PUSH by Shoshana

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PUSH by Shoshana

As a Doula, I support women and couples through pregnancy and birth. I aim to be a calming voice and presence to create a positive birth experience. Nonsense!

What is a Doula? A Doula is a person that supports women and couples through pregnancy and birth. At a time when midwives are often stretched running between various women giving birth, a Doula is a calming constant presence from beginning to end. She becomes the labouring woman's advocate and voice, and protects her from all surrounding noise and chaos at a time when she needs to focus most in a place of quiet and calm. A Doula also helps women believe that their bodies were designed for this task and they should therefore embrace birth rather than fear it. The more they relax into it, the more naturally the body will open up. What's critical is to help women/couples achieve the birth they want. Too many women still have the preconceived idea that if they don't have the perfect textbook natural birth, they have already failed as women and mothers. Our role is to support the mum's choice and help her to achieve a positive birthing experience so she looks back with pride and not horror! If it's an epidural she wants, that is her absolute prerogative to do so. A Doula is NOT a medical professional. I work in partnership with midwives and doctors and respect their medical knowledge and professionalism. A Doula is unable to perform examinations or any other clinical task. I help communicate with the medical staff to ensure my clients have all the information they need to make informed decisions throughout their labour.

10/12/2025

Yurkova - “She is Pregnant” - I’ve never come across a tapestry before of any art created through embroidery to do with pregnancy or birth. This delicate and subtle work is really beautiful - crafted so imaginatively with the dark colours against the light background that represents and reflects the subtle feelings of the woman with her changing body and impending birth. I absolutely love this!

28/11/2025

van Eyck - The National Gallery shared this famous image of “The Arnolfini Portrait” also known as the “The Arnolfini Marriage” - lots of books have been written about this painting and the meaning of the symbolisms behind it. The husband is assumed to be praying for his wife’s pregnancy and impending birth. The intensity of the image definitely implies fervent wishes and tension in the lead up to what was then a highly dangerous life experience. The numbers of women who died in childbirth then was staggering - how blessed we are today that this has changed

24/11/2025

Scifo - “Motherhood Painting” - I absolutely love this reflective artwork - the contemplation that this wonderful face reflects in that quiet moment - so many conflicting emotions come to mind. Peace, exhaustion, contentment, sadness, fulfillment, emptiness, love, bitterness, joy, depression. I love the mix of the sedate grey colours used, mixed with auburn for simple effectiveness and softness. Just beautiful.

17/11/2025

Latka - “In One Heartbeat Rhythm” -
I absolutely love this colourful image - probably because it combines two things I love - flowers and pregnancy! Flowers are widely associated with pregnancy and birth, primarily symbolizing new beginnings, purity, innocence, and motherhood. One hears of mothers “blooming” whilst pregnant - a common metaphor for their vibrant appearance (the “pregnancy glow”). The opening of the cervix during birth is also symbolic of flowers opening and expanding. Lots of varieties of flowers have strong birth and pregnancy symbolisms - Daisies, Baby’s Breath, Orchids, Peonies and Daffodils amongst others all signify purity/hope/innocence/beauty and promise

10/11/2025

Geunther - “Pregnancy Delivery” - I just came out of a fantastic birth where the couple were so in sync - it was a joy to watch. We took turns swapping with each other to allow the other to have some time out - and both spent hours massaging, holding, supporting and breathing with this rock star of a woman who birthed her baby so beautifully.

On a seperate note - I’ve always toyed whether I like the phrase “delivery” for birth. The word reminds me of takeaways, Amazon deliveries and general things like that. In most hospitals still today, the term delivery is still very much used and often you’ll hear the staff saying “she’s delivered” or “a few minutes to go till delivery’

03/11/2025

Zita “Motherhood” - this abstract artist from Mozambique has simply and beautifully illustrated leaking breast milk - the body’s incredible natural process for mothers to feed their babies. But If only it was always as simple as this. For some women, breastfeeding is easy, comfortable, enjoyable and practical. For others, it’s the opposite. Difficult, painful, uncomfortable, not enjoyable at all. This image to me also portrays tears - tears I see so often falling out of exhausted bodies. So much pressure is still put on new mothers to be expected to breastfeed - but it doesn’t always work for so many women. The frequent question about milk supply and latch can be so frustrating. It can lead to new mums feeling like failures when that’s the last thing they are. They’re all hero’s whether they’re breastfeeding or not - deranged by exhaustion and juggling to stay afloat and keep their babies alive! My advice is always to get a great lactation person come to your home who can sit with you and help guide you what to do. And make you feel like a winner - even when you can’t or don’t feel like one 🤍

26/10/2025

Hudson - “The Dishes are Never Done!” This must be one of the most common frustrations generally for men and women! But particularly for new mums who are constantly juggling the needs of new babies, small toddlers, bigger kids, having to get little people out to school or nursery, getting to work or just managing a normal day! So many new mums, particularly single mums, feel it’s practically impossible to manage both the demands of taking care of a newborn - plus the simple domestics of home life. Something has to give. The dishes can wait! However irritating that may be - or not! It’s all about finding the rhythm of life that suits you, and managing as best as you can to save your mental health

22/10/2025

westermann - “40 weeks” - Since birthing her first child, the Norwegian photographer has been intrigued by the quiet and magnificent fragility of motherhood, pregnancy and birth. She was shortlisted for the Portrait of Humanity by the British Journal of Photography in 2022. This photograph exquisitely personifies the pregnant woman at full term - ready and waiting for the baby to make its way out into the world. The calm before the storm. The wonder of nature and the human body at its finest #40

09/10/2025

Goodwind - “Light” This week is the annual national BABY LOSS AWARENESS WEEK 9 - 15th October - where we commemorate lost lives for pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death, and ectopic pregnancy - and to raise awareness about the impact of it. The week serves as a time for bereaved parents, their families, and friends to unite and remember babies who died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth, and to promote understanding and support for those affected. To continue to shine their light and memory

06/10/2025

@ Okunade Olamilekan - “Eko o L’opin - I love this painting by the Nigerian artist of a Mother + Son - taken from his collection of art from his series “Life in My City”. His wonderfully colorful artwork primarily explores themes related to the cultural dynamics and societal issues affecting the black community in Lagos, with a particular focus on the roles and experiences of women. Often using acrylic paint on canvas, he draws inspiration from his immediate environment and societal struggles. The expressions on the faces of both say so much without saying anything at all. olamilekan

29/09/2025

artist - Simply. Pregnant. Bun. In. The. Oven. Nine. Months. Statement. Black. White

26/09/2025

Wah Tan - “Purple Pregnancy” - I just came across this artwork by the Singapore artist and was wondering why it was captioned and created featuring the colour purple. Purple has many symbolic connotations - often royalty, luxury and extravagance - but also wisdom and dignity - spirituality and femininity. Pregnant and birthing women often describe their experience as immensely spiritual, transformative, empowering and transcendental - a feminine experience that is utterly overwhelming and soulful at the same time. I also really love the contrast of the yellow hair - a colour that often symbolizes happiness and joy, as well as hope and enlightenment.

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London

Website

http://www.ukdoula.com/

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