I'm a mum to two gorgeous, crazy little boys, wife to one marathon-running husband, and I'm a (slightly obsessed) birth and breastfeeding specialist! I live with my family in Tonbridge, Kent.
I help pregnant and new parents to dial down the noise, pressure and anxiety as they move from pregnancy into parenthood... so they can trust their bodies and feel confident to do things their way.
After I had my first baby, I was shocked by the birth stories and breastfeeding struggles that I heard about at baby groups. I didn't have a difficult first birth but I felt the intervention-train come steaming in and I definitely wasn't feeling in control! My breastfeeding journey was far from straightforward but we managed 18 wonderful months which I feel very lucky for.
I realised that the stuff that I learned through experience, had been glaringly missing from my antenatal courses. And what was very clear to me was that expectant and new parents deserved a whole lot better when it came to the information and support that they were being provided with.
So in between having my first and second baby, I trained in hypnobirthing and antenatal education (with KGHypnobirthing, a course accredited by the Royal College of Midwives). I also later trained as a Mindful Breastfeeding Practitioner with the Mindful Breastfeeding School, Biomechanics for Birth with Molly O'Brien, and as a doula with Nurturing Birth. Contrary to what many people think, positive birth and breastfeeding experiences are not pot luck! Yes there are a whole lot of influencing factors in how things evolve, but there are always themes in what unites the positive stories.
And these are all the feelings that I want you to have!
I know that there's an acceptance in our country that birth is scary and painful. That your birth partner will be a bit of a nervous spare part. That the doctors and midwives are in charge and you have to do as you're told. That you'll give breastfeeding a go but it might not work out.
But it really doesn't have to be that way. And, wow, do I see some transformations in my clients!
I'm not going to be yet another person telling you what to do - you have enough of those! But I will be the person in your corner, supporting you to do what feels good for you and your baby.
I want you feeling in control of your journey into parenthood - after all, this is your baby, your body and your birth!
If you have a sneaking suspicion that having a baby was supposed to be the most incredible thing you'll ever do... but you're just not quite sure how to get there, I may be just what you need! I support expectant mums and dads and new families in and around Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and online - both antenatally, with hypnobirthing & breastfeeding, and postnatally. Get in touch and let's chat about what a great birth and breastfeeding experience would look like for you xxx
