Welcome and Congratulations!
Welcome and Congratulations!

A little bit about me

My name is Melanie and I am an experienced birth and postnatal doula.

I am a mother of 4 and  grandmother.

I  completed the Nurturing Birth training programme in 2010 and am registered with Doula UK and Nurturing Birth.
I am also a Doula Mentor which means I support, help, guide and supervise trainee doulas through the  recognition process.

I have extensive hypno-birthing experience and postnatally with multiples.

I offer breast/bottle feeding and weaning support and guidence. 

I offer regular and one-off support,

 covering Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas. I also offer shared care, with another local doula.
I hope you will find the information on this site useful and I look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions or to discuss your individual requirements.


 


 

 


 

What is a Doula?

The services offered by a doula will vary  according to the needs of the mother. A doula's role will be flexible to fit in with the given situation e.g. the type of support will differ for a first time mum to that of a woman who has children already. Every birth is unique and therefore every woman's experience is also unique. 

It is important for the mother to make informed decisions and to understand the choices you have in both childbirth and post natally, and they are many more than you may think!

 

A doula's role is to support you in the decisions and choices you make, not to persuade.

 

What does a Doula do?

During pregnancy a doula will have scheduled antenatal sessions with you where she will explain what is likely to happen during your labour, and your choices, so that you can make inforned decisions about your pregnancy, birth and care. During labour the doula is able to offer help and suggestions on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. The doula can also encourage the father to participate in the birth to a level at which he feels comfortable. The doula's most important role is to provide nurturing, continuous support and reassurance.

After childbirth the doula can help with skin to skin, feeding or anything else the parent/s may need support with.
The doula will usually follow up with a postnatal visit about a week later.

The mother may also decide to employ a postnatal doula. Sometimes this will mean that the mother employs a different doula to the one that attended the birth. Not all birth doulas can offer extended postnatal support, whereas there are doulas who only offer postnatal support. I offer both, either singly or combined.

I also offer weaning support.

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© Melanie Di Tommaso