Postnatal Doula & Three step rewind recovery support.
I’m Anna, a mum of two teenagers. I’ve been a single and partnered parent, I’ve experienced birth, and also loss. These experiences sparked a desire in me to help make the pregnancy, birthing and postnatal journey better for others. Whilst being very grateful for our NHS, I felt that my antenatal and postnatal care was impersonal and lacked continuity. The care through my births was patchy to say the least and I was left feeling scared, bewildered and unprepared. In retrospect, I wish that I had found specialist support, sought evidence-based research and sometimes asked, what are my options?
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My path to starting my own business has taken me down different routes. After 10 years of working in the NHS as a Therapy Technician, I left to study, firstly for a Health and Human Sciences Diploma, followed by a year of midwifery practice. I supported many women in pregnancy and labour, gained invaluable experiences and insight, then decided that, rather than continue training as a midwife, my strengths and passion for personalised continuity of care would be better suited to being a doula. I trained in hypnobirthing and antenatal teaching, as a birth and postnatal doula (I am a recognised member of Doula UK), and then as a 3 Step Rewind Practitioner.
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I’ve supported births in homes, birth centres and in labour wards throughout London. Through water births, caesarean births, VBAC’s, hypnobirthing, drug-free births and births with many drugs. Births with solo parents, same sex parents, IVF births, traumatised dads and traumatised mums, survivors of abuse, through miscarriage, abortion and loss.
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I provide informative, practical, relaxed birth preparation sessions, where any questions are welcome, and any scenarios considered. This is after all, about you, your birth and your family. I’ll help you to feel heard, supported and guided through your pregnancy. During birth I can be by your side to protect your birthing space, advocate for you, hold your hand and rub your back. I’ll provide support for your partner too so that the team around you is united and strong. I’ll stay with you while you begin to feed your baby and I’ll check in with you during the following few days to ensure feeding is going well, to assist you and signpost to further specialist support if needed.
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If you need me for longer, I can come to your home as your postnatal doula and give emotional, informational and practical support. We can look at options for infant feeding and sleeping, I can cook nutritious meals for you, hold the baby or look after siblings while you sleep, rest and recover.Â
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Sometimes after a previous traumatising event or birth experience, parents find themselves coping with symptoms of trauma. With a simple and effective treatment called 3 Step Rewind, we can work to lift the symptoms and free the mind to move on to a more neutral and peaceful state so that you can enjoy your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
I can provide a DBS and I am fully insured.