Bumps and Babies with Ruth

Bumps and Babies with Ruth https://linkin.bio/bumpsandbabieswithruth. I’m a birth & postnatal doula caring for the expat community and those with family far away.

I look after women in South-West London 🥰

Contact
https://app.doulado.co/client?eyJpbnRha2VfaWQiOiIxMDQ4In0%3D=_ Caring and compassionate doula helping you through pregnancy, birth and beyond

Put down the baby wash. 🙏That white, waxy coating you can see on this brand new baby? That’s vernix - and it is liquid g...
16/04/2026

Put down the baby wash. 🙏
That white, waxy coating you can see on this brand new baby? That’s vernix - and it is liquid gold.
So before anyone reaches for a towel, here’s why we leave it well alone:
🤍 Vernix is nature’s moisturiser. It’s been protecting your baby’s skin in the womb for months. After birth, it keeps working - regulating temperature, locking in moisture, and helping your newborn adjust to life on the outside.
🦠 Their microbiome is brand new. A newborn’s skin is still building its bacterial ecosystem from scratch. Bathing too soon - especially with anything soapy or scented - strips away the very things their skin needs to develop healthily.
🧴 Chemicals and newborn skin don’t mix. Even products marketed as “gentle” or “natural” can disrupt a baby’s delicate skin barrier. In those first weeks, less really is more. Water only, and even then - not yet.
⏳ The WHO recommends waiting at least 24 hours before a newborn’s first bath - but honestly? I always recommend waiting as long as possible. Let that vernix absorb fully and give that brand new microbiome the best possible start.
And realistically… nature has its own way of telling you when the time has come. The first poo explosion will probably make that decision for you. 😂
That vernix? Massage it in. Let it absorb. Let it do its job.
Your baby spent 9 months being perfectly prepared for this world. Trust the process. 🌿

This quote says it all, honestly.A birth plan isn’t a script. It’s not a list of demands. It’s you, thinking through wha...
14/04/2026

This quote says it all, honestly.
A birth plan isn’t a script. It’s not a list of demands. It’s you, thinking through what matters most - what you’d prefer, what you want to avoid, how you want to be spoken to - so that when things shift (and birth has a way of shifting), you’re not making those decisions from a place of fear or uncertainty.
Thinking it all through beforehand? So important. Staying open to how it actually unfolds? Just as important.
That’s where your doula comes in. 💫
I’m not just there to hold your hand (though I’ll do that too). I’m there to hold the intention behind your plan - and move with you as your birth evolves. To remind you of what you said you wanted. To help you ask the right questions when things feel uncertain. To make sure every decision still feels like yours, even when the path has changed.
Your doula is a birth plan that breathes. One that adapts, advocates, and keeps you at the centre - no matter what.
Knees bent. Always. 🙏

✨Thank you so much for this - it truly means everything. Navigating a first birth is such a big deal, and I know how muc...
04/04/2026

✨Thank you so much for this - it truly means everything. Navigating a first birth is such a big deal, and I know how much courage it takes to do that away from your home country and your usual support network. Being trusted to be part of that journey is something I don’t take lightly - I’m so glad you felt held and heard throughout. That’s everything to me. Wishing your little family all the love and joy in this new chapter! 🌍🤍

World Doula Week 🤍It’s taken me a long time to find what I truly believe I was born to do… but I found it. 🥰I love my wo...
26/03/2026

World Doula Week 🤍

It’s taken me a long time to find what I truly believe I was born to do… but I found it. 🥰

I love my work. Supporting people through one of the most powerful, vulnerable, and life-changing moments they will ever experience. Holding space, offering strength when it feels tough, and always striving to help each family achieve the birth they most want.

As I write this, I’m on my way to another birth… another moment where a miracle will unfold. The miracle of new life entering the world never loses its wonder. ✨

Every birth is different. Every mum, every journey, every baby. And yet each one stays with me. Each one leaves its mark, held forever in my memory.

Feeling incredibly grateful this World Doula Week to do the work I love. 🤍If you’re expecting and looking for support, my inbox is always open 💌

Four babies. Four completely different humans. Four of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had.They’ve taught me patience I ...
15/03/2026

Four babies. Four completely different humans. Four of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had.
They’ve taught me patience I didn’t know I had - and shown me the moments I need to dig deeper for it. They’ve taught me that gentleness isn’t weakness, it’s the most powerful thing in the room. That resilience isn’t something you find once - it’s something you practise, over and over, in the small ordinary moments.
They’ve taught me that love isn’t one size. It stretches and shapes itself differently for each of them - and somehow, impossibly, it just keeps growing.
They’ve taught me to be spontaneous (sometimes against my will 😂), to find joy in the completely unplanned, and to laugh when things don’t go to script - which, with four kids, is most of the time.
Most of all, they’ve reminded me again and again that every single person is different. Different needs, different hearts, different ways of moving through the world. Watching that unfold in my own children has made me a better mum - and a better doula.
Happy Mother’s Day to every mother out there holding it all together, falling apart, and showing up anyway. You are doing something extraordinary. 🤍

