Personal Introduction:
I offer a range of services which I hope you will find beneficial for either some or all of your pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey.
My doula journey began nearly two decades ago when I became passionate about pregnancy, birth and beyond. In between having my own children, I had always tried to support friends, neighbours and vulnerable women.
In 2012, I decided to train as a midwife. After a great deal of time, commitment and effort, I qualified in 2016. At the same time, I was also in the later stages of my fourth pregnancy, and after going on maternity leave for 6 months I returned to hospital to start work as a newly qualified midwife.
However, I quickly realised that midwifery was not my calling. I have found that the care I can give and the value I bring is not in the clinical aspects of midwifery, but rather in the ‘dedicated helper’ role of a doula. In my personal experience, being a doula means that I can really be ‘with woman’ [The word midwife derives from the Old English word ‘midwif’ – mid (with) and wif (woman], in a way that I was never truly able to achieve as a midwife.
Aside from my own love and respect for my role as a doula, the statistics speak for themselves. Having doula support greatly improves outcomes in terms of risks of intervention, reduction in the need for pain relief, length of labour, length of hospital stay and increased length and rates of breastfeeding – to name just a few!
I am also a Wise Hippo Hypnobirthing teacher and offer this programme as either four stand alone antenatal sessions or as part of my doula packages.
So, if you are looking for antenatal preparation, hypnobirthing, extra support, or if you would simply like to find out a little more about how I can support you on your birth journey, please do get in touch.
I offer a range of services which I hope you will find beneficial for either some or all of your pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey.
My doula journey began nearly two decades ago when I became passionate about pregnancy, birth and beyond. In between having my own children, I had always tried to support friends, neighbours and vulnerable women.
In 2012, I decided to train as a midwife. After a great deal of time, commitment and effort, I qualified in 2016. At the same time, I was also in the later stages of my fourth pregnancy, and after going on maternity leave for 6 months I returned to hospital to start work as a newly qualified midwife.
However, I quickly realised that midwifery was not my calling. I have found that the care I can give and the value I bring is not in the clinical aspects of midwifery, but rather in the ‘dedicated helper’ role of a doula. In my personal experience, being a doula means that I can really be ‘with woman’ [The word midwife derives from the Old English word ‘midwif’ - mid (with) and wif (woman], in a way that I was never truly able to achieve as a midwife.
Aside from my own love and respect for my role as a doula, the statistics speak for themselves. Having doula support greatly improves outcomes in terms of risks of intervention, reduction in the need for pain relief, length of labour, length of hospital stay and increased length and rates of breastfeeding - to name just a few!
I am also a Wise Hippo Hypnobirthing teacher and offer this programme as either four stand alone antenatal sessions or as part of my doula packages.
So, if you are looking for antenatal preparation, hypnobirthing, extra support, or if you would simply like to find out a little more about how I can support you on your birth journey, please do get in touch.
The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme (2024)
“WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL ANTENATAL CLASSES AND SUPPORT IN PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH OF OUR FIRST CHILD. KATE WAS ABLE TO COME TO OUR HOME AT A TIME THAT SUITED US AND I FOUND HER TO BE EXPERIENCED AND SYMPATHETIC. OUR SESSIONS ALLOWED ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS FOR PLANNING MY BIRTH AND THE HYPNOBIRTHING EXERCISES WERE AN ENORMOUS HELP IN STAYING CALM AND AT EASE DURING THE BIRTH.”
Frances & James