As an experienced birth doula & mum of two, here are the top 5 mistakes I personally see people (not my clients!) make when they write their birth plans/preferences: 1.The only focus is the ideal ‘blue sky’ scenario Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE it if you have an ideal birth preference in your head. This is a great starting point & something I would absolutely champion you on & (if you were my client), this is something we would actively prepare for & find ways to navigate t

Early labour: what to do & when to call (if you’re planning to transfer into hospital) local to Tenterden, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone & Ashford As an experienced birth doula, this is one of the common questions I get when I am working with clients antenatally & we are preparing for their birth. Early labour, otherwise known as the ‘latent’ stage of labour can look different for each & every woman, after all, we are all as unique as our personalities. However, there are some t

If you’re currently pregnant, you (like so many others) may want to achieve an intervention free vaginal birth, yet so many birth experiences you hear from friends, family (or perhaps even well-meaning strangers!) just don’t reflect that experience. Sadly, this is the reality we live in & although this blog post is strongly caveated in that I cannot guarantee this type of birth experience, as an experienced doula & mum of two, I will be giving you some strategic tips which I

I know first-hand that, becoming a mum, is one of the most significant physical and psychological changes any woman can go through. It’s totally lifechanging, whether you do this once, twice, or more times. It often comes with a whirlwind of questions & nerves. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you might be wondering ‘What are the actual benefits of booking a doula?’. Whether you're planning a home birth in Tenterden, choosing a birth centre in Maidstone or preparing to welcome

Learning to lean into… REST You’ve just given birth, the hugest congratulations. BRUTAL HONESTLY: Despite the social conditioning you may have been subjected to, you absolutely DO NOT need to bounce back, if anything, your body needs you to learn to lean in & REST. When the likes of birth is compared to a marathon, it’s no surprise that you will feel knackered, depleted & dealing with a body that is physically traumatised (even if it was a positive experience for you, the rec

All the decisions are YOURS to make – so how do you navigate all this? When you are pregnant, you will be faced with a lot of decisions to make. Even for the most decisive people, this isn’t easy, especially now that those decisions impact the baby(s) too. To layer on top of that, no decision during labour & birth is ever fully black & white, there’s no ‘this is right & this is wrong’. It’s so individual & nuanced. Some situations will be standard & expected whilst others may

I really feel for birth partners. When labour is in full flow, all the focus will (of course!) be on mum & baby, but often what birth partners experience & witness can be so overwhelming & at times, worrying, especially if they haven’t been massively involved during the pregnancy or done any antenatal prep. I hate to stereotype but men (usually) are ‘fixers’ and like to fix things if their partners are emotional, stressed or in pain. But labour can’t be fixed. Labour is a fe

Doulas aren’t clinical, but in themselves are a form of pain relief Not all doulas are sage-waving hippies Doula’s do not replace your midwife or birth partner, ever Doulas are there to support whatever birth you like Doulas are not anti-hospital or anti intervention, they are just pro-woman & baby Doulas come in all shapes & sizes, make sure you find the right one for you Doula dates provide far more than just education antenatally Doulas (well this doula) comes with no agen

Mamas: You’ve given birth, you’ve done it! Huge congratulations. Now, the only things you should be focusing on are your baby, feeding, bonding & resting. The rest? Over to you birth partner! Birth partner/immediate support network: I know you’re probably tired too, so take a moment to breathe and rest. Protect your newly formed family unit and bubble. The newborn phase is so precious, and you’ll never get this time again. When you’re ready, debrief with your partner on t

Have you ever been to a baby shower & all you’ve seen is gifts for the new baby? Yeah, me too. Now listen, that new gorgeous babe will have EVERYTHING they need already sorted by their parents, I can assure you. ESPECIALLY if they’re first-time parents. So let’s leave the teddies, clothes & nursery accessories alone for a minute, and consider what might actually be a far better use of our hard earned cash. For you, but also for the new parents. Let’s think about mum. What do