A Birth Doula is there for you during pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum....
As a FEDANT registered, 5 star rated and experienced Birth Doula from Leeds in Yorkshire, I can accompany you (and your partner) through your pregnancy journey, birth journey and the postnatal period. I am a Doula UK Recognised Doula and I can support you during pregnancy, helping you to prepare for your birth. I can assist you during your labour and birth and also support you in the first few weeks after giving birth.
I am working for you, not your caregiver or hospital. If the need arises, I can help you to communicate with your midwife and medical care givers to ensure that you have all the information that you need to make informed decisions. I will support all of your choices and decisions as your birth doula and I will be present at your labour and birth. Having the support of a birth doula means that you will receive continuity of care throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. Continuity of care has shown to increase the chances of having a positive birth experience for the whole family.
"Julia was an amazing Doula. She was knowledgeable and really listened to our wants and concerns during the whole process. My husband and I became a much closer team due to her sessions and we went into the birth informed about the process and about our rights. Her teachings allowed us to work together while remaining calm through an otherwise turbulent birth. "
Megan, Leeds
"In the months leading up to our birth, Julia helped us to create our very detailed and informed birth preferences plan. This paved the way for our positive birth experience, whereby almost everything we envisioned came to fruition. Without a doubt, hiring Julia helped us to achieve a positive birth experience, where our Son was safely born at home in the way we had hoped. If you are thinking about having a Doula, I would absolutely recommend Julia. "
Tara, Wakefield
Birth Partner - it's not what you might think...
Birth partners, I know that you might be wondering if a birth doula might replace the role of the birth partner or how would a birth doula work with a midwife? Well let me tell you that a birth doula does not replace the role of a birth partner. They are actually there to support the woman and her birth partner, taking the sole responsibility off the shoulders of the birth partner. I can help the birth partner to feel calm and informed, giving them ideas to continue support from beginning to end. I am there to provide support to both of you at all times. Sometimes a partner likes to stay by the mother’s side during the whole of labour, while others prefer to take a break from time-to time. A birth doula can be birth partner support to an individual giving birth or as a 2nd birth partner to the woman and her partner. A birth doula can take an active role in the birth room or an inactive role, where they are just present. A birth doula will support the family however they want.​ However, a doula is not just an extra person in the room. They are a professional, who understands the maternity system, the language, the birth process and how to offer emotional and physical support when it is needed. They are much more than "just a 2nd birth partner". Having someone next to you during labour, who can help you to advocate, pause and think for minute, understand their options and make an informed decision that feels right, can completely change the potential birth outcome.
Attending antenatal classes, creating a detailed birth plan, and hoping everything will unfold as planned on the day, is no longer enough. ​If you're planning a physiological birth in hospital, with your partner by your side, having been told that you're low risk, and can't imagine any reason why you wouldn't have that dream birth, with minimal intervention, it's worth thinking again. ​I've seen it happen far too many times. Birth can begin exactly as hoped, but before you know it, you're being drawn into the maternity system, one intervention leading to another. The choices you thought you'd have can quickly feel limited, and the birth you envisioned may start to slip further and further away. This is exactly why having a doula by your side can make such a difference. While your birth partner loves you deeply and wants the very best for you, they are also emotionally invested in the experience. When you're in labour and difficult decisions arise, it can be hard for them to remain calm, objective, and focused on the bigger picture. ​A doula brings a different kind of support. They are there solely to support you, without the emotional attachment that a partner naturally has. They can help you understand your options, encourage you to ask questions, and remind you of your preferences when things start moving quickly. Together, your birth partner and doula make a powerful team—one providing love and emotional connection, the other offering experienced, steady, and unbiased support when you need it most.​​
Most importantly, a doula helps you remember that even when circumstances change, your rights do not. You still have the right to informed consent, to ask questions, to take time to make decisions, and to accept or decline care based on what feels right for you. Needing support, facing complications, or deviating from your birth plan does not mean surrendering your bodily autonomy. A doula helps ensure that you remain at the centre of decision-making throughout your birth, feeling informed, respected, and empowered every step of the way.
