BIRTH SUPPORT
your birth
With so much incredible change in your brain and body throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum, feeling safely held and cared for emotionally and physically can make all the difference. From the bond you create with your baby, your breastfeeding journey, your postpartum recovery, your relationship with your partner, your mental health… the positive effect of working with a doula reaches far beyond your experience of birth.
Some find it hard to understand why you wouldn’t want to follow the guidance of the maternity system and may feel most comfortable doing so, however, you may be finding this a time to truly tune into your body and learn, not just about the extremely cool physiology of birth and what best supports it, but why and how to stack the odds of an empowered and positive experience in your favour, too. Here is where I can help.
YOUR BODY
Maternity care has come to feel like a worrying lottery for many families, in terms of the standard of care you will receive. Scarce continuity of care in most areas (which is proven to be the gold standard for outcomes), misaligned values with a care provider, birth choices undermined at the first sign of a risk factor, midwives you’ve never met attending your birth and, far too often, coercive language and dismissal of feelings or wishes during the birth itself. It is not that birth has become more complicated or women’s bodies more high-risk and it doesn’t have to be this way. Continuous support changes everything.
YOUR WAY
Whether this is your first baby or you're expanding your family, I'm a gentle witness and fierce advocate of birthing women and people's power and peace. I hold space for connection, trust and intuitive knowing during your birth, and in the crucial time before and after.
I aim to be a calm and harmonising addition to your birth team, never telling you what to do or imposing on any intimate moments. Instead, I walk alongside you, lighting the way.
I support and have experience with all modes of birth, with a passion for planned home birth, seeing first-hand how much it supports physiological labour to unfold well, even if a change of plan or mind feels right during labour.
I am the doula for you if:
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You want heart-led support and calm guidance without being overwhelmed with information
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You want to make personalised choices from a place of empowered understanding
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You're a first-time mother or parent seeking both emotional depth and practical clarity from your birth team
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Your previous birth experience left you feeling that this time things have to go differently
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You're growing your family and know this type of support benefits all of you
Scroll a little further down to find out more about my different packages and fees. It's so important you feel you've chosen the right doula for you, it's a personal connection.
I offer a free 30 minute discovery call for a relaxed chat, to see if I feel like the right fit for you.
I serve families in-person in Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and some of Northamptonshire & the Cotswolds, or anywhere for my virtual offerings.
the perinatal year
Your ‘perinatal year’ is from your baby’s conception to 12 weeks postpartum – a transition that’s impossible to overstate!
It’s so important to feel seen, heard and held in all that you and your amazing body are doing throughout this time. This offering provides exactly that: continuity of carer and heart-led, relational support.
By the end of this time together, you’ll feel calm and confident to navigate your family’s new rhythm, your way, having been held at the centre of your birth experience, with your self trust nurtured.
“Sofia's support before, during and after my birth was invaluable. She helped build up my confidence to achieve the birth I wanted. I am so glad we chose her to accompany us for this pregnancy and birth and only regret I didn't have her by my side for my first” Tamara, after welcoming her second baby
Included;
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4 x Detailed birth preparation sessions together in your home
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Tailored-to-you birth education, mindset tools and hypno-birthing techniques will help you tune into your intuition, believe in your ability and reinforce your conviction to make informed decisions, as well as support Dads/birth partners to own their supporting role with pride
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A relaxed catch up around your estimated due date to ensure you feel prepared, secure in your preferences and ready to meet your little one. We will have had time to get to know each other well, so that I'm a reassuring, welcome presence in your birth space
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A 4 week on-call period for your birth
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Continuous WhatsApp/scheduled support between sessions, from booking until 12 weeks postpartum
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Use of my birth pool if planning a home birth, subject to availability - I have this Birth Pool in a Box Eco Mini in white
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A total of 6 x 3hr postnatal visits for emotional integration, to provide any additional support you might need; I could help tidy up, prepare some meals, hold your baby while you have a shower or get some rest, or simply hold space for you to feel however you're feeling, all supporting your recovery and adjustment to parenthood
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Additional postnatal hours can be booked subject to availability
£2,750
Complete birth support
A personalised package of support that allows us to cover all bases in the lead up to your birth, with plenty of preparation time together to create a birth plan that feels really good for you. You’ll feel informed and confident, and I’ll feel really familiar to you so that I’m a safe presence in your birth space.
The same content as the above package, with just one postnatal follow up and your continuous support lasting until 6 weeks postpartum.
“Choosing to work with Sofia was the single best decision my husband and I made in preparation for our baby’s birth. She has such a calm and grounding presence that put me at ease from the very first conversation”
Laura, after welcoming her first baby
Included;
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4 x detailed birth preparation sessions, together in your home.
