Doula

MY PHILOSOPHY AND SERVICE 
For all my life experiences nothing prepared me for the sweet highs and lows of motherhood, particularly as a single mother. I was lucky to have excellent postnatal support and feel passionately that all mothers, and fathers, should be supported in the early days to strengthen the bonds (and get some sleep)!
The aim is to provide you (the mother and the partner) with a positive birth experience, and a smooth transition to parenthood. Women need continuity of care during pregnancy, birth and postnatally. Sometimes, with families living at either ends of the country (or the world), women and their partners do not always receive the support they need. In addition hospitals can be an unfamiliar environment for many people prior to having a baby, and stressful when entering in the throes of labour. I am a familiar face to you, who is confident in such environments, who can help interpret your wishes and communicate with medical staff.

Birth Package: £200
• An informal meeting where we can chat and ask any questions (this is free of any obligation and usually lasts1 hour). This is done in the comfort of your home, or mine if you like!
• On confirmation of booking - we’ll have two more meetings before the birth to answer your questions, run through birth scenarios and preferences, discuss active birth information (or suggestions on how to personalise a planned caesarean birth and make it a positive experience). If the partner will be attending the birth then it is best if they can come to at least one of these meetings. If you wish the meetings can be combined with an acupuncture treatment, in clinic, for no additional cost.
• 24/7 phone or email support in the month around your babies estimated birth day.
• The month around the estimated birth day I will be on-call to support you through labour and the birth (when and where you want) and assist in the first few hours with your newborn baby. Acupuncture is only used occasionally, usually if medical interventions are being suggested (eg when labour is ‘failing to progress’)
• I will make two post-natal home visits in the first week or so after birth. These last up to 2 hours each and include any of the services I offer in the postnatal doula package (shopping, cooking, cleaning, bathing baby, 1 hr reflexology, 1 hr acupuncture, etc).

Postnatal Doula Package £200
(£10 ph for 20 hours in total, & minimum of 2 hours per day)

I support women and couples to make the transition in early parenthood as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. For first time parents I aim to increase the sense of confidence to make their own informed choices, not preach about ‘my way’. On a practical level I help with the baby:
• Feeding (breast or bottle)
• Bathing
• Routines (discuss pros and cons of the spectrum of routines, from regimes to rhythms)
• General care (eg nappy changing)
In addition I offer an extra pair of hands:
• Care for baby while you sleep
• Shopping
• Cooking
• Cleaning (light household chores, now may not the best time to clear out the loft!)
• Accompany on hospital visits if required
• Taking care of siblings
• Walking the dog
• Assembling baby paraphernalia (changing areas, cots, car seats, sterilisers, etc

BACK UP
Lavern McKenzie is available to provide cover in the unlikely event of unforeseen occurrences preventing me attending the birth. I only attend 1 birth per month.

RELATED SKILLS
Paramana Doula training with Dr Michel Odent & Liliana Lammers, Nov 2008
Member of British Acupuncturist Council since Oct 2004
Obstetric Acupuncture seminars, with Jani White at the Royal College of Physicians, Oct 2006
Paediatric Acupuncture with Julian Scott, Oct 2006
Association of reflexogists, qualified 2002
NCT antenatal student – currently undergoing training
Leading Antenatal classes, with Judith Schott at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Nov 2007
British Red Cross First Aid course, Jan 2008
NCT Normal Labour, Feb 2008
NCT Abnormal Labour, April 2008
NCT Care of Labouring Women, June 2008
NCT The Birth Environment – with emphasis on the role of hormones, March 2008
NCT The Language of Hypnosis and Relaxation, April 2008
NCT Postnatal Level 1 workshop, Feb 2006

I am a qualified acupuncturist, specialising in fertility, pregnancy and children since 2006 (www.thelittleclinic.co.uk). Acupuncture can, amongst other things, turn breech babies, promote labour and is an effective source of pain relief in labour. Postnatally it can help with an efficient recovery, improve milk production, and help with ailments the baby may have.

EXPERIENCE AND SPECIALITIES

BIRTH DOULA
I cover SW London and Surrey area, in particular St George’s, Chelsea & Westminster, Kingston and St Helier hospitals. I have attended caesarean births, assisted deliveries (ventouse and forceps) and water births.

POSTNATAL DOULA
I have set up and run postnatal groups for the NCT, aimed at mums and babies under 1 year old. I also assisted setting up and running a group for parents/carers with children 0 - pre school. I enjoy supporting women on an emotional and practical level in the transition to motherhood. I am a practical person and have a relaxed, down to earth approach to life, and children.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE - For SW11, SW18, SW19, SW20 I can provide any local information that you would like – breast feeding support, cranial osteopaths, local playgroups, post natal activities, (Power Pramming, baby massage, first aid courses, NCT groups). For other areas I am happy to research them on your behalf.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME....
I was born in Kenya and grew up in Malaysia, Netherlands and France. Before I had my son in 2004 I had worked for Sky TV, as a tour operator, and a long distance truck driver. My hobbies have included sailing, diving and windsurfing.
Now I work as an acupuncturist and my hobbies are little more child friendly (swimming, cycling in the park, building sandcastles), but soon I hope Luke will join me in the water sports and travel.