"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." - Becca
As a birth doula, how do I work with midwives?
When I work as a birth doula, I work collaboratively with the family and with the midwives caring for the family. I am there to support the family and protect their space, but I am always respectful of the midwives and Doctor's too and I've always been welcomed in the birth room. I believe that working as a team, achieves better results than conflict. It is important to listen to everyone's opinions, but I also make sure that the family that I am supporting makes the final decisions on their maternity care. That their decisions come from an informed place and that they are given informed consent. This increases the odds of a positive birth experience, where you feel empowered, calm and in control.
Amazing birth experience thanks to Julia. We hired Julia to help with the birth of our second daughter and could not recommend her highly enough. I had a lot of trauma from the birth of my eldest but Julia really helped me with this and equipped us both with the confidence to have a positive second experience. She is kind, thoughtful and incredibly knowledgeable. She was there as a sounding board for some difficult decisions around induction and supported me to make decisions that were right for me in the lead up to the big day. At the birth itself she was motivating and encouraging. She felt like a really positive presence in the room and worked collaboratively with the midwives. I felt like she really had my back and felt truly held and supported. Thank you thank you thank you.
Gillian - Leeds Mum
My Birth Doula Package Provides
Birth Preparation & Education
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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.
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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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Show you some biomechanics techniques that you can practice during pregnancy.
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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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Listen to any concerns you have regarding your own health emotionally or physically.
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Help you to navigate the complicated NHS maternity system and be available virtually during pregnancy, whenever you may need to talk something through.
Labour & Birth Support
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Strive to support you during labour to ensure a positive birth experience in the ways that you seek.
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Advocate for you during labour if needed
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Support your birth partner (if applicable) and be by your side if your birth plan changes and you need to quickly make new informed decisions
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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 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.
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Use aromatherapy and essential oils during labour, should you want me to. I am trained in aromatherapy for childbirth, so I can safely use aromatherapy during your birth or show your birth partner how to use aromatherapy techniques.
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I will do my best to safeguard those precious first minutes of physiological bonding after the birth.
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Take photos and/or videos of your labour & birth (if you wish), so that you can reflect back on your birth experience in the future.
Postnatal Visit
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1 Postnatal visit, in your own home (usually 1-2 weeks post birth).
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Listen 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 physical/emotional support.
I can help prepare you for your birth, but I cannot guarantee that your birth will go as planned. However, having the support of a Doula significantly increases the odds in your favour.
Julia was a fabulous birth doula and was able to connect well with us on a friendly, yet professional level. She listened and understood our needs and was able to support us in the way in which we wished. My husband, my Son and I were all comfortable in her presence and she always asked us what we would like and never passed judgement or made us doubt our decisions. Julia very subtly empowered us through the whole process and this led to a great birth experience (despite changing plans last minute) that I will always look back on with positivity.
E.S - Wakefield Mum
Why Would You Hire A Birth Doula?
Are you pregnant and thinking about hiring a birth doula?
I am so glad that you are here and you are fully exploring all of your options!
Evidence shows that hiring a Doula can significantly increase your chances of having a positive birth experience and offer you continuity of care. Continuity of care means that the same person will support you throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. They can really get to know you, understand your birth preferences, signpost you to evidence based information and support you in ways that you desire.
Why people choose BABA Doula Services & Hypnobirthing as their Birth Doula
When it comes to choosing your birth doula, it is important that you choose someone who you and your partner feel comfortable with. Someone who you feel can support you, the best way that they can. Someone that you feel that you can connect with and feel happy having in your birth space. Birth is a very intermit and vulnerable time, so you need to have someone with you that you feel you can trust and relax around.
So why do people choose BABA Doula Services & Hypnobirthing? I am not just any kind of doula. I am a multi-award winning doula and hypnobirthing teacher and I am 5 star rated by my clients. I have supported many families in the Leeds, York, Wakefield and Yorkshire area during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey and I am highly experienced at what I do. Previous client have said:
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"I am endlessly grateful for Julia, who helped me have the home birth I always wanted."
