Malama Mama UK

11/11/2025

Such important themes & messages coming up in this “Open Letter on Birth: In Defence of Modwives, Mothers, and the Truth”

I understand & fully appreciate there is a lot of nuance in this conversation & it can be incredibly emotive. But the research, evidence & stats really do speak for themselves.

If you have time, please do take a moment to read this:

Together, we represent those who stand beside women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period - the people who have witnessed both the miracles and the failings of our maternity system firsthand.

13/10/2025

I first met & Mat when I was invited to join their birth team alongside fellow colleague & friend later on in their pregnancy.

I love shared care work. It offers two doula minds & allows the families we work with to really dive into different perspectives & experiences; giving them a full breadth of knowledge to lean into.

It just so happens, on this occasion, baby decided to arrive when I was covering the on call & I feel blessed to have walked alongside both Ellie & Mat on their journey to welcoming their third baby Earthside.

It was truly beautiful. The loving energy in the room, the calm, the trust. It was everything.

Although they sought doula support later on in their pregnancy, we still had time to hold antenatal sessions with them, understand their needs & wishes for birth, build a robust set of birth preferences that reflected these & most importantly, strengthen our relationship with each other.

It’s never too late to seek the support of a doula & I would be delighted to talk to you about your journey & how I can support that. I have space for one more birth in November & then spaces from January onwards. If you’re interested in finding out more, drop me a message.

Clair
###

P.S. To read this review in full & to read more reviews, take a look at my google profile page online!

26/09/2025

Did you know that the placenta is the only organ in the body that disposes of itself once it’s no longer needed? It grows & works specifically for the purpose of keeping your baby alive & although the blood of mum & baby transfers through it, it never actually mixes.

Today, it is normal practice for there to be a delay in clamping the umbilical cord after birth. But, if it’s something you’d definitely like, I suggest putting that in your birth preferences. Especially if you have a caesarean (planned or unplanned).

I would also encourage you to explore your other options, such as “waiting for white” or a “lotus birth”, to feel into what really feels right for you and your baby. We must remember, one size does not fit all.

The benefits of delaying the cord clamping include:
👉🏼 Baby receives more of their blood compliment 
👉🏼 Higher iron levels for your baby’s brain development
👉🏼 The placenta acts as a natural resuscitation aid, meaning better oxygen supply from the moment they are born
👉🏼 Better nutrition right from the start

Clair
###

23/09/2025

DOULA AVAILABILITY

September is almost over & I can’t quite believe that another school year has begun!

With the changes of the seasons from Summer to Autumn, it also has me reflecting on my business, my priorities & what I would like for the coming months. As such, it’s time I got a bit more active on the ole socials again & what better way to start than with my availability.

The end of the year is shaping up incredibly well for me, but I do have one birth space left available. If you are due your baby in November, you’re not too late & this could be your slot. 

The beginning of the year is starting to take shape, but there are still some places available for both birth &/or postnatal support, so do let me know if you would like to arrange a connection call to talk about your support needs more.

My services don’t stop at in-person birth & postnatal support. I offer other services such as Antenatal Workshops, Power Hours, Birth Trauma Recovery & Infant Feeding Support. Follow the link in my bio to take a look at all my services and what that support could look like for you.

Clair
###

23/09/2025

DOULA AVAILABILITY

September is almost over & I can’t quite believe that another school year has begun!

With the changes of the seasons from Summer to Autumn, it also has me reflecting on my business, my priorities & what I would like for the coming months. As such, it’s time I got a bit more active on the ole socials again & what better way to start than with my availability.

The end of the year is shaping up incredibly well for me, but I do have one birth space left available. If you are due your baby in November, you’re not too late & this could be your slot. 

The beginning of the year is starting to take shape, but there are still some places available for both birth &/or postnatal support, so do let me know if you would like to arrange a connection call to talk about your support needs more.

My services don’t stop at in-person birth & postnatal support. I offer other services such as Antenatal Workshops, Power Hours, Birth Trauma Recovery & Infant Feeding Support. Follow the link in my bio to take a look at all my services and what that support could look like for you.

