Doula up North

Full Spectrum Doula offering Antenatal, Birth and Postnatal support to families in NorthEast England

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

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.

Address

Houghton Le Spring
DH4

Website

http://www.doulaupnorth.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Doula up North posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Houghton le Spring?

10/02/2024

02/02/2024

02/02/2024

23/01/2024

19/01/2024

17/01/2024

15/01/2024

18/12/2023

16/12/2023

14/12/2023

12/12/2023

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share