Birth & postnatal doula (Doula UK)
Hypnobirthing practitioner and antenatal teacher
Positive Birth Movement Co-facilitator
Hello, I’m Maisie (aka Pachamama Birthing) and I live in Deal, Kent with my partner and 2 children. I work with new and growing families all over East Kent.
My own experiences of pregnancy, labour and birth sparked my fascination with these processes, and my belief that, deep down, we already know how to give birth. As your doula one of my roles is to support you to tap into this knowledge - knowledge that is held within your body and primal brain (the part of the brain that we utilise particularly in active labour onwards). Trusting your instincts, your body and your baby's innate ability to birth is, I believe, the key to preparing for your most efficient birth, and I'm good at supporting women and couples in doing this. Where medical intervention is advised, I support you to make informed decisions and prepare for the path you feel is right for you and your family.
As your birth doula I bring my reliability, experience, energy and love in doing whatever I can to ensure that you feel ready, safe and well supported for your best possible experience - before, during and after your birth. Over the past few years I have supported individuals and couples birthing and preparing to birth in a range of settings and scenarios (including planned breech vaginal birth, induced labour, VBAC, medically assisted and Caesaerean births, as well as during candle-lit undisturbed home waterbirth). Whatever your circumstances and preferences, your most calm and positive experience is what I want to support. In postnatal work I nurture the new family however they really need, so that they may find their own way with as much postive energy and peace of mind as possible.
All my birth doula clients are offered a hypnobirthing course at a significantly discounted rate, either privately or in a group. This continuity and shared preparation enhances the mutual trust between us, as well as our understanding of what is most important to them. You may know that research shows that self-hypnosis in labour can, amongst other things, decrease the need for pharmacological pain relief and increase chances of spontaneous labour (Cochrane research overview: Self- hypnosis for labour and birth, 2011). In 2017 I qualified as a Wise Hippo Instructor, the training of which is accredited by the Royal College of Midwives.
I love to learn, share resources and explore ways in which other cultures nurture new families. I am preparing to offer 40 day postpartum ‘mothermoon’ packages whereby postnatal support acknowledges the 'fourth trimester', and the new mother is 'mothered' so that she may have optimal energy for caring for her baby or babies. I recently completed the 3 Step Rewind Practitioner training to support those who may have experienced trauma in their lives (whether birth related or not). Occasionally I organise informal antenatal chats for expectant Dads and other partners, and an upstairs room at a local pub can work well to create a relaxed atmosphere for anxious partners.
More information about the support and courses I provide, and some of my doula and hynobirthing testimonials, can be found in the about / reviews sections of my Facebook page - Pachamama Birthing.
If any of the above interests you, please do get in touch for a no obligation chat. I look forward to helping you find exactly what you and your family need.
Instagram @pachamamabirthing