Training and Studies
For many years I have been on a dedicated self directed study journey, continuing my professional development by reading and attending workshops on various topics surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, infant feeding & postnatal care.
I have been working with women in the antenatal period for 13 years. I feel it is essential to keep up to date with the most current research, the local protocols to offer correct information to parents to be so that they can make informed decisions.
My birth work has followed on from seven years working within the council, as a Disability & Equality Officer working with people with disabilities and additional learning needs. Over time my role developed and I was able to offer counselling support to all those who came through my doors. l gained many transferable skills to this area, and I look back fondly on my work.
My Doula journey began when I trained with Nurturing Birth in 2008. It was then I realised I'd been a Doula all my life in other ways.
I am a recognised member of Doula UK and underwent a long period of mentorship. In 2014 I re visited my training and completed the Doula course with Conscious Birthing.
In 2016 I became a Doula UK Mentor, supporting new Doulas on their journey.
I am an NCT Antenatal teacher, NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor and I teach regular classes across Somerset. I work in 2 busy breastfeeding drop ins, serving 100s of families per year. I am also the volunteer Parent Support Worker for my Local NCT (National Childbirth Trust).
I have a full, clean driving license. I am also a Doula UK approved Doula preparation course provider. If you would like to train as a Doula please look here.
I hope my extensive, honed studies reflect my passion for what I do, with continual professional development being at the heart of my learning for an extensive break down of my individual studies, please see my LinkedIn profile
I have been working with women in the antenatal period for 13 years. I feel it is essential to keep up to date with the most current research, the local protocols to offer correct information to parents to be so that they can make informed decisions.
My birth work has followed on from seven years working within the council, as a Disability & Equality Officer working with people with disabilities and additional learning needs. Over time my role developed and I was able to offer counselling support to all those who came through my doors. l gained many transferable skills to this area, and I look back fondly on my work.
My Doula journey began when I trained with Nurturing Birth in 2008. It was then I realised I'd been a Doula all my life in other ways.
I am a recognised member of Doula UK and underwent a long period of mentorship. In 2014 I re visited my training and completed the Doula course with Conscious Birthing.
In 2016 I became a Doula UK Mentor, supporting new Doulas on their journey.
I am an NCT Antenatal teacher, NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor and I teach regular classes across Somerset. I work in 2 busy breastfeeding drop ins, serving 100s of families per year. I am also the volunteer Parent Support Worker for my Local NCT (National Childbirth Trust).
I have a full, clean driving license. I am also a Doula UK approved Doula preparation course provider. If you would like to train as a Doula please look here.
I hope my extensive, honed studies reflect my passion for what I do, with continual professional development being at the heart of my learning for an extensive break down of my individual studies, please see my LinkedIn profile
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I was humbled to be voted NCT South West practitioner of the year 2017 AND highly commended for national practitioner at the Star awards in Westminster.
This followed on from a highly commended Star award in 2012 for my Volunteer work. |
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Certified workshops/studies/training:
Those tricky questions- further NCT BFC training in infant feeding methods June 2018
NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor training July 16- June 2017
International Doula Conference, Venice, Italy 2016- Hosted a Beaded Birth Line Workshop
Doula UK Conference London 2016- Hosted a Beaded Birth Line Workshop
Doula UK Conference 2016- speakers included: Mia Scotland, Mars Lord & Birthrights
Aromatherapy for Childbirth training (RCM accredited) Salisbury 2016
Midwifery and Obstetric update day with Midwife Denise Stanford-Bell 2015
Concepts and Red tents with Alex Smith 2015
Empowering women with Sandra Bush 2015
Resolving Conflict in teams, organisations and community with Jo Berry and Neil Oliver 2015
Doula UK conference speakers included: Michelle Every (Supporting every birth) , Rebecca Shiller (The feminist Doula), Mark Harris RM, Jil and Nils Bergman (Skin to Skin- the Kangaroula), Sheena Bryom & Soo Downe. 2015
Aromatherapy & make your own products , with the Spirit Santuary 2015
NCT Antenatal Teacher training (DipHe) University of Worcester (2.5 years study)
Conscious Birthing Doula training 2014
Hypnorelax study day with Karen Duignan 2014
Attachment and brain development. NCT workshop 2014
Twins & Multiples- how best to support Parents NCT workshop 2014
Looking at Loss with Denise Stanford-Bell 2013
Birth as a sexual experience - Sheila Kitzinger & Prof Celia Kitzinger 2013
Breast Feeding Peer Support Training with Somerset NHS. 2013
'Care of the labouring woman' with Midwife Lesley Shuttler 2013
'Abnormal' birth with Midwife Sue Carr 2013
'Normal birth' with Midwife Sue Carr 2013
Water Birth revisited with Midwife Dianne Garland 2013
Physicality of birth NCT workshop 2013
Da-a-luz holistic birth workshop - "The Essence of Birth" with Vanessa Brooks a Practical Workshop discovering the essence of what it means to "be" during birth. Application of self-nurturing techniques as a birth worker. 2013
Rebozo for pregnancy and childbirth with the School of Baby Wearing 2012
Homeopathy for pregnancy and labour with Tess Chodan 2012 (revisited October 2014)
Childbirth: towards a paradigm shift- a study day with Michel Odent. 2012
Biological nurturing workshop with Suzanne Colson- is Breastfeeding a learnt skill? 2010
Breast Feeding older children with Ann Sincott- Common misconceptions. 2010
Understanding baby: Supporting Parent with Jenette Appleton- The Brazleton Centre 2010
What is Baby Led Weaning? with Gail Rapley 2010
Human Milk Banking in the care of the premature infant- Lynda Coulter. 2010
The Food of Love- a talk with Kate Evans, author and cartoonist. 2010
Lets Hear it for Dads- speakers including Rob Parsons, Tina Miller, James McQuillan 2010
Birth Matters workshop, with Ina May Gaskin 2010
Listening Skills & Supporting New Parents NCT Southwest training day. 2009
Foundation training- NCT certified Workshop. 2009
Doula training with Nurturing Birth, with Kicki Hansard. 2008
Access to He Diploma (DipHE)- Midwifery Pathway (2yrs study with full portfolio) 2007-2009
Self Directed studies
Responsive and paced bottle feeding
Being a trauma informed Doula
Newborn attachment and brain development
Aromatherapy and instinctual massage techniques for labour
Acupressure as pain relief in labour
Homoeopathy in pregnancy and labour
Twin Birth
Breech Birth
Breastfeeding support, from my own experiences, in depth training with my doula coursework and peer support training.
