Using a doula
Birth doulas provide ongoing support and reassurance throughout labour and birth - it's a consistency that can help parents to be calm and to feel safe at home and in hospital.
Each birth doula will offer something a bit different but we don't provide medical care - that is the specialism of the midwives and the doctors.
I became a doula after working as an antenatal teacher for several years, so I have worked with hundreds of parents and I possess a great deal of labour and birth knowledge.
I know what labour and birth can look like, I know how unpredictable it can be and I also know how unique it is to each labouring woman. My role is to support, reassure and encourage, to be an advocate and to ask questions.
And during pregnancy, my role is to spend time with parents to help them know more, to plan realistically and be better prepared for labour and birth.
I don't tell anyone what to do and using a doula is not about one particular type of birth. I have attended:
🔵homebirths
🔵hospital births
🔵 inductions
🔵 vbacs
🔵 'low-risk' births
🔵 'high risk' births
Having the right doula for you can make a huge difference to how supported you feel, to help you feel less alone and less stressed.
And I never replace a dad or partner, unless I am asked to - I am there to support and reassure them so they can also provide support.
Much of my work as a doula is about being a calm, supportive presence - someone who is focused solely on a woman in labour.
I love being with parents during the birth of their baby, its a real privilege to be trusted to provide this support and care.
My doula work focuses on families in Newcastle and across Tyneside - I work with a lot of second time parents so I don't want to be far away.
If you are curious about what a doula does and whether this might be an option for you, please do send me a message.
Janine
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