I am available as a postnatal doula for new parents and families in Nottingham.
what is a postnatal doula?
A postnatal doula is not a nanny, a babysitter or a cleaner. A postnatal doula is a friend, is someone to be there on your journey into parenthood with you. To witness you, to see you, to support you and to hold space for you. You can have a postnatal doula even if you have not had a birth doula and no matter what type of birth you have had. A postnatal doula can give you suggestions, advice and support and a postnatal doula will talk through your needs with you and tailor the support and options to exactly what you need. Using experience and knowledge to help you find you find your rhythm and your community.
who can access support?
I am here to support:
- Both the birthing and non-birthing parents, including adoptive and birthed through others parents and parent/family structures of all kinds, including polyamorous, throuple, co-parent and other family dynamics.
- Black parents and parents of colour, including mixed race and multi-race parents.
- LGBTQIA+ parents, including trans, non-binary, intersex and other gendered parents and lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer and other sexualities parents.
- Sex working parents, including full service sex workers, strippers and other forms of sex work.
- Disabled parents, including invisible disabilities. However I do not know sign language and I am disabled myself, so if I feel I may need additional support or that I am unable to support, I will signpost appropriately and with your consent.
- Asylum seeker, refugee and migrant parents.
- Working class and underclass parents, including homeless parents and people on benefits.
- People who are currently or who have previously been incarcerated or in detention.
- People with no recourse to public funds.
I also take a limited number of bookings for financially and otherwise privileged people paying full or mid cost to help subsidise spaces for marginalised people to access doula support.
what do I offer?
classic postnatal doula plan
Eight weeks of postnatal care where you can choose to start:
- whilst pregnant
- after birthing
You can take your weeks consecutively or with breaks.
The classic postnatal care plan includes:
- Weekly two hour scheduled calls
- Ongoing text and phone support
- Creating a postnatal wellness and support plan
- Birth debrief
- A partner and/or family support session
- A care package delivered by post
- A resource pack
- Signposting to appropriate services
Optional extras include:
- Food doula support
- Medical advocacy
- Support accessing services
Please see the Classic Doula plan costs page for costs.
See my Yemoja Foods website for more information on Food Doula plans and costs. If you want to combine a Food Doula and Classic Doula plan, then please get in touch via the contact us page and we can schedule a free consultation.
emergency doula plan
what does emergency postnatal care look like?
Emergency postnatal care is an open term for parents who were not prepared to have a postnatal doula (so have not booked in advance) that can be for a number of different and ever evolving factors. Whether you didn't know you were pregnant and now have to enter the world of parenting for the first time or again unprepared, whether your baby came early, you are experiencing birthing or new parenting trauma, you have a mistrust of state support, you don't have community support or you have no financial support.
Emergency support can come from self-referral or being referred from one of the many local organisations I work with and my other community care projects.
I want to be able to use my training and skills to support people within the community who may need emergency postnatal care, support with adjusting to parenting life and to nourish, give love and hold space for new parents.
I can only offer emergency postnatal care to people who would otherwise be unable to access doula support.
My focus is on working with marginalised communities and those who are often do not have as easy access to this kind of support. Offering support to people heavily targeted by the state to try to ensure that families can stay together and be brought into the community if not already and supported by the community. I work in a culturally competent way, whilst also being aware and supportive of trauma, mental health and difficult situational circumstances.
This support is not a set plan like the Classic Doula plan, and instead will be inclusive of your current needs and what capacity I have available short notice. And prioritising essentials to keep yourself and baby happy and healthy and within a community.
Some options:
- Work with you to build your postnatal plan
- Birth debrief
- A resource pack
- Signposting to local services.
- Home visits to be there to hold space for your parenting journey, help facilitate your postnatal plan and be a friend (limited capacity and both must be wearing PPE)
- Listening and witnessing pregnancy, birth and postnatal trauma (I am not a trained therapist and will offer therapist suggestions if needed)
- Welcoming your baby into the community through giving you options for local baby groups and bringing you into a community care network to access support and care from the wider community
- Food Doula support