http://www.emilythedoula.co.uk/

Emily the Doula, 304 yorktown Road, Sandhurst (2025)

26/01/2023

A day of transition 🌀

Today has been a day of many transitions for me. It’s the last day of Wren being in formal childcare, the last day of working with an existing client that I had such a beautifully rich relationship with and now, last day of not sharing my pregnancy in this space.

I’m sat here at my kitchen table, reflecting on why I didn’t feel called to share about my pregnancy here, even though I told family, friends and clients alike from very early on that I thought I might be pregnant.

I’ve never been one to adhere to the wait till 12 weeks thing, I’ve always felt like anyone I told early on, I’d probably want support from if the worst should happen. And I’ve been almost thrilled to go through so many discoveries about myself and this new unfolding pregnancy. But sharing it on here felt almost like a burden, not a joy. Today feels like the perfect day to break that silence and start to share my journey with you all.

So far, I’ve learnt lots of lessons about myself. Experiencing this new pregnancy with a new level of understanding, both intellectually (I’ve done a lot more reading around pregnancy and birth since last time round) and emotionally knowing what it’s like to be a mother. I hope to talk more about that in the coming weeks and months.

I’m pausing both my birth and postnatal doula offerings for now, for many reasons that I won’t go into here (mostly they include not living in a mythical commune where we all share the duties of child rearing) but I will continue to offer Mother’s Blessings and 1:1 hypnobirthing. I also plan to start my Mother’s Making Circles again soon.

So here’s a scan picture of baby number two in the Baker-Wheeler/Bradley household, pinned on top of a toddler handprint painting to our fridge. A bit of a different shrine than last time, honouring the new whilst always reminded of she that is already here. And a 21 week bump picture, with the promise of more musings about this new phase of life I’m in, be that pregnancy, “full time” parenting, or Matrescence and my identity now I’m not doula-ing (for the time being).

07/10/2022

Last month’s mother’s making circle ⭕️

What a joy it was to hold space for some wonderful mothers who came to prioritise their own self care.

Taking time to stoke their creative fire, focus on something for themselves and renew their feeling of personal identity outside motherhood.

We ate cake, drank tea and shared stories. It felt deep and meaningful to be connected in such a lighthearted task, painting acorns, when really we were all nourishing ourselves in a way that we all need.

This is essential work.

Working on ourselves, keeping our minds happy and healthy, thinking outside our busy, day-to-day lives.

Both slowing the mind and engaging it in ways it doesn’t usually work.

If you’re interested in the next one, give me a shout and I’m happy to answer any questions.

Book via the link in bio xx

03/10/2022

In hypnobirthing, we know language is vitally important.

It can be the difference between comfort and pain, risk and chance, positivity and negativity.

I want to add another word to be cautious of when it comes to birth.

Deliver.

Deliver implies a service is being done for another person. Even if we say that mum delivers her own baby, this implies that she is doing it for someone else.

Deliver also makes us think about receiving something on time.

The sooner we stop thinking that babies can be late, the better!!

So let’s just use the word birth instead.

28/09/2022

✨Mother’s Blessing✨

The longer I work in this field, the more I come to realise that I am here to honour mothers.

To honour your journey to motherhood, to walk alongside you and to support you through connection and creativity. To honour where you are now and meet you there, to hold space and illuminate the path to where you want to be.

Connection is fundamental to being human. We crave connections at turbulent times in our lives, and this rite of passage is no exception.

There is no more pure form of creativity than creation. You are growing another human, another soul inside you. Shining a light on your creative force through beautiful and gently crafted rituals feels like a calling to me.

Celebrating your rite of passage with a Mother’s Blessing treats it with the reverence it deserves. It honours you and your journey, gathering your closest people to surround and support you on your path.

Blessings put you in the centre of the celebration, it is your journey we celebrate, not your baby’s. Because you are the centre of this, the star of the show, the one who is walking your own path, but in need of support and love.

With thanks to the gorgeous mama in these photos. We decorated her bump, connected with her nearest and dearest, and gathered in circle for her ceremony that included a guided meditation, hand tying and salt bowl, where each of us offered kind words and physical offerings. Salts were taken away with each guest to remember the day, as well as matching hand henna.

Is this something you would consider for your pregnancy? Or have you had your baby, did you mark your journey with any rituals or ceremony? Let me know in the comments bellow.

20/09/2022

Are you craving creativity & connection?

Join me to gather in circle with other likeminded mothers to fill our cups and tend to our own needs outside of motherhood.

£15 a ticket, **only 2 spaces available**

Leave feeling nourished and connected, both to yourself and mums in your community.

I will lead us in a guided relaxation, a gentle space to allow you to slow and be present in this time for yourself.

Then we will move on to the craft activity. This month we are doing something seasonal with acorns. There will be plenty of time for cake, a natter and tea, as well as leaving feeling like you have stoked your creative fire.

To book and for more information, visit my website emilythedoula.co.uk/mother-circles

See you there!

