Birth doula in Surrey
I wholeheartedly believe that every woman/person who gives birth, has the right to do so exactly as they choose, in an environment that promotes a calm and unhurried atmosphere. I’m passionate about birth choices and the importance and benefits of the doula/client relationship. My goal is to build deep trust and understanding with every client so they feels able to let go and tune into their primal instincts.
My support extends to the husband or partner, in that I do all I can to enable them to be the best birth and parental companion they can be. I set out to create a confident and peaceful backdrop for what is an incredible and life-changing event.
“This person (your birth partner) must be someone you can trust absolutely, who understands your priorities, can communicate well, and with whom you can relax and feel free to reveal yourself”
- The New Experience of Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger
The first step
If you would like to meet me to find out if I’m the right doula for you, an initial meeting is free and with no obligation. It’s a chance to explore how a doula might best support you and your family, address any questions you have and for us to learn a little more about one another. Chemistry is an extremely important part of the doula-client relationship, so this meeting, either in person or via Zoom, is an ideal opportunity to see whether we might be a good fit.
Doula UK has a list of prospective questions, which may help you to think about what you’d like to discuss with me.
Your doula support
The range of support provided by a doula during childbirth may include:
physical assistance and comfort, including massage, help with good posture and positioning, breathing and relaxation techniques;
looking after the mother-to-be to ensure she is eating, drinking and resting where possible;
emotional support, providing constant, loving company, encouragement or simply talking in a soothing manner;
recapping information that will have been discussed during the antenatal sessions in order to prepare prospective parents as much as possible for all the stages of labour and childbirth;
acting as an advocate for the mother by suggesting options and supporting her birth choices in a sensitive, empathetic way;
ensuring that the birthing person and partner are fully informed of their rights, and have the language and tools to navigate their birth from a position of power.
finally, a doula is always available virtually, at any stage during the relationship.
Connection
The Full Bloom pregnancy, birth and postnatal Support Package
£3700
The Ultimate Birth Package – ‘Full Bloom’ shared care package - We’ve got you covered!
You get ALL the support you need through pregnancy and into the crucial early months postpartum
Our fee is £3700 all inclusive. Generally we take half as a deposit on booking and the balance at 38 weeks. We are very happy to look at payment plans in order to spread the cost out. Please just ask.
Payments can be made by bank transfer, or cash. The initial deposit will be requested once a contract has been agreed and all parties are happy to proceed.
We have outlined how the nine + antenatal sessions might be split. This is just an example and can differ from client to client:
Two personalised antenatal planning sessions at your home
Five massage and relaxation sessions at your home/or mine
Two 4th trimester /infant feeding planning workshops at your home/via Zoom, to include a copy of my beautiful Postpartum Intentions Booklet so you can plan for a really positive 4th trimester.
Meet up for a cuppa /walk and catch up - as often as you like
Dedicated WhatsApp Group for easy communication
Attendance at any appointments as required
On Call 14 days before your due date until baby is born
Use of a TENS machine/wave comb/birthing ball/Peanut ball and various books and resources if required
20 hours of postpartum support to include regular massage and a Postpartum Healing Massage to wrap up our time together
Postpartum massage and ceremony. Gently closing the chapter on our time together
Email and phone support as needed until 12 weeks post birth
£120
Postpartum Planning Session 2.5 hours from 36 week pregnant. In home visit
+ 4 weeks of WhatsApp support after birth
Two and a half hours to plan for your 4th trimester, face to face or via Zoom. My sessions are focused on you and tailored to what your needs are likely to be in order to have the best postpartum experience possible. I am then available as your virtual doula, on hand to answer any questions, and give you as much support and signposting as you need in the first four weeks after birth.
This can be offered as a stand alone service or as part of a package. If booked as part of a postnatal package the cost is £70
Payment can be made by bank transfer, Paypal or cash. The initial deposit will be requested once all parties are happy to proceed.
Why plan for your postpartum?
Nurturing through the 4th Trimester
Recovery
Rest & pace yourself
Nourishment
Relationships
Support Circles
Single parents
What do you need to thrive?
Anything else to consider?
Postpartum selfcare ideas
Feeding choices
My breastfeeding story
Parenting choices
Postpartum musings
My postpartum needs
My hopes & my worries
Acknowledging my strengths
Notes & reflections
Podcast recommendations
Ongoing support once baby arrives
Includes a beautiful postpartum planner so you can set out your intentions and 4 weeks of virtual check ins once you have given birth.
This makes a wonderful gift. Please ask for details
You can also choose a completely bespoke package of support. Mixing things up and deciding how to use your sessions as we go along. Please book a call to discuss further
My experience as a birth doula in Surrey
I have supported 300+ birth clients - women giving birth for the first time, right through to welcoming a fifth child into the world. I’m happy and confident to support vbacs (vaginal birth after cesarean) and hvbac+ (home vaginal birth after cesarean) and women who have suffered previous birth trauma, mental illness and depression. I am trained to support women who have experienced prior birth trauma and use the Rewind Hypnosis Technique which has an excellent success rate.
