Testimonials

The service Anne provided throughout the pregnancy and during birth was wonderful. She was very supportive of our birth wishes and took the time to thoroughly read and discuss our birth plan, which was very reassuring for both my partner and myself.

Being the Father during pregnancy and birth can be stressful for its own reasons. This was our third pregnancy and our second home birth. From our first meeting with Anne she was at pains to ensure our birth experience was as rewarding for me as it was my partner.
The birth experience itself was beautiful, and in no small part to Anne’s ability as a Doula. Her thorough knowledge of our birth plan meant that when things became more involved, we had someone with the experience to remember those key points.

After the birth Anne ensured that my partner, our new-born daughter and myself spent the first hour together alone. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had and a memory I will always cherish.

I have Anne to thank for that.

I am a 41 year old first time mother and gave birth to my baby in Belfast, which is not my home city. My mother was my birth partner and I chose Anne as my Doula as my baby would be the sixtieth birth that she had attended and she had had three children herself so I knew I would benefit from her experience in something I was experiencing for the first time.

I first chatted to Anne by phone to discuss how I hoped my birth would be and the support that I would like to receive from her.  Anne then sent me lots of materials, including sample birth preferences and information on hypnobirthing.  These were very useful in helping me to think about the different aspects of birth and to consider decisions that I might have to make before and during the birth and to prepare my mind for a calm birth.

I met Anne twice before the birth – and she helped me prepare further for example by teaching me about the physical processes of a normal birth and hypnobirthing techniques. Anne adapted these sessions to fit my needs and to supplement what I had learned at other antenatal classes.  She also gave me practical help – even taking me to the hospital during my first session when I was worried about my baby’s movements and printing my birth preferences as I didn’t have a printer. 

On the night I gave birth Anne took me to the hospital at 2am and she was so calm and professional and worked confidently and respectfully alongside the hospital staff and my mother. This made me feel that I had a united and expert team looking after and supporting me.  When needed Anne gave me gentle prompts and reminders of the breathing techniques which helped me through contractions and she supported me when I needed to make urgent decisions about deviations from my birth plan. She was encouraging and calm throughout. As a result, although many aspects of my birth did not go in accordance with my plan, with hindsight I would not have changed anything, even if I had more time to make my decisions. 

My beautiful baby boy arrived at 4.41am and Anne stayed with us while he did the breast crawl to reach my breast and have his first feed and until we had feeding established. 

A few days later Anne visited again so I could chat about the birth and we could share the lovely ‘groaning cake’ that she had brought – just one of the lovely personal touches that make Anne a wonderful doula, particularly for a first time mother.

Having Anne as our doula genuinely changed our experience of pregnancy and birth.  From the first contact to the birth itself we felt completely comfortable with her, she truly went above and beyond to be available and supportive. She ‘got’ what we needed and we felt that however the birth went, we were in a much stronger place having her there with us.

My first birth was a very difficult experience for us and left me deeply anxious and worried in my next pregnancies. Despite a calm birth at home with our second child, I still found preparing for birth a third time stressful, so we considered finding a doula for the first time. Anne really understood where we were coming from and immediately had practical suggestions to support us through the pregnancy.

During the birth itself she kept me calm through a rapid labour, and remembered and reminded the midwives of my wishes discreetly. It made a whole hour with just us and our baby possible after our daughter’s birth, and will always be one of my happiest memories.
I wholeheartedly recommend her – whether it’s your first or fourth and wherever/however you hope to give birth having someone like Anne to support you makes such a difference. 

I first messaged Anne when I was living in Australia and planning to move home to birth our second child. I was planning a home birth after having a traumatic c section with our first and was determined to have a solid support network this time. Well, from the moment I first spoke to Anne her warmth, knowledge and strength was apparent – we knew she was going to be our Doula.

We had wonderful appointments in the lead up to the birth and a hypnobirthing refresher, and hired the birth pool from Doulas of NI – Anne even sourced a longer hose for us when we couldn’t make the standard one work! There is nothing this woman cannot do! During my labour, Anne was there first and was such a quietly supportive presence in the room, helping with some side lying releases and encouraging me that I was doing well and everything was as it should be. When my surges were strong I remember her quietly repeating to me affirmations that helped me ground myself and keep calm and focussed. After having a traumatic experience the first time, her support was invaluable. Anne was a huge support to my partner as well.

We cannot thank you enough Anne for what you have done for our family to help bring baby Leo into the world, you will always be a very special part of our family. I recommend you to everyone, including my family member who you are now supporting in her own pregnancy. We love you Anne!

