◎ What is a doula/birthkeeper and how are you different from a midwife?

A doula offers emotional, physical and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Unlike midwives, doulas are not medical professionals. We don’t do checks, diagnoses, or clinical care. My role is to walk alongside you, offering calm presence, encouragement and guidance, helping you feel safe, informed and supported at every stage.

◎ What are the benefits of having a doula?

Having a doula means having someone in your corner, someone who’s there just for you, offering calm, continuous support through one of the most transformative times of your life.

A doula can help you feel:

• Informed – helping you understand your options and make decisions that feel right for you

• Grounded – offering steady emotional support before, during and after birth

• Empowered – encouraging you to trust your instincts and use your voice

• Comforted – providing hands-on techniques, breathwork, positioning and more to help ease labour

• Advocated for – gently helping you navigate the maternity system, if needed

And beyond all that, a doula simply believes in you. We hold the space, protect your bubble, and remind you, again and again, that your body was made for this.

Evidence shows that people who birth with a doula are more likely to:

• Have a shorter labour

• Use less pain relief

• Avoid unnecessary interventions

• Feel more positive and satisfied about their birth experience

• Establish infant feeding more easily

• Feel more confident and supported in the early postpartum weeks

◎ What is hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is a practical and science-backed approach to birth preparation that helps you work with your body (not against it), so you can feel calm, confident and connected throughout labour.

Despite the name, it’s not about being hypnotised or zoned out. It’s about learning how your mind and body work together during birth and how to use tools like breathing, visualisation, mindfulness and relaxation techniques to stay grounded and reduce fear and tension.

It’s also about understanding your rights, your choices, and how to create a birth environment that supports your physiology, so you can tune in to your instincts and meet birth from a place of trust, not fear.

◎ What are the benefits of hypnobirthing?

• Helps you feel calmer and more in control during labour

• Reduces fear and anxiety around birth

• Supports the release of oxytocin and endorphins—your body’s natural pain relief hormones

• Encourages a more physiological birth, with fewer interventions

• Gives your birth partner a clear role and practical tools to support you

• Helps you prepare emotionally, not just physically

• Can lead to shorter labours and more positive birth experiences

• Equips you with mindset tools that can be used well beyond birth

Hypnobirthing isn’t about guaranteeing a certain type of birth. It’s about feeling resourced, informed and empowered to navigate your birth your way.

◎ Do you only support home births or physiological births?

No, I currently support all birth choices—home, hospital, birth centre, vaginal birth, caesarean, with or without pain relief. My role is to support your choices, not push any agenda. Birth is beautiful in many forms, and my goal is to help you feel confident and cared for, however it unfolds.

◎ Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, I offer flexible payment plans and am always happy to chat about what might work for you.

◎ What areas do you cover?

I’m based in Aldbourne, Wiltshire and offer in-person birth support, postpartum doula care, and womb massage across the surrounding counties, including Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, and Hampshire.

For photography sessions, I’m happy to travel further afield (including to London) depending on availability. If you're unsure whether you're in my area, feel free to reach out.

For any visit over 30 minutes away, a small mileage fee may apply to cover petrol. We’ll always agree this together in advance.

I also offer online doula support, virtual antenatal courses, and one-off birth plan sessions, so wherever you are, you can still access personalised care and guidance.

◎ Can you support me if I don’t have a birth partner?

Absolutely. Whether you’re birthing solo, with a partner, a friend, a family member, or surrounded by a whole crew—I’m here to support you.

I welcome all identities and family setups, and I’m committed to creating a space where you feel safe, seen and respected. I’m happy to adapt my language and approach based on what feels most affirming and comfortable for you.

◎ What if I want something a bit different to your packages?

Every journey is unique, and I’m always happy to create a tailored package to suit your needs. Whether you want extra antenatal sessions, more postnatal support, or a completely different rhythm, let’s talk!

◎ What’s included in your postpartum support?

Postnatal support is all about meeting you where you are. I can offer help with infant feeding, emotional check-ins, birth debriefing, newborn care, light meal prep, and holding baby while you rest or shower. Sometimes it’s about practical help, other times it’s simply being there as a calm, non-judgemental presence in those early days. Whatever support you may need in this time, we can discuss and adjust! Please visit the Postpartum Doula Support page for more info.

◎ Can I book you just for a birth plan session?

Yes! I offer one-off birth plan writing sessions, either in person or online. We’ll explore your preferences, rights, and options, and I’ll support you to create a plan that reflects your values and needs—whether that’s for a home birth, hospital birth, or anything in between.