Birth Doula
The perinatal year can be a time of both profound vulnerability and immense potential for growth. Feeling held and seen is the foundation on which powerful, connected birth is built, and I would be honoured to walk beside you, nurturing you, and helping you find your way.
What is a birth doula?
A doula is a trained birth companion who provides emotional and practical support to families during pregnancy, birth and the immediate postnatal period. Doulas do not offer medical care or advice, but we work very closely alongside midwives and obstetricians to support and care for birthing mothers and their loves ones. All births and all parents are different. As a doula, I won’t advise you or tell you what to do, but I will listen to you, and offer you a safe space to think about what you want, to help you access up-to-date and accurate information about your options, and to support you to advocate for yourself in order to protect your preferences and wishes for your birth.
Read more about doulas and Doula UK here https://doula.org.uk/doula-support
Why work with a doula?
A doula will not replace your primary birth partner or your midwife, but will work respectfully alongside the rest of your team to offer comfort and care and to help you to communicate with healthcare professionals about your wishes. One of the main differences between a doula and the other healthcare professionals who may attend your birth is that you get to choose your doula: by the time your baby’s birth day comes, you will know each other well, and the presence of a comforting, familiar face can make a big difference.
People choose to have the support of a doula for lots of different reasons. Perhaps you have had a traumatic birth in the past and you need things to feel different this time. It may be that you already have a trusted birth partner, but you would both value an extra pair of hands because you have an older child to take care of this time, or because you want to make sure that your partner can take breaks without leaving you alone in case labour takes its time to unfold. Maybe you feel you need help to navigate the maternity system so you can make informed choices and trust to your instincts rather than feeling constrained by protocols. Whatever your reasons for considering a doula, you are welcome to get in touch.
Am I right the doula for you?
If you’re reading this here, you will already know that my background is as a clinical psychologist, and I run a private perinatal mental health practice in South Oxfordshire. I have always felt drawn to being alongside people at important times in their lives, helping them to find their own path, holding space and gently empowering them to be whoever want to be. Nowhere is this more important than in childbirth, and after my first baby was born in October 2012, I had a strong desire to look beyond the therapy room and to work in different ways with women who are preparing to enter motherhood and their families.
Pregnancy and birth can be magical, but embarking on the physical and emotional journey towards motherhood can also be scary. You may feel that you don't know what to expect, and that you're not sure if you will be able to cope. None of us knows exactly what to expect, but I believe that you CAN cope given the right environment and the right support. Most women do feel anxious and doubt themselves or their bodies at some point (it's absolutely normal!), and my aim is to provide you with emotional, physical and practical support to help you to overcome those fears and give birth calmly and confidently.
I am passionate about the significance of the experience of birth for both the mother and for the baby. The way you feel and the way you are treated is so important, and the most valuable thing I can do is to treat you with compassion and respect, and to ensure that you feel unconditionally supported in whatever choices you make. I will listen closely to your wishes, and tailor my support to whatever you feel you need. I have the privilege in my role as a clinical psychologist of working with many parents who have experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage, stillbirth or termination of a pregnancy, and I believe that the gentle support of a doula can be especially valuable in these situations. If you find yourself facing the loss of a baby and think you would like some additional support during birth, please do get in touch.
The way I see my job as a doula is primarily to protect and hold your birthing space; to keep adrenaline and anxiety away, to empower you to make choices that honour your values and wishes, to offer kindness and honesty, and above all to listen to you. I will do as much or as little as you decide you want me to on the day: I aim to be as discreet and as unobtrusive as possible so as not to disturb your privacy.
Sometimes just being there with you is enough. For me, a sense of humour and lots of laughter are crucial to this process. Laughter doesn't just make us feel happier and more relaxed, but it actually helps to boost the hormonal cascade that controls labour and birth, so in this case it really might be the best medicine!
To read more about my birth doula services, please follow the link to the Doula UK ‘Find a Doula’ page: https://doula.org.uk/doula/rebecca-bevis
