You’ve done the early weeks, now it's time to choose the birth support that will carry you through.
Feel confident that you have your team in place who know your preferences, hopes and dreams before the end of the pregnancy. Come out of the birth experience knowing you remained in control, were informed throughout and you did it!
Navigate those precious early weeks with confidence, rest, and the gentle guidance you deserve as you bond with your baby.
right nowyou're worrying that you won’t have support or enough clarity for the birth you are hoping for.
working with mewith my help we can prepare as much as we can in advance and be fully informed and empowered, ready for the big day. I’ll settle you into life with your newborn and help integrate you into your local community.
So many things to think about right now. Where will the support come from and will you manage to navigate the NHS and its constant demands for decisions alone? How will you cope on your own with baby when your partner goes back to work?
You've researched, planned and dreamt about birth, feel empowered to make different choices, and trust that you have someone in your corner who truly understands your journey and will help you create a positive empowering birth story.
“Ruth is an outstanding Doula, intuitive in responding to your unspoken needs. She’s brilliant at reading body language and encouraging you with just the right support at the right moment pre-birth, during birth and postnatally. This takes great skill and experience!” - Ester
South West London Doula Services
Birth Doula Care Package
You are fully prepared for labour, birth and early days. Supported throughout and afterwards we have a chance to debrief the birth and deal with any issues that may be cropping up.
Full birth and Postnatal Doula wrap around Care Package
You are fully prepared for labour, birth and early days. Supported throughout and into the early weeks. We have plenty of time to debrief the birth, troubleshoot as we go along and enjoy practical help and advice. I also provide nourishing meals and snacks to help you recover.
Postnatal Baby Package
You have 20 hours where we can talk about your birth, iron out any early issues with baby, or just sleep! I settle you into life as a family whilst providing the help you most need. I also cook nourishing meals and snacks to help you recover.
Birth Photography
Birth photography and curated photo album included with every package.
How I work with my clients
London Doula Packages
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Cost: £2000
What's included:
2 antenatal sessions: first antenatal appointment is usually around 2 hours. In this session we focus on your labour, birth and preferences. In the second antenatal session we refine your birth plan, discuss any issues that may be coming up towards the end of the pregnancy and learn a bit more about the importance of the minutes after the birth and what you might need to know in the first few weeks. It’s a lot to remember so I have handy cheat sheets which you will be given as easy guides to use when you are worried or not sure about something. By the end of the sessions you should feel prepared physically, mentally and emotionally.
On call for 4 weeks and unlimited whats app/call support from the time of booking me.
Support throughout labour, birth and early hours
Birth support includes early labour guidance, tips to help labour progress and helping you stay calm and relaxed.
Guidance about when to go to your birth location, if that’s not at home.
Support and advice for partners.
Hands on non-medical comfort techniques.
Help to navigate hospital protocols and staff.
Information and support for informed decision making.
Help communicating your wishes to your care team
Post birth care (initial recovery and feeding)
1 postnatal session for debriefing and emotional/physical support
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Cost: £700
What's included:
20 hours of postnatal support, minimum 2 hour session.
Advice, troubleshooting
Guidance and advice for your own recovery
Frequent mental health check ins
Signposting to help and outside resources
Help with all forms of feeding
Guidance to learn infant care
Tips for common issues like infant sleep, gas and comforting your baby
Baby wearing advice
Community resources and referrals to programs and services
Light housework assisting with laundry, tidying and cooking
Sibling care if needed
Occasional night shift if needed
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Cost: £2500
Everything in the birth package and postnatal package is included, but when purchased together I’m able to provide a discount.
Hello there!
I’m Ruth, a certified birth and postnatal doula who’s had the joy of supporting many International families through the intimate process of welcoming a baby into the world. I became a doula because I saw the impact that having continuity and the same strong person in your corner through the pregnancy, birth and early days makes.
Birth can make you feel so vulnerable and so powerful all at the same time, I’m here to support you through the valleys and over the mountains! I am a calm, reassuring presence through those moments and beyond, helping you to follow your instincts and birth your baby the way you feel safest. If your family and friends are far away you’ll feel secure and supported throughout.
FAQs
Can’t my mum, partner or sister just do all of this?
1
They definitely know you best and we love having them in your team, but the advantage of a Doula is that we have experience of a wide variety of hospitals, birth settings, Birth outcomes, NHS protocols and nuances and are able to guide you through all of this at the same time honouring your wishes and preferences.
Is this right for me?
2
Pregnant women have great intuition so I suggest you schedule a call here and I’m very happy to have a chat to work out what level of support you might need.
How often will I see you before my baby is born?
3
I’ll see you a minimum of 3 times before you go into labour. At your ‘get to know you’ visit, then we have 2 antenatal appointments. If you are late or anxious around the due date I’m more than happy to meet up for a walk or a coffee to discuss your worries.
When will you come to me in labour?
4
Often women want to relax at home through the early hours of labour before it is established. I tend to get called out when contractions are regular and strong and you feel it is time for some extra support. However, I care more about how you are feeling emotionally so if you feel like you want me to come earlier then I’ll be there for you.
If I schedule a call with you and we click, what happens if I want to book?
5
If you would like to work with me and would value my support then I will book in a time to meet you at your home with your partner. If we are all on the same page I’ll give you a contract to sign and you’ll make a deposit of 50%.
What happens after I book?
6
After you book I will invite you to my portal where all of our files, notes, contracts, invoices and important documents are stored. We book in 2 antenatal appointments and open up a whats app group as our own private birth chat. I am then available to you whenever you have a question or a worry.
What if I give birth outside your on-call period?
7
The vast majority of babies are born between 38-42 weeks, but in the unlikely event that your baby is born super early or late I will move heaven and earth to be there for you. If I can’t, then my wonderful back up doula will be there.
We will have covered c-sections in our antenatal sessions so you will be fully prepared and we will have made a c-section plan. If you have a medical reason that means it is unwise for you to have a physiological birth then I offer 10 hours postnatally for you to take anytime in the first month. Often people like to use it on the first night in hospital when baby can be unsettled and you are still recovering from surgery. This is a good opportunity for your partner to get a good sleep in order to best support you the next day.
What if I have to change plans and schedule c section?
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Can friends/family buy your time as a postnatal doula for me as a gift?
9
Yes absolutely! Vouchers can be bought by friends, family and colleagues under the ‘Be my village’ website here.
Can you document my birth and will I get all of my photos and videos?
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Yes, I will note down your birth milestones and any beautiful poignant memories for us to talk through in our postnatal review. You will also get a private gallery of my photos and videos that I have taken for you. See my gallery for examples of my work.