Meet Ashleigh

The word doula comes from the greek phrase "to serve the mother". And this is essentially what a doula does. My role as your postpartum doula is to ensure you feel supported, cared for, are educated on up to date evidence based information, guidance and advice, and feel held during the first 12 weeks postpartum.

Yes, I did a PPD training course in 2018. And am also training with a small American company called Inner Sun & Moon, which is centred around Ayurvedic postpartum rituals and traditions.

 I am a firm believer that we never stop learning no matter how many years we are in a particular field, and this is true for myself. I gain knowledge and experience from every single family I support, as each postpartum experience is truly unique.

The role of a midwife is very different from that of a doula. A midwife is medically trained and is your primary person to go to for anything medical, and is with you throughout your pregnancy, birth, and then comes a few times after birth for short health based visits. A postpartum doula is typically with you for the first 12 weeks postpartum and takes on a non-medical supporting role. A doula does not replace your midwife, quite the opposite, they are a complimentary support person as they provide a kind of support that your midwife does not offer.

A nanny's usual role is to care for the children in and outside of the home, but is not responsible for addressing the wellbeing of the mother. A postpartum doula is a specialised professional role which entails mostly caring for the mother, while also incorporating newborn care. It is a doulas role to stay up to date on the latest evidence based research so that they can offer the best guidance to the family if they should ask for it. 

A postpartum doula will make sure the mother is well fed, hydrated, rested, and comfortable. She will offer gentle non-judgmental advice, cook meals and snacks, do light housework such as laundry and emptying the dishwasher. Some doulas incorporate they other practises such as massage, reiki, bodywork, and yoga into their sessions. A doula can also provide a friendly companionship to the mother so that she feels connected, less lonely and isolated, and so she has someone professional to offer solutions for anything that she is finding challenging. A doula can also help to chaperone the mother to any baby related appointments and errands. Doulas will also refer to other professional services if what you're asking for or experiencing is beyond their scope of practise.

NO! All mothers, first time, or veteran alike, need support around them to help them thrive after birth. Regardless of how many children you have had, having a solid postpartum support network around you is statistically proven to help protect against postpartum mood disorders and depression.

Not to mention...who wouldn't want someone calm to come to their home and cook them delicious meals while settling any worries or concerns, so that they can rest and bond with their new little bundle?! 

Both packages consist of 4 hour visits, and each visit might be different depending on the needs of the client that day. 

Most days I will come to your home and make myself at home, there is no need for you to cater to me, I am there to nurture you!!

You may wish for me to take the baby while you rest or nap. Or you may wish to rest and recover alongside your baby while I cook up a storm in the kitchen and prepare you some nourishing fresh meals and snacks to stock your fridge. Perhaps your like me to accompany you do a postpartum appointment. Other tasks that are common during my visits are laundry (wash/dry/fold), unstacking the dishwasher, and resettling baby while you take a quiet moment for yourself. 

Above all else, every single visit I will check in with you and your wellbeing, have a caring chit-chat allowing a safe space for you to have open dialogue about any highs and lows of motherhood/challenges with feeding, settling, or sleeping, offer cups of tea and opportunities to rest and recover, and be a friendly, kind and calm presence in your home.

I am happy to cook you your favourite meals and snacks, however I do offer a Sacred Beginnings postpartum nourishment menu for you to choose from if you fancy. Most of what I make includes warming herbs and spices, is soft and warm and easily digestible, and is rich in iron and other blood building minerals for restoring your body after birth.

I usually send this to my clients before the first visit, you can chose some meals and snacks of the menu and I will let you know the ingredients I require to cook those for you in your home during the postpartum visit. I absolutely adore nourishing my clients with postpartum friendly meals and snacks, and making sure that on the days I am with them, they don't need to worry about finding the time to feed themselves well. 

Feel free to visit my instagram to get more visual cues of what exactly it is that I offer. My DMs are always open.

You can also email me to book your postpartum support package, or ask any additional questions. 

I look forward to connecting with you!