Doula up North, Houghton le Spring (2025)

10/02/2024

I’ve decided to take an extended break from Doula work. I love what I do and I adore the people I’ve had the privilege to work with and those I’ve come to know through the work, but it’s time to lay it down for a bit. Initially I’ll be taking a year off, maybe I’ll come back to it maybe I won’t.
I’ve been obsessed with birth for a very long time, way before my daughter was born and starting this business, the idea that things had to be better than what I’d experienced and wanting to be part of that was the driving force behind Doula up North, but I need some time to feel ease and see what it’s like to live free from being consumed by it.

I’m going to keep my page up, I’ve spent far too much time and effort on it to close it down, but I won’t be posting anything or interacting with it apart from maybe the odd update from March and I’ll be doing the same with my website.

So,
Goodbye for now, love you all! ♥️

02/02/2024

We need your support 🙏🏻❤️

As many of you know, Postpartum Matters is a non-profit charity that relies entirely on the support of our incredible volunteers, as well as financial support from our generous community & peers.

Your funds go directly into funding our work online, but also The Women's Health Hub - our in person space based in The Arches Shopping Village in Hartlepool.

Without your support, we could not continue to provide our services to mothers and women who need us most, and that's why we need your help.

Find ways to support us here: https://postpartummatters.podia.com/support

And if you are unable to support us financially at this time, please share us and spread our message so that we can reach and support more women 🙏🏻

Thank you, we are extremely grateful 🥰

02/02/2024

Just a little reminder -
You can say No from the beginning
You can say No right at the very last minute
You can say Yes multiple times and then say No
You can say No in Pregnancy, in Labour and in the Postnatal period.
You can say No to anything and everything.
You can say No after lots of research
You can say No just because you want to.
You don’t owe anyone a Yes.

23/01/2024

My Favourite books to lend to clients:

📚 The Birth Partner by Penny Simpkin
My Birth Bible, I love this book both for birth partners and the person giving birth. It’s jam packed with information on stages of labour, hormones, comfort measures, interventions, the role of the birth partner and so much more.

📚 Your Rights in a pregnancy and birth by Aims and Why Human Rights in Childbirth Masters by Dr Rebecca Schiller
two vital books explaining how to navigate the Maternity system and your rights within it. They’re a must read for anyone accessing Maternity Services, especially if you’re going against guidelines

📚Giving Birth to your Baby
written by Deb Neiger for Aims
A bite size, easy to read book all about the physiology of labour and birth. Amazing for first time parents or anyone who wants to understand how our bodies give birth to our babies.

Have you read any of them? Are there any you would add?

I don’t overload my clients with books and there’s never any expectation to read them, but I always take a variety of options based on their hopes, past experiences and current plans.

19/01/2024

An opportunity to recruit two service users or lay people to become involved with work developing pelvic health services for people who experience pelvic health problems following pregnancy. Follow the QR code on the poster to find out more.

17/01/2024

Who’s coming?
My hope is to create the atmosphere of a face to face peer support group without you even having to get out of bed! Just grab a cuppa and your phone/laptop (and of course your baby) and come along.
We’ll start February 2nd, all you need to do is either contact me via the link in my bio or boa the email on this post and I’ll send you my payment details and the zoom link.

****just a little disclaimer****
I’m not a lactation consultant or affiliated with any breastfeeding charity. I do however have 12 years experience of supporting people to feed their babies as a peer supporter, as part of a NHS breastfeeding support team and as a Doula. If you have any issue’s beyond my knowledge base I will always signpost you to other professionals ♥️

15/01/2024

✨What’s on next week✨

🌱Monday we have our Chatter & Natter table from 10 to 12 with Lora ❤️

Followed by hypnobirthing with Viki from Glitterbirth - head to their page to book a space for February or March, these will be Viki’s last in person sessions this year ☺️

🌱Tuesday we have our Infant Feeding Social from 10 till 12. Pop along for feeding support but also to connect with other new parents 🥰

This is followed by the Women's Wellbeing Club from 6pm - head to Womens Wellbeing Club Hartlepool for more info

🌱Thursday we welcome BRIC Building Recovery In Communities for their session from 10 till 12

Followed by Creative Journaling from 1 till 2:30 🥰 no need to bring anything and no requirement to ‘be creative’

🌱Saturday we have our Empowered Girls Club from 2 till 4pm - this month we’re making zines about resilience. Let me know if you’d like to be added to the messenger group to find out more

🌱Sunday we finish the week with our Pregnancy Support Group from 1pm to 3pm with the lovely Charlotte, of The Alternative Doula ❤️

There’s refreshments at all groups and everything bar the hypnobirthing is completely free to access.

