to become a good potter.
I love telly and herbal tea and wine and very dark chocolate. I'm getting good at churning out knitted baby hats, the one and only thing I am able to knit.
My absolute passion though is supporting people through the transitions of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. I know first hand how important advocacy is in the birth space but also understand how birth works, how it is helped and hindered. Giving birth the patience that is deserves.
I love to support people, I love to teach and nurture, to feed, to listen and to hold. Being a doula is a dream job in so many ways and if you would like to have a chat about how I can support you, I would love to hear from you.
How i became a doula
I trained as a doula after the birth of my second daughter. Alba was born at home, a decision I made with the support of an incredible woman, Molly. It made me see how important knowledge is when it comes to birth. Being supported to understand how the body works, not to fear it, to work with it, was what created an amazing birth experience.
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I have trained across various platforms, with deep focus on specific areas such a perinatal trauma, biomechanics and physiology, hypnobirthing and mindset but also connection and support. My approach is to gently guide, nurture and teach, to ensure you are able to make informed decisions, to hold you physically and emotionally.
What is a doula? A doula is a non-medical birth expert who supports you through your pregnancy, birth and postnatally. A doula offers emotional support, information, shares experience and listens. A doula gives you 1:1 and individualised care through an extraordinary transition
How much does it cost? I offer a selection of packages to try and make my support as accessible as possible. I offer pregnancy only, birth only, virtual and full perinatal support which costs for £40-2,000 depending on what you feel you want and need.
How does a doula affect birth outcomes? There has been research done that suggest that having a doula support you increases the likelihood of having a positive birth. No one can guarantee you a particular birth outcome but what promise is that, no matter what happens, you feel held, heard and support throughout. That you feel safe and respected and looked after.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife? A midwife is a clinical professional that is trained to offer medical care to you through your pregnancy and birth. For example, in a midwife appointment, your blood might be taken and tested, your urine will be dipped for any signs of protein, your bump will be measured to gauge growth. These things are important. Your health is realy important. But there is only time for them to cover this and generally not enough time to dip very deep into you as an individual. In a session with me as your doula, we will talk about what's important to you, what you want your birth to look and feel like, any fears or worries, how your birth partner can support you. We will look at different positions and why they will help your labour progress. We will create a huge holistic picture of you, your team and your birth. We will cover all aspects of birth prep, from hypnobirthing tools and biomechanics and postpartum nutrition and feeding plans. We have time to delve into you and your family.