Congratulations and welcome to Maria the Doula - Supporting you throughout your Labour, Birth and Postnatal journey.
Are you finding navigating the world of maternity services tricky? Feel that you are not getting the continuity of care you expected? Are you sailing into the uncharted waters of your first pregnancy or perhaps had a previous less positive birth and are wanting things to be different this time?
Have you given birth and are finding recovery during the early weeks and months of becoming a new parent challenging? Are your finding you and your baby’s feeding journey not quite as you expected, and you feel that you need some support?
I would love to provide you with non-judgemental, inclusive, personalised, and continuous care. “Holding the space” for you and your family on your journey through pregnancy and birth, whilst offering you support postnatally and into the early weeks and months of parenthood.
As a birth doula, postnatal & night doula and breastfeeding counsellor I cover Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and surrounding areas and villages. These include Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ringwood, Sandbanks, Salisbury, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, The New Forest, Dorchester, Winchester, Shaftsbury and Southampton to name a few.
Birth Doula Support
As a doula I nurture all types of birth, whether this is your first or fifth baby. Step into the world of Maria the Doula and explore how I aim to smooth the way to a more positive birth experience.
Biomechanics for Birth
Guided exercises for your third trimester and birth to encourage your baby and your body to work together. This helps your baby into their optimal position for birth and can also turn a breech baby.
Postnatal Support
Explore how postnatal doula support can benefit your wellbeing, self-esteem and self-efficacy. Gain from the knowledge and skills I have gathered from 20+ years as a nanny working with families.
Infant Feeding Support
I am here to listen, support and guide you in your feeding journey with kindness and compassion through skills I have gained from my training as a breastfeeding counsellor with the NCT.
Power Hour
Book a power hour with me to explore what you want from your birth, how to achieve it, ask questions and look at research. Or postnatally to find out about normal new born behaviour and sleep.
About Maria
Find out about my journey and how it has shaped me into the doula and birth worker I am today. Feel reassured that you are in safe and respectful hands through your journey into parenthood.
Why have a birth doula?
Studies show that having the continuous labour support that a doula provides can lead to:
Shortened labour and reduced anxiety*
Decreased medicalised pain management and epidural use*
Reduced use of induction and assisted birth*
Increased birth satisfaction for both you and your birth partner*
Better infant outcomes and breastfeeding satisfaction*
Why have a postnatal doula?
Studies show that having the postnatal support that a doula provides can lead to:
Increase in breastfeeding rate at 6 weeks from 54% to 64%*
Positive impact on maternal wellbeing**
Reduced anxiety, stress and unhappiness
Increase in self-esteem and self-efficacy
Improved maternal mental health in the postpartum period**
“I know she was there and she just melted into the action, whispering in my ear, reminding me at every turn how strong I was and simply that I could do it.”
A mother speaking of her doula
What my clients say
