PRENATAL VISITS

BIRTH DOULA 

Hiring me means you will recieve personal support throughout the entirety of your birthing journey. As your Doula, I promise to offer unwavering support to you and your family before, during, and after birth. I will stay in close contact in order to routinely check how you’re doing and offer anything needed. I  can be your voice, your space or simply just someone there. I support women and families in all kinds of situations, who have different kinds of births and make a wide range of parenting choices. The services I offer will vary greatly according to the needs of the women, couple or family that I am working with.

I do not take a clinical role but work alongside midwives and doctors. I do not advise, but can support a woman to find balanced information to make informed decisions about her maternity care.

I provide continuous support, for women and couples, through pregnancy, labour and birth and the immediate postnatal time. 

During labour I provide emotional, practical and informational support to my client(s), adapting to what is needed. I am able to offer help and suggestions on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. If applicable, I can also encourage the partner to participate in the birth to a level at which they feel comfortable. I provide nurturing, continuous support and reassurance.

I will then stay until after baby is born and the new family are settled and happy.

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT

From our initial meeting all the way through your pregnancy and delivery, I take the time to get to know you, your concerns and your needs. I’m always available to contact by phone/email throughout and will provide everything you require to make sure your experience is as calm and positive as possible. When you deliver your baby I stay with you until you are settled, nourished, comfortable and confident. I then come back for a few hours at a time, to lighten the load and do whatever is needed of me to support your new family. I take on as many or as little roles as you would like from me, cooking, cleaning, walking dogs, whatever it may be. I can also support your feeding journey should you choose to breastfeed.
 

Please also see my post on postnatal depression. Which describes my postnatal role in more detail. 

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT

I have been committed to volunteering breastfeeding services in Scarborough for almost 8 years. I aim a trained Mother Supporter with ABM and studying for my Counsellor qualification. I offer free support, guidance and will always listen. Available before and after birth and for your whole feeding journey. Offering preparation classes through to supporting you when your baby is here, in person or on the phone. 

COMPASSIONATE DOULA 

Not all pregnancies end how we expect. I believe no woman should face the unexpected alone, and I offer a range of support for miscarriage, neo natal death, termination or SIDS. I’m qualified with The Foundation of Infant Loss to support in all areas.Please do contact me if you feel you need support. 