Birth advocacy & birth trauma support.
Birth Art
Supporting the Father /Birth partners role
Hypnosis for birth
Those tricky questions- further NCT BFC training in infant feeding methods June 2018
NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor training July 16- June 2017
International Doula Conference, Venice, Italy 2016- Hosted a Beaded Birth Line Workshop
Doula UK Conference London 2016- Hosted a Beaded Birth Line Workshop
Doula UK Conference 2016- speakers included: Mia Scotland, Mars Lord & Birthrights
Aromatherapy for Childbirth training (RCM accredited) Salisbury 2016
Midwifery and Obstetric update day with Midwife Denise Stanford-Bell 2015
Concepts and Red tents with Alex Smith 2015
Empowering women with Sandra Bush 2015
Resolving Conflict in teams, organisations and community with Jo Berry and Neil Oliver 2015
Doula UK conference speakers included: Michelle Every (Supporting every birth) , Rebecca Shiller (The feminist Doula), Mark Harris RM, Jil and Nils Bergman (Skin to Skin- the Kangaroula), Sheena Bryom & Soo Downe. 2015
Aromatherapy & make your own products , with the Spirit Santuary 2015
NCT Antenatal Teacher training (DipHe) University of Worcester (2.5 years study)
Conscious Birthing Doula training 2014
Hypnorelax study day with Karen Duignan 2014
Attachment and brain development. NCT workshop 2014
Twins & Multiples- how best to support Parents NCT workshop 2014
Looking at Loss with Denise Stanford-Bell 2013
Birth as a sexual experience - Sheila Kitzinger & Prof Celia Kitzinger 2013
Breast Feeding Peer Support Training with Somerset NHS. 2013
'Care of the labouring woman' with Midwife Lesley Shuttler 2013
'Abnormal' birth with Midwife Sue Carr 2013
'Normal birth' with Midwife Sue Carr 2013
Water Birth revisited with Midwife Dianne Garland 2013
Physicality of birth NCT workshop 2013
Da-a-luz holistic birth workshop - "The Essence of Birth" with Vanessa Brooks a Practical Workshop discovering the essence of what it means to "be" during birth. Application of self-nurturing techniques as a birth worker. 2013
Rebozo for pregnancy and childbirth with the School of Baby Wearing 2012
Homeopathy for pregnancy and labour with Tess Chodan 2012 (revisited October 2014)
Childbirth: towards a paradigm shift- a study day with Michel Odent. 2012
Biological nurturing workshop with Suzanne Colson- is Breastfeeding a learnt skill? 2010
Breast Feeding older children with Ann Sincott- Common misconceptions. 2010
Understanding baby: Supporting Parent with Jenette Appleton- The Brazleton Centre 2010
What is Baby Led Weaning? with Gail Rapley 2010
Human Milk Banking in the care of the premature infant- Lynda Coulter. 2010
The Food of Love- a talk with Kate Evans, author and cartoonist. 2010
Lets Hear it for Dads- speakers including Rob Parsons, Tina Miller, James McQuillan 2010
Birth Matters workshop, with Ina May Gaskin 2010
Listening Skills & Supporting New Parents NCT Southwest training day. 2009
Foundation training- NCT certified Workshop. 2009
Doula training with Nurturing Birth, with Kicki Hansard. 2008
Access to He Diploma (DipHE)- Midwifery Pathway (2yrs study with full portfolio) 2007-2009
Self Directed studies
Responsive and paced bottle feeding
Being a trauma informed Doula
Newborn attachment and brain development
Aromatherapy and instinctual massage techniques for labour
Acupressure as pain relief in labour
Homoeopathy in pregnancy and labour
Twin Birth
Breech Birth
Breastfeeding support, from my own experiences, in depth training with my doula coursework and peer support training.
Birth advocacy & birth trauma support.
Birth Art
Supporting the Father /Birth partners role
Hypnosis for birth
