http://www.BloomWithJacqueline.co.uk/

Bloom With Jacqueline Doula Care, Chippenham (2026)

16/03/2026

🌿 Doulas are being recognised as essential support in birth care 🌿

Across parts of the United States, some states are now including doula support within their medical coverage. This means families can access a doula as part of their care - acknowledging what many parents and birth workers have known for a long time:

Continuous support during pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period truly matters.

Research has shown that doula care can help families feel more confident, informed and supported throughout their journey. It’s also associated with positive outcomes such as:
• Lower intervention rates
• Greater satisfaction with the birth experience
• Stronger emotional support for parents

This growing recognition highlights something deeply important: birth is not only a medical event, it’s a human experience that deserves compassionate, continuous support.

It also opens an important conversation. If this type of care is being recognised and supported within healthcare systems in parts of the US, imagine the difference it could make if the UK and countries around the world more widely highlighted and supported access to doula care for women and families.

Every family deserves to feel heard, held and supported as they welcome their baby.

If you’re exploring how doula support could help you feel more confident and nurtured during your journey into parenthood, I’d love to share more about how I work.

Jacqueline 💜
Antenatal, Birth & Postnatal Doula Support

Learn more at:
www.BloomWithJacqueline.co.uk

Or email:
enquiries@bloomwithjacqueline.co.uk

15/03/2026

Mother’s Day looks different for every woman. 🌸

Today we celebrate the mothers holding their babies in their arms…
and the mothers carrying their babies beneath their hearts.

We honour the women who are longing to become mothers,
those navigating the quiet ache of trying to conceive,
and those whose path to motherhood may look different than they once imagined.

We hold space for the mothers who have experienced loss,
the ones who carry love for babies they never got to hold.

We gently acknowledge the women who find today difficult,
especially those missing their own mothers and feeling the tenderness that love leaves behind.

And today we also celebrate our own mothers,
the women who raised us, guided us, held us, and shaped who we are.

We honour the special women in our lives -
grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends, mentors, and the nurturing souls who show up with love, wisdom and care.

Motherhood, and nurturing, is not one single story.
It is many journeys, many emotions, and many forms of love.

Today is for all of you.
You are seen, you are valued, and you are deeply appreciated. 🤍

With love,
Jacqueline 💜

13/03/2026

Informed choice isn’t about saying yes or no - it’s about knowing you have a choice.

Informed choice isn’t about agreeing to everything…
and it isn’t about refusing everything either.

It’s not about being “anti” anything.
And it’s not about creating a rigid birth plan or pushing against care.

Informed choice is about understanding your options, feeling confident to ask questions, and knowing that your voice matters every step of the way.

It’s about remembering that your consent matters.
That you are allowed to say no.
And that you can change your mind at any point.

True empowerment doesn’t come from following rules or trying to have the “perfect” birth plan.

It comes from knowing that you are at the centre of the decision-making and that your choices deserve to be heard and respected.

As your doula I will always make sure you have access to up to date, evidence based research to enable you make the right decisions for you and your baby. I will be there every step of the way to support and advocate for your decisions, enabling to you achieve the birth experience you deserve💜

12/03/2026

No one talks about the quiet mourning that can come after birth.
Missing the baby that was once inside you… while holding them in your arms.

It’s a quiet feeling many parents notice after birth and it can catch you by surprise.

You’ve spent months with your baby growing inside you. Feeling their kicks. Talking to them. Carrying them everywhere you go. They were with you every second of every day.

Then suddenly they’re here in your arms.
And while your heart is overflowing with love, there can also be a gentle sense of mourning.

Mourning the closeness you shared.
Mourning the little movements only you could feel.
Mourning the time when it was just the two of you.

It can feel confusing to miss your baby inside you while holding them so tightly outside of you but both feelings can exist at the same time.

Nothing has gone wrong.
Your heart is simply adjusting to a new kind of closeness.

Now they breathe on your chest.
Curl into you for comfort.
Know your smell, your voice, your heartbeat.

You are still their home just in a different way now.

Did you experience this feeling after birth?
If you did please know you’re not alone. 💜

11/03/2026

Becoming a mother isn’t just about welcoming a baby.

It’s also about becoming someone new.

