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HIRING a doula is not something any of my friends or family had done, so it felt like a pretty massive decision for us.
And there are tons of decisions you're already making when having a baby!
I hadn't even heard of the concept a year before our baby was born, so i'm extremely grateful that my path crossed with Kate's in time for my pregnancy.
After quite a lot of questioning, both of Kate and another doula we knew, my husband and I decided to go for it.
There are so many unknowns about your childbirth experience that ultimately I needed to have some 'knowns' : It felt so reassuring to know that there would be someone to support him as well as me.
And that's exactly how it worked out.
One of the defining things about my labour was its length!! And there were several long stretches when I think Johnny and I might have struggled to stay positive, but Kate was incredibly positive (as she always is), and it made such a difference.
Another really important part of labour is the decisions you have to make as you go along. I think that's something it's hard to fully grasp before you experience it; the ever-changing nature of the thing. You have no idea how quickly or slowly the baby is going to progress, how you'll cope with the uncertainty or even how your body will respond.
Midwives changed with the shifts, and each brought a slightly different dynamic to the labour room, so it was good to know that Kate, Johnny and I were a team and we knew what we wanted.
There were times when I was in the loo or the bath and a midwife came in to ask about me, and I felt confident that Kate and Johnny could 'hold the fort' for me, as it were. Kate's presence definitely enabled us to relax.
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Another wonderful thing was meeting up with Kate both before and after the birth.
Before, she encouraged me along when I was overdue, and after, she helped me reflect on what is an incredibly intense experience. And reflecting on things is very, very important to me.
Giving birth is a real 'rite of passage' : It's something no-one can do for you, but it's something a doula can help you plan for, and make so much more relaxing, and help you understand afterwards. And if that matters to you, you should seriously consider hiring one yourself.
Anna Faro, Witham
'Having Kate in our birthing team made all the difference. We felt as though we had someone who was trully in our corner, offering all the advice we could wish for to help us make every decision throughout the process - big and small. Above all, she was both a friend and mentor to the pair of us.'
Mr Lee, Brentwood, Essex
'Kate's help in the first couple of weeks after the birth of our daughter was absolutely invaluable. I was determined to breastfeed but it was far more difficult that I had expected - Kate was there just when I needed help and encouragement the most.'
Mrs Lee, Brentwood, Essex |
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