POSTNATAL DEPRESSION 

For the 10-15% of mothers that experience postnatal depression (PND), the postnatal period comes with added challenges. Even with partner support, PND is a difficult road. For many suffering with PND, it’s like any other postnatal symptoms. It’s not the result of a poor attitude, nor is it a lack of gratitude. It’s not something a woman can ‘snap out of.’ PND is a psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual response to the changes, demands, pressures, hopes, dreams, expectations and realities of new motherhood and family life. The common misconception that women allow themselves to have PND is simply untrue. This only perpetuates the stigma of PND. Sadly, it’s the very thing that holds many mothers back from seeking the support they truly need. Our modern culture also creates challenges for growing families. The lack of ‘village’ support and expectations placed on new mothers makes PND an unfortunately common experience.Here is some of what I can offer - 
: #1: If you feel you have PND Please Seek help. As a postnatal doula, I mention this to women before they give birth. So you know who is there for you #2: Practical Support - Depression can mean fatigue, mental exhaustion and everyday tasks feeling impossible. New mothers should be resting, regardless if they have PND — but it is even more necessary if they do have PND. Taking the stress off her typical to-do list might be like lifting a weight off her shoulders. Tidy the area of her home she rests in most. If it’s early in the postnatal period and she is resting in her room, I will help to keep that space tidy. If she has moved to spending a lot of time in her living or family room, I will tidy that space. When a new mum doesn’t see things that need to be done she is more likely to rest well. Some women with PND might lose interest in caring about the home. Tidying might not seem necessary for her to rest well but it can still be very beneficial. As she begins treatment and regains interest she will be less likely to feel like she has so much to catch up on. She might also feel less guilt about having let her home go. We know she should not feel guilt, unfortunately many new mums will. #3: I will Feed Her and Her Family Good nutrition is so very important for postnatal healing. Pregnancy takes so much out of a woman’s resources, let alone breastfeeding. The baby will get what he or she needs, but nursing mothers need to eat well for their own health. It’s hard to get meals on the table with a newborn. Adding the challenge of PND can make it impossible. Even if a mother is able to get dinner together for her family, she might not eat well herself. One symptom of PND is appetite changes. Some mothers will simply lose interest in eating. I set to learn her favorite foods, try to keep her well stocked with them and sit with her for a meal or two. I Encourage her to take care of herself. Provide her with nutrient dense snacks that are easy to eat and she can grab without any prep work. Cut fruit, prepared veggies and humus, lactation cookies and nuts are great snacks to keep on hand. Some studies suggest that increasing omega 3 fatty acid intake can help to prevent and treat PND symptoms. Provide the mother with simple, easy to eat sources of omega 3s. A green salad with salmon is a simple lunch to prepare and is packed with healthy fats. Walnuts, oatmeal with flax seeds, and toast with peanut butter are simple snacks with lots of omega 3s. 
#4: Help Her Get Out When you’re experiencing depression, getting outside might feel hard and unappealing. When you have a new baby, getting out the door can be a huge task. So if you have PND, getting out of the house can feel like an impossible feat. Isolation can make PND worse. But when getting out feels hard, it can be a viscous cycle of isolation and stress. I try to Plan a low stress, baby friendly outing and meet her at her house to help her get ready. I may Offer to get the baby ready while she dresses herself. We Choose an outing without a start time so there is no added stress if baby needs to feed or be changed just as you planned to leave. Low levels of vitamin D can also make PND symptoms worse, which is likely to a problem for her if she’s not been getting out. Going for a walk with mum around her neighborhood or sitting on the back patio with tea can help her get natural vitamin D, good company, exercise and some fresh air. All of those things can help with PND symptoms. #5: Provide Encouragement and Emotional Support Being a new mother is challenging. Being a new mother with PND can feel overwhelming. I always try mention how well she is doing. Often, new mothers are not aware that it’s impossible to keep everything in order. Unrealistic expectations can add unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. I will Send a text that requires no reply or Mail a card that says im thinking of her. Reminding her that im there for her and you im an ear whenever she needs it. I Do not discount her concerns. If she feels something is hard, then it is hard for her, and she needs that to be acknowledged — not judged. #6: Be There Sometimes just having someone nearby can make a world of difference. When you are struggling with negative thoughts and feeling overwhelmed with the tasks of motherhood, just having another adult present can make a world of difference. I Offer to come over with no expectation of her acting as a host in any way. Sit with her, eat with her, just be with her. Offer to drive her or tag along to appointments. A new mother seeking counseling for PND is likely to feel overwhelmed by getting to appointments. Knowing someone is helping her can alleviate some of the stress. It also reinforces that there needs to be no stigma associated with PND treatment. #7: Watch The Baby So She Can Rest All new mums need rest. Unfortunately, PND can bring physical and emotional fatigue to the already sleep deprived new mother. I Hold the baby so she can rest, shower or even go read a magazine. A little rest or alone time can help her reset and tackle the rest of her day. All mothers need to focus on self-care, but mothers with PND need to pay even more attention to it. PND is a real health concern and needs just as much care and attention as any other. #8: I will Help Her Find Her Village Though few still live in villages, the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” is still very true. I Encourage her to reach out for help. If she belongs to a social organisation, a mothers group, church or religious organisation, etc, encourage her to reach out to other members and begin creating that village. I introduce her to our circle of friends In the community I’ve set up and I encourage others to reach out and offer a hand. I Offer to go to a new mothers group with her. I won’t ever force her, but I do present the opportunity to reach out to others. Even with treatment, healing from PND takes time. As she continues to navigate new motherhood and this added challenge, she is likely to have good days and bad days. I Try to be there for both. I’m Reminding her that she is not her symptoms, that she is an amazing mother and that in time she will feel better.