Pregnancy, Birth & Postnatal Doula Support

Why hire a doula?

You’re pregnant – congratulations! Maybe this is your first time, or maybe you’ve been here before. Either way you’re likely to be feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation!

By now you know there’s a lot more to growing a baby than the fun of picking out colours for the nursery and settling on a name. You might have already been confronted with serious decision-making about antenatal tests, birth plans and healthcare.

With me as your doula, you have the reassurance of an experienced professional who can hold your hand, both physically and metaphorically, throughout your pregnancy and labour. This partnership gives you the confidence to make choices that are right for you knowing that I've got your back and I'm by your side.

My aim as your doula is to make you feel safe, supported, listened to and held, so you achieve your best birth experience. I only support families in Gloucestershire to ensure that I can be with you swiftly when you need me in labour.

During our antenatal meetings, you, and your partner when possible, can use the time to talk about birth expectations and concerns, practise coping techniques, and make plans in an unhurried environment. As an National Childbirth Trust (NCT) teacher, these meetings can take the form of a bespoke antenatal course; or if you're attending antenatal classes separately, we can delve deeper into any aspects of labour and birth that are particularly important or interesting to you. We can discuss the choices you have in pregnancy and labour as I help you unpick the evidence around your options and explore your intentions, hopes and plans and we can get to know each other so you have a familiar face and relaxing presence during your labour.

Importantly, I'll be there at the birth, from whenever you need me until after your baby is born and you're happy for me to leave.

I'll still be available for support, guidance and cheerleading in those rollercoaster early days and I'll come back for a postnatal visit to wrap up your birth package. More postnatal support is also available if you need it going forwards.

I teach Yoga for Pregnancy and Baby Yoga in Stroud and Nailsworth and as part of your birth doula package I offer my clients half price Pregnancy Yoga from the start of our doula relationship until your baby is born.

Importantly, as your doula you’ve got my full and committed support and can contact me with any questions or concerns whenever you need to.

Why me?

I’ve been in the ‘birth world’ for over 15 years working as a National Childbirth Trust (NCT) antenatal teacher and a pregnancy yoga instructor. I’ve also worked at Stroud Midwifery Unit as a maternity care assistant and I have been in your shoes as a mum of three.

My experience includes supporting women and couples planning home and hospital births, induction and declining induction, Caesarean, surrogacy, multiples, land and water births; with and without midwife support.

My goal is to bring a calm, joyous and relaxed atmosphere to your birth experience. Testament to the success of this approach is the bond that I create with the women I support. A bond that thrives during pregnancy and far beyond.

Scroll to the foot of this page to read what previous clients have said about my doula support.

What does it involve?

Pregnancy and Birth Doula Support - from £1,550

(payment by instalment is always available to make all my packages accessible for you)

This includes:

Antenatal meetings to explore all your options and ensure that you (and your partner if applicable) feel ready and excited about meeting your baby. I can tailor a package of sessions to suit your needs, which might cover -

Exploring your hopes and wishes for birth: taking some time to reflect on what you envision for your birth experience. We’ll explore environment, support, pain management preferences and any specific cultural or personal rituals you’d like to incorporate. If appropriate, we can also debrief and unpick any previous experiences.
Reframing negative feelings: using hypnobirthing techniques to shift your mindset and alleviate any conscious or subconscious fears surrounding birth. Techniques such as visualisation, breathing exercises and positive affirmations can be incredibly helpful in empowering you to approach birth with a positive mindset.
Understanding the physiology of birth: knowing what to expect during labour including the all-important role of hormones, as well as knowing what care is offered by local maternity services, will demystify the process and enable you to make decisions which are right for you and your baby.
Practical skills for birth: discussing and practising your birth partners’ roles and responsibilities – such as massage, helping with positions and emotional support. Knowing how biomechanics can help you in pregnancy and during labour.
Birth planning: working together to draw up a plan to ensure that you have considered all your options, and everyone involved with your care understands your wishes fully.
Postnatal planning: preparing for a wonderful start to your parenting journey by considering the support you and your partner will need, self-care strategies and practical baby care.
Birth pool run-through: if you're planning to have your baby at home and would like access to a pool, I can supply one as you approach your estimated due date and make sure you have all of the equipment you'll need for a successful home water birth.
Weekly check-ins over a cuppa or via Zoom from 37 weeks so that we can talk through anything big or small that might come up as you get closer to the birth of your baby.

