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Birth & Postnatal Doula
Supporting you as a Doula
Bringing your baby into the world, whether it’s your first, second or more, is a hugely transformative experience where you deserve to feel safe, supported and like someone’s got your back the whole time. So from the moment you book me as your Doula, I’m there for you at each step. I’ll be a part of your team and I'll support you practically and emotionally through your pregnancy, at the birth of your baby and in the early weeks of parenthood.
Here’s what you can expect with me as your Doula:
In pregnancy
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You’ll feel safe, cared-for and listened-to. As your doula I’m there to hold space for you to explore your feelings and wishes around birth and caring for your baby.
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In a system where you’ll no doubt see lots of different healthcare professionals on your journey, I’ll be your constant: a familiar & reassuring presence. I can even come to appointments with you if you’d like this extra support.
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I’ll help you prepare for labour, birth and the early weeks with your baby through our antenatal sessions (which can include my full hypnobirthing course) in your own home with your birth partner.
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I don’t advocate a certain type of birth or place of birth. I want you to have a POSITIVE birth and that looks different for every person and could change for you through our time together.
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I’ll help you work out what feels right for you, navigate the maternity system and support you & your birth partner to feel confident advocating for yourselves.
For your birth
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I’ll be on call for your birth 24/7 from 10 days before your estimated due date until your baby is born.
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I’ll support you wherever you choose to have your baby. I’ll be with you during labour and birth and I’ll stay with you until you feel settled with your baby.
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I’ll know your birth preferences inside out and will be advocating for you and supporting you and your partner.
Postnatally
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I’ll come and see you in the week after your birth when you can reflect on your birth experience if you'd like to.
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You’ll then have me ‘in your pocket’ during the first four weeks as you navigate the early days with your new baby. You’ll be able to call or message me if you need any support or reassurance.
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You have the option to book me for further 1:1 support in your home where I can help with anything from being a listening ear to light housework to holding your baby while you have a nap or take a bath.
Take a look at my doula packages below
Finding a doula is a big deal! It’s all about personal connection & I want you to feel you've chosen the right doula for you so I offer a free 30-minute discovery call over Zoom or in person (near High Wycombe) for a no-pressure chat.
Hospitals & Trusts I cover: Buckinghamshire (Stoke Mandeville), Berkshire (Wexham Park, Royal Berkshire), Oxfordshire (John Radcliffe, Oxford Spires, Wallingford), Hertfordshire (Watford General).
Jennifer
Steph is an exceptional doula with a warm, approachable personality that instantly puts you at ease. Her deep knowledge of childbirth, hypnobirthing, pregnancy yoga and postpartum care was evident in every conversation, and she always presented options in a way that empowered us to make informed decisions. She truly listened to our wishes and birth plan and helped me understand my options and advocate for my choices during labour. Steph’s ability to anticipate our needs and provide tailored support and comradery for my husband made her an invaluable part of our team.
Hannah
Steph has been an absolutely wonderful postnatal doula to us, she has such a kind, thoughtful and gentle approach and has been a plate spinning angel helping us to settle into life post-baby. In the early days she helped build our confidence and was a reassuring presence who naturally slotted right into family life. It felt like she walked into an overtired, messy and slightly fraught household, and by the time she left each day we were all rested, happier, less stressed and had a tidy living space and it felt like we could drop our shoulders and breathe!
Essential Birth Doula Package
What’s included?
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My full support from the third trimester onwards (around 27 weeks) via voice notes and messages. I want you to feel like someone has your back. Whether it be navigating the maternity system, offering reassurance, building confidence and exploring your options in preparation for birth or a simple check in and a chat when you need it.
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Two x 2hr antenatal visits at your home to help you feel prepared for birth. Through these sessions you’ll gain the confidence and knowledge to decide on your birth preferences and learn about your options and the recommendations that may come your way. We’ll chat through your choices around aspects of labour and birth and I’ll support you to create your birth plan. During these sessions I’ll get to know you and your partner even more and find out about your wishes. With all of my packages I offer an additional coffee catch up as you approach (or pass!) your estimated due date if you’d like one.
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I’ll be on call for your birth 24/7 from 10 days before your estimated due date until your baby is born. We will have discussed in depth about how and when to contact me. (If you go into labour before then, I will do everything I can to be there to support you).
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I’ll be by your side throughout labour wherever you're giving birth. Just knowing that you and your birth partner have that continuity of care and a familiar face will help you feel so much more relaxed. I’ll be a calming presence from whenever you need me, throughout labour and until you’re settled after your baby is born. I’ll know your birth preferences inside out and be advocating for you and supporting your partner.
