You may be wondering as to the meaning of the word “Doula” and furthermore, why I have called my service “Heaven Sent”.

“Doula” is originally a Greek word. The Greek community would prefer this word was not used as it actually means “slave”. Greeks would rather we used the word “paramana” which has the same meaning as “midwife” in old English (with wife). I attended a “paramana doula” intensive information session run by Dr. Michel Odent and Liliana Lammers in September 2005. Dr Michel Odent is a French obstetrician; he is world famous for introducing home-like birthing rooms and birthing pools to maternity hospitals. Liliana is a mother of four, grandmother and experienced doula.

I named the service “Heaven Sent” as I believe that every new life, which comes into this world, is created firstly by God. We are all individual people and we cope with the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, childbirth and the weeks that follow, in our own unique way.

The work of a Doula and the service I provide offers women the opportunity to be empowered in their birthing experience through as little intervention as possible. I would be a companion and continuous “mother figure” to protect the woman”s need to feel secure through these valuable months. I would also seek to be an emotional support and encouragement for women and their families through this time. This support is backed up with knowledge from previous personal experiences, both as a nanny and a mum, as well as my experience as a Doula.

I do not see my role of Doula as just a job, more a way of life, learning and growing with every client. My personal experiences of childbirth were both very different but very positive. My first labour was induced and the second started naturally and was fairly quick. I recovered well after both, but I do feel that to have had support from a Doula would have made both experiences much more relaxed.

With this in mind, I am certain that I could bring peace into a client”s life and make the birthing experience, as well as the weeks that follow, much more enjoyable and rewarding. Making this a time that the client can look back on with treasured memories.