Gillian Holmes

Hello, I’m Gillian and I cover Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham and the surrounding areas. If you’re looking for a supportive, calm and confident doula to be part of your birth journey, I’d love to hear from you! We can have a chat about what I can offer and the ways in which hiring a doula can enhance your birth experience. I am passionate about helping you to find your inner strength and achieve a positive birth outcome.

Alongside my work as an NCT antenatal teacher, I trained with Nurturing Birth to be a doula in 2018 and since then have loved supporting some wonderful clients in various different pregnancy and birth situations including home and hospital births in water and on land, induction – or declining induction – and caesarean. I can accompany you if you are by yourself, or support both you and your partner. I will bring a calm, relaxed and joyous presence to your labour environment, helping to make your birth the magical, empowering event it should be. I, and the women I work with, thrive on the connection that is formed between us – even via Zoom if necessary!

I also teach Yoga for Pregnancy and Mother & Baby Yoga, and I run Couple’s Yoga Birth Workshops. All doula clients are encouraged to come to yoga, and I offer a 50% discount on classes as I am a huge believer in the benefits of yoga for pregnancy, birth and beyond. I am a part of the Birth & Beyond Collective, offering classes at www.bookwhen.com/birthandbeyondcotswolds

I am a founding member of Stroud Sling & Nappy Library and I am the local NCT branch Valley Cushion agent. Between 2017 – 19 I worked with photographer Emilie Sandy to produce The Yoga Mum Project and I’m a Mother Blessing celebrant.

I have an extensive library of books on birth and parenting which you are welcome to borrow and I can supply a pool if you’re having a home water birth.

I look forward to hearing from you!