Adela
Stockton

Birth Consultancy Doulas
...bringing community back to childbirth...

The doula is a lay person, usually a mother herself, who provides emotional and practical support to women and their families through pregnancy, labour, birth and early days with their new baby. She is specifically chosen by the parents-to-be, to protect the memory of their birth experience and support their transition to parenthood in whichever way they feel is right for them. The doula honours the nurturing and spiritual aspects around the time of childbirth, she does not participate in any clinical or medical care. She may have undertaken a period of training/mentorship before offering her services. For further information, see Doula UK and Scottish Doula Network.

Research shows that with continuous one-to-one support from an additional birth partner through labour you are:

• more likely to give birth gently
• more likely to enjoy your experience of birth
• less likely to ask for pain medication
• less likely to need oxytocin to speed up labour
• 50% less likely to have a forceps or caesarean birth
• more likely to enjoy continued breastfeeding
• less likely to suffer from postnatal depression

and

• your partner is more likely to feel supported in participating at his/her individual level of comfort

I can offer you doula support in the following ways:

Prenatal Support: includes individualised birth preparation sessions tailor-made specifically to meet your needs; assistance with your birth plan and information on positioning and relaxation; support over issues such as recent bereavement or previous miscarriage, assisting you to clear the way emotionally for your current pregnancy and birth. Cost: £15 per hour (sliding scale available)

Labour and Birth Support: includes initial no obligation meeting, two pre-birth/birth preparation sessions, one postnatal visit and continuous presence throughout labour until after the birth of your baby. Homebirth support only. Cost: £450 (sliding scale available)

Postnatal Support: includes breastfeeding support, a listening ear, some general practical help around the home. Cost: £15 per hour (sliding scale available)

Please contact me if you would like to know more about doula support.