During this time we’ll get to know each other as we discuss the ways you'd like to be supported during labour and birth, both physically and emotionally. We'll work together to ensure that the birth of your baby is the most magical moment it can be, allowing you to approach labour and birth with confidence and positivity.

You’ll have my ongoing support at any stage during your pregnancy and postnatally, if anything crops up that you want to talk about – you can feel free to contact me any time.

I’ll set you up a unique code for unlimited half-price Pregnancy Yoga so that you can join classes to help increase your comfort in pregnancy and practise positions and breathing for birth. Face-to-face yoga classes are held in Stroud and Nailsworth where you'll meet other local expectant mums; or I can supply videos if practising at home is your preference.

I'll be on call for your birth 24/7 usually from 38 weeks, ready to be with you during labour as soon as you need me, and I'll stay with you until several hours after your birth, when you're happy for me to leave you with your new baby.

We’ll have a useful postnatal visit to celebrate the birth of your baby, ensuring you are recovering comfortably. During this time I can help with breast or bottle feeding or any other baby care. This meeting is usually one week after the birth, but I can be flexible to suit you and your new family, and further postnatal support is then available as outlined below.

Contact me to arrange a free, no-obligation meeting in person or online so that we can explore the support you need. I'll then draw up a personalised package for you and supply you with a quote.

Shared Doula Support for Pregnancy & Birth – from £1850

For times when I am fully booked, I share doula support with another experienced doula colleague. Giving you twice the experience and skills, I work alongside Deborah Hannam so that we can offer support to more families during busy times in this shared role. We can offer the same antenatal sessions and services as above, and you get to know us both during your pregnancy knowing that one of us will be there as a familiar face by your side throughout labour.

Double Doula Support for Pregnancy & Birth – from £2900

The ultimate doula support for when you want it all - a varied skill set from doulas with a similar ethos!

Both my doula partner Deborah Hannam and myself can support you throughout pregnancy and during labour, giving you twice the experience and skills, with both of us giving our full support throughout pregnancy and during labour. Drawing on my own yoga expertise and Debs’ massage for labour skills, you’ll feel fully supported at every stage. We’ll both attend all of your preparation sessions and we’ll both be on call for your birth: for a home birth we can both attend as well as your partner – if you’re heading into hospital then you’re allowed to bring two birth partners of your choice with you.

Contact me to discuss this option if you'd like twice the support, twice the experience. Ideal if you're planning a home birth and/or birthing solo.

Early Days Doula Support - available for birth doula clients

Daytime Help - £30 per hour

My support to ‘mother the mother’ usually in blocks of two or three hours at a time.

I’ll help enable you to grow in confidence with your new baby: supporting your feeding choices, helping with nappies, bathing and sling-wearing. I can also help with older siblings or light housework to free you up, giving you time to recover and get to know your new baby.

On request, I can bring light vegan meals or treats such as soup, flapjacks or cake (you've earned it!).

The Night Shift - £350 for ten hours

Any ten hours between 8pm and 8am.

The night shift gives you the opportunity to rest fully, knowing that I'll see to your baby through the night, bringing them to you for breastfeeding as required or giving bottles if that's your choice.

Free consultation

Choosing the right doula is an important decision, and the investment involved – both emotional and financial – is significant. To help you with your decision, I offer a free, no-obligation face to face or online consultation. At this meeting we can work together to agree a package of birth and/or postnatal doula support to suit you.

Contact me

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Doula Client Testimonials

Our decision to plan for a home birth was in part because we felt like we would be in such safe hands with Gillian. As older first time parents, we felt we had even more questions about what could go 'wrong' with birth. But working with Gillian in the months leading up to the birth of our son helped us to switch our mind frame to what could go 'right', and how we could make plans for birth to be not just a safe experience but also a life-affirming way to meet our baby.

Gillian brought just the right balance of practical wisdom and mindful encouragement to let us find our own version of what the 'ideal' birth would be.

Gillian was tirelessly supportive and engaged in our birth. We were blown away by her commitment and she enabled us to finally have the home birth we hoped for. She supported me when I needed to assert our choices in pregnancy, she gave us the confidence we wished for to include our older child and was there for everything I needed at the birth.

