Holistic Doula Services
First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy !
So... you are looking for a Doula?
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When choosing a Doula its so important to find a Doula that you feel a connection with. We are super lucky in York because York has a lovely collection of amazing Doulas and we encourage you to meet up with as many of us as you feel necessary in order to find the right one for you.
Here is a short introduction of myself and the work I do as a Holistic Doula.
My name is Kirsty and I am a Mum to 4 beautiful children, 2 boys and 2 girls. My eldest is 18 years old and my youngest is 8.
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Birth and the way woman are treated during this time are two of the most important things I feel so passionately about. I am here to journey with all mothers who want to find and connect with their innate ability to birth their baby in a way that they know is right for themselves.
Birth may be experienced and followed with an empowering joy, great strength, a sense of achievement and the deepest of love. Like a euphoria that can never be imitated or forgotten. There are a vast range of emotions and effects, depending on each woman's experience, how she was cared for in her pregnancy, the choices she is able to make regarding the maternity care available to her, and the way she is treated during her pregnancy and birth.
What is a Doula ?
Doulas provide continuous support for the whole family through pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenthood. Filling a role that new mothers and families have always needed. We are there to provide information, to listen, give confidence and not judge. Offering flexible, practical and emotional support.
Doulas work in Woman's own homes as well as in hospitals throughout the uk
Research clearly shows that labouring women who have constant emotional support from a female companion they know and trust are significantly less likely to request pain relief, are more likely to have a physiological birth (one without medical intervention or narcotic pain killers) and are more likely to have high levels of satisfaction with their birth experience.
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Doulas do not make decisions for a woman, they do not give medical care or advice, and they will never seek to persuade a woman to follow a path that is not her own! A doula can at times appear to ‘do’ very little, but the effect of her confident presence can be enormous!
Doulas are there as a source of confidence, experience, love and support for a woman and her birth partners, to make the experience as positive as possible. The feedback from women shows that this works, and women who hire a doula often rate it as the single best decision they made!
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In short, a doula does what the mother wants her to do, nothing more, nothing less!
A doula provides emotional, practical and informational support to their client(s), adapting to what is needed.
A doula is able to offer help and suggestions on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. If applicable, the doula can also encourage the partner to participate in the birth to a level at which they feel comfortable.
The doula’s most important role is to provide nurturing, continuous support and reassurance.
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The doula will then stay with their client(s) until after baby is born and the new family are settled and happy.
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As a Doula I do not...
Perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams or fetal heart monitoring.
Give medical advice or diagnose conditions.
Judge you for decisions that you make.
Let my own values or biases get in the way of caring for you.
Take over the role of your husband or partner.
Deliver the baby.
Change shifts.
Tell you what you should do.
My induced first birth in led me to seek out ways to find my own inner strength to empower myself, to question the procedures and decide for myself how and where I would birth my baby.
I have been on an 18 year journey and I have learned so much along the way in terms of mothering, healing, support, love, respect, choice, integrity, the importance of birth itself and how that not only starts us out on our journey into Motherhood, but it effects us for the rest of our lives.......
..........and the biggest thing I learned, is how powerful and amazing woman are :)
My Son Rube's homebirth .
My 4th baby. 10lb 1oz
A woman’s journey through pregnancy and birth offers an irreplaceable opportunity for her to journey within herself and explore and deepen her intuition, her inner wisdom, her inner strength, her connection with all women and her divine nature.
All essential prerequisites for mothering
Good beginnings make a positive difference in the world, so it is so important to provide the best possible care for mother and babies throughout this extraordinarily influential part of life.
Womans perceptions about their bodies and their babies capabilities will be deeply influenced by the care they receive arounf the time of birth.
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As a Holistic Doula, I fully believe that each mother will carry, birth and nurture her baby in her own unique way and I am here to support you through your journey. Each family will make choices that are right for them and my work is to support you through that process.
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I will listen, hold and support you through this journey so it leads you to exactly where you need to be. I do not make decisions for you. I do not tell you how and where you should give birth. I am here to walk beside you to help you tune into your inner guidance, so you can discover yourself what it is that you need.
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I will get to know you and your partner during the months of your pregnancy so we can begin to understand deeply what your concerns are, what helps you feel safe, what encourages you and most importantly what you want from your labour, your birth and the first precious times with your new baby.
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I will provide you with accurate, unbiased information, resources, tools and techniques so that you can make your own informed choices about how and where you would like to birth your baby and you can create your own tailor made birth plan and experience.
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I will support and nurture you, I will feed your body and your soul and support you to get on with the work that is giving birth, whatever setting you have chosen, however your baby arrives earthside!
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I care deeply for the women and their partners that I work with. I want what the woman herself wants. I help the woman achieve that and support her to make her own decisions about what she and her baby want and need. And if you ever experience self doubt, anxiety or are afraid, I will be there to support you through this and to remind you of the choices you made and the reason why you made them.
As your Doula......
We will meet many times to get to know each other
and discuss plans for the birth, your hopes, any fears and concerns.
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We do Reflexology, Massage, Reiki, Meditations to help support you emotionally and physically during pregnancy and help your body balance and prepare for the birth .
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I have a wonderful range of books and offer a small lending library.
I also have an aromatherapy diffuser that you can borrow to help create a calm and tranquil environment.
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During labour, I am there as a constant familiar face,to make sure your needs are met, to help create and protect an environment where you feel safe to labour and birth without disturbance or inhibitions.
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I will stay with you throughout labour and birth,
until your new family is settled and you are happy for me to leave.
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Fathers support
Quite often the fathers that feel a little reluctant to hire a Doula. Some may feel that a Doula will replace their Role. Let me reassure you that this is not the case at all and quite often the fathers feel such a sense of support from the Doula also.
I am passionate about offering fathers the opportunity to explore their own rite of passage into fatherhood, to connect, share and to help empower themselves in choosing how they can be part of the birthing of their child.
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I am there to offer support to the fathers also.To ease the burden and the responsinility that fathers often feel.
I can show the fathers massage techniques to use during the pregnancy, which will not only help keep the mother relaxed, calm and feel cared for, but will help the couple feel connected with a sense of togetherness. I demonstrate to the fathers the acupressure points that can help during labour and how to use essential oils safely and effectively if required.
Child Of The Moon Holistic Doula Package
Please contact me for more details about the prices of different persinalised packages that I can offer