Doula Support in Leeds & around West Yorkshire
I know that a Doula is just what you need...
-
Do you want to feel calm, confident & in control during your birth and parenthood?
-
Would you like to feel supported by someone who cares about you and your choices?
-
Do you want to be able to make informed decisions that are right for you and your family?
Too often families are making decisions about their maternity care or parenting choices, without reliable information, evidence or support with what is right for them. There is no "one size fits all" approach when it comes to birthing a baby or parenting a child.​​
How can a Doula support you?
A Doula can support you in ways that are best for you.​ They do not make decisions for you, but they can help you to make your own decisions and support your choices. Having continuous support during pregnancy, birth & postpartum, can have huge benefits for the whole family. Having a familiar person, who has got to know you and can guide you and hold your hand during massive life changing events, such as giving birth, can really help to increase the chances of having a positive experience.
As an experienced Doula, my role is to help you to make informed decisions, support those decisions and not to judge your birth or postnatal choices.
Why Is Birth Preparation Important?
It is really important to prepare for birth, because you need to be able to know about all of your options, so that you can make informed decisions. A positive birth experience looks differently to different people, so it can't be assumed that what is good for one, is good for another. If you don't make a plan or have preferences for your birth. those decisions could be made for you and might not necessarily be the right decisions for you.
NHS Birth Statistics in the UK
The number of babies being born via caesarean section in the UK and across the world is increasing every year. This is also the case for women who are being induced. Less than half the number of women giving birth in the UK will now give birth spontaneously. In 2013/2014, 62% of women would have a spontaneous vaginal birth at the onset of labour. In 2023/2024 this has dropped by 15% over the 10 year period and now only 47% of women will give birth spontaneously. (NHS England Maternity Statistics, 2024). In the last 10 years, deliveries via caesarean section have increased from 13% to 42% and inductions have gone from 25% to 33%.​ In 2023/2024 the number of babies delivered via instrumental births was 11%.
Birth Doula Support Can Help Improve Birth Outcomes
Having a Doula support you during labour and birth has proven to have huge benefits for families and improve the outcome of birth.
-
The risk of a caesarean birth
-
The risk of an instrumental birth
-
The risk of needing painkillers or epidurals during birth
-
The rate of induction of labour
"It felt very powerful when Julia encouraged me and told me how well I was doing during the labour. As requested, Julia took some amazing photos and videos whilst I was birthing our son. These memories are truly precious and we will treasure them forever. Without Julia we wouldn’t have been able to capture these moments. 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. Thank you Julia!"
Tara, Wakefield
​My Doula Support Packages can provide:
Birth Partner Support
-
Teach your partner about how they can best support you during birth.
-
Enhance birth partner's role and never replaces them.
-
How the birth partner can an active, valued member of the team (if they wish).
-
Support your partner emotionally & physically during labour/birth & postpartum.
-
​Educate your partner about labour and birth.
-
Ease anxiety and provide reassurance to the birth partner and act as a calming presence.
Birth Education
-
Help you to understand how the body works during labour, helping to shorten labour & reduce discomfort.
-
​Make you feel confident, empowered and in control.
-
Make you feel prepared, be able to make informed decisions and your own choices.
-
Teach you calm and comforting techniques, to use during labour and birth.
Continuity of Care
-
Provide 1-1 continuity of care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth & postpartum period.
-
Providing you with continuity of care can help increase your chances of having a positive experience.​
-
If you are starting your fertility journey or going through the IVF process, I can support you and your partner during this emotional rollercoaster of a journey.
Support & Reassurance
-
​Make you and your partner feel supported during labour and birth.​
-
Offer emotional and physical postnatal doula support, allowing you to have some time out for you to catch up on sleep, take a bath/shower, receive breastfeeding/feeding support or have a chat with me about life with a newborn or just about life in general.
-
Help you to make a birth plan and be aware of all of your options during labour/birth.
A positive experience is all possible with the right support...
With the right support from someone who truly understands you, understands the maternity system, labour & birth, early parenthood, your local birth choices and who has experience supporting families through this journey, you can greatly increase your chances of having a positive and empowering experience.
Why choose BABA Doula Services & Hypnobirthing...
I'm Julia, the founder of BABA Doula Services & Hypnobirthing. I'm a Mum to two children and I understand how difficult it is to make informed decisions during pregnancy, when there is so much conflicting information out there. I've been through the postpartum period twice and know what families need during that big transition. I'm the Co-Chair for Leeds Maternity Voices Partnership, so I work closely with Leeds Maternity Services, I know the Trust well and I am kept up-to-date with their current guidelines and Trust policies. I know how important it is to make a birth preferences plan, to be aware of all of your options and have someone there to hold your hand and advocate for you if needed.
