Testimonials

We were so grateful to have Anne as our supporter while preparing for our home birth. Her warmth, heartfelt presence, and deep knowledge were an immense help, allowing us to feel even more secure throughout the birthing process. It was wonderful to follow this independent path, and to experience birth in its natural, intended way. The support of a doula is such a valuable service for couples seeking a confident, comfortable, and reassuring environment in which to welcome their baby.

I booked Anne as my postnatal doula for my first baby and liked her so much that I booked her again for my second! My husband and I don’t have any close family living nearby, so Anne’s visits provided invaluable support during our first weeks as new parents and then again as parents of two. She was a calming, judgment-free presence, and I felt so confident leaving her with my little ones while I took a much-needed nap, shower, etc. She was always happy to offer newborn advice when I asked—not to mention all her extra gestures like bringing us food and offering to make us lunch. Don’t hesitate to book Anne as your postnatal doula!

When I tell you I would have baby no.6 just to have Anne by my side again I would in a heartbeat, but we must sensibly halt at 5 😅 Jesting aside, I wish I had of new Anne years ago, if I did I would have had her at every birth without hesitation.

Anne is a wonderful woman, kind, compassionate and gentle. Her skill, knowledge and advocation for women’s rights for bodily autonomy in pregnancy and birth is brave, admiral and extraordinary.

She taught me things I thought I already knew, but with her help I was no longer afraid to speak up to ensure I had the pregnancy and birth I wanted and deserved, and with her guidance that’s exactly what I received with knowing my rights.

My birth was beautiful, magical with 2 realms meeting in harmony together bringing my daughter earthside into the water.

No stress, no fuss, no hands, just me birthing my baby myself with Anne supporting me with positive messages the whole way through.

A whole lot more to the story which I’ve shared on various social media platforms and I could write pages and pages of my beautiful experience but I will keep this short.

Anne is an earth angel, a beautiful gentle soul and I’m eternally grateful ours paths crossed in this life.

Thank you Anne.

This was our 3rd baby, the first two births had been traumatic both involving severe perineal tears. Despite this my gut instinct was to try a normal delivery again but wasn’t sure how to make it any different from before. I was reading the positive birth book and it said about doulas and how continuity of care before, during and after birth improved parents overall experience ( not just birthing lady but partner too). This made so much sense to me, it is such an important time and you remember every detail so well. Why not invest some money in someone to be focused solely to support you and be your advocate. So we searched for local doulas and found Anne.  Anne responsed very quickly and arranged to meet us. Immediately on meeting her I felt comfortable and cared for. She listened to our previous experiences and concerns about this pregnancy and birth with empathy.  Deciding to have Anne support us is one of the best choices we have made. 

We arrived at hospital and met Anne there,  she was great at helping communicate with hospital staff. I wanted to labour in the birth pool but staff felt there may not be time.  Anne suggested beginning to run the water and see how we got on. We ended up having a beautiful water birth which wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Anne.

She was a big support to my partner. I know he felt empowered and confident with her support. He truly was the “Guardian of oxytocin”!!

She helped with all the small things that we wanted but wouldn’t have been able to do during labour to keep birth calm, natural, lighting, music, lavender, took photos etc. 

Anne is very experienced and I would highly recommend her services. She is a lovely person and will always be very important to us. Anne is passionate about her work and I know she was genuinely overjoyed and honoured to be part of our journey. 

After this birth I felt euphoric, empowered, proud and connected.  It was one of the best experiences of my life.

I had my first baby in the height of lockdowns and felt my birth wishes were steamrolled. When I found out I was pregnant again I knew this time I needed a doula and thankfully found Anne. As soon as my husband and I met her we knew we needed her on our team. We decided we would also do hypnobirthing through Anne and the skills I learned in that course were unbelievably beneficial. Anne not only supported me during labour, but she was a godsend during my entire pregnancy which went on 18 days past my estimated due date. Unfortunately my husband was unable to attend the birth of our baby due to him being with our toddler, but I had Anne and her bag of magic by my side and felt so supported. Again in the hospital there were bumps and some who tried to dismiss my wishes. When this happened Anne would swoop in as an amazing advocate. Because of Anne I ended up having a beautiful unmedicated water birth to my 9 pound 11 ounce baby. If it wasn’t for Anne I would have likely ended up in theatre with a section. My husband and I both have said multiple times that Anne will be one of the first people we call if we decide to have a third baby.

First time mother and so glad I made the decision to have a doula.  Honestly, I could not imagine going through my labour without Anne.  My birth plan changed massively once I arrived at the hospital and everything I was afraid of happening happened.  But I was so grateful Anne was there.  She kept my anxiety at bay and walked me through everything that was happening around me and kept me calm and relaxed.  She has made what I would have believed to be a traumatic birth otherwise into a special moment that I will never forget.  Would highly recommend!

