Congratulations on becoming a new or extended family
Postnatal Support & Night Doula Support
Having a new baby is an exciting time for many parents but can also seem rather daunting.
Recovery from any type of birth takes time. For some parents the whirlwind of sleepless nights, round the clock feeding, caring for their newborn along with other siblings and adjusting to life as a new or extended family can feel like a lot to cope with.
Some families lack a close support network. For those who do have the support of family and friends, after the initial period of support slips away, they find they feel the need for additional help.
As a postnatal Doula I offer support during the day and 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.
What does Postnatal Doula care from Maria the Doula look like?
First and foremost, I believe that every woman has the innate understanding and connection to care for her baby. As your postnatal doula I aim to support and help you to trust your mother instincts and to help you (and your partner if you have one) to build confidence in your abilities to parent as you wish to. For those who already have children I can help you map out a plan that fits around your family life and offer a much needed extra pair of hands.
- I am there to provide you time and the opportunity to talk about and reflect on your birth experience, if you wish.
- Give you time to rest and recover from the birth. To enjoy a lovely bath or simply have some time to yourself.
- Provide unbiased, nonjudgmental, person-centred care for all your family.
- Offer feeding support and guidance however you wish to feed your baby. I am a qualified Breastfeeding/infant feeding counsellor which enables me to offer up to date information following the UNICEF guidelines.
- Help you overcome feeding challenges as well as give you guidance on formula feeding, expressing and mixed feeding.
- Be a form of constant support, offer practical guidance and empowerment so moving forward you feel confident to care for your baby.
- Cover practical skills such as nappy changing, bathing, soothing techniques, sleeping patterns and newborn development.
- I can join those early outings to baby clinic, shopping trips and a lovely walk for a change of scenery.
- I can help with practical chores around the house from laundry, light household jobs, entertaining older children, running errands and walking the dog.
- Preparing light meals, snacks and drinks to ensure you stay hydrated and nourished.
- Signpost you to local specialist services should you need help outside my areas of expertise and experience eg. tongue tie specialist, LBCLC lactation consultant, sleep specialist.
- Be available via WhatsApp for any questions or queries during my time with you.
What does Night Doula care from Maria the Doula look like?
As your night doula many of the points above are included but the difference is where a postnatal doula comes during the day a night doula arrives late evening and stays until the morning (6-8am).
- I am there predominantly to care for your baby so that you can sleep and recover from the birth and the early days of becoming a new parent.
- I support you in your feeding journey. If you are breastfeeding, I will bring your baby to you for feeds and once finished, and if you wish, I will take over caring for your baby, allowing you to return to sleep until the next feed.
- If you are feeding formula, I will do this throughout the night, noting how much and when your baby fed.
- It would be impractical to do noisy household tasks in the night, but I can spend time sterilising feeding or expressing equipment ready for the morning and folding laundry.
- I will spend time soothing and holding your baby, changing their nappies and there maybe even some quite singing. I will keep a note of all nappy changes (and their content) for you to read in the morning.
- I am however not able to care for other siblings during the night as my focus will be on you and your baby.
What my clients say
Maria she been absolutely brilliant helping us as a night doula in the first few weeks of having our baby. Her support and knowledge has been invaluable and she has been amazing with our baby. I would highly recommend her to all new parents!
Fabia 
Maria was incredibly helpful during my pregnancy as a birth doula. She was always provided unbiased information about my birth options. Following unexpected complications from my baby's birth, Maria went above and beyond by supporting us in the hospital and taking on the role of postnatal doula. She continued to provide postnatal support to us at home, making time for us that we hadn't planned for. She provided breastfeeding support throughout the newborn period that ensured I was able to breastfeed my baby. This was particularly important when the advice I received from midwives and others did not work for me and my baby. Maria showed me, my partner, and our baby care beyond what anyone could have expected and we truly don't know how we could have got through a difficult postpartum period without her!❤️❤️❤️
Gemma and Tom
Hiring Maria as my doula for my second pregnancy was one of the best decisions I made. She was instrumental in helping me achieve a positive birth experience this time around. Her biomechanics training was incredibly valuable in helping rotate my baby into an optimal position, making labour smoother and more manageable.
She always responded to messages or calls with reassurance and guidance, which made such a difference in keeping me calm and informed.
Her support didn’t stop at birth. Postnatally, Maria provided much-needed night support, allowing me to rest and recover. She also gave invaluable advice on helping my toddler adjust to the big changes of having a new sibling. Having her as a resource and a helping hand has been a total game changer.
Thank you Maria for being such a great support to our family.
❤️❤️❤️
Nabba
Maria was a hugely reassuring source of insight and we highly recommend her to those looking for support with a newborn. We were recommended her services after seeking advice following the birth of our daughter, and she carefully guided us through the nuances of sleep patterns and breastfeeding. She was calm, kind and intimately understood our areas of inquiry.
Ciaran xxx
Maria is a WONDERFUL doula - from the moment I met her I felt completely at peace leaving her in the care of our newborn baby. She’s such a kind, motherly figure and is so invested in your baby’s care - far beyond the contracted hours. We were very very sad to say goodbye to her: we were totally relaxed and felt empowered in looking after our baby with her around. Couldn’t recommend enough
Katya xxx
Words cannot say how much Maria supported me and my partner through our pregnancy, birth and postnatally. From the beginning Maria made us feel comfortable, safe and I really want to say “held”. There is just something about her that made us feel calm and supported. Throughout the pregnancy she offered us continuity, nothing seemed a problem and no question was unanswered. Her extensive knowledge shone through but never forced or judgmental. On the day I went into labour she came when we needed her and as soon as she was there all my worries disappeared, I knew she was in our corner, always calm, she had our backs. Postnatally we decided to ask Maria to do some night doula sessions, and I cannot thank her enough for the breastfeeding support and the rest and reassurance she brought us both knowing our baby girl was in a safe pair of hands. Thank you, Maria, for being there for us. You are one in a million ❤❤❤
Sabine xxx