Doula Support & Birth Education,
covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
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After having my first baby in my living room I became hugely passionate about home birth. If you are looking to have a physiological birth with little to no intervention, home is by far and away the most likely place for that to happen. I have supported many home births in Nottingham and Derby, and all have been total magic in their own ways. Even a home birth that includes a transfer into hospital can be incredibly empowering and positive.
I attended Indy and Krishan's birth of their sweet baby in 2024. They had a gorgeous setup in their bedroom and after a long labour that ebbed and flowed she pushed her baby out into her and her partners arms. Not long after they were snuggled up in their own bed, in privacy and peace. The way it should be. You can read more about Indy's birth, and some other testimonials here.
What do I actually do at a home birth?
This totally depends what the individual birth calls for. My default is to be hands off (I trust birth) but sometimes a birth calls for a more hands on approach in terms of physical support, as well as advocacy and practical bits and bobs.
Pool management - I have two pools that I lend to my home birth clients. In a home birth I usually inflate and fill the pool and then help maintain the temperature and of course empty it and pack it all away afterwards.
Experienced home birth support - I just love home birth. There is nothing like witnessing and supporting a woman, birth in her own home, in her own power, and then tuck her up in her own bed with some good food afterwards. My home birth work includes al the same same gentle, encouraging, informed birth support that I would in any setting and can include suggesting positions or biomechanics to aid labour progress, aromatherapy, massage, nourishment, advocacy and supporting your birth partner.
Practical help- Sometimes a partner will be very involved and maybe in the pool (as above) in which case I am usually scurrying around in the background, providing drinks, snacks, towels, gentle support and anything else that is needed.
Advocacy - Even in a home birth, there are times where having an advocate is incredibly helpful. I am confident and using calm but assertive advocacy skills (in any setting) to make sure your voice is always heard, even when you are at your most vulnerable and you have space and information to make informed decisions,
Calm transfer support - Occasionally a home birth will end up transferring into hospital (although it is worth mentioning that this is rarely for emergency reasons.) In this scenario I join my clients at hospital and continue support there....I'm along for the ride, whatever direction it takes!
The clean up - A lot of people are worried about the mess of a home birth, but let me tell you it's nothing that a few towels and inco sheets can't take care of! Once the baby arrives and you are settled, I do a swift tidy up and get your space looking back to normal!
My amazing clients whose home birth I supported in Derbyshire in 2025
Read about Ruby, pictured here. I supported her 'high risk' home birth, after previous forceps birth.
Yes, for many families home birth is a safe and sensible choice.
Of course there is no totally risk free setting, but choosing to birth at home lowers your risk of many interventions that can have both long and short term effects on both you and your baby. Home birth can still be a great option for many people who don't fit into the perfect 'low risk' category.
I specialise in supporting home birth outside of guidance (e.g HBAC, with gestational diabetes or other risk factors) so do get in touch if you are interested in home birth support.
A 2019 Lancet study of half a million women low risk women who planned home births showed they were:
40% less likely to have caesarean
50% less likely to have an instrumental delivery
55% less likely to have an episiotomy
40% less likely to have a 3rd or 4th degree tear
75% less likely to have in infection
And that is AS safe for first time parents as for second and onwards.
Read whole study here
The 2011 Birthplace Study shows similar results about the safety and efficacy of home birth.
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Choosing a doula to support you at home is a big decision, it needs to be someone you feel comfortable and at ease with. I offer a free 30 minute, no obligation so we can have a good chat, to see if we are a good fit. I'm normally booked up well in advance, so do get in touch early if you're interested.
Home birth doula support in action
