Antenatal Classes, Birth Preparation & Virtual Doula Support - West Yorkshire Area & Online
Plan and prepare for birth & your new chapter....
Planning and preparing for birth is so important. To ensure that you have a birth experience that feels empowering, positive and where you are in control, you need to be able to make informed decisions that feel right for you. Birth rarely does go to plan (sorry to say!) but that doesn't mean you can't have an amazing experience. It means that you can continue making those all important decisions and remain being the main decision maker. The only way that you can do that and make the right decisions, is by being informed and knowledgeable about birth, the birth process and the maternity system. This is why antenatal preparation is really critical. You can't make informed decisions, if you don't know your options and if you don't know your options, then you don't have any choices! Read some of the positive birth stories written by my previous clients and see how my birth preparation courses helped them to have a positive birth experience.
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We research, plan and prepare for so many things in our life, such as our wedding day, which house to buy, which car to purchase, where to go on holiday. Why would we not do the same for our birth?
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My antenatal virtual Doula support package gives you continuity of care, through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Whether you live within the West Yorkshire area or further afield, my virtual Doula support can give you all the care that you need.
Unlike NCT antenatal classes, this is no ordinary antenatal class...
My antenatal Doula support package is not like most antenatal classes that you might see. This antenatal class is face to face or online and includes continuous support throughout pregnancy, labour and postpartum. Unlike NCT antenatal classes, my antenatal classes provide unbiased support, tailored to you, making you fully aware of all of your options and helping you to make your own informed decisions. I do not sugar coat the process of birth and I am 100% honest and tell you exactly how it is. This is the only way that you can fully prepare yourself for birth and be able to make the right decisions for you and your family. We will discuss antenatal topics during pregnancy, to help you to prepare for birth and the postnatal period.
Unlike other antenatal classes, such as NCT antenatal classes, I will be available virtually during your labour and birth. After you have had your baby, I will also still be there for you, to continue supporting you and provide you with emotional postnatal support, helping you to adjust to becoming a new parent or a new parent again.
I do not give medical advice, nor do I undertake examinations or perform any other clinical task. The antenatal package also does not include me physically attending the birth. This is offered virtually, providing virtual Doula support online, talking to you over the phone/video/text/email during labour and birth if you should wish. If you would like me to physically attend your birth during labour, then my birth Doula support package can assist you with this.
Some women and families do not want another person present at the birth, but they do feel that they would benefit from doing an antenatal class, to gain knowledge and support during pregnancy and in preparation for birth and the postpartum period. Plus, having the same person, who got to know them and their family during pregnancy, to be able to then support them virtually during their birth can provide them with a great comfort, confidence and calmness. It can really make such a huge positive difference to families experiences.
As a doula, I can help prepare you for your birth, but I cannot guarantee that your birth will go as planned. I will strive to give you all the information and support that you need though, to plan for a positive birth experience and I will be there to discuss and help you to unpick your birth experience, after your baby has been born should you want to. I am a Recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula, through Doula UK. This means that I have gone through additional training, been mentored and gained the relevant hands-on experience that Doula UK require, to consider me an experienced Birth & Postnatal Doula and an expert in my field. I have worked with many prenatal and postnatal families and know exactly how they need supporting.
What to Look for in an Antenatal Class?
When looking to book an antenatal class, it's important to look at the teacher's qualifications. Has the teacher completed a certified course? Who was their training provider? Is their training provider FEDANT approved? How experienced is the antenatal teacher? Does the teacher offer any continuous support after the course has finished? Does the course include aromatherapy for birth and is the teacher adequately trained in teaching aromatherapy for birth?
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I am a fully qualified Antenatal Hypnobirthing teacher and a member of Doula UK. I completed my Doula training through Red Tent Doulas, who are approved by Doula UK. I am also a Recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula, through Doula UK.
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My Hypnobirthing training was completed and certified by Love Your Birth, who are a FEDANT approved Hypnobirthing Teacher Training Provider. This means that I am certified to teach Hypnobirthing and my trainer has been approved by the Federation of Antenatal Educators.
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I am also trained in teaching aromatherapy for birth. I trained with Aromatherapy For Childbirth, who are accredited by the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) and the Royal College of Midwives. The same training course that is delivered to many NHS Midwives across the UK.