Clair
###

26/02/2025

THE FOURTH TRIMESTER

The fourth trimester is described as the first 12 weeks after your baby has been born. It’s a time of huge transformation for you, your baby & your family, with big changes taking place for you all both emotionally & physically. Yet, for some reason, we don’t seem to talk or prepare much for this phase & it can have a great impact on our ongoing wellbeing. It’s something I’m hugely passionate about!

In other countries it’s totally normal for the mother & baby to spend this time in bed; bonding, initiating breastfeeding, resting & recuperating. Rather than spending that time doing chores, getting on top of housework or entertaining friends & family who have come over to meet the new baby.

Now, I appreciate that 12 weeks in bed is simply not possible or even appealing for many new parents. But if you’re able to start thinking about the postnatal days in the antenatal period, you’re one step closer to having a plan that can support you as you navigate through this transition.

If you would like to get your hands on my free Postnatal Planning resource, which will help you with prompts and things to consider COMMENT “POSTNATAL PLANNING” below & I’ll send the details straight across to your inbox.

###

📸 credit 

20/01/2025

2024 REVIEW

It’s a little late coming, but that’s because my year has started, just as the previous one ended…busy!

You’re not going to find me complaining. I love it and I feel so grateful to call this my ‘job’.

Although in 2024 I didn’t support loads of families (certainly not as many as I did in 2023). The families I did spend time with received a real continuity of care, for longer spells of time. The aspect of my job which I am most passionate about.

If you’re expecting a baby in 2025 and you’re interested to know how my doula support could benefit you and your family, comment “2025 BABY” below and I will send you more details.

###




15/01/2025

BIRTH TRAUMA

The most recent research shows that as many as 1 in 3 parents would describe their birth as traumatic and the  reports that a shocking “4-5% of mothers and 1% of partners develop PTSD after birth”. That equates to around 30,000 birthing parents each year and I believe this could be far higher, as this is only data taken from people who have taken part in the surveys/research.

Birth trauma can have a long-term negative affect on a person’s health and can cause ongoing implications and suffering due to birth injury, obstetric violence, breastfeeding problems, bonding, relationships and more. It affects people physically and emotionally in a really profound way.

So in the postnatal days, please consider very carefully the words you use and what you say to new parents.

“At least you have a healthy baby.”

Using dismissive statements like this can be extremely invalidating of their experience and can cause a person to close off their emotions and process them effectively in the way they need to.

Yes, physical health is important, but mental and emotional wellbeing are as equally important.

The next time someone speaks to you about their birth experience try to come from a place of empathy and understanding rather than feeling like you need to “fix” it or make it better. Really take part in engaging in the conversation and listen to what they have to say. You might choose phrases like:

“I’m sorry you weren’t listened to/supported/informed the way that you should have been.”
“I’m here to listen.”
“That sounds really hard.”
“What do you need?”

This could be all that mother/father needs in that moment and your support will mean everything to them.

For more advice, support and signposting, drop me a message and I can send you some links.

###

📸 credit for this great image goes to .doula

27/11/2024

Some mothers may believe that if they are having a caesarean birth they don’t have any choices regarding their birth experience/environment and that they have to leave the controllables in the hands of their care provider.

But I am here to tell you that is not the case.

Although there may be some elements that are set by trust policy/guidelines, there are many things that you can ask your care provider to support you with, meaning you can make an environment (and therefore an experience) that is fitting to your individual wants and needs and therefore leaving you feeling more calm and in control.

If you want to:

Listen to music
See your baby being born
Delay the cord clamping
Experience the golden hour
Want to keep your baby with you until the first feed

These are all within the realms of possibility.

Taking the time to research, educate and prepare your birth preferences will give you additional tools to discuss your options with your midwife and empower you to make the decisions that feel right for you.

It’s often not the end result, it’s the process.

TAG A FRIEND WHO NEEDS TO KNOW THIS.

21/11/2024

Continuum doula in Somerset, offering support & continuity of care through the antenatal, birth & postnatal period.