Birth story and testimonial
Jess has a magical BBA homebirth“Yas is a fantastic Doula with a wealth of medical knowledge from her background as a student midwife and her holistic approach to supporting you in pregnancy, labour and birth and beyond. We are so glad we had her there for the birth of our baby!”
My time as a student midwife shaped me into a very specific kind of doula. I know, from lived experience, what it feels like to be the [trainee] healthcare professional when things don’t go to plan.
This mumma really stepped into her power from the moment we met, and when things got a tad hairy during her birth she was calm and in control (despite the screaming that had occurred moments before as her baby arrived en caul (still in the sack), which can feel very intense and weird! We’d already spoken about how any emergencies or deviations from the plan would likely be managed, and that preparation made all the difference to this family when their baby (and placenta!) arrived before any healthcare professionals could get there (what the birth world calls a "BBA"). The atmosphere was magical and serene despite (or some would say because of) the lack of medics in the space. The paramedics that eventually arrived, however, did NOT bring serenity with them. They were stressy, rude and prioritised their own comfort over the needs of this family. This is why de-escalation skills are one of (if not THE most) important tools a doula can have in their birth kit. They’re often what prevents a birth that is going a little awry from becoming chaos. Doulas cannot control how healthcare professionals behave, but we can help shape the narrative.
This mother’s strength and knowledge, alongside me being able to hold these paramedics in the way they needed while still upholding the parents wishes (because I understood from first hand experience how the paramedics were feeling), meant they didn’t completely ruin my client’s immediate postpartum. Sometimes, the doula role is as much about holding the healthcare professionals as it is the parents. And look what it meant to this family!
I rarely say I’m proud of myself because it feels a bit egotistical. But you know what? My skills, my experience, my ability to know what to say, meant my client had a dreamy, oxytocin-soaked, utterly beautiful birth even when we had to do it without help. I think I can be proud of that.
Thank you to this family for choosing me to be your doula and for your gorgeous words. Watching you full of gratitude, with tears in your eyes, made me feel so proud. Your birth was also very healing for me in ways I never expected!
And thank you to their midwife who, despite not being there until after baby had arrived and paramedics were leaving, held me beautifully over the phone when I needed her guidance. 