Are you pregnant
& looking for
some additional
emotional &
practical support
as you prepare for labour?
You need a doula for birth.
I can help.
I am a doula for birth based in Wimbledon covering SW London and Surrey.
(For information about my postnatal support package click here).
What does my birth doula package include?
My birth doula package consists of two antenatal visits, continuous support via phone, email or WhatsApp until you labour begins, being on-call to attend your labour and birth from 10 days before - 14 days from your estimated due date, and two postnatal follow up visits.
Research has shown that continuous birth support leads to...
15%
increase in the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth
10%
decrease in the use of any pain medication
41 mins
shorter labour on average!
31%
decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
Antenatal sessions
We will have two, approximately two and a half hour antenatal sessions during your pregnancy. First and foremost these are an opportunity for me to listen to you: your pathway to this pregnancy, how you are feeling, important information you want to share, any questions that you have and your hopes and wishes for your labour and birth. The exact timing of the sessions in your pregnancy is flexible according to your wishes.
The remainder of the sessions are tailored to fit your needs: this might be learning more about the pathway to birth & your amazing body, thinking about how different environments influence labour, understanding the emotional signposts of labour, mapping out the different choices and options you may have dependent on you place of birth, how to be a brilliant birth partner, talking about comfort measures available, helping you find the evidence you need to make decisions or simply encouraging you that all the resources you need to birth your baby – however it happens – lie within you.
I can give you lots of tips during these sessions of how you can prepare mentally and practically for your labour and also how to plan for your early infant feeding and postnatal days.
Phone, email and WhatsApp support
From the moment you hire me as your doula I am available to support you whenever you need me: maybe a question pops up, or you need some reassurance, or a sounding board about something… or you just want a moan about no longer being able to see your feet! It is really important you feel completely at ease in my company and this support can be a great way of furthering our relationship. You will be completely in control of the level of contact according to what suits you.
Labour & birth support
I am on call for the final weeks of your pregnancy which means that I will ensure I am available to be with you when you are in labour. My support in labour will look very different from family to family, as it is completely dependent on your needs.
I will provide emotional support by being a continuous presence, reassuring you that you can trust your body and reinforcing your own instincts and intuition. I will also support your birth partner so they are in a better position to support you.
I can provide physical support depending on what you need, for example helping set up the environment how you want, suggesting different comfort measures like aromatherapy, breathing, hot/cold, massage and movement. I will be unobtrusive and only provide this input at your explicit request: it is impossible to predict before labour begins what will be right for you at the time!
If necessary I can also be your advocate by ensuring that you are given the opportunity to make your own decisions about your body and baby. This may include providing a sounding board as labour progresses or simply reminding you that you have time to make a particular decision.
Immediately after the baby is born I can support you with your infant feeding choices and help protect your space to allow you time to bond with your baby.
Postnatal support
After your lovely baby has arrived then we can arrange two follow up visits whenever you feel they will be helpful. Take a look at my postnatal support page for the kind of things I can help with as you settle into life with your newborn but they typically include debriefing on the birth, support with baby care, feeding, and helping with light housework and cooking - whatever you need!
"I cannot thank you enough, Lisa. Our birth experience would have been the same without you. You helped me advocate where I needed to get the resources I needed, and you me cope and helped fortify B. You were an absolutely indispensable part of our team, and we will remember you with so much fondness for playing such an important role in the birth of our son. "
— S & B
Birth doula FAQs
How much do you charge?
My birth doula package described above is £1400. I care more about supporting you than the money so please do enquire if you think we would be a good fit but money is an obstacle.
What areas do you cover?
I live in Wimbledon and I can cover SW London and Surrey.
I have a birth partner, do I need a doula?
Your birth partner is unlikely to be someone with deep knowledge or experience of labour & birth, and therefore having a doula can really take the pressure off them. It can help you both feel more relaxed and reassured that things are unfolding as they should and make decisions such as when to transfer into hospital. Research actually supports that women receive MORE support from their partners when a doula is present! A big focus of my input is equipping you both to be the best team you can during labour. The presence of a doula also ensures that you get that continuous support even if the labour is long as there is some flexibility in allowing your partner to rest.
I will have a midwife, do I need a doula?
Midwives and doulas have very different roles. Midwives have a professional responsibility to the health of mum and baby, and they are also bound by their obligations to promote the various policies and procedures of their NHS trust. Doulas are there to support you and you alone. It is well publicised that unfortunately there is a current staffing crisis in maternity care in the UK and a midwife will not be with your continuously throughout your labour, especially in the early stages. Having a doula complements a midwife perfectly as the kind of support and focus we have is quite different. Midwives know that doulas improve outcomes for women and families and so are pleased to see us!
Do doulas only support at home births?
No, not at all. As your doula I won’t come with any agenda or pre-conceived ideas about where you should give birth, what pain relief you should use or what type of birth you should have. Those decisions are all down to you! I am not there to give you advice, just to ensure that you well supported and informed every step of the way. I will help you map out your pathway to birth whatever you choose, and when you are actually in labour help you find the right route to meet you baby – be it via your vagina or abdomen!
Ok… but what if I am having a Caesarean birth?
If you are having a planned Caesarean birth then I can take you through step by step what to expect, this will be unhurried and you can ask as many questions as you like. If you are interested then I can also help you plan elements into your birth that help mimic physiology as much as possible – e.g. thinking about environment, promoting oxytocin release, gentle birth of the baby, skin to skin in theatre etc. I can also attend your pre op appointment to support you in discussing some of these elements with your maternity team. Depending on hospital policy you may only be allowed one birth partner in preparation, theatre and recovery - and I am very happy to support you or be available on the phone if your partner is present. Once you are on the postnatal ward I can support you as you establish breastfeeding and with lifting the baby. This can give your partner opportunity to go home and rest or look after other children. If you have already booked me, and then at the last minute plan a Caesarean birth, I will either attend the birth as above, or offer you a package of postpartum support instead depending on your preference.
What will it be like having you there in labour?
It’s super important that you feel safe, relaxed and confident in labour. This will be at the forefront of my mind at all times and I will adapt my role to prioritise this. It is vital that you feel comfortable around me, and that’s why we will get plenty of chance to get to know each other before the birth. When you are in labour you might want me right beside you all the time, or you might just want to know I am in your home and ask me the occasional question. Or something in between! Whatever you need at the time, I will do my best to ensure my presence is a positive one. You are in complete control at all times. It is your birth, your space and you will be the one making all the decisions.
What doesn’t a doula do?
I am not a medical professional and therefore I will never do any clinical tasks during your labour such as examinations or heart monitoring. I am not there to give you medical advice or diagnose any conditions. I don’t ever make any type of decision for you, or pressure you into a certain choice. I will not take over from your birth partner. I also won’t go off shift – I will be there the whole time (although if the labour is very long I may sometimes tag team with your partner).
I’m interested, what is the next step?
I’m so pleased you would like to talk further. The next step is to give me a call or send me a message and we can book in a 30 minute initial meeting to explore a bit further what you are looking for and whether I would be a good fit for you.