Hope to see you soon,
Zoe xx

04/01/2024

What I’m offering in 2024:
I’m going to be concentrating on Perinatal support this year, I’m really hoping my birth debrief’s will take off and at some point (once I’ve created the content) you’ll have the option to add Hypnobirthing onto any service you hire me for.

I’ve also been toying with the idea of a parent/baby group, but that will be something for the second half of the year.

I’m not going to be actively taking bookings for birth support, but you never know, if the stars align………….

Is there anything you would like to see me offer this year? Or is there something already there that catches your eye? I’d love to talk with you about it.

18/12/2023

Last top tip of the year - do what whatever the f**k you want! Whether that’s do nothing or do everything all that matters is that it’s what you want and it makes you happy!

16/12/2023

Babies want what they want when they want it.
Our bodies need what they need when they need it.
It’s ok to prioritise your baby and your body.
Expectations of newly postpartum people and new families are high generally, as is the expectations during the festive period. Add them together and it can get a bit crazy. It’s ok not to want to do all the things and see all the people and to be honest, depending on how you gave birth, how your mental health is and how your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb it’s just not possible.
It might be worth planting the seed before baby is born so it’s not such a shock to people if you say no.

14/12/2023

You need to stay nourished if you’re replenishing your body and healing after birth, you also need lots of extra calories if you’re breast/chest feeding.
PLUS
There’s no such thing as bad foods and bounce back culture is bu****it.
So eat all the food and enjoy it!

12/12/2023

Find a quiet space to calm your nervous system and reconnect. I always used the excuse I needed to feed the baby and would then disappear for half an hour just to catch my breath.
It’s ok to feel overwhelmed and sweaty and stressed, your body and mind are adapting to a new normal and your baby is getting used to a big new world.

10/12/2023

Expectations are high during the festive period. Lots to do, places to go, people to see.
Early postpartum can be overwhelming at the best of times so it’s no surprise it’s amplified at Christmas.

One thing I think can be really helpful is keeping your baby close, and one of the best ways of doing this is by using a sling. Slings are amazing for keeping you both regulated, they’re really handy to feed in, both breast/chest and bottle, they keep well meaning loved ones at bay who want cuddles. Your baby will feel safe and will nap in them so you don’t have to worry too much about them not settling. They give you your hands back so you can enjoy your dinner, open your presents, or do whatever you want to.

You might have missed any sling libraries or consultant drop ins for the year now, but there’s some amazing YouTube videos, IG accounts or even Doula’s doing power hours/Postnatal visits who can help get it right before the big day.

Are you planning on babywearing over the festive period? They’re great for Santa visits, Christmas shopping, pantomime’s, anything really.

If you’ve had a newborn over Christmas what made it easier for you?

02/12/2023

November was Long and full of uncertainty, but there were also some nice moments. ♥️

28/11/2023

I’ve been procrastinating hard with this one because I want to get it right, it needs to be done right.
It’s something I feel deep in my soul, we need spaces to talk about our experiences where we feel heard and validated, where our humanity is at the core.
I want you to feel a little less lonely, a bit more understood and throughly supported. This isn’t an alternative to proper mental health support, but maybe it’s a first step to where you need to go or you might just have some negative feelings around an aspect of your experience and all you need is to off load and better understand what happened.

I’m going to be starting on Zoom a couple of evenings a week, but if there’s a real demand locally I might look into face to face sessions as well.
If it’s something you’re interested in and would like to book a session or if you have any questions, you can contact me via the link in my bio.

25/11/2023

Nothing’s set in stone, you don’t have to stick with a decision if you’re needs change, you can change your mind when presented with new information. All your choices are valid no matter what other people think.
This is your Body, Your Birth and Your Baby and it’s ok to change your mind, even at the very last minute!

Doula up North

10/02/2024

02/02/2024

02/02/2024

23/01/2024

19/01/2024

17/01/2024

15/01/2024

04/01/2024

18/12/2023

16/12/2023

14/12/2023

12/12/2023

10/12/2023

02/12/2023

28/11/2023

25/11/2023

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