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Tailored-to-you birth education, mindset tools and hypno-birthing techniques will help you tune into your intuition, believe in your body's ability and reinforce your conviction to make informed decisions, as well as support Dads/birth partners to own their supporting role with pride
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A relaxed catch up around your EDD to ensure you feel prepared in your preferences and ready to meet your little one.
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A 4 week on-call period for your birth
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Continuous WhatsApp/scheduled phone support between sessions, from booking until 6 weeks postpartum.
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Use of my birth pool if planning a home birth, subject to availability - I have this Birth Pool in a Box Eco Mini in white
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One postnatal visit (ideally in the first 14 days) to see you again, gently talk through your birth experience and provide any additional support or signposting you might need
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Additional postnatal hours can be booked subject to availability.
£2,250
virtual Birth support
The Complete Birth package content, with the sessions held virtually and my calm and familiar voice at the end of the phone if you need me during labour. Perfect if you live out of my area or don't feel you need in-person support on the day.
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4 x antenatal sessions via Zoom to get to know each other, support your individual needs and help you feel prepared and empowered about your birth (please scroll down to my 'antenatal education' section for details of what we'll cover), plus one additional, relaxed catch up around your estimated due date to cover any additional questions or feelings and get you feeling really excited to welcome your babe
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Text or scheduled phone support between sessions from booking until 6 weeks after the birth for reassurance in the early days
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A birth plan template that we'll complete together, so that everyone knows it back to front
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I'll be available to take your call any time, from 10 days before your EDD until you give birth.
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One postnatal catch up, to see how you're doing and provide any further support or signposting you might need.
£1,500
Postnatal support
Too often an afterthought with birth prep, the oh-so-important fourth trimester, with all it's own highs and lows, joys and challenges as you navigate your physical and emotional transition to motherhood, your breastfeeding journey, sleep adjustments and baby care. Let me be a reassuring and practical guide through the fog, helping you to protect the time to rest and bond, reminding you how beautifully you are doing every step of the way, just in case you forget.
"Sofia brought such calm and kindness to our home. She listens without judgment and with wisdom, reassurance, validation and finding humour when I needed it! I felt really cared for at my most vulnerable moments."
Hilary, after welcoming her third baby
Postnatal visits last around 3 hours each (the first one ideally in the first 14 days) to provide emotional and/or hands on support; I could wash up, fold some laundry, help with any feeding concerns, hold the baby while you have a shower or get some much needed rest, or simply hold space for you to talk about however you're feeling.
My postnatal support includes one antenatal visit to ensure I'm a familiar face and to help plan for the type of support you'd like.
If you'd like to purchase postnatal support as a gift for some new parents in your life, I can create a personalised voucher for you.
£90 per visit
1-1 antenatal education
4 x 2hr tailored sessions online or in the comfort of your own home to fully support you in feeling prepared and empowered about your pregnancy & birth. I ask that birth partners are always present too. My sessions are completely tailored to you, so the content will naturally vary based on what's relevant to your circumstances, but we will cover the following;
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Plenty of time to talk through your feelings, values and/or fears (birth partners' too)
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Clear education about birth and breastfeeding physiology with some visual aids
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Guided mindset techniques that you can practice between sessions
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Breath work techniques to relax and regulate you through pregnancy, then anchor and steady you through labour
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A birth plan detailing what's important to you for any eventuality
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Up-to-date, evidence based information to help you make the decisions that feel right for you
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Guidance with navigating the current maternity system, with a focus on advocacy and autonomy
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What to expect postpartum, breastfeeding preparation and some simple recipes and resources to support your physical and emotional recovery
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Includes support via Whatsapp between sessions for any questions you might have
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The option to upgrade to either in person or virtual birth support if you'd like to
£375
Laura
Hospital Birth, Warwick
"My birth didn’t go exactly to my plan but I felt very equipped to handle this and make the choices and decisions needed for me and my baby, and with the unwavering support of my husband and Sofia I was able to bring my daughter earthside in a calm and positive way which left me feeling nothing but pride in how I had handled every step. We would love to have more children in the future and I’ve no doubt that we will be reaching out to Sofia again to have her by our side once more. Thank you Sof from the bottom of my heart!"
Tamara
Home Birth After Caesarean, Bicester
"Sofia's support before, during and after my birth was invaluable. She helped build up my confidence to achieve the birth I wanted, providing evidence based information, reassurance, emotional support and her calming presence.
I am so glad we chose Sofia to accompany us for this pregnancy and birth and only regret I didn't have her by my side for my first birth."
Jasel
Home Birth, Wallingford
"Sofia provided practical advice in navigating maternity services and evidence behind certain interventions/ medical advice to help us make the best decisions for us. She made us so much more confident and prepared us in the best possible way going into birth and we were able to have the most amazing home birth experience that we will look back on and smile for the rest of our lives. We couldn’t recommend Sofia enough."