The whole experience was like gaining a deeply knowledgeable and cheerful friend to hold me through difficulties, uncertainties and ultimately the joy of having our baby.

- Eli

I knew people who worked with Gillian in pregnancy yoga, and when I spoke to her found her to be warm, friendly and non-judgemental. We had a good laugh in our initial chat, something I felt really really important for this journey!

I wanted to make my dream of having a home birth a reality, and give my baby the best chance of entering the world peacefully. I also wanted an advocate for me and my partner away from traditional medical assumptions!

Gillian’s kind support and pre-birth sessions allowed me to feel confident and prepared in my choice to birth at home, she made me feel like anything was possible. I also felt armed with all of the right questions when I had appointments, allowing me to choose (or decline!) medical interventions that I felt were right for me. In the actual birth, Gillian’s presence empowered me: she supported my partner to support me the best way he could; reminded me of my strength when the going got tough; and post birth she helped to make our space feel cosy, was there with tea, a snack and helpful words for our new little family.

Gillian is a wonderful person, as a doula she is hugely knowledgeable in her field that hugely helped me to have the birth I had always wanted at home in the pool. Having her there through the ride of becoming new parents felt like a warm hug of support, and I feel very privileged to have had her involved.

- Natasha

As our doula, Gillian helped my husband and I both feel prepared, confident and safe. She totally blew us away and she has been THE difference for us. I had dreamed of a relaxed water birth. But after having an induction with my first baby, I didn't see this as an option for me second time around. I had a lot of fear. Gillian helped show us this was possible and safe. I achieved the beautiful, natural birth I had always wanted.

- Charlotte

You were such a valuable and significant presence in what was the most transformative, powerful and spiritual experience of my life! It was truly perfect and healing. You have such a warm presence that made me feel calm and comforted in the birth.

- Sadie

I wanted to say a huge heartfelt thank you for all your help, support and encouragement during my pregnancy and especially during birth. I am very grateful for your presence and support.

- Klaudia

You really do go above and beyond and it has made a massive positive impact on quite a nerve-wracking time. Instead I felt supported, safe and positive, so thank you.

- Lucy

Gillian was so super supportive in the time leading up to my daughter’s birth. I had a long pregnancy, almost reaching 44 weeks and Gillian was amazing with her care, support, understanding and compassion to our situation. Having Gillian as my doula at this time gave me extra strength to follow my instincts. I felt heard and acknowledged with all I was going through, which was a very emotional time. I remember feeling so grateful for choosing to have a doula! During labour Gillian was wonderful. When labour was progressing and becoming much more intense, she would come and gently apply a cold flannel to my head, tuck my hair behind my ears or offer to apply pressure to my back during contractions. Her presence was gentle and supportive – just the right balance. And of course not only was she there for me, but she was supportive of my husband, too.

Due to unexpected circumstances, we realized that my husband wouldn’t be able to attend the birth. Thankfully Gillian was recommended to me when I was looking for a doula and we couldn’t have wished for a better person for this task. This gave us peace of mind that I’m in safe hands at one of the most important times of our lives.

Gillian is one of the loveliest people you’ll meet, she’s completely dedicated to her work and very well organized. The conversations we had before the birth gave me a wonderful support and helped me to relax. She also helped me to create the birth plan and most importantly she was there to hold my hand and support me when I gave birth. I’m so glad she agreed to be my doula, I really could not have wished for a better support and will always be grateful that she was there for us when our daughter was born.

- Inese

I very much enjoyed attending Gillian’s yoga class, & learning meditation and breathing techniques to use in labour. Also seeing Gillian every week was lovely & being able to have conversations before/after class allowed us to bond more. Our antenatal meetings offered practical advice about labour positions, birth, what to expect & much more. During labour, Gillian was a positive & calming presence and used positive language. She gave us our own space and time as a couple during this time yet also was there when needed, working well simultaneously with my partner to support me emotionally & practically. From our first meeting, Gillian made us feel completely at ease. I loved that Gillian was my pregnancy yoga instructor as well as doula as it allowed us to form a stronger bond in the antenatal time, meaning I felt extremely comfortable in her presence by the time baby decided to make an appearance. She was very knowledgeable about so many different aspects of pregnancy & birth and offered practical support throughout. She is so approachable, caring & thoughtful; the perfect doula!

- Debbie