About me
Like many women, my own experience of pregnancy and birth sparked a passion to learn more about this amazing and precious time in a woman’s life. I originally trained and worked within the historic environment sector since leaving university, however after the birth of my first daughter I started volunteering within the National Childbirth Trust (NCT – text in bold and link to NCT website) and my passion for helping and supporting parents during pregnancy has grown alongside own my experience of motherhood. I have personal experience of mothering 4 young children and of homebirth, waterbirth, hospital birth, breastfeeding and bottle feeding. As a doula I have witnessed all aspects of birth, including homebirth, hospital birth, induction, assisted births, waterbirth, and births with and without pain relief.
In 2002 I helped found the Southampton Homebirth Group and was involved in the Southampton Birth Place Choices project. Following the birth of my 3rd child I finally registered with the NCT to train as an antenatal teacher and qualified in 2010, (following the birth of my 4th child!). I am also training as a Birthing from Within Mentor, and recently trained to provide HypnoBirthing courses (Fertility2Birth). I am committeed to helping to improve local maternity services having served 3 years as Chair of the West Hampshire Maternity Liaison Committee, and I am a founder member of both the Southampton and Winchester home birth groups. Though all of these activities I have good links with a range of health professionals in the Winchester and Southampton areas.
- National Childbirth Trust Diploma (www.nct.org.uk)
- Baby on Board Doula Training (www.babyonboard.co.uk)
- Birth Crisis Workshop with Sheila Kitzinger (www.sheilakitzinger.com)
- Birthing form Within Level 1 Workshop (www.birthingfromwithin.com) I am currently training to become a Birthing from Within mentor
- Hypnobirthing (www.Fertility2Birth.co.uk)
- Insured and registered with FEDANT (member number available on request)
I continue to attend study days and conferences relating to all aspects of pregnancy and birth to maintain my awareness of current issues and research. I am also a lay representative to the West Hampshire Maternity Service Liaison Committee (www.mslc.org.uk)
Testimonials
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