...bringing community back to childbirth...
The doula is a lay person, usually a mother herself, who provides continuous emotional and practical support to women and their families through pregnancy, labour, birth and early days with their new baby. She is specifically chosen by the parents-to-be, to protect the memory of their birth experience and support their transition to parenthood in whichever way they feel is right for them. The doula honours the nurturing and celebrational aspects around the time of childbirth, she does not participate in any clinical or medical care. She may have undertaken a period of training/mentorship before offering her services. For further information, see Doula UK and Scottish Doula Network.
 
Research shows that with continuous one-to-one support from an additional birth partner through labour you are:

  • more likely to have a gentle 'undisturbed' birth
  • more likely to enjoy your birth experience
  • less likely to ask for pain medication
  • less likely to need oxytocin to speed up labour
  • 50% less likely to have a forceps or caesarean birth
  • more likely to enjoy continued breastfeeding
  • less likely to suffer from postnatal depression

and

  • your partner is more likely to feel supported in participating at his/her individual level of comfort

I live in the Dumfries area (SW Scotland) and I can offer you doula support in the following ways:
 
Pregnancy Support: I work in an individualised way to support mothers and couples to prepare for the birth that is right for you. This may include help with writing your birth plan, preparing your birth environment or setting up additional birth support for you and your partner. I can also go through useful positions and relaxation tools for labour, and provide homeopathic remedies if or as required.
 
Pregnancy support can be arranged on a sessional basis with your partner and/or other support person (see Preparation for Birth page), either in your own home or at my workplace. Follow up email/telephone support is included. Cost: £25 per hour (sliding scale available) plus petrol costs @ 40p per mile if applicable.
 
Please also see Blessingway page.
 
Labour and Birth Support: This includes an initial no obligation meeting with you (and your partner) to discuss your needs for support and to initiate contract formalities, two preparation for birth sessions including pregnancy support as above, my continuous presence throughout your labour until after the birth of your baby, and one postnatal visit. Homebirth support only. Cost: £500 (sliding scale available)  
 
Please feel free to contact me by phone or email in the first instance, for an informal chat about the kind of support you are looking for. I am happy to travel up to a 20 mile radius or approx 30 minute drive.

 
**PLEASE NOTE: I will be unable to offer actual birth support between Sept 2011-Aug 2013 due to study committements for a postgrad dip in Psychodynamic Counselling - I may be able to suggest an alternative local birth doula for you however, so please still feel free to get in touch for a chat.**