April 22, 2022
A dou-what?!
I know… I’d never even heard of doulas when I was pregnant! But you don’t know what you don’t know, right?!
So what is a post-natal doula?
Doulas provide support – practical, emotional and informational – to the whole family. One of the big benefits is continuity of care. You see the same person consistently so that you can build up a rapport and a relationship. They know what’s important to you, they know your family set-up, they know what you’re worried about and therefore they can provide exactly what you need. And you feel like you have somebody who you trust to reach out to for judgement-free support.
The type of support might include any or all of the following:
Doulas come in different shapes and sizes and its really important to find the right doula for you, who can support you in the way that you want.
My emphasis is on making sure that you are finding your feet with what works for you. New parents are on the receiving end of so much advice! Sometimes that advice is uninvited, sometimes it comes with out-dated ideas (anyone else’s gran park her baby’s pram at the bottom of the garden for an afternoon so the baby didn’t get too “clingy”?!) And sometimes it will be loaded with the experiences of the person giving that advice… we’ve all heard a story about how difficult breastfeeding can be, but that often won’t be helpful for you when you just need some support finding your own way.
I’m on a one-woman mission to dismantle the phrase “bounce-back” which is not only harmful but unrealistic. However your birth unfolds, go gently in those early weeks. You’ve just performed the biggest miracle possible and you’re recovering from that, whilst keeping another tiny person alive!
If you’d like my support in the weeks after you have your baby, I offer post-natal doula support 3 mornings a week. I come to you at your home (within a 45 minute drive of Tonbridge) and help you to feel more supported and nurtured as you find your feet as a new family. Get in touch to chat about whether I might be a good fit for you.
March 05, 2022
NCT classes cover a broad range of topics and can give a good overview of the things you’re going to face as a new parent – whether that’s the stages of labour, your options for feeding your baby or how to change a nappy.
If you are wanting to prepare for birth and parenthood in more detail, here are some brilliant further options!
February 16, 2022
January 16, 2022
Babies change dramatically in their first year! One of the most frequent questions I discuss with my clients at Sarah Hart Photography, is the best ages to photograph their growing baby. Sometimes clients have missed out on the newborn stage which is quite short-lived in the photography world! Here's what I consider to be the key stages and some of the characteristics of the portraits that are generally captured at these ages.