Being a Birth Assistant/Doula
What it means to me to be a Birth Keeper
“ These days, almost no one hears about wonderful birth stories. But every woman who has been pregnant has heard more than one story of a birth that went wrong and left the mother and child traumatised. Many women expect things to go wrong because of this.
Why should this be? We are warned of the things that can go wrong in labour, and how we must give birth in hospitals to be safe.
Like every mother, I wanted the best possible outcomes for my babies. So I researched natural birthing methods and tried to understand pregnancy and birth as best I could. But, certain interventions made my first birthing experience the opposite of what I had hoped, although it could have been much worse.
When I had my second baby at home, I managed to get the birth experience I had hoped for and was able to see the stark contrast for myself between constant interference by medical professionals and the minimal interference at home.
I have since then become an acupuncturist and kinesiologist and have for many years championed my patients’ rights to choose their own ways to wellbeing. Encouraging them to take control of their own health by teaching self care techniques from my toolbox of skills.
I assisted at 13 births between 1989 and 2004. Over the years since then, there have been many cutbacks in services. Now there is a shortage of midwives able to attend home births, and many more women are having to give birth in hospital (when there is no medical reason for that choice). There has been a marked increase in caesarian deliveries, as well as a reduction in breastfeeding of newborns. This is tragic, in my opinion.
When Push Comes To Shove is challenging these changes and helping women reclaim their rights to deliver their babies at home.
Continuity of care is one of the most essential things a woman needs when embarking on her journey to having a baby. Many of my patients have spoken of how much it means to them to be able to see the same midwife throughout their pregnancy, and to have someone alongside them during their birthing process that they know and trust.
I am proud to be a WPCTS Birth Keeper – we support and encourage women to feel they can challenge the assumptions that are sometimes made about their care. Giving them the information they need to ask the right questions of their medical practitioners, while always listening to their own bodies and staying true to themselves.
I now offer a comprehensive package of care – from assisting in optimising wellbeing before conception, with acupuncture, kinesiology, flower essences and food energetics. I use moxibustion to encourage breech babies to turn – if there is the room and capacity for this. I have helped women throughout pregnancy with various problems that can come up, including symphysis pubis, backache, digestive problems, sleep issues, emotional issues. And once labour has started, I can help with keeping the woman on track optimise the effectiveness of the contractions, delivery of the placenta, and recovery afterwards.
I am also an experienced baby and child practitioner and can help with breastfeeding issues and baby’s digestion, sleep and development. I am experienced in treating childhood ailments and helping parents avoid medications where possible. Sometimes medical help is needed and I can help parents recognise when that may be necessary.
This is a new era of mother and baby healthcare, where formerly “alternative”/“complementary” healthcare can be the first choice for everyone, with funding available for those who cannot afford to pay. Healthcare as it should be – it’s all about choice.
I offer pre-conception care, pregnancy support and birth attendance, (using my combined skills from acupuncture, kinesiology, flower essences and healing) as well as post-natal support and baby and child wellbeing.”
Connect with When Push Comes To Shove: https://www.whenpushcomestoshove.co.uk/