My Services and Your Investment

The purpose of my role as a doula is to discuss and evaluate with you the many birthing options available to you to assist you in developing a personalised birthing plan. This will be done through informed practical advice and empathic emotional support. A typical birthing plan would consider the following:

• Type of Birth i.e. natural, lotus, water, cesarean
• Environment/Location i.e. home, hospital, birth centre
• Attendees and their involvement
• Birth Pain Management
• Atmosphere i.e. calm, low lights, music, candles
• Personal birth requirements i.e. positions, movement, comfort measures, interventions

I offer a flexible doula service which include the following:

• Birth Doula
• Post-natal Doula
• Ante-natal Sessions (without birth support)

These begin with a free no-obligation introductory consultation to discuss your requirements and to answer any questions you may have as to what a doula can do for you. To help with the meeting I have compiled an introductory form for you to complete and which we can discuss at this meeting; it may go some way to helping you choose the questions you would like to ask me.

I will suggest that we meet somewhere mutual. Completely pressure free, we can take the time to see whether my services are right for you. It is always advisable to take a little time to think things through, and I will therefore wait for you to contact me back. I would also advise that you interview other Doulas, just to make sure you have the right one for you.

Birth Doula - My Services:

Antenatal visits: two 2 hour sessions spread throughout your pregnancy at your convenience. Topics such as birth physiology, OFP, breast-feeding, debriefing previous
birth(s) if applicable and postnatal life will be included. These private sessions will be offered in the comfort of your home with your birth partner. The main objective of these sessions is to provide you with all the necessary information to allow you to make informed decisions and even more important, empower you so when the time comes you trust your body and instincts in getting on with the birth process. From these sessions I can help you compile a preferred birth plan.

Continuous support during labour and delivery, should you wish to have me present at your birth: You will most likely go through a full circle of emotions at your birth. On one hand you may feel excitement, and the other, fear. My role as a doula is to help you cope with all the fears and anxieties you and your partner may have. A doula is not only sympathetic, but is informed as well. I can help you remain calm, relaxed and comfortable until labour is well established. This is a quiet and calm presence and reassurance. I also know when to stay in the background to allow privacy when you are doing well. Comfort measures may also include physical ones an extra practical hand, to provide a lovely back-rub, foot or hand massage, I also have a Homeopathic Birth Kit for your use; if desired.

Telephone and Email Contact: as much as is necessary to answer any concerns, queries or questions.

On Call: I will be available to you 24 hours a day 14 days before your due date and 14 days after. You can call me at any time during this period.

Post-natal visit: this will usually be one visit at which I can help you with breast/bottle feeding queries and/or concerns, answer any questions you may have or just share with you the memories of your birth, and of course admire the new member(s) to your family.

Your Investment: Please call to discuss your own individual requirement, full quotation given on request.

Post-Natal Doula - My Services:

Immediately after the birth it is important that you and your family have bonding time with your new baby; I fully respect this. When you are ready we can meet in your home and discuss the type of post-natal service you require. I would also suggest that at this meeting you and your partner are there and we de-brief on the birth. Personally I believe it is important emotionally to do this; you can then start to think about the way forward.

My service will be flexible to your needs. The practical and emotional support for a new mum/couple will be different from that of mum/couple who already have children.

Some of the practical issues I can help with are cooking, laundry, look after baby while mum rests, school run, food shopping and occasional light housework.

I successfully breastfed all three of my children; also bottle-feeding two of them (their choice) and can provide practical and emotional support in infant feeding.

Your Investment: £10 per hour plus mileage
(Minimum of three hours per day, maximum of five. I will travel within 30 minutes of my home. I work Monday to Friday.)

Antenatal Sessions (without birth support): these will be two hour sessions and as many as you require spread throughout your pregnancy. Topics such as birth physiology, OFP, breast-feeding, debriefing previous birth(s) (if applicable) and postnatal life will be included. These private sessions will be offered in the comfort of your home with you and your birth partner. It is important that your birth partner be present therefore these sessions can be held during the early evening if necessary. The main objective of these sessions is to provide you with all the necessary information to allow you to make informed decisions and even more important, empower you so when the time comes you trust your body and instincts in getting on with the birth process. From these sessions I can help you compile a preferred birth plan.

Your Investment: £20 per hour plus mileage
(Minimum of 2 hours. I will travel within 30 minutes of my home. I work Monday to Friday.)

I work in total respect and honesty with all expectant mothers or partnerships, regardless of race, nationality, religious belief, sexuality, age or disability.

I have full Public Liability Insurance and am insured to transport you and your family in my vehicle, and have an up-to-date Enhanced CRB Disclosure Certificate (2007).

Please feel free to contact me if you would like any further information.

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