Antenatal Classes & Virtual Birth Doula Support Package | Face to Face & Online
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​2 x 2 hour, face to face or online antenatal classes, allowing you to plan and prepare for your birth. Helping you to understand your birth rights and decide what kind of birth you would like. We will look at your birth plan together and discuss all possible options.
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Provide you with information about labour and birth. Helping you to understand the birth hormones, how to control those hormones. What the labour process looks like and how the body works during labour.
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Good birthing positions to use during labour and birth.
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Teach you how to feel calm and comfortable during labour. Such as calm breathing and massage.
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Basic Hypnobirthing techniques (Full Antenatal Hypnobirthing course can be added as an extra & includes a 10% discount).
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Antenatal support, with information about caring for and feeding your newborn. The different feeding options available, breastfeeding, expressing, bottle feeding and formula feeding.
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Postnatal recovery after giving birth and what to expect. This includes after caesarean births and after vaginal births.
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Support with writing a postnatal plan.
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An opportunity during the antenatal classes to discuss as a couple what your birth plan and postnatal plan looks like.
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I can be your virtual doula, supporting your birth virtually, over the phone/video/text/email, when you go into labour or you think you are in labour. I will go on call for you from 38 weeks of pregnancy and my phone will be on loud 24/7 until your baby is born.
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1 x 2 hour postnatal birth debrief session (face to face or online). The postnatal session is for you to use as you wish, within the first 6 weeks post birth and I will either visit your home at a convenient time or have the session as a video call online. The session will allow you to reflect and debrief your birth with me, an experienced Doula and to also receive postnatal emotional support and informational help.
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Unlimited support via email/phone or text up until 12 weeks post birth.​
Birth Preparation Power Hour - Virtual Doula Pregnancy Support
This virtual Doula power hour session is for you to get 1-1 support on whatever pregnancy, birth or postpartum topic that you might want to discuss! You can also email, WhatsApp or phone me after the session too, if there were any further developments to your original topic, that you wanted any further support with. This 1 hour session takes place virtually, online, via video call. You can book your call time from the calendar below.
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The session can be used for you and I, to make a birth plan together, ask me any questions that you might have about your birth plan and for you to understand more about your options during labour and birth. With my support, I can help you to make informed decisions and help you to increase your odds of having a positive birth experience. You might want to use this hour to just receive emotional support and talk to someone who will listen without judgement and signpost you to relevant information. Alternatively, you could use this hour to relax and take some time out for you. Learn some relaxation tools and techniques, listen to me read you a pregnancy relaxation script and help you to relax and bond with your baby. Use this hour for you to feel calmer, ask any questions that you might feel worried or unsure about and get 1-1 virtual Doula support, from an experienced Doula and Hypnobirthing instructor.
Antenatal NHS Midwife Appointments too short?
Many women often tell me that they feel their NHS community midwife appointments are just too short. They don't get chance to discuss a lot of their worries at their antenatal appointments, with their NHS midwife or have some of their questions answered. In a 10 minute appointment, they feel rushed and like the appointment was a tick box exercise. Unfortunately NHS midwives are so short staffed, that they don't always get the time that they would like with their patients and only get chance to do the clinical care tasks at the antenatal appointments. This often means that those emotional worries or questions that you might have, just don't get resolved and you resort to Google and we all know that this is not a good option and how it can send us down a rabbit hole!​
My 1 hour, pregnancy, virtual Doula power hour will give you the opportunity to get expert advice from a Doula UK recognised Doula and receive emotional support for any issues that are concerning you. This will prevent you from following any false, conflicting, Google searched information and help you to feel much calmer and more confident. I will only signpost you to trustworthy resources, evidenced based information and credible sources.​
Book your time slot with me on the calendar below. If you don't see a suitable available slot, contact me and we can see what we can arrange.
Birth Preparation, Antenatal Packages & Virtual Doula Support
Antenatal Classes & Virtual Doula Support For Birth
Prepare for birth with this face to face or online, private antenatal class. This class will help you to explore all of your options for birth and the postnatal period. It will help you to feel prepared, confident and in control of your birth, however it pans out.
You will also receive virtual Doula support from me, an experienced Doula who will be on call for you when your labour starts and will support you virtually.
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After birth, you will receive 1 x 2 hour postnatal session, either face to face or via video call, It includes a birth debrief and/or emotional and informational postnatal Doula support.
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Cost: £750
If you would like extra antenatal or postnatal sessions or would like to do a full Hypnobirthing course with me, this can be arranged at an additional fee and you will receive a discount. Please ask me for more details.