Birth
support
My role as a birth doula includes helping you sift through the overwhelming amount of information you will come across, find out what matters and is truly important to you and your family
as you move into parenthood.
Birth preferences, parenting choices
and situations vary greatly, but can all be supported, from home water births to planned caesarean births. My role is definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach.
I complement the medical birthing team of midwives, doctors and consultants. And can be the wingman to your partner because although I know birth really well, they know you really well, so together we are the ultimate team.
Together we can also explore the tools of hypnobirthing, birth art and journaling if these are of interest to you.
My most important role as your doula during birth is to provide nurturing, continuous support and reassurance.
My birth doula support covers the RUH Bath, GWH Swindon, Chippenham and Frome Birthing Centres, as well as home births in the surrounding areas.
Initially, we will have a complimentary meeting to get to know each other, have a cup of tea, and for us all to see if we are a good fit for each other and your family at this special time. If you feel I would be the right doula for you then typically my services would look like this:
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3 birth preparation antenatal sessions.
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Ongoing support whenever you have a question or would like to
talk and share how you feel. -
On call 24/7 from 10 days before your estimated due date
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Staying with you throughout labour & for a few hours afterwards until you are settled and comfortable.
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A postnatal visit at home to reflect on your birth, give practical help
and see how you are feeling. -
I am here to listen, not judge but give confidence in your choices, to signpost and to simply support you.
In an antenatal session a few
things we can discuss include:
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Your hopes and fears
for birth and parenthood -
The basic physiology of birth
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Emotional and physical
stages of labour
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Your thoughts and options
for pain management -
Advocacy
-
Your partners role
-
Writing your birth
preferences / plan -
Planning your postnatal period
-
Support services
Testimonials
Through labour Michelle understood everything that was going on and even read the people around us in the same way I did and so knew how to deal with the situation best for me. Michelle has a great sense of humour and a huge heart, plus a love and magical way with tiny babies. – E.H.
Michelle’s support was invaluable during our pregnancy, birth and beyond. We learnt so much from her antenatal sessions and her friendly relaxed vibe was very reassuring as we planned our birth preferences. She has a wealth of knowledge. – C.G.
We were having our 4th baby but 1st caesarean birth and having Michelle's experience and knowledge of caesarean births really helped me calm my anxieties. She helped me feel in control of my birth and my husband felt reassured that I would be cared for during the arrival of our baby whilst he was at home with our other children. – P.B.
Michelle was very relaxed and reassuring from our very first session and helped me feel at ease about my situation. I had a high-risk pregnancy with daily hospital visits and Michelle was always on the end of the phone to keep updated and support where needed. She was a real lifeline during through the whole process. – L.B.
What I loved about Michelle's support was that my husband was made to feel involved throughout and Michelle encouraged him to share his views and feelings. He felt that Michelle added to the birth experience rather than being threatened in any way. Thoroughly recommend Michelle to anyone looking for a doula! – H.G.
Myself and my husband were clueless
about birth and parenthood before we met Michelle. She calmed our nerves and made us feel comfortable asking her any questions we had, and we a lot. She made our whole experience less scary through all the unknowns. Michelle is wonderful. – M.J.