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"Julia attended the birth itself and was an absolute rock throughout. Her positive reinforcement, gentle encouragement, and unwavering support made such a difference to my labour and delivery."
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"I felt like she really had my back and I felt truly held and supported."
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"I had the most amazing home birth I couldn't have wished for a better birth. Julia was supportive throughout."
Professional Doula Qualifications and Specialist Birth Training
Unlike many doulas, I am a member of Doula UK and a recognised Birth Doula. This means that I have achieved additional Doula training, compared to other Doula's who are not recognised Doulas. A recognised Birth Doula has been mentored, gained the required hands-on birth experience that Doula UK ask for and have met the criteria that Doula UK expect, to consider them an experienced Birth Doula.
My learning didn't stop with my birth doula training. Since qualifying, I have undertaken a variety of additional courses and certifications that enable me to provide a broader range of support, guidance, and evidence-based information to my clients throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
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I am a trained VBAC specialist, having completed my training with the VBAC Hub. If you are considering a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean section (VBAC), I can help you to make informed decisions by exploring the benefits and risks of both VBAC and repeat caesarean birth. I provide evidence-based information, personalised guidance, and continuous support throughout pregnancy and birth, empowering you to make the choices that feel right for you and your family. In addition, I offer a comprehensive VBAC course and workbook, designed to provide practical guidance, build confidence, and support informed decision-making throughout your VBAC journey.
I have supported many births, from home births, vaginal hospital births, planned and unplanned caesarean sections, water births, births at a birth centre (midwife led), induced births, VBAC births, natural births, births involving epidurals, IVF pregnancies, high risk pregnancies and instrumental births. I have also supported a variety of clients, all with different backgrounds, medical conditions and requirements. I am FEDANT registered and my FEDANT national registration number is 13852.​ I have a thorough understanding of supporting neurodivergent births and I have completed training with ND Birth. This means that I can help any neurodivergent clients navigate the maternity system and improve their birthing experience, meeting any special requirements that they might need to increase their chances of having a positive birth experience. Very often little adjustments can make a massive difference to someone who is neurodivergent and recognising this makes a huge difference in the support that's received during pregnancy, labour, birth or postpartum.​
I am endlessly grateful for Julia, who helped me have the home birth I always wanted. Starting as early as 37 weeks, medical professionals discussed options for interventions, and by the time I passed 41 weeks, the pressure for this was intense. I was made to feel that going past my due date was dangerous, and the fear and doubt really started to sink in. But every time that happened, I leaned into Julia’s calm, grounding support. She reminded me to trust my body, stay centered, and make decisions based on what felt right for me.
At 41+5, my beautiful baby arrived at home—perfectly healthy. My placenta was healthy too. Looking back, I’m so glad I didn’t let fear take over. In fact, the very day I went into labour, I was so close to calling the hospital and going in out of worry. Julia gently encouraged me to stay positive, breathe, and see how the day unfolded. That reassurance changed everything.
Through every contraction she reminded me, “You can do this,” and those words carried me. This birth was the complete opposite of my first—no trauma, no fear. My biggest worry was tearing again after what happened the first time, but with her steady guidance and encouragement, I followed my body, trusted the process, and didn’t tear. Recovery has been so much quicker and gentler.
Because of Julia, my birth was empowering, healing, and exactly what I hoped for. She helped me stay aligned with my home-birth wishes, even when outside voices were loud. I will be forever grateful for her. Thank you!
Bronwen - Huddersfield Mummy
Certified Hypnobirthing Instructor & Trained in Biomechanics for Birth!
​​​​As a fully qualified and award winning Hypnobirthing Instructor, I know how to help you to create a positive mindset for birth, how to feel calm, confident and in control, even if your birth doesn't go quite to plan! I can show you how to boost those all important birth hormones, helping to make your labour shorter and more comfortable.