This was our second time having Anne as our doula. She offered us so much support antenatally which was invaluable. She facilitated a wonderful mother blessing which was so special. Her presence during the birth was calming and reassuring. It is so lovely to have the continuity through pregnancy and into postnatal care and also between pregnancies. Thank you so much Anne, the work you do is invaluable. I couldn’t recommend her care highly enough.

I felt safe with Anne right from the off. She was recommended to me through another doula I went to school with and after a previous traumatic emcs I really needed a professional I could trust.

On the big day she intuitively knew when to be there and when to make the decision to go home to give me a break for a sleep when early labour progressed quite slowly. She knew when to melt into the background to give us our space when we needed it. It was great to have her help me make the decision to go to the hospital at the right time. She gave me the confidence to make the decisions when I needed to. She was great at reminding me to do the things I’d planned to do in my birth wishes plan. She also had good relaxation and painkilling skills up her sleeve!

It was such a comfort to know I had back up both at home and in the hospital, and that we weren’t alone in our endeavours to have a normal, natural birth after a caesarean. We were successful against the odds (malpostioned baby, slightly stalled labour) and Anne was fundamental in helping us create the right ambience for the job. Thank you Anne!

After a first traumatic birth in hospital without doula support, we decided to reach out to Anne and she has been our doula for our second and third babies. Both had very different birth stories and these experiences have made my husband and I big advocates for doulas!

Our second was born peacefully and quickly at home with midwives – a wonderful healing birth which Anne helped us fight for. Her wisdom through pregnancy and calm presence during labour was so reassuring.

Last year, I contacted Anne again to make sure she was available to be our doula again for baby number 3. We were planning another home birth but unfortunately I developed rare blood antibodies which led to a decision to induce labour early and birth in hospital. This was going to make having the support of a doula even more valuable for us.

I was really unsettled by the lack of continuity of care in hospital. We were bumped around between midwives and consultants during pregnancy and I was upset that I would likely have complete strangers looking after me and baby during birth.

Anne helped me feel so much better about this as, even though midwives and doctors changed shifts, she was by my side through the entire labour. Whilst the medical staff focused on taking notes and adjusting the monitors and machines, she was focused on supporting me and my husband.

I remember Anne telling me that I could say ‘stop’ at any time and that was so reassuring. She set up lights and made the room cozy for us, which made being in a hospital room feel so much less threatening and austere. When I declined a suggested intervention, she was there to back me up and make me feel that I could say no and be respected. This was so important to me as I feel so vulnerable in labour!

After our home birth, I thought that doula care was a nice little extra. But after a much better experience giving birth in the hospital where I previously had such a difficult time, I’m convinced that a doula makes all the difference and that every woman should have access to doula care. Anne helped to make a stressful early induction into a birth I can remember with peace and joy.

Choosing Anne as our doula was the easiest and best decision I’ve ever made!

Anne supported our family throughout pregnancy, with hypnobirthing sessions at our home when our toddler was in bed, she provided emotional support when I had difficulties with healthcare professionals and she was always 100% supportive and respectful of my birth choices. 

During our antenatal meetings and hypnobirthing sessions I feel we got to know Anne and she got to know us as a family. We all felt totally comfortable with each other. Anne helped us to learn more about the natural processes of pregnancy, labour and birth. Using hypnobirthing techniques I went from being worried about labour and birth – due to a previously traumatic birth, to being excited and looking forward to the birth. What a transformation! (Also, I can’t imagine a voice better suited to hypnobirthing than Anne’s, so soothing)

We had been planning a VBAC at home, which was not always well received by doctors and midwives, but Anne respected our decision and was sympathetic to our reasons for this. She was always there for me when I needed reassurance or to re-frame or re-focus my thoughts. She provided much needed emotional support and reminded me of my hypnobirthing tool kit when I needed it. 

After prodromal labour at home for 4 nights (and Anne’s middle of the night support though some of this time), at 42+1 weeks, my hopes of a home birth came shattering around me when I learnt at a routine appointment that baby was struggling during mild contractions and the decision was made for an immediate emergency cesarean. 

Due to my previous traumatic cesarean this was my worst nightmare, but I knew what to do. I contacted Anne, I just knew she would make it all OK for me. She dropped everything to be with me, arriving even before my husband did. She was like an angel walking into that hospital room. I felt my fears melting away. She reminded me of my hypnobirthing and I went into theatre feeling that bit more at peace. She stayed with my husband while I was prepped and provided much needed support for him too. She reminded him of hypnobirthing tools to help me during the operation and she waited for us to come out of theatre. 

Having Anne there and having our hypnobirthing strategies turned what was my worst nightmare into a positive experience. I avoided the trauma that I experienced during my first (planned) cesarean and managed to have a peaceful, positive experience of an emergency section. That’s quite the miracle!

I feel so honoured to have had Anne be part of our journey. She will always be so special to our family.