Birth doula & breastfeeding support

Home

Birth is an individual and emotional experience. This incredibly special time in your life not only brings the gift of a precious baby, but it also marks the birth of a mother.
Pregnancy is a time when hormones and emotions run high. Regardless of whether you are a first time mum or you have experienced childbirth before, the birth of your baby will remain imprinted in your memories.

It is so very important that this remarkable experience is a positive one, as birth can impact on the way we feel post-natally, both physically and emotionally, our confidence in nurturing our newborns and even in raising our children in the future. It doesn't have to be something to be feared and it is every mother's right to experience the feeling of overwhelming joy when greeting her baby for the first time.
Making your own decisions, having continued support and human touch, feeling in control and retaining your dignity and self-respect are all factors that can contribute to a positive birth experience.

"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them."

- A Wise Birth (Penny Armstrong & Sheryl Feldman)

What is a Doula?

Doula is a Greek word for 'woman servant' or 'caregiver'.
A doula . . .

Is a trained labour and birth 'companion' who will stay with a woman throughout her labour in order to help make the birth experience a positive and rewarding one
She understands the physiology of birth and the extremely important emotional needs of a woman in labour
Will provide continuity and familiarity during an unfamiliar event
Will support your choices in labour regarding pain relief; it is your body!
Will not replace the woman's birth partner or midwife, she will work respectfully alongside them, as part of a team
Can enhance the understanding and communication between a labouring woman and medical staff
Will ensure that you are not left alone during labour when you need support
Does not advise, but encourages a mother-to-be to look at all her options. Doulas 'mother the mother'
Does not diagnose or treat medical conditions, perform clinical tasks, project her own opinions onto a labouring woman or make decisions for her or her partner.

A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1999) provided this analysis of several doula studies. Having a doula led to a:

36% reduction in use of pain relief medication
51% reduction in caesarean sections
71% reduction in the use of artificial hormones via IV drip during labour
57% reduction in forceps deliveries
An average of 1 hour and 38 minutes shorter labour

Source: Scott, Berkowitz & Klaus 1999

Another study shows the percentage of women who used an epidural/other pain relief medication during labour:

Source	Doula	No doula
Kennel et al. (1991)	7.8%	55.3%
Hodnett et al. (1989)	61%	82%
Gordon et al. (1999)	54.3%	66.1%

About Me

My name is Rachel; I am married and live in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. I have a daughter, son and stepson.

I have given birth both in hospital and at home and can empathise with a labouring woman's needs and desires. I am extremely passionate about my role as a birth doula and will put 100% into supporting you (and your birth partner) throughout your labour. I also have over two years of breastfeeding experience. I am patient, sensitive and warm and able to adapt, accept and remain calm. I am very organised and honest and I will not judge or dismiss.

I trained with Nurturing Birth and am a member of Doula UK (the main organisation for accredited doulas in England, run voluntarily by doulas to provide recognition and set standards and a code of practice in the field). I am a member of AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services), ABM (Association of Breastfeeding Mothers) and an NCT (National Childbirth Trust) campaigner. I am also fully insured for your peace of mind.

I am honoured to attend both hospital and home births. I cover a wide area, including much of South Bucks, North Herts and North London. I am able to converse basically in a few European languages and have a very good knowledge of Spanish.

Birth is an intimate, priceless moment to treasure forever, I wish you the birth and care that you want and deserve.

My Services

As a doula . . .

My role will be to provide you with physical, emotional, practical and informational support. I will provide continuous comfort, compassion, reassurance and encouragement. I am independent and will always work with your best interests at heart; therefore my care will be based upon your individual needs and desires.

During labour I can assist you with breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. I can encourage and offer advice to birth partners who wish to participate at their own pace, but will give you the space and support for you and your partner to labour in the way that you choose.

I can safeguard your privacy to ensure you have time for cuddles and my goal is that you are left feeling confident, respected and empowered.

Birth Package:

An initial meeting, free of charge, to discuss:
Your requirements, expectations and thoughts regarding your birth
My role and services
Any questions you may have
Two antenatal visits at your home, to discuss:
Your wishes, fears, anxieties and preferences
Birth preparation
Ideas about relaxation and ways to assist you (and your birth partner) during labour
24/7 call-out from weeks 38-42 of your pregnancy (should your baby arrive before/after this time, I will do my utmost to provide you with as much support as possible)
Telephone calls and emails throughout your pregnancy and for a period of six weeks post-birth
My full, undivided support and attention throughout your labour and birth. I will also stay with you for a while after the birth to ensure you are comfortable and to assist with any requests or feeding issues
One postnatal visit to provide any further support or assistance you may need, discuss your birth and to see your precious newborn

Further support:

If you require my support for a longer period or would like more visits following your birth to help you with breastfeeding, I will be happy to discuss this with you on an individual basis.

Fees:

Please contact me for information regarding my current fees and availability.

I am willing to take your individual situation into account, in the hope that any expectant mother, regardless of financial constraints, can benefit from doula support.

Feeding and Nurture

Breastfeeding support

I am able to provide a listening ear, unconditional support, information and encouragement
Support is via telephone (24/7) and email
I can also provide additional home visits on a request basis, according to the individual mother's needs
(However, I will never claim to replace or ignore the advice of a medical professional.)

I believe strongly in the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the baby. There is no comparison to breast milk and feeding a baby is a natural way of life - this is why women's bodies are designed the way they are!

Any breastfeeding you can do is beneficial . . .

Feeding time can be a magical experience when you take time out to be with your baby and establish that unconditional bond of love. It is completely heart melting when they gaze into your eyes! There is evidence to show that you cannot spoil a newborn baby; as much skin-to-skin contact as possible, quiet time, cuddles and attention are instinctive and provide both a new mother and her baby with the first special memories together, along the huge journey that life brings us all. Many women in the UK stop breastfeeding because they may feel that they cannot produce enough milk or that is not 'happening naturally'. Breastfeeding is a learning process between the mother and baby and it does often take perseverance to get to the stage where it all 'falls into place'.

Giving birth to a new life is a marathon. It is normal to feel tired and anxious and it is imperative that you feel supported, encouraged and confident however you choose to feed your baby. Happy mums make happy babies and all women need the freedom to nurture their newborns . . .

A study in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 98 provided results from a questionnaire in 1991 (South Africa) 6 weeks after childbirth:

	Doula	No doula
Exclusively breastfeeding	51.4%	29.3%
On food other than milk	17.6%	53.3%
Feeding problems	16.2%	62.7%
Flexible feeding schedule	81.1%	46.7%

Source: Hofmeyr et al.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or queries you may have:

Tel: 01494 764885

Mob: 07928 658806

Email: rachel@beautyborn.co.uk

Web site designed by Rachel and implemented by Mike Saunders of Step 2 Systems