This transition is called matrescence - the emotional, physical and identity shift that happens when a woman becomes a mother.

Yet so many mothers experience it without ever hearing the word.

The changes can be beautiful, overwhelming, confusing, empowering sometimes all at once. And that’s because matrescence is a profound life transition, much like adolescence.

Understanding matrescence helps normalise the emotional landscape of early motherhood and reminds mothers that adjusting takes time.

You are not expected to transform overnight.

If you’re curious to learn more about the science and psychology behind matrescence, I’ve written a new blog exploring this important transition.

You can read the full article on my website:

https://www.bloomwithjacqueline.co.uk/post/what-is-matrescence-understanding-the-emotional-and-physical-transition-into-motherhood

10/03/2026

A viral parenting post recently claimed that holding babies during sleep prevents anxiety later in life.

It’s a comforting idea – but the science is a little more nuanced.

Current research does show that responsive caregiving, touch and emotional attunement support healthy infant brain development. Physical closeness, cuddling and skin-to-skin contact can help regulate a baby’s stress response and support secure attachment.

Secure attachment in early life is associated with better emotional regulation as children grow.

However, there is no strong evidence showing that holding a baby during sleep specifically strengthens prefrontal–amygdala pathways or directly prevents anxiety later in life.

What we do know is this:

• Babies benefit from consistent, responsive care
• Physical closeness helps regulate stress and emotional development
• Secure attachment forms through repeated experiences of comfort and safety

It’s also important to say this clearly for new parents:

You do not have to hold your baby 24/7 to support their development.

Putting your baby down safely to sleep, taking a shower, eating a meal, or simply having a moment to breathe does not mean you are failing.

Healthy attachment isn’t built from one parenting choice. It grows through thousands of small, everyday interactions of care, comfort and connection.

For new mothers especially, messages online can sometimes create unnecessary pressure. Supporting your baby also means supporting yourself.

Connection, responsiveness and love matter far more than perfection 💜

09/03/2026

Hi lovely people, I thought it was about time I did a little getting to know me…

I’m Jacqueline, the heart behind Bloom With Jacqueline.

First and foremost, I’m a mum to three teenage boys so our house is loud, busy, full of energy… and there’s never a dull moment.

We also have three chickens, because apparently I don’t like doing things by halves!

We are an ex-forces family, which means I’ve had the adventure of living in Cyprus and The Netherlands as well as 5 UK homes over the past 20 years. Those years really shaped me - new cultures, new communities, learning to build home wherever we were planted.

I absolutely love the feeling of the sun on my face and the sand in my toes. Give me warmth, open skies and that grounded, earthy feeling and I’m happy.

My favourite colour is purple which makes sense when you see my purple lotus flower logo. Purple has always felt calming, nurturing and strong to me.

Family is everything. I have two big sisters who are also my best friends, and my mum is right there in that circle too. Strong women have always surrounded me and I truly believe that’s part of what led me to the work I do today.

I grew up in Buckinghamshire and now call Wiltshire home and I feel so grateful to be able to support families in this beautiful part of the world.

Academically, I have a degree in Criminology and Psychology, which I completed with the Open University while living overseas, and several other qualifications which have kept me insanely busy alongside raising my family. I’ve always been fascinated by people - how we think, how we cope, how we grow.

There has always been a calling in my heart to support women during pregnancy, birth and beyond. To hold space. To nurture. To reassure. To walk alongside you during one of the most transformative times in your life.

And that’s exactly why Bloom With Jacqueline exists.

Thank you for being here and getting to know me a little better. I’d love to know something about you too 💜

08/03/2026

Today we celebrate the strength, wisdom and resilience of women everywhere. 💜

From the women who choose not to become mothers, those who are navigating a tough journey to motherhood, those becoming mothers for the first time, to those navigating pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond - your journey is powerful, transformative and deeply worthy of support.

International Women’s Day is a reminder that when women are supported, heard and cared for, families and communities flourish.

It is an honour for me to walk alongside women during some of the most vulnerable and life-changing moments of their lives. Witnessing your courage, your love, and your instinct is something I will never take for granted.

To every woman - mothers, mothers-to-be, grandmothers, sisters, daughters and friends - today we celebrate you.

You are strong.
You are capable.
You are extraordinary.

