Providing in-person and virtual birth and postnatal support in Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Dunstable, Ampthill, Flitwick, Harlington, Leagrave, Leighton Buzzard, Shefford, Cranfield, Biggleswade, Woburn, St Albans, Watford, basically Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and parts of North London too.
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Hello!
I am a passionate mother of two and birthkeeper of colour. I believe in the holistic centring of our human needs during the perinatal period and in our culture. Yes, I do!
HOW I WORK
I get to know you antenatally. I listen, giving you information and signposting, supporting you gathering your thoughts, emotions, support team and resources for birth, your wellness and for life with your new babe.
I serve you, and your partner if you have one, continuously throughout labour until you feel you have landed with your babe (first feed and ready to rest!).
Postpartum I can do lots for you, lead by you for the first six weeks/fourth trimester – nourishment, food food food, help keeping on top of the household duties, kind words spoken, and just talking about this whole new state of being and celebrating that with you. I prioritise your wellbeing and your bonding with babe and wellbeing around rest, ritual, retreat, warmth and support (shout out to Heng Ou – The First Forty Days).
EXPERIENCE
I have personal experience of homebirth, birth in hospital and breastfeeding. I’ve supported births in Midwifery Led Unit, water birth and caesarean birth. I’ve also come to know how even with greatest of trust in our bodies, sometimes things do not go to plan. I have personal experience of miscarriage and traversing post-partum anxiety and depression.
I am mentored by the wonderful doula and birth activist Mars Lord of Abuela Doulas.
I am an active member (and founding chair) of Luton & Dunstable Maternity Voices (MVP) bringing together health care professionals and service users to coproduce maternity transformation developments in partnership in Luton & Dunstable as well as a breastfeeding peer supporter on the postnatal ward.
MY FOCUS
It is my deep desire for all women to have access to kind, safe and impartial care and considering today’s health inequalities where Black and Brown women facing disproportionately worse maternal outcomes that their white counter parts I am driven to address these issues in my work.
Some questions that lead me: How can I best facilitate women’s wellbeing, information and comfort during pregnancy and postnatally? Where can women go to feel safe and feel respected in the childbearing year? Where can women find out about evidence-based options for their birth and care? How can we work together to abolish inequalities in health care that see black and brown women with worse maternal outcomes?
MORE ABOUT ME
I trust life. I trust the power of nature, of music and laughter. I like massages, dancing, eating, cooking and lucid dreaming. I will sing harmonies along to any song. I have an undergraduate degree in Swahili and Development Studies (SOAS). In a past work-life I organised badass music festivals in Zanzibar, East Africa. Women are awesome and powerful. Birth is the ultimate creative act and we are infinitely creative and resilient.
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Nurturing Birth, 2018
Certified Birth & Postnatal Doula
Paramana Doula Training Course, 2017
Michel Odent & Liliana Lammers
Training to Support the Breastfeeding Mother Level 2, 2018 - 2019
OCN London & The Breastfeeding Network
"I can’t thank you enough, Rosie, for your beautiful role in my first birth. Together with my partner we made an incredible team. I felt much more relaxed and confident knowing I had the both of you there throughout. It meant I was never alone.
It was only afterwards that I realised how important it is to have a doula; someone who travels with you on your birth journey, understands your ideal scenario and can support both the mother and her partner.
You were sensitive to our needs, encouraging and also able to communicate my wishes to the midwives and hospital staff. When things didn’t go as I’d hoped and I had to be taken to the hospital you made me feel reassured and I was able to concentrate on my birth without having to worry about anything externally. Having someone to listen with open ears to all my ups and downs and give recommendations both before and after birth was also invaluable. I felt safe and comforted.
Pregnancy and giving birth was the biggest challenge of my life so far and I can’t imagine having done it with you. I can’t recommend having a doula enough, and there is no one who can do that better than you."
--- Megan, Birth Client
"It was always our aim to be as relaxed as possible in the later stages of our pregnancy and going into labour, but we were certainly apprehensive and nervous as i'm sure is normal. From the moment Rosie arrived with us we felt more at ease and through her wise words, knowledge and calm presence we were able to create a warm and meditative environment right through to the hospital. At the hospital too Rosie was there for us just enough and at just the right times, never too much and patient and thoughtful throughout.
We feel very blessed to have had someone with us, who could gives us such confidence through her knowledge and such warmth and guidance through her wisdom and intuition."
--- Charlie, Birth Client (Partner)
“Having a doula was the easily the best decision we made around the birth of our lovely boy. Rosie's support during the pregnancy was invaluable, with two antenatal appointments and a brilliant relaxation session. As the birth approached, her insight into the options available enabled me to go into the birth feeling positive and empowered.
On the day of the birth, Rosie was great - reminding me about aspects of my birth plan and offering practical support both to my husband and me. Having her there in the first stages at home, during the birth itself at hospital and for the period afterwards meant so much to both of us. She even came by the next day with a much needed care package - mostly of delicious things for us to eat!
I cannot recommend having a birth doula strongly enough and Rosie in particular. She's an amazing woman and I'm so glad she was part of our little boy's birth”
--- Laura Johnson, Birth Client
“Rosie was perfect, she arrived with an air of total tranquility and just knew what to do. Tea, meals, washing, tidying and bags of encouragement in those early days when I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be doing. Total moral and practical support at a time when you need to be so kind to yourself.”
--- Dr Ruth Richardson, Postnatal Client
“Rosie is such a rich resource for everything related to birth and breastfeeding. She has been incredible support for me with the perfect balance of educated knowledge and the most heartfelt guidance since my son was born.”
--- Dani Rosie, Postnatal Client