​
I want more families to have positive birth and parenting experiences. I want to share my knowledge and experience, so that families can feel calm, confident and in control of their birth and as a parent.
What Do You Get When You Hire Me As Your Doula?
Antenatal, Birth & Postnatal Doula Support in Leeds, Surrounding Area & Online
When you hire me as your Doula, whether that is for antenatal, birth or postnatal doula support, I will listen without judgement, supporting you with whatever decisions you make and all of our conversations and correspondence will be kept strictly confidential. I will be guided by you and can help you and your partner (if applicable), prepare for birth, support you during labour and birth if you wish and postnatally too if required. I offer emotional and/or physical support to you and your family. Having the support of a Doula has statistically proven to improve the outcome of the birth and the postnatal period.
If you book me for antenatal, birth or postnatal Doula support, I will gift you a FREE MAM Anti-Colic baby feeding bottle and soother. I do not promote the use of soothers or bottle feeding, but I do believe in families having choice. Whether you exclusively breastfeed your baby, use a bottle of expressed breast milk, combination feed your baby or use formula milk to feed your baby, I will support your decisions.
​I offer a variety of Doula packages, from 1 hour power hour birth preparation sessions, to full continuity of care. Continuity of care includes my support throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum. You can choose as much or as little support that you require.
​
My doula support is either face to face, offering in person Doula support within Leeds and the surrounding area or online, as your virtual Doula.
​​​
Doula Support Packages
All pregnancies and families are different and that's why I have different Doula support packages to suit your needs and budgets.
...because everyone deserves a Doula!
All Doula support packages can be paid in instalments and if you do not see a package that meets your needs, I am happy to discuss your requirements and see if we can create a package bespoke to you.
Antenatal Doula Support
My antenatal Doula support, is for women and partners to plan and prepare for the positive birth that they desire and help them to feel supported during the postpartum period. I have different antenatal support packages, to suit your needs. Some packages are face to face and some are delivered online. You can choose from Antenatal Classes which includes Virtual Birth Doula support or a 1 hour power hour birth preparation virtual pregnancy support . This antenatal package is a unique package and different to most other antenatal classes that you might find nearby. Unlike classes such as NCT antenatal classes, it includes virtual Doula support during labour/birth and support postnatally too. It provides couples with continuity of care, information about of all of their options during birth and the postnatal period and allows them to make informed decisions, feel calm and ready for birth. This package is perfect if you live inside or outside of the Yorkshire area or wanting a cheaper package to match your budget.
Birth Doula Support
This birth doula support package will help you prepare for birth and provides continuous support for the whole family throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and in the early days of parenthood. I will be present during your labour, birth and bonding and I can support and care for you and your family in the first few weeks after the birth. I can give you continuous, unconditional support, providing you with an experienced familiar face and help you to make informed decisions and help you to have a positive birth experience. A £50 discount will be offered, if also booked with any of my hypnobirthing courses.
Postnatal Doula Support
My postnatal doula support package is for families who would like support after their baby has been born. This package offers physical and emotional support for the new family. This package is popular amongst families who may not have family living nearby, who might be feeling overwhelmed by their new responsibilities or who want information or support caring for their newborn. I offer 3 different postnatal doula packages, bronze, silver and gold. You can choose a pay as you go option, a block booking of 5 sessions or a block booking of 10 sessions.
​
Fertility Doula Support
Waiting for a baby can be a long and emotional journey. Starting the journey of IVF can also be a long and emotional journey too. Having the support of a Doula can really help to lighten the load during pre-conception and make that fertility or IVF journey a little easier and a little smoother. Having someone to offer you and/or your partner emotional support and help you to create a positive mindset during your fertility journey or during the IVF process, can really help to make all the difference.
"A positive mindset increases a positive outcome!"
If you live within 10 miles of my address (WF3), I do not charge mileage. However, anything over 10 miles is charged at £0.45 per mile. The first 10 miles each way are inclusive of the costs.
"If you are at all anxious about having a baby, then a Doula can be invaluable to help you to make decisions, advocate for you during birth and manage your anxieties and fears."
- Alison, Leeds
Ready to take control of your pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey?
Get in touch for a free 30 minute discovery call and ask me any questions that you might have.