14/09/2022

Placentas ❤️

They seem to have remained quite a taboo subject, even in a more open, positive and realistic conversation about birth.

They just don’t seem to exist in the media, I don’t think I’ve ever seen on one telly! I wouldn’t be surprised if you came to your pregnancy journey, not knowing a thing about them.

So let’s demystify them. Knowledge is power, after all.

If you asked me my favourite fact, I’d probably go with the fact that they filter out cortisol so, even if the pregnant person feels stressed, the baby is not exposed to this stress hormone. Isn’t that incredible?

What do you find most interesting about the placenta? Let me know in the comments.

21/06/2022

A few days left to bag your spot at my Mother's Making Circle. Space is limited!

Use the code LAUNCH50 to get 50% off your ticket.

We will be playing with plants, mark-making and general doodling using a simple printmaking technique called monoprinting.

No experience necessary!

As well as this fun & creative activity, I will lead a guided relaxation and there will be refreshments too!

For mums at any stage, who are craving "me time", connection & creativity. Babes in arms welcome.

Book here: buytickets.at/emilythedoula/708214

More info here (or comment/message me): https://www.facebook.com/102597355421870/posts/pfbid02HVD8YdBVrLfrG41c9GenPFhunzTTi637iVdPKFj68iRxTr23bx9gR3Ty4C1L84Yfl/?app=fbl

21/06/2022

I recently found out that traditionally, the summer solstice was a day to celebrate the masculine, the men in our lives, our fathers.

It makes sense to me now that Father’s Day is always near the summer solstice. It’s an ancient tradition that needed to be on a Sunday to sell the most Sunday roasts!

So, because I dropped the ball on Sunday, here’s to the fathers in my life: My amazing co-parent, partner and love, and my dad!

Happy solstice! 🌞

16/06/2022

Finding the right preparation course for you is really important. Take your time, weigh up your options and figure out what is most important to you.

In my birth and postnatal preparation course with hypnobirthing, I cover all the basics:
❤️ The physiological birth process
❤️ How to promote it
❤️ Relaxations and how to create anchors
❤️ Comfort measures + possible positions for birth (& why you might not want to plan this!)
❤️ How to navigate birthing within a system
❤️ Roles for the birth partner
❤️ Writing a birth plan

Plus:
💖 Evolutionary insights into the 4th trimester
💖 Feeding options including breast/chest feeding
💖 How to maximise sleep once baby is here
💖 Writing a postnatal wellness plan
💖 Intuitive preparation to balance all the intellectual preparation you are doing and to help you tune into your intuition (vital for decision making)

As a doula, I have a unique insight into birth and early parenthood, having walked alongside families on their personal journey.

If you’d like to learn more about my preparation course, get in touch via DM or my website! emilythedoula.co.uk/birth-prep

30/05/2022

Pregnancy is a special time, but the fast paced nature of modern life can mean we sometimes loose the sacredness and connection that make it so powerful.

Motherhood can feel overwhelming at times. We know we need slowness and safety, comfort and connection, yet these things feel truly out of reach in our day to day lives.

By carving out the time for connection to others and connection to yourself through creative practice, you give yourself the chance welcome these needed and illusive aspects of life in.

I hold a Mother’s Making Circle for mothers at any stage of their parenting journey: newly pregnant first time mum, to seasoned parent with several children at home. We all learn and gain strength from each other.

There will be guided relaxation, a natter and a creative activity, led by me (an artist and ex-art & design tutor).

So, if you’re a pregnant mum looking for local connections or if you have children already, give them to your partner for a Saturday morning (babes in arms welcome, but if you feel confident older babies or children with someone you trust, then take this time for yourself), join me in my garden studio for 1.5 hours of relaxation, craft and connection to yourself and other local mums.

Link in bio to book and don’t forget to share with all the mamas in your life. Tag them in the comments xx

25/05/2022

The birth ball ⭕️

So. Many. Uses.

This is definitely just my top 10

You can even use it for tummy time with your baby!

Tag any pregnant friends you have who might like to see this.

18/05/2022

It took me a while, but I have finally settled on an intention for the year.

Connection.

I’ve been trying to connect more often and more deeply this year, attending groups like mother’s fire and I had the honour of being at present at my client’s baby blessing, where space was held by .strong_

Whenever I’m in spaces like these, I find myself struck with how comfortable and normal it feels, as well as how powerful.

So here’s to reclaiming gatherings to talk about the big and the little things that make up life!

Tag a friend who you know is craving this connection 💕

I’m going to be announcing a new offering soon, where I will invite mother’s at all points of their journey (newly pregnant with your first or seasoned mama with children at home) to come and connect with one another and yourselves through carving time for relaxation and creative practice.

Stay tuned and speak soon x

Emily the Doula

26/01/2023

07/10/2022

03/10/2022

28/09/2022

20/09/2022

14/09/2022

21/06/2022

21/06/2022

16/06/2022

30/05/2022

25/05/2022

18/05/2022

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