laureen and baby

About Me

Hello, I'm Laureen. I am married with five lovely grown up children and eight gorgeous grandchildren.

I believe passionately in the ability of a woman to birth her baby and whilst there is a place for medical interventions, most women, with loving support and care, can give birth without them.

I first considered becoming a Doula when, after having the privilege of being at the birth of one of my grandchildren, the midwife suggested that I would make an ideal birth partner. Because I want to help other women to have a positive birth experience and be able to look back on it as being a fulfilling and joyful memory I decided train to become a birth and postnatal Doula in 2007.

I bring a calming and loving presence into the birthing room, to help you through your labour and birth. I bring with me knowledge and experience gathered from over the years as a Doula, and through supporting over 50 births.

My aim is to provide you with the knowledge to help you make your own decisions, provide you and your partner with the care and support you deserve to help make your experience of the birth of your baby a positive and joyful one.

Qualifications

My background is in teaching and I am a qualified infant teacher. I taught until my first baby came along and then became a supervisor at the local Playgroup in which I was involved for many years.

I then had a change in direction and trained to teach E.S.O.L (English to Speakers of Other Languages). I was an Adult Education tutor for sixteen years. six years on a voluntary basis.

As a Doula:

  • I am a Certified birth Doula with Nurturing Birth.
  • I am a recognised Doula with Doula UK, the main Doula organisation in the UK (I adhere to Doula UK's Philosophy and code of conduct).
  • I hold full Professional Liability insurance and I am fully DBS (CRB) checked.

Training & conference attendance

  • Developing Doulas Breastfeeding Case studies Workshop with Maddie McMahon February 2018
  • Attended the Surrey and Sussex Annual Breastfeeding Conference with speakers Dr Coleman Greenway - neonatal consultant at ESH and Mark Harris RMD - September 2017
  • Attended the Homebirth Conference - 'Inspiring Women', with speakers Ina May Gaskin and Sheena Byron - March 2016
  • Attended Surrey and Sussex Annual Breastfeeding Conference with speakers Dr Coleman Greenway - neonatal consultant at ESH and Mark Harris RMD September 2017
  • Attended Homebirth Conference - 'Inspiring Women', with speakers Ina May Gaskin and Sheena Byron - March 2016
  • Supporting Every Birth workshop focusing on pregnancy and infant loss, facilitated by Michelle Every - Nov 2014
  • Robozo workshop with Stacia Smates Hill - Oct 2014
  • Breastfeeding Study Day - Developing Doulas - 2014
  • Spinning Babies Study Day with Gail Tully June 2013
  • Twins Course with Naomi Kemeny Sept 2011
  • Breastfeeding, Oxytocin and the Maternal Brain: Implications for Child Neglect? - talk by Dr Lane Strathearn May 2011
  • Ecstatic Birth and other good news about parenting - talk by Sarah Buckley GP, homebirth mother, author Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering May 2011
  • I have attended a Waterbirth Study Day with midwife and lecturer Dianne Garland SRN RMAM PGCEA Msc - Oct 2010
  • I have attended a Study Day with the leading obstetrician Michel Odent - March 2009
  • Nurturing Birth Breastfeeding Workshop - Level 2
  • Nurturing Birth Experienced Birth Doula Workshop - Level 2 - May 2009
  • Nurturing Birth doula and postnatal Doula training course - April 2008

Other experience

I have experienced hospital births at Worthing Hospital, East Surrey Hospital, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester and The Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.

I am equally happy to attend your birth at a birthing centre or at home. I have supported numerous home births and can provide a birthing pool.

I have supported births which have been induced, births with epidurals, caesareans, and also births which have been without any medical intervention. I also have had experience of VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) and water births.

I have gained so much experience through being a mother of five and a grandmother, many times over! Because of this, and with the knowledge and experience I gain from each birth I attend, I offer a wealth of information and support to families in their journey through childbirth and in the early days of parenthood.