I’ve been present at all manner of positive hospital births including gentle caesareans, those where intervention has been required, or requested, and wonderful physiological births at home and in birthing centres.
As a non-medical or clinical professional, I am happy to say I have always worked harmoniously alongside health professionals in all the hospitals I’m familiar with, a list of which can be found in the FAQs below.
Birth client testimonials
“Simply awesome. The emotional support and birthing guidance was second to none. Would recommend to anyone”
— Patrick de Fors
“During the labour she was great at calming me, giving me reassurance, reminding me of the breathing and hypno-birthing I’d been working on”
— Tilly, Tim and Leo - Stockwell
“Zara made my second birth an absolute joy and one of my proudest and happiest moments”
— Bethan and Gareth, Guildford
“We weren’t just booking an extra pair of experienced hands for our birth, but someone who slotted into our family, and became part of our team”
— Charlie and Cameron, Tooting
FAQs
Do you support home and hospital births?
I’m very happy to support clients wherever and however they choose to birth and have lots of experience in all birth settings. Childbirth is a very personal decision so I’ll happily help you look at all of your options. I thoroughly recommend the Which? birth choice website for an overview of the maternity care currently available:
Which hospitals do you know well?
In Surrey and the surrounding area I am very familiar with: The Royal Surrey in Guildford, Frimley Park Hospital, Kingston Hospital, Ashford & St Peters Hospital in Chertsey, Epsom & St Helier Hospital, East Surrey Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital.
In London I have worked at: Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital, St Georges’s Hospital in Tooting, Kings College Hospital London and Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith.This is a frequently asked question?
What does ‘On call’ actually mean?
I go ‘On call’ for my birth clients at 38 weeks pregnant. For the client this means I am available 24/7 and they become my absolute priority. I stay within easy reach and do not travel or make big plans. For me this means always keeping an eye on my phone no matter what I am doing and having contingency plans for the postnatal clients I might be supporting at the time. Every single meeting and arrangement I make is followed by “Unless I’m at a Birth”. I aim to ensure that I am well rested and my doula bag is packed and in the car. Always ready to roll at any time of day or night! Sometimes, a client might prefer me to go on call earlier than 38 weeks; perhaps if there is a history of having babies early or if they are carrying multiples. If you go into labour outside of the on call period, I’ll almost certainly be able to support you but I always aim to have a back-up in place.
Do you have a back-up in event of an emergency?
I work closely with a number of very wonderful and trusted doulas. Where possible I’ll always ensure that one of them is free to back me up.
Do you offer tailored options?
If you are already a parent and do not require such extensive support before and after birth then I am happy to discuss some tailored options that might suit you. Antenatal preparation and discussion in some form is important, not least because it’s an opportunity to build a strong sense of connection and trust – the foundation of the doula/client relationship. I also offer bespoke antenatal planning sessions and support.
What can you expect with my support?
What is included in your antenatal packages?
I’m happy to accompany you to appointments and facilitate a meeting with your maternity care providers I’ll fully support the birth choices you make and help you create your birth preferences. I’m available by phone, WhatsApp, email or Zoom, whenever you need me from the moment our relationship starts. Towards the end of pregnancy I offer two further sessions to help you relax before birth and explore your preferences for an awesome 4th Trimester. This can include an Infant Feeding session. I offer massage and relaxation and we can chat about the early weeks and months after birth and put together a good postnatal recovery plan. It is a great opportunity for us to catch up and ensure you are feeling as prepared as you can be for birth. I then give you a lovely back massage followed by a reading of a relaxation script. Overall I want to help you prepare for birth and beyond, including mental, physical, emotional and informational support, and encourage a positive mindset where you have self-belief and feel empowered. I’ll happily discuss any topic with you without judgement and gladly signpost you to useful resources, groups and solid research-based evidence.
What can I expect from the birth support?
I’ll be with you throughout your labour and birth and will be guided by you in terms of the support you might need. The mother is my focus and I will ensure that your privacy and space is protected and that your wishes are heard. If you’d like, I can take photos for you, to make sure you capture those first moments as a family. I will stay with you after childbirth and leave when you are happy, settled and feeding is underway.
My doula affiliations
“Asking your husband to be your sole guide through labor is like asking him to lead the way on a climb of Mt Everest. He may be smart and trustworthy, you may love him, but in the Himalayas you’d both be a lot better off with a Sherpa!”
— Pam England
Contact doulabud
I hope the information on my website will have answered as many of your initial questions as possible. You can contact me by phone, email and the contact form below. I really look forward to chatting with you soon.
Godalming, Surrey