Julie, sitter - SN6 Highworth

Postnatal Doula * Postnatal Carer * Mother's Help * age 54

I am a friendly, happy, helpful, reliable person. I have excellent references that are available on request. I have a CRB enhanced check and I am fully insured.

Help just when you need it, postnatal and beyond! (I am happy to babysit too) I provide practical and emotional help and support for mums and newborns (and babies up to around 'crawling' age - it's not just mums of newborns that need a helping hand!). I have a 24 year old daughter, a fiance, 2 lively dogs and a crazy young cat.

I was a single mother for many years after being widowed aged 30 so I certainly have experienced the difficulties and frustrations of bringing up a baby, and on my own (both of us with medical issues)
and I became a doula so I could help others and to make a difference!

My special interests are:

Helping to identify the cries of a baby so that the correct needs are met as soon as possible.

Guidance towards a flexible routine that suits mum, baby and family.

Establishing napping and sleeping patterns to ensure baby is well rested (and the family!)

I really enjoy working with mums, helping them around the house and with any baby 'issues' they might have. I of course also love the caring for, and cuddles and smiles of the babies themselves!

If you don't have the support of family living close by then a postnatal doula like myself can lend a much needed helping hand once baby is born, and also in the forthcoming months.

A doula is a woman who is there to 'mother the mother' and the extent of that is up to the individual mum and her doula. In my role as a postnatal doula I will be there to offer emotional and practical help and advice. To be supportive, reassuring, caring, non-judgmental...and a good listener and friend!

Postnatal support has been shown to increase breastfeeding duration rates and also reduce the incidence of postnatal depression. ('Mothering the Mother' by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, 1993)

Most women need encouragement and companionship more than they need drugs. (Ina May Gaskin)

I have done my birth and postnatal doula training with Nurturing Birth. My trainer was Kicki Hansard who was voted 'Doula of the year 2009' by Pregnancy & Birth Magazine.

I have quite flexible availability regarding days and hours (in your own home) although presently I am unavailable on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Some of the many ways a postnatal doula can help...

* Tend to baby while mum rests or sleeps (or whatever else she would like to do).
* Help identify why baby is crying and how best to remedy the situation.
* To help find a flexible routine (even if you are feeding on demand) that works best for your family.
* Help and guidance regarding feeding baby.
* Enable the mother to build up self-confidence and develop her own mothering skills.
* Accompany mum and baby to doctor appointments/shopping trips etc.
* Help and organise visitors coming to see baby.
* Light housework (and to make sure mum eats well!)
* And so much more and for as long and as often as you want.

I also bring along my own 'life experiences' which may help others that have been through or are going through similar situations.