I am trained and certified in biomechanics for birth, so I know which birthing positions could help to make your labour shorter and feel more comfortable. Depending on where your baby is in the pelvis, there are good and not so good positions that are helpful. Sometimes babies can get stuck at certain points in the pelvis as labour begins or as they are being born and this can increase the need for intervention or stronger pain relief. With my biomechanics for birth training, I can suggest different positions and movements, which can just be enough to help and reduce the need for epidurals, inductions, instrumental births or caesarean sections.
I am also trained in aromatherapy for childbirth, so I can safely use essential oils and aromatherapy during your birth if you wanted me to. I can apply the techniques myself or show your birth partner how to apply them, helping them to get involved. Aromatherapy can be used as a form of pain relief or it can be used to help you to feel calm and relaxed, which may help to make labour feel more comfortable. Essentials oils can be a brilliant addition to help promote calmness, particularly when they are used during relaxation in pregnancy.
Leeds Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) Co-Chair
As the Co-Chair for Leeds Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (Leeds MNVP), I work closely with Leeds Maternity Services, helping to improve maternity care across Leeds. I regularly visit the different maternity wards, including Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC), labour ward, antenatal clinic and postnatal ward, at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and St James's University Hospital (SJUH). I attend regular meetings with the Leeds maternity professionals and I'm kept up-to-date with the Trust's policies, procedures and information. I am familiar with the local maternity system (West Yorkshire & Harrogate) and I have supported many clients using these local hospitals and Trusts - Pinderfields, Dewsbury Bronte Centre, Barnsley, Leeds, York, Harrogate, Calderdale, Huddersfield, Airedale and Bradford.
Birth Doula Costs​
Birth support: From £2100
This includes:
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2 x 2 hours of essential antenatal and birth preparation sessions (more if required)
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Signposting to evidence based information, helping you to make informed decisions
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Informational handouts for you to keep and free samples, including sachets of Lansinoh and a MAM Anti-colic baby bottle and soother.
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Antenatal Phone/Text/WhatsApp/Email support throughout your pregnancy, giving you continuity of care.
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Going on call for you from 38 weeks of pregnancy (or sooner if required) and until baby has been born.
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In person labour and birth support, whether that is via a c-section or vaginal birth.
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1 x postnatal visit
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Phone/text/WhatsApp/Email support from me for 6 weeks after the postnatal session.
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You will have access to my relevant reading library
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Free gifts from me when your baby has been born, including a lovely little keepsake to celebrate the arrival of your new baby. *​​​​​
​​If you would like to create your own bespoke birth package, designed to your own requirements, contact me to discuss your options. You can also add a Hypnobirthing Course or a VBAC workshop course onto the package for an addional cost. Contact me to discuss further.
* Subject to availability
Birth Doula Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a Doula and a Midwife? A doula does not give medical advice, nor do they undertake examinations or perform any other clinical task, unlike a midwife. Doula's however, can provide continuous support, physical support and emotional support. They can signpost you to relevant information and support you in making informed decisions.
What is a Doula? A doula can provide continuous support throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum. They support the whole family, offering emotional, physical and informational support.
Why would I need a Doula? A birth doula provides many advantages. Having a birth doula can reduce the risk of caesarean birth. It can reduce the risk of instrumental birth. Reduce the need for painkillers or epidural during birth. Reduce the rate of induction of labour. Having a birth doula can shorter labour. Increase parental satisfaction with the birth experience. Increase likelihood of initiating breastfeeding. Increase likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding and lower incidence of depressive symptomatology.
Is a birth doula worth the money? I totally understand that you might think that a birth doula is a lot of money. However, how much did you spend on your wedding? I bet that it was over £2,000? Right? Investing in your birth is really important. Even more important than your wedding day, because your birth experience will last much longer than one day and could impact you for the rest of your life. I do offer instalments, so that you can spread the cost over the period of your pregnancy, making the payments more manageable.
Can a Doula support with home births? Yes a Doula will support home births and any other type of birth that you are planning. A Doula can be an excellent support for both the mother and her birth partner, wherever they choose to give birth.
Still not sure?
Why not book a free 30 minute Zoom call with me and we can have a chat and see how I can help?
Registration 13852
