The Willow Tree Doula

18/01/2026

🌸 Perinatal Mental Health covers such a broad range of symptoms and diagnoses and how these impact you is unique to you.

Sometimes the symptoms you've been managing for a lifetime can become exacerbated and destabilise you due to hormone shifts, increased responsibility, sleep deprivation, birth recovery, relationship changes... The list really goes on and on.

Sometimes the effects of the postnatal period can take you by surprise or it might have been something you've tried to push through and hide. It may feel as though it was inevitable in your circumstances or it may seem like it's come out of nowhere.

It's all valid.

There are many things that should be more openly discussed amongst us as mum's but can feel shameful to talk about. But getting early support for your emotional wellbeing, whatever this looks like, during the perinatal period can help you manage effectively and benefit you and your family.

Amazing support and resources are available through: northwest

17/01/2026

Such a lovely first group today 🥰

Discussed sleep and rest in the early postnatal period
- the importance of doing what works for you and your family
- resisting the urge to "fix"
- how mindfulness can rest your mind and nervous system to make the exhaustion just a little more tolerable

I so enjoyed creating this space for mammas to reset, breath and chat openly and take some mindfulness techniques into their week ahead! 🫶🏻

14/01/2026

✨ Your Oxytocin Cheat Sheet

Keeping oxytocin flowing through labour is important for promoting normal birth. It can increase beta-endorphins for natural pain relief, help labour feel more manageable and generally lead to a more positive experience.

Thinking of each of your senses in turn and what makes you feel relaxed, safe, happy and connected can help you to construct a birth environment that works for you.

Save this post as a prompt for your birth plan

10/01/2026

Reintroducing myself for anyone new around here!

Let's chat 🫶🏻

05/01/2026

It's been 2 years since my little JackAttack was born 🥰
Happy Birthday, little man!

We had our gorgeous homebirth, supported by our wonderful doula followed by incredible care by midwives, paramedics and the obstetrics team at the Countess. I believe that our birth was a shining example of how birth and the system can and should work! (I've written about this experience on my blog)

Many people referenced me "being my own doula" when I was pregnant. But the truth is that becoming a doula only made it clearer to me that I would want and need one for my next birth. I just had the bonus of knowing exactly who it would be before I even peed on the stick 😂

So why would a doula need a doula? Essentially, because we know all too well the intensity and vulnerability of the experience and the pressure the system is under currently. We know that what we provide is worth it's weight in gold. Why WOULDN'T I have had a doula?

04/01/2026

I headed over to see my nan today to help her with clearing some of her house. Jack asleep in the back of the car. Doula bag packed, in the car and ready to go.

It was 2 years ago that I was hunkering down as I approached my due date, in that weird in between bit of not knowing if you will have a baby in hours, days or weeks time.

One thing I like to do as I await the arrival of clients little ones in this time is put on my own labour playlist and take myself back to those moments to remember just how special, emotional and raw this time is. Doing that at this time of year makes that all the more deep for me. But it also reminds me to calm my nervous system before I head into the birth space 🥰

04/01/2026

Super excited to meet everyone at my postnatal group 🥰

Mindfulness, real talk, connection and creativity too! Been busy this weekend putting in some personal touches and can't wait to share it with everyone.

Discussing rest, support, tough days, connection, self care and nourishment

Just a few spaces left so share with anyone who might enjoy this.

Hoole Community Centre
Saturdays from 10am starting from the 17th
£6 each and all materials included
Non mobile babies welcome

🔗 Booking link in bio and caption

A group for new families with non-mobile babies to decompress, learn practical grounding techniques and practice mindfulness. Weekly themes: sleep and rest, connection, self care, nourishment, tough days and support.£6 per session.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

If your baby is coming this year, let's get organised...

Doula support and hypnobirthing:
- provide continuity of support with a trusted person
- teach you about birth physiology
- help you understand how fear and expectations can affect your birth choices
- offer support to your partner who can then support you as effectively as possible
- gives you a person to ask your niggly questions to
- welcomes your baby and you to new family life with gentleness

Book in for a chat or let me know what support you need in my DM's

Follow me to find out more about groups and workshops coming up in 2026

31/12/2025

🎇 Happy New Year!
The Highs and The Lows

I hope you're using this Twixmas time to reflect on everything you have achieved and experienced this year and are looking forward to the year ahead! I've been doing this this week and think my personal wins and losses deserve a place on the grid!

My highs:
🤰🏻 Returned to normal work hours after my final maternity leave!
🏃🏻‍♀️ Ran 2 10k races and raised over £300 for charity.
✏️ My eldest started school and LOVES it
💙 Trained as a Mindful Hypnobirthing teacher
🎭 Saw Hamilton in the West End
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Continue to give my kids experiences I never had
🛋️ Finally referred myself for therapy for the things I've buried away for years and years!

My lows:
❤️‍🩹 My physical and mental health have taken dips over the course of the year. I'm grateful to have learned ways to manage this over the years and to have had good support for this.

🧱 I didn't land a job which would have changed the trajectory of my life considerably. I am trusting this process and the opportunities this gives me.

👧🏻 I wouldn't say I've been the best version of myself through the year and my kids certainly haven't had the best of me while I've been trying on my new working-mum-of-2 identity. I am committed to finding a balance for this in 2026.

My word for 2026: Balance!