A doula is a woman who assists and serves women through labour, birth and during the postnatal period. Doula's support you physically and emotionally and are becoming a popular and sought after beautiful gift to mothers.

A Birth Doula will be with you when you birth your baby. They will nurture you, assist and support you to have the birth of your choice whilst keeping you informed, safe and nurtured.

A birth doula will be able to inform you of all birthing options available and guide you through labour. A birth doula will meet with you during the late stages of your pregnancy so you can get to know each other (including your partner), to discuss your birth plans (if you have one) and to discuss whatever is on your mind.

The doula will be on call 2 weeks before and after your due date to make sure that she is available for you. Once labor is established the doula will stay with you until your baby is born. The doula will visit you at home to help you and your family adjust to the new baby. Your doula will be there to answer the many questions that you may have.

Having a doula can assist in reducing pain in labor, length of labor, stress before, during and after labor for the mother, family and most importantly the new beautiful baby.

A Post Natal Doula will be booked to visit you after the baby is born, and in most cases the following day! The post natal doula will be there to help you with breastfeeding, nappy changing, light housework, shopping and to offer supportive information to help you answer the many questions that will arise.

She will reassure and help you and your family to adjust to the new baby and lifestyle. You will organise together suitable hours for her to come e.g. maybe 3 hrs a day for 3 or 4 days a week for the first month. Doulas are known to be flexible and to make your transition into motherhood as gorgeous and easy as possible! Making a cup of tea may not seem daunting now but sometimes when you have had no sleep, no shower or can't even find the time to get to the loo an extra pair of hands are heavenly sent! Many mothers find that with breastdfeeding doulas are invaluable, its like having an informative elder sister around!

My daughter Ana is 1 (can't believe that!), and I am still breastfeeding so am not working as a birth doula at the moment, however I am working as a postnatal doula in local areas and teaching prenatal and post natal yoga classes & workshops. I also offer pregnancy nutrition consultations. I work in and around Bedfordshire, North Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Please contact me for more details. I teach prenatal and postnatal yoga in Sandy, Bedfordshire and Stotfold, Bedfordshire.