Let’s talk about episiotomies. 💬 🫣It’s one of those words that comes up a lot in birth prep - but what actually is it, a...
12/03/2026

Let’s talk about episiotomies. 💬 🫣
It’s one of those words that comes up a lot in birth prep - but what actually is it, and do you need one?
An episiotomy is a small surgical cut made to the perineum (the tissue between the va**na and a**s) during the pushing stage of labour. It used to be done routinely, but guidelines have shifted significantly - it’s now recommended only when there’s a clear clinical need.
When it might be necessary:
→ Baby is in distress and needs to be born quickly
→ An assisted delivery (forceps or ventouse) is needed
→ To prevent a severe, uncontrolled tear
The potential benefits in those cases:
✔️ A clean, controlled cut that’s easier to repair than a jagged tear
✔️ Can speed up delivery when time is critical
✔️ May reduce risk of severe tearing in certain positions or situations
The considerations to weigh up:
→ Pain and discomfort during recovery
→ Risk of infection at the wound site
→ Can extend into a deeper tear if not managed well
→ Research shows many episiotomies can be avoided with the right support, positioning, and pushing techniques
→ You may experience scar tissue sensitivity for months after
The evidence is clear: routine episiotomies are not recommended. But when used at the right moment, by a skilled provider, they absolutely have a place.
This is exactly why knowing your options - and having someone in your corner who can advocate for you in the room- matters so much. 🤍
Questions about this? Drop them below. 👇

🫶🏼This is what I see in every birth I attend.Yes, a baby is born. But so is a mother.And my role? It’s to help you disco...
09/03/2026

🫶🏼This is what I see in every birth I attend.
Yes, a baby is born. But so is a mother.
And my role? It’s to help you discover just how strong, capable, and powerful you already are.
Birth has a way of revealing what’s been inside you all along—an inner strength you might not have known existed. Through every contraction, every moment of doubt, every surge of courage, you’re becoming the mother your baby needs.
You don’t need me to give you strength. You already have it.
But I’ll be there to remind you of it when you forget. To hold space when things don’t go to plan. To believe in you when you’re not sure you believe in yourself.
Because birth isn’t just about bringing a baby into this world. It’s about you discovering who you become in the process.
Strong. Competent. Capable. Exactly as you are. 💪🏻

Happy International Women’s Day 💛To every woman who has grown a life far from home - who navigated a foreign healthcare ...
08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day 💛
To every woman who has grown a life far from home - who navigated a foreign healthcare system while also navigating pregnancy, who has been handed leaflets in a language that isn’t quite hers, who has missed her mum more than ever in those last few weeks - this day is for you.
Being pregnant as an expat in London is a particular kind of brave. You’re building a village from scratch, in a new city, with a new accent, and new protocols. And you’re doing it while your body is doing the most extraordinary thing it has ever done.
My work as a doula exists because women deserve to feel held in that experience. Not just medically supported - truly held. With continuity, warmth, and someone who shows up knowing your name, your story, and your fears.
Today I’m honouring every client who trusted me to be part of their journey, and every woman still searching for her people in this city.
You are not alone. You never have to do this alone. 🤍
📍 London-based doula supporting expat families
🔗 Link in bio to learn more about working together

🥰 Being someone’s safe place during one of the most powerful moments of their life - there’s nothing like it. 🤍 So grate...
07/03/2026

🥰 Being someone’s safe place during one of the most powerful moments of their life - there’s nothing like it. 🤍 So grateful for this beautiful review and for the honour of supporting this incredible family. Congratulations again, supermum - you were amazing. ✨

How do you tell if your newborn wants to feed? 🤷🏼‍♀️Those tiny fists say it all.Before a baby ever cries for milk, thei...
07/03/2026

How do you tell if your newborn wants to feed? 🤷🏼‍♀️Those tiny fists say it all.
Before a baby ever cries for milk, their body is already telling you exactly what they need. Learning to read your newborn’s hunger cues early can make feeding so much smoother — and help you respond before frustration sets in for both of you. 💛
Early hunger cues to watch for:
• Rooting (turning head side to side, searching)
• Bringing hands to mouth (just like this little love 🤛)
• Smacking or licking lips
• Sucking on fingers or fists
• Increased alertness or restlessness
Late cue = crying. By the time baby is crying, they’re already worked up — which can make latching harder and feeding more stressful. Watch for the early signs and you’ll both be much calmer!
Every newborn is different, and learning your baby’s unique cues takes time. Be patient with yourself. You’re doing beautifully. 🤍
If you’re navigating those early feeding days and need support, I’m here. Drop a question in the comments or send me a DM. 👇

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35 Richmond Road
London
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