Booney Smith

“We thought long and hard about engaging a doula’s services. After meeting Booney, my husband and I knew that she was the one for us. Her experience, infectious enthusiasm and joy for her job won us over. Leading up to our due date, we felt so reassured to have Booney on the end of the phone. We were able to get advice, reassurance and alleviate any anxieties whenever we needed. We felt supported and well prepared when the big day finally arrived.

The moment Booney stepped on the ward, we knew we were in safe hands and all our nerves disappeared. She gently guided us through the process. She helped us create a wonderfully relaxing and supportive environment. I genuinely found the experience enjoyable. Labour progressed very quickly and when I was unable to get an epidural in time, Booney was a huge support. Just having her there gave me confidence, strength and reassurance that I could do it! My husband felt that Booney enabled him to be more involved and provide better support for me, knowing that Booney was there watching over us all.

After our precious baby girl arrived, Booney really came into her own. She was amazing. Again she guided us gently through the next magical but intense few hours. I really don’t know what we would have done without her. Simple things like getting cleaned up, caring for the baby and ourselves! She stayed until she knew we were all ok and settled. She also gave a lot of support and invaluable advice in the postnatal period. It is wonderful knowing she will always be there for us and a special bond has been created. Overall we highly recommend Booney as a doula extraordinaire!”

“Booney was a life saver. Not sure we couldn’t have done it without her. As this was my first child I didn’t know what to expect, and she was there every step of the way. For random questions the weeks before the delivery, up till the very end. My labour was particularly painful and she managed to carry me through the night by being very supporting and also knowing how to make me feel more comfortable (massages, bath, shower, etc ). she also managed the communication with the hospital, which apparently was fully booked that night hence not easy to manage. What I liked about her the most is also that she is not judgmental at all. Whether you want a natural birth or not she is there for you. My husband as well was incredibly happy to have her cause he would have had no idea how to deal with me and the staff at the hospital. We’d definitely have her again!”

“I had hoped we would have the birth centre birth that we were planning but knew that if I had a similar birth to my sister (induction, very little dilation, an infection and ultimately an emergency caesarean) that I would want some personal support for both myself and my husband. Alas my birth turned out to be almost exactly the same as my sisters and I am so so thankful that we had Booney with us.

Prior to the birth I had a number of conversations with Booney about not only our birth plan, placenta encapsulation and stem cell harvesting from the cord (all of which we knew nothing about) but also issues that were causing me anxiety – largely leaving work and the prospect of having a caesarean. Both of which she counselled me through with such kindness and wisdom. As someone who had never been to hospital I knew that if I needed a caesarean I would not react well. And indeed I didn’t – but after lots of conversations we knew this would be the case and Booney, my husband and I were in some way prepared for my reaction when the time came. For me to know that my husband was not alone at this time was a huge comfort to me, while Booney – who had seen this all many times – was a vital calming influence on me, quietly managing my panic and guiding me through what I needed to do.

Aside from my fear and panic over the caesarean, Booney was also invaluable at every stage. Equipped with oils and gadgets each designed to create a feeling of calm and comfort my early labour was spent in the lap of luxury! As things got harder, Booney spent hours rubbing my back with a magical roller ball that she had brought, guided me into helpful new positions and when finally I had an epidural she was there to help my husband lift me every half hour (my epidural was only partially working). She helped us establish fun and friendly relationships with the midwives and brought a sense of calm, laughter, excitement and security to a situation that could have been scary from start to finish.

And there were other things too like being there with me in the recovery room before my family arrived and while my husband had to move the car. Making sure we were all hydrated and nourished at every stage, explaining medical terminology and possible next steps to us and encouraging the doctors and midwives to tell us exactly what was going on in Lehman’s terms. Helping us to make decisions for US and creating as far as we could the birth that WE wanted. We felt truly guided, protected, encouraged and looked after at every stage – and most of all Booney brought an immense sense of positivity and fun to a very special, life altering moment. She is utterly brilliant!!”