If you’ve been quietly Googling “doula Surrey” for the past few weeks and you’re hovering over the contact button wondering what actually happens when you get in touch — this one’s for you. I know that first step can feel a bit strange. You might not be entirely sure what a doula does. You might not know whether you can afford it, or whether it’s really “for people like you,” or whether this is all going to feel a bit earnest and overwhelming. Let me try and make it feel a bi

Right, let’s start with the thing I most want you to hear: you are almost certainly not eating yourself into a low milk supply. I know that might sound blunt, but I say it because the amount of anxiety I see around food and breastfeeding is significant, and most of it is misplaced. New mums are already dealing with so much, and adding a layer of nutritional stress — am I eating enough salmon? Should I be taking that supplement? Did the glass of wine I had ruin everything? — i

Can I tell you something I notice a lot in my work? The pressure around feeding is enormous. Enormous and exhausting and, quite often, completely counterproductive. There’s a message out there — well-intentioned, I’m sure — that breastfeeding is best, formula is a last resort, and any departure from exclusive breastfeeding is something to feel apologetic about. And I want to gently but firmly push back on that, because what it does in practice is leave a lot of families feeli

Breastfeeding is one of those things that sounds instinctive but often really isn’t, at least not at first. And if you’ve ever sat at 2am with a cluster-feeding newborn, sore nipples and tears rolling down your face, wondering what on earth you’re doing wrong — firstly, you are doing nothing wrong. And secondly, you are far from alone. The good news is that there is a lot of support out there in Surrey. The less good news is that it can be hard to know where to look for it, e

You’ve done it. Your baby is here. You’ve had the skin-to-skin, you’ve cried the happy tears, and now someone is handing you this tiny person, pointing you toward the car park, and sending you home. And somewhere on that drive, it usually hits: nobody is coming with us. The first two weeks at home with a newborn are, in my experience, unlike anything else. They are extraordinary and exhausting and overwhelming and beautiful, often all within the same hour. And I think the rea

Here’s something I say to every family I work with: there is no such thing as finding new parenthood easy. Not really. Not if you’re being honest about it. There are moments of absolute magic — the kind that stop your heart — and then there are the moments at 3am when you’ve been awake for what feels like several lifetimes and you genuinely cannot remember who you were before this baby arrived. Both things are true at the same time. But sometimes what feels like normal new-pa

If you've started researching postnatal support — first of all, well done you, because thinking ahead about this stuff is genuinely one of the best things you can do for yourself — you may have come across two different options: a postnatal doula and a night nurse. They sound similar. They're actually quite different. And knowing which one you need could make a real difference to your experience in those early weeks. What is a night nurse? A night nurse (sometimes called a ma

If I had to pick one thing I wish more people talked about honestly before having a baby, it would be the fourth trimester. Everyone talks about the first three. The apps, the books, the weekly email updates comparing your baby to a piece of fruit. But then your baby actually arrives — and suddenly nobody seems to know quite what to say about what comes next. So let's talk about it. What actually is the fourth trimester? The fourth trimester is the first twelve weeks of your

Understanding the Fourth Trimester You’ve spent months preparing for your birth. You’ve packed the hospital bag, written your birth preferences, completed the hypnobirthing course, and bought approximately 47 different baby gadgets. Then, your baby arrives, and suddenly it hits you: nobody really told me about this bit. The postnatal period — often called the fourth trimester — is one of the most important, intense, and under-supported phases of new parenthood. And it’s somet

This is probably the question I get asked more than any other, and I completely understand why. You’ve got a midwife — so why would you also need a doula? Aren’t they the same thing? Short answer: no. And understanding the difference could genuinely change your birth experience. Your midwife is incredible — and also very busy Let me be clear: I have enormous respect for midwives. They are skilled, dedicated and absolutely essential. But the NHS is under pressure, and the real

If you’ve stumbled across this page, chances are someone has mentioned the word “doula” to you and you’re wondering what on earth it actually means — don’t worry, you’re not alone! It’s one of the questions I get asked most often, and honestly, it’s one of my favourite things to explain. So, let’s get into it. A doula is not a midwife First things first — I want to be really clear about this. A doula is not a medical professional. I won’t be monitoring your baby’s heartbeat o

Hey there, supermama! If you're navigating the world of motherhood, you've probably heard all about the wonders of breastfeeding. And let me tell you, there's no denying the incredible benefits it can offer both you and your baby. But here's the thing – it's not the only way to nourish your little one. Yep, you heard me right! I've delved into the wealth of information on this topic to bring you the scoop on breastfeeding and beyond. So, grab a cuppa and let's dive in! First

We've all been there — baby is sleeping happily but if she continues she won't sleep tonight. Let me help.