Birth Doula London – Pregnancy & Labour Support in London & South East England
Feel ready to birth your baby knowing you’ll be supported throughout your birth experience.
MY APPROACH
By really getting to know you, your partner and your hopes around birth, I can personalise and deepen the support I offer.
Our meetings in preparation for birth form a valuable foundation. We will explore a variety of topics with the aim of accessing and developing your birthing ethos. Your birthing ethos can help inform choices pregnancy & birth may present to you. I'm there for you between our meetings too.
IN PREPARATION FOR BIRTH
DURING BIRTH
I'll be tuned into both you and your partner, to provide emotional and practical support.
I will be with you to remind you of your strength.
I can provide massage and other physical comfort measures during the birth and support your partner in doing so too.
I'll keep your space and the birthing environment as you have indicated. If a need arises, I can work with you to gather information so you can make informed decisions in the moment.
After birth, I’ll slip away once you are comfortable and content. Within a week of birth I'll visit you at home to discuss the birth and how you are finding early parenthood.
A.O’S BIRTH TESTIMONIAL
“From the very beginning to the very end, Cara was a rock throughout the entire labor and birthing journey. She was our biggest advocate and biggest support. I truly can’t imagine the experience without her. My hope was to not request pain management throughout my labor but there was one point during contractions I was in so much pain I thought I was going to ask for it. However, Cara was able to physically support and lessen the most intense pain I’d ever had in my life. Through the short down time of my contractions, Cara was there through it all providing more pain management from what we had previously discussed through encouraging words, hand feeding me water and snacks, holding my hand, and having me breathe in scents of lavender. In addition to all of this, she was my spokesperson when I couldn’t speak. Cara seemed to have a natural instinct of just how and when to help. I largely attribute my positive birthing experience to her. Cara made an unsettling, nerve wracking, and life changing event much easier, less scary and truly joyful. Her support, love, knowledge, resourcefulness (and more) from prenatally to postnatally is absolutely invaluable…..”
BIRTH PACKAGES
MOON £2200
Birth package
• I’ll arrange two in-depth sessions with you and your partner to prepare for the birth and postpartum period.
• After these sessions, I’ll compile a detailed email with areas discussed, any relevant research and points to cover in our next meeting.
• Between our meetings we’ll stay in contact by phone, text, and email.
• I’ll be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 38 weeks gestation until your baby is born.
• I will support you during the birth as you and your partner indicate. I’ll stay with you until your baby’s first feed is initiated.
• I will arrange a post-birth wellness meeting to check in with you, your partner and baby.
STARS £3000
Enhanced support in pregnancy
• I’ll hold a space for you and your partner as you prepare to enter this new phase of your lives with 5 in-person support sessions. We can explore your desires, hopes and dreams. When needed, we will walk through shadows together. We’ll explore topics in preparation for birth, the postpartum period and parenting. These sessions will build the foundation of the support I offer.
• After these sessions, I’ll compile a detailed email with areas discussed, any relevant research and points to cover in our next meeting.
• Between our meetings we’ll stay in contact by phone, text, and email.
• I’ll be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 38 weeks gestation until your baby is born.
• I will support you during the birth as you and your partner indicate. I’ll stay with you until your baby’s first feed is initiated.
• I will arrange a post-birth wellness meeting to check in with you, your partner and baby.
SUN £3000
Flowing into postnatal support
• I’ll arrange two in-depth sessions with you and your partner to prepare for the birth and postpartum period.
• After these sessions, I’ll compile a detailed email with areas discussed, any relevant research and points to cover in our next meeting.
• Between our meetings we’ll stay in contact by phone, text, and email.
• I’ll be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 38 weeks gestation until your baby is born.
• I will support you during the birth as you and your partner indicate. I’ll stay with you until your baby’s first feed is initiated.
• In the first two weeks after birth, I will support you in your home, with four 6-hour postnatal sessions.
MY BIRTH DOULA EXPERIENCE
Through my work as a birth doula in London and I have experience of; both home and hospital birth, undisturbed natural birth, epidural birth, caesarean birth, gentle caesarean birth, hypnobirthing, vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), solo mamas, induction, water birth, birth over 40 years, IVF babies, twin birth, twin home birth, Heart babies, birth after loss, infant loss, complex health pictures and supporting fears & phobias around birth. I love being both a sole birth partner and an additional birth partner. I have supported birth at many hospitals across the region, including all of the major London hospitals.
ARTICLE
E.D’S BIRTH TESTIMONIAL
“My sons birth would have been a very different experience without Cara. Whilst preparing for the birth she didn’t want to change our opinion but deeply listened to us and supported us in a gentle way, in our choices. Even though she has a wealth of experience she didn’t in the slightest have a ‘know it all’ approach but kept an open mind throughout our conversations. We felt respected. My labour started fast and furious so we forgot the snacks at home when we headed to the hospital. All I craved for was cheese that of course no hospital vending machines would have. No hesitation - Cara went out and bought some which meant my partner could stay with me. Small things do matter- from back rubs, through pinning hair out of the face to encouraging smiles, Cara couldn’t have supported us better in those moments. My preference was to birth in the pool. Due to my long labour we had to move rooms a few times. Cara fought so hard each time so I could get in the water as quickly as possible. Her presence empowered us and meant that despite all the obstacles we felt we had a positive birth experience. We couldn’t be happier and would recommend Cara with all our hearts.”
Frequently Asked Questions of a London Birth Doula
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As a Birth Doula, I support clients in London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Wiltshire.
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When you want to go ahead, I’ll send you a Letter of Agreement detailing the service you are booking with the terms. You’ll read through and sign, then I’ll sign it. I then kindly ask for the deposit to complete the booking and secure the time in my calendar.
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After you’ve looked into the Doula’s background and experience, simply meet them. Does this person feel like a good fit for your family?
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At such a life affirming time, you experiencing this as a couple, whilst being present for one another, your baby and to the experience means so much. My intention is to hold a couple, a family, connected to each other in the centre, with me providing a cushioning layer on the outside. My support fills in gaps, is an extra pair of hands, is guided by you & understands you as people. My clients’ report feeling that they were both supported, that there was someone else to rely on when they needed it.
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We’ll be in close contact. I kindly ask you to keep me informed of any ‘birthy’ signs: unusual bowel movements, mucus plug, bleeding, discomfort, notable changes in emotions, surges/contractions & waters releasing etc….You might just have a feeling things are getting closer, I’d like to know that too!
Also I’d like to to know in real time, of any relevant information, timescales & next steps from appointments you have with your doctors or other healthcare professionals.
Please CALL me immediately (at any hour of the day or night!) when you believe that you may be going into or, are already in labour. Please phone me rather than message. Please keep calling if I don’t answer.
Once we speak we can make a plan. You might feel you don’t want me to come yet but it’s helpful for me to know that birth is starting to unfold.
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I’m open and friendly. I’m straight forward, I’ll do what I say I will, arrive when I say I will etc… I’ll be responsive to your needs within my scope of working and availability.
POSTNATAL DOULA
As you get to know the new addition to your family, I can be an emotional and practical support. I’ll be there for you and your family as a postnatal doula in London and the South East.
NIGHT NANNY SERVICES
Responsive care for your baby while you sleep. Feeding, changing, winding, settling, cuddling and more. Night Nanny services in London and the South East.
GREAT BIRTH RESOURCES
Dr Sara Wickham https://www.sarawickham.com
Dr Rachel Reed https://www.rachelreed.website