An Antenatal Doula can help you to plan and prepare for birth & support you virtually during labour
Planning and preparing for birth is so important. To ensure that you have a birth experience that feels empowering, positive and where you are in control, you need to be able to make informed decisions that feel right for you. Birth rarely does go to plan (sorry to say!) but that doesn't mean you can't have an amazing experience. It means that you can continue making those all important decisions and remain being the main decision maker. The only way that you can do that and make the right decisions, is by being informed and knowledgeable about birth, the birth process and the maternity system. This is why antenatal classes and birth preparation is really critical. You can't make informed decisions, if you don't know your options and if you don't know your options, then you don't have any choices! Read some of the positive birth stories written by my previous clients and see how my antenatal classes and birth preparation courses helped them to have a positive birth experience.
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We research, plan and prepare for so many things in our life, such as our wedding day, which house to buy, which car to purchase, where to go on holiday. Why would we not do the same for our birth?
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My antenatal virtual Doula support package gives you continuity of care, through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Whether you live within the West Yorkshire area or further afield, my virtual Doula support can give you all the care that you need.
"Following a late diagnosis of gestational diabetes and polyhydramnios, I contacted Julia to help me navigate the potential risks associated with those conditions, the information given by the consultants and my options for birthing a potentially large baby.
Due to location, we were unable to meet face to face, however Julia was very generous with her time and worked with me remotely often in the evenings.
Knowing I was keen to have a mindful and positive birth experience, Julia provided me with unbiased advice as well as great resources for building up my knowledge and context to the risks my consultants were raising. She aided my preparation for discussions with consultants and provided positivity around my decisions making me feel empowered and supported.
I would recommend Julia as a Doula to any Mums / parents to be, as part of your pregnancy and birth support."
Becca, Malvern
More Than Just An Antenatal Birth Preparation Class
Unlike NCT antenatal classes, this is no ordinary antenatal class...
My antenatal Doula support package is not like most other antenatal classes that you might find. This antenatal class is face to face or online and includes continuous support throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum. Unlike NCT antenatal classes, my antenatal classes provide unbiased support, tailored to you, making you fully aware of all of your options and helping you to make your own informed decisions. I do not sugar coat the process of birth and I am 100% honest and tell you exactly how it is. This is the only way that you can fully prepare yourself for birth and be able to make the right decisions for you and your family. We will discuss antenatal topics during pregnancy, to help you to prepare for birth and the postnatal period.
Your Virtual Doula, Here For You Throughout Pregnancy, Labour, Birth & Beyond
Unlike other antenatal classes, such as NCT antenatal classes, I will be available virtually during your labour and birth. After you have had your baby, I will also still be there for you, to continue supporting you and provide you with emotional postnatal support, helping you to adjust to becoming a new parent or a new parent again.
I do not give medical advice, nor do I undertake examinations or perform any other clinical task. The antenatal package also does not include me physically attending the birth. This is offered virtually, providing virtual Doula support online, talking to you over the phone/video/text/email during labour and birth if you should wish. If you would like me to physically attend your birth during labour, then my birth Doula support package can assist you with this.
Some women and families do not want another person present at the birth, but they do feel that they would benefit from doing an antenatal class, to gain knowledge and support during pregnancy and in preparation for birth and the postpartum period. Plus, having the same person, who got to know them and their family during pregnancy, to be able to then support them virtually during their birth can provide them with a great comfort, confidence and calmness. It can really make such a huge positive difference to families experiences.
As a doula, I can help prepare you for your birth, but I cannot guarantee that your birth will go as planned. I will strive to give you all the information and support that you need though, to plan for a positive birth experience and I will be there to discuss and help you to unpick your birth experience, after your baby has been born should you want to. I am a Recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula, through Doula UK. This means that I have gone through additional training, been mentored and gained the relevant hands-on experience that Doula UK require, to consider me an experienced Birth & Postnatal Doula and an expert in my field. I have worked with many prenatal and postnatal families and know exactly how they need supporting.
What To Look For In An Antenatal Class?
When looking to book an antenatal class, it's important to look at the teacher's qualifications. Has the teacher completed a certified course? Who was their training provider? Is their training provider FEDANT approved? Are they registered with FEDANT? How experienced is the antenatal teacher? Does the teacher offer any continuous support after the course has finished? Does the course include aromatherapy for birth and is the teacher adequately trained in teaching aromatherapy for birth?
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I am a fully qualified Antenatal Hypnobirthing Teacher. I am FEDANT registered (National Register Number: 13852) and a member of Doula UK. I completed my Doula training through Red Tent Doulas, who are approved by Doula UK. I am also a Recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula, through Doula UK.​
My Hypnobirthing training was completed and certified by Love Your Birth, who are a FEDANT approved Hypnobirthing Teacher Training Provider. This means that I am certified to teach Hypnobirthing and my trainer has been approved by the Federation of Antenatal Educators.​ I am also trained in teaching aromatherapy for birth. I trained with Aromatherapy For Childbirth, who are accredited by the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) and the Royal College of Midwives. This is the same training course that is delivered to many NHS Midwives across the UK.