Happy International Women’s Day 🌿

With love,
Jacqueline

(These are my tribe, my mum & my sisters 🥰)

07/03/2026

Last weekend was my birthday, but I was unwell so I wasn’t able to see my sisters until this week. When we finally met up, they both handed me a birthday card… and of course, it was the exact same one.

It made me smile because it felt like such a perfect little reminder of how in sync siblings can be. ✨

How is it that we can live miles apart, have completely different lives, and yet still be so connected?

Buying the same birthday card without knowing.
Texting at the exact same moment.
Saying the very same sentence at the same time and bursting into laughter.

And somehow… sensing when the other one needs a little extra love, even when nothing has been said.

That invisible thread never really loosens. It stretches across distance, busy lives, and passing years — but it’s always there, gently tugging when we need each other most.

A sibling bond is one of life’s quiet constants. Familiar, comforting, and wonderfully unexplainable.

If you have a sibling who just gets you like this, you’ll know exactly what I mean. 💜
Tag them below and let them know you’re thinking of them today.

06/03/2026

Doulas Can Help Save Lives 🤍

Support in pregnancy and birth isn’t just about comfort it can improve outcomes for both parent and baby.

A large Cochrane Review on continuous labour support found that when someone has consistent support during labour, they are:

• More likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth
• Less likely to have a caesarean birth
• Less likely to need instrumental birth
• More likely to feel positive about their birth experience

Doulas provide continuous emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period. Unlike clinical staff who may change shifts, a doula stays with the family, offering calm, reassurance and guidance throughout the journey.

In the UK, national maternity reports from MBRRACE-UK repeatedly highlight that listening to women and acting on concerns saves lives.

Doulas help families feel informed, confident and supported to speak up, ask questions and trust their instincts if something doesn’t feel right.

Doulas don’t replace midwives or doctors.
We work alongside maternity teams, supporting families so they feel heard, respected and empowered.

Because safe birth is not only about medical care.
It’s also about support, information and being truly listened to.

Learn more about doula support at
www.BloomWithJacqueline.co.uk 🌸

05/03/2026

Did you know babies benefit hugely from skin-to-skin contact with their fathers too? 🤍

Skin-to-skin isn’t just for mums. When a newborn is placed directly onto their dad’s bare chest, incredible things happen both for baby and father.

Research shows paternal skin-to-skin can:

✨ Help regulate baby’s heart rate, breathing and temperature
✨ Reduce crying and lower stress hormones
✨ Support baby’s transition to life outside the womb
✨ Increase oxytocin (the bonding hormone) in fathers
✨ Strengthen early attachment and confidence in caregiving
✨ Support breastfeeding by helping partners feel involved and connected

For babies, closeness is biology. They are wired to regulate through touch, warmth, voice and heartbeat and a father’s chest provides all of this.

Skin-to-skin can be especially powerful after a caesarean birth or when mum needs time to recover, giving baby comfort while supporting those first precious bonding moments.

Fathers aren’t just helpers in the early days.
They are an essential part of a baby’s regulation and attachment.

Those quiet moments, baby resting on dad’s chest, are doing far more than they appear. 🌿

If you’re creating a birth plan, you might like to include skin-to-skin with dad as part of your preferences.

04/03/2026

🌿 Cultural Support During Childbirth Matters 🌿

Every birth story is shaped by culture, identity, beliefs and lived experience yet many families still feel unseen or unheard within maternity spaces.

I’ve written a new evidence-based blog exploring why culturally supportive care isn’t just “nice to have”… it’s essential for safer, more respectful birth experiences.

Inside the blog, I talk about:
✨ Why cultural understanding improves outcomes
✨ The importance of communication and advocacy
✨ How personalised support can help families feel truly held during birth

If you’re preparing for birth or supporting someone who is this is for you.

🤍 Read the full blog here:

https://www.bloomwithjacqueline.co.uk/post/cultural-support-during-childbirth-why-it-matters-in-uk-maternity-care

Bloom With Jacqueline Doula Care

16/03/2026

15/03/2026

13/03/2026

12/03/2026

11/03/2026

10/03/2026

09/03/2026

08/03/2026

07/03/2026

06/03/2026

05/03/2026

04/03/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category