Every woman needs Anne at their birth!! Honestly, hiring Anne early on in my first pregnancy was the best decision we ever made! Anne is just the most loving, soft, caring woman. She is full of knowledge in birth & we felt so comfortable with her from the start! Anne came to our home & did hypnobirthing with us and it was such a special time.  It was so beneficial to both me & my husband and we connected loads and learnt so much more than just breathing techniques! Anne was there so much for me during my pregnancy, especially towards the end when I went 10days over. Anne was a great support to my husband & mum during my birth and was like an anchor in my homebirth! She brought a calm, chilled & positive energy to my birth space & didn’t interfere or overstep in anyway but was 100% all there if I or my family needed her at any stage! Honestly, book Anne if you are pregnant, it’s the best money & investment into yourself & your birth you’ll ever make! Thank you Anne for being you 

My first gorgeous child, a little boy of 18 months was born in 2016 at 38 weeks.  I was induced by oxytocin and it was hot and heavy.  During my second pregnancy this year, I decided I wanted a doula to keep me calm, focused and empowered, and boy that’s exactly what I got and so much more.  I gained a friend who I’m very grateful for.  My beautiful daughter was born in August 2017, also by induction, and Anne could not have done any more for me, during and after.  In fact words can’t really describe how she managed to make the clinical, sterile, unhomely, scary delivery suite magical. With each intense contraction, it was made bearable and when my little girl took us all by surprise by showing up quickly, Anne saw me panic and was my voice of reason and reassurance.

I am so grateful to Anne for all she did for me and my son, and at the awesome birth of my daughter.  It would have all been very different had I not had Motherdoula at my back and we will remember that forever!  If anyone I know announces a pregnancy, I cannot recommend Anne highly enough!

Our hypnobirthing sessions with Anne totally equipped us for our birth, and gave me the confidence to make my own decisions around my options whilst in labour. Although my birthing experience wasn’t what I’d hoped for, the breathing and relaxation techniques I had learnt and applied helped me through labour with only gas and air and the knowledge gained from the sessions helped me to make the right and safe decisions quickly for delivering our daughter in the end. Without Anne I would not have had the confidence to stand up for myself and stand my ground. Anne’s guidance was invaluable and prepared us for this journey and her support afterwards goes above and beyond.

Anne was my Doula and hypnobirthing teacher for my first pregnancy and she was an absolute god-send. She is the most calming, patient, knowledgeable and grounding person, and is just an incredible advocate for women and their birth preferences. She made me feel really empowered and safe during what was a very overwhelming time. I’m so glad I had her with me every step of the way. My time with her prepared me for the birthing experience and gave me great tools to deal with its many twists and turns. She was there with me every moment during my very long birth experience, and there are many moments I don’t think I could have coped without her calm guidance, care and advocacy. She made sure my wants and needs were heard and adhered to when I felt at my weakest. An amazing woman with incredible knowledge and experience – I couldn’t recommend Anne enough.

Anne visited me a couple of times, always taking her time to listen and getting to know my expectations.  She was very understanding with regards to my first experience at childbirth.  All I wanted was to have someone listening to my fears and wishes.  Anne was creative and supportive throughout the stages of labour.  Her emotional support was essential for me to have a great birth.  Anne was ever so sweet and discreet, letting me know she was right there if I needed her, but at the same time allowing space to bond with my baby. It’s been a wonderful experience from the first day!  If Anne is available she will definitely be my doula again.

Anne is an experienced mother, a caring, gentle, good-natured woman who absolutely loves her occupation, taking her time to fully listen to and support a mum-to-be’s wishes.  With her skilled knowledge on pain relief methods, she know exactly what to use and when to act, showing confidence and empathy all the time.

If someone asked me about the benefits of using a doula, I’d tell them about my positive experience, and how the presence of a doula can change the whole scenario and idea of childbirth.

After much searching and reflecting, I met with Anne, a Doula whose patience and a passionate interest, support and experience in the wellbeing of women before, during and after childbirth meant I felt connected from the word go during our initial meeting during the latter part of my second trimester.

The presence of a Doula goes beyond a birthing partner for me as also meant a gentle mothering figure, someone to reach out to for help, touch or just a glance to when having strong waves of surges (contractions). Whilst I chose to have my third baby in hospital and without knowing how or when I would give birth , it was important that I had a holistic sense of well-being and felt the natural side to the birthing of the baby even if in  what can be sometimes a clinical environment and I felt it was a Doula that can prompt you with all these things and help in any options that you may have to think about and above all remain calm and focussed.

Also having the practical help as a woman in the final stages needing extra help with the logistics of moving alongside the help and support of the midwives too. For me, it was and still is important to embrace the natural side of childbirth in all its stages in pregnancy and I found that a Doula can empower you as a woman and fill in the gaps of knowledge you may need to prepare you for birthing your baby the best you can.

I could not have managed without Anne at my side and she stayed a valuable 4 hours afterwards into the early hours of the morning and found the Doula support a healing and nurturing experience, something I would definitely have again and thoroughly recommend.