Antenatal Doula Support Packages
Choose your antenatal birth preparation support...
Antenatal Classes & Virtual Birth Doula Support
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Birth Preparation to help increase your chances of having a positive birth experience.
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Help making a birth plan.
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Antenatal Classes
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Virtual Birth Doula Support during labour
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Postnatal Birth Debrief
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Remote continuity of care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum.​​
Birth Preparation Power Hour
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Get 1 hour of 1-1 online support on whatever pregnancy, birth or postpartum topic you want to discuss.
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Understand more about your options during labour and birth.
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Make a birth plan together if you wish.
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Help making informed decisions.
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Receive emotional support from someone who will listen without judgement and can signpost you to relevant information.
Antenatal Classes & Virtual Birth Doula Support Package
Birth Preparation & Antenatal Education
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Face to Face or Online
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Help you to plan and prepare for your birth and bonding environment. We will look at your birth plan together and discuss all possible options, including your birth rights.
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Teach you some basic hypnobirthing techniques, to help you to have a calm, comfortable birthing experience. (Full Hypnobirthing course can be added at an additional cost).
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Provide you with information about labour and birth.
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Good birthing positions.
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Help you and your partner to understand the birth hormones. How you can control those hormones and use them to your advantage.
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What the labour process looks like and how the body works during labour.
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Postnatal recovery after giving birth and what to expect. This includes after caesarean births and after vaginal births.
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Listen to any concerns you have regarding your own health emotionally or physically.
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An opportunity during the antenatal classes to discuss as a couple what your birth plan and postnatal plan looks like.
Virtual Postnatal Support
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1 virtual Postnatal session (usually 1-2 weeks post birth).
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Allow you to reflect and debrief, listening to you and your partner’s thoughts and feelings about your birth experience.
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Provide you with advice and support on newborn care, including any assistance you may like with breastfeeding or feeding your baby.
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Listen to any concerns you have regarding your own health emotionally or physically.
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Offer emotional support remotely.
Virtual Labour & Birth Support
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Support you virtually during labour & birth, to ensure a positive birth experience in the ways that you seek.
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Providing Doula support remotely during labour, via Video/Phone/WhatsApp/Text.
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Go on call for you 24 hours a day, beginning 2 weeks before your due date and up until labour begins.
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Provide a continuous friendly face/voice for you (and your partner).
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Trained in biomechanics for birth, so I can make suggestions for labour progress, help with relaxation and positioning during labour.
Virtual Doula support is a wonderful option for those living outside the Yorkshire area, or for anyone who prefers not to have an additional person physically present at their birth, but would still like the reassurance of having support, guidance, or emotional reassurance available if and when they need it.
Antenatal NHS Midwife Appointments too short?
Book an online birth preparation power hour with me...
Many women often tell me that they feel their NHS community midwife appointments are just too short. They don't get chance to discuss a lot of their worries at their antenatal appointments, with their NHS midwife or have some of their questions answered. In a 10 minute appointment, they feel rushed and like the appointment was a tick box exercise. Unfortunately NHS midwives are so short staffed, that they don't always get the time that they would like with their patients and only get chance to do the clinical care tasks at the antenatal appointments. This often means that those emotional worries or questions that you might have, just don't get resolved and you resort to Google and we all know that this is not a good option and how it can send us down a rabbit hole!​
My 1 hour birth preparation power hour will give you the opportunity to get expert advice from a Doula UK recognised Doula and receive emotional support for any issues that are concerning you. This will prevent you from following any false, conflicting, Google searched information and help you to feel much calmer and more confident. I will only signpost you to trustworthy resources, evidenced based information and credible sources.​
Book your time slot with me on the calendar below. If you don't see a suitable available slot, contact me and we can see what we can arrange.
Virtual Doula Support & Birth Preparation Prices
Antenatal Classes & Virtual Birth Doula Support
Prepare for birth with this face to face or online, private antenatal class. This class will help you to explore all of your options for birth and the postnatal period. It will help you to feel prepared, confident and in control of your birth, however it pans out.
You will also receive virtual Doula support from me, an experienced Doula who will be on call for you when your labour starts and will support you virtually.
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After birth, you will receive 1 x 2 hour postnatal session, either face to face or via video call. It includes a birth debrief and/or emotional and informational postnatal Doula support.
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Cost: £750
If you would like in person birth doula support or postnatal sessions or if you would like to do a full Hypnobirthing course with me in person or online, get in touch.