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A postnatal visit. I’ll come to you for a 2hr postnatal visit where you can reflect on your birth, we can have a chat (and I’ll make you a hot drink!) and we can talk about how feeding is going.
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I’ll support you for the first four weeks after the birth. My care doesn’t stop as soon as your baby’s here – I’ll be part of your support network to help you feel confident navigating life with a newborn. My support continues until around four weeks post-birth via messages and calls. You’ll be able to call or message me when you need any added support and reassurance.
Enhanced Birth Doula Package
I recommend this package for first time parents and/or if you’d like support before the 3rd trimester.
What’s included?
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Everything in the Essential Package plus...
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My FULL bespoke Hypnobirthing antenatal course (four x 2hr sessions in your home completely tailored to your needs). All my hypnobirthing tracks, resources and an accompanying course manual are included. Hypnobirthing has amazing benefits and the course will leave you feeling so confident and with loads of practical skills and tips to have a positive experience.
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My full support will start from the point you hire me, no matter how early.
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A 2.5hr session in your home covering postnatal planning, feeding and looking after your baby. I’ll help you reflect on what you’d like your immediate postnatal period to look like and help you create a postnatal plan so you feel well-prepared. As a breastfeeding counsellor I have supported hundreds of families on their feeding journeys. We’ll cover whatever you need - from breastfeeding, formula and combination feeding to safe sleeping and newborn behaviour.
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I can attend midwife / hospital visits with you if you'd like me to. Sometimes appointments can feel overwhelming and you may want someone there to support you and take on board any information/ recommendations that are being discussed. With me by your side you’ll feel extra confident in advocating for yourself every step of the way.
Birth prep & virtual Doula support
If you’d like the reassurance of having an extra person on your team throughout your pregnancy and birth but maybe you’d prefer it to be just you & your partner there on the day you meet your baby or you live more than an hour from High Wycombe, my virtual doula support would be perfect for you! Choose one of the two options below to feel held and supported through your pregnancy & birth knowing there’s someone you can turn to whenever you need to.
Virtual Doula – pregnancy & early postnatal £600
We’ll have four in-person antenatal sessions (in your home if you’re in the South Bucks area or online if you’re further afield). These sessions can include my Full Hypnobirthing Course (see the Hypnobirthing page for all the details) but really they’re completely bespoke to your needs. We’ll also have a more relaxed catch-up around your estimated due date to cover any extra questions you or your birth partner might have.
As well as these four birth prep sessions, I’ll be ‘in your pocket’ from your third trimester (28 weeks) until two weeks after the birth in case you need a friendly ear in the early days. If you ever have any questions, if you’re having a wobble and want to talk something through or if you’ve got/ had an appointment that you’d like to chat about, I’m here for you on the other end of the phone or on WhatsApp.
Virtual Birth Doula – pregnancy, birth & early postnatal £850
As above with the addition of having me on the other end of the phone when you go into labour & through birth. With this enhanced package I’ll be ‘on call’ from 10 days before your estimated due date until you give birth. If you or your birth partner need to hear a calm & reassuring voice during labour you can call or message me day or night.
If you decide you'd like my support during birth, the cost of this package is deducted from the Enhanced Doula Package.
Reasons a Virtual Doula Package might be for you
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Finances
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I’m fully booked around your due month
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I’m away during your due month
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You don’t live near me (High Wycombe)
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You'd like all the support of a doula but would prefer it to be just you & your birth partner at your birth
Postnatal Doula
We're often so focused on birth that we forget to give any meaningful thought to the postnatal period. Becoming a mother is a time when you need to feel settled, to rest and have the space to get to know your baby and feel your way around this new and often completely disorientating way of being. My aim as a postnatal Doula is to support you in whatever way you need in your early days and weeks of motherhood.
Postnatal Doula Support
1:1 support in your home (min 3hrs each visit)
How I support you on my visits depends on your needs at the time. It could be...
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Emotional support - I offer a calm, nurturing presence so you can share/reflect/offload, for as long/often as you need.
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Reassurance - helping you tune into your instincts & supporting you with newborn care.
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Time for you - I can take care of your baby while you sleep/rest/take a bath.
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Light house work - e.g. running the vacuum round, putting a load of washing on and hanging it up, stacking & emptying the dishwasher, washing up, putting shopping away.
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Help with daily tasks such as doing a quick shop, walking the dog, dropping off a parcel.
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Nourishment - preparing a meal and/or snacks from what you have at home, making you hot drinks.
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Signposting you to any resources that may be beneficial (e.g. chiropractor, lactation consultant)
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Text/phone/email support throughout our time together.