About Me!

Hi, my name is Winnie Rushby and originally from Denmark, I moved to England in 1971. I have been described as practical, friendly, funny, sensitive, outgoing, thoughtful and passionate.

I currently live in Twyning, Gloucestershire with my husband and two of our seven children; he had four children and I had two children when we met; Alena who's in her 20's and Kristian now a teenager (both were born at Ashford Hospital, Middlesex). The latest member to the family is Ava; she was born 20th February 2006. I had planned a Domino birth; but as it was I had her at home in bed; it was just so fantastic as I had thought I wouldn't have been able to cope!

Why did I want to be a Doula, well during my pregnancy with Ava I watched all the birthing television programmes I could just to catch up on what was going on in 'Labour-Land', it had been a while since I'd last done it! It was during my viewing frenzy that I discovered a wonderful show called 'Mum+One', all about Doulas. Wow, how fantastic I thought and with my mind set on a natural birth; I had taken any kind of pain relief I could with my two previous births (naivety), I wondered who could act as my Doula. It was a given that my husband would be there; but I wanted some else there to not just help me through the birth, but my husband as well, it had been a while since he'd done it too. I must point out that I had a wonderful midwife; she was supportive in everything I wanted for the birth, and I had total trust in her.

I eventually asked my Mum to be there; she has always been able to calm me when I have been scared or fearful; or even just plain angry. She and my husband also have a great connection and I knew she would take care of him too. She, my midwife and my husband were an amazing support through my pregnancy, the birth and afterward. My dad too, he cooked for me my favourite meal the day after I had Ava; Lamb Stew!

I had the birth I had always dreamed of and wanted, especially knowing that Ava was probably my last baby! When things had calmed down at home; and I had time to think about what I wanted to do with my new found empowerment; because that's what having the birth you hoped for does to you! It was then I decided to check out the internet for what it had to say about Doulas. I realised that I was lucky; not many women/couples have a family member they can call on, or the support of medical professionals in what they want to achieve for their birth. During one of my stints looking through various websites I came across Nurturing Birth. It was a 'clean' (no fussy stuff popping up at you all the time) and very informative site, and they offered Doula training. It was here that I also discovered that one of their trainers was Kicki Hansard (a Doula who had taken part in Mum+One). I immediately decided to contact them with regard to attending one of their training sessions. Needless to say the rest is history.

If you feel there are questions you need answering, could do with a little more support for you, your husband and your family in your pregnancy, birth and afterward then please do not hesitate to call me. I am here, trained and very personally experienced, and looking forward to supporting someone else through the birth they've always dreamed of having!

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Winnie Rushby Po Box 45 Tewkesbury GL20 6YY Tel:01684 291866 Mob: 07733101572