Why Hire Deborah Hannam?

As your doula I aim to ensure you feel heard and supported to make the choices that are right for you.  Your doula support starts from the moment you book me and throughout your pregnancy I will be by your side helping you to navigate the weeks & months ahead.   You will have my nurturing care, my friendship, my presence in your life as you make your way through the weeks & months of pregnancy..

I am not there to influence your decisions or make choices for you, but I am 100% there to support you with whatever decisions YOU choose to make and to be your greatest cheerleader.

I will be your sounding board, be there to talk things through, be your listening ear, I'll be that feeling of being held, your reassurance and your safe space.

Sometimes a doula will be your only birthing support, either through choice or circumstance, but doulas are also there to support fathers, mothers, partners, grandparents. Whoever is there for you, I will be there for them too. I'm not there to take their place, but to support, encourage and enhance the birthing experience for you both.  I will be there for both of you... whether it's gentle reassurance, sharing ways to provide comfort during labour or being the perfect tag team so that one of us is always by your side. Whether your birth partner wants to be fully immersed in the birth or take a more distant role...it will always be ok with me. I'm there to support YOUR birth and how that looks will be unique to you 

I will be your emotional and physical support wherever and however YOU choose to birth your baby, knowing that the decisions are yours and no-one elses to make and that only you know what feels right for you and your baby..
 

I want you to feel so supported that you feel held, loved, nurtured and ultimately empowered as you journey through pregnancy, birth and beyond. ♡

I have experience in supporting births at home, birth centres, hospital birth, caesarean birth, multiple pregnancy, VBAC, surrogacy..... each and every birth I have the privilege to attend is as unique and individual as the women I support.   (See my Client Reviews for a little client love and feedback).
 

If you're inspired to find out if I'm the doula you want by your side, do get in touch!

Deborah Hannam supports births across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and surrounding areas. Get in touch if you're looking for a Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Forest of Dean or Cheltenham doula.

• Offering an initial no obligation meeting- always happy to chat over coffee or video call, so you can decide if I am the right doula to support you. 

• Providing Birth Preparation Sessions- your doula package will be tailored to meet your needs and can include some of the following...
• Antenatal Education - As a qualified antenatal practitioner I can guide you through the physiology of labour & birth with plenty of hands on & visual resources.  My degree in antenatal education means I am able to provide you with all the information you'll need to fully understand the physiological journey of labour and ensure you have the knowledge to make the choices that feel right for you.
• Hypnobirthing - I will guide you through the tools and techniques, breathwork, relaxations and the power of a positive mindset to ensure you feel ready and prepared to birth your baby with confidence.
• Birth Planning Session - Exploring how you want to feel in your chosen birth space and talking through your wants and wishes for your birth, I will support you to create a personalised birth statement.
• Biomechanics - Providing you with an understanding of how to optimise your baby's position and the space in your pelvis with gentle exercises and techniques.
• Prep your Partner Session - A special session supporting your partner to realise the role of the birth partner and providing them with the tools & techniques to support you through labour & birth.
• Practical Babycare - An exciting session to prepare for the arrival of your baby-  have a go at nappy changing, bathing, explore safe sleep, feeding your baby, baby wearing etc.
• Debriefing a Previous Birth - Making time to explore and gently support you through any previous birth experiences that you feel you would like to spend time talking through.

• The relationship I form with my clients is incredibly important.  Being invited to support you through this time is a privilege and it is vital that we all feel comfortable in each other's company.    Each meeting will be tailored to the support you feel you need and also offers us the opportunity to spend some time getting to know each other.   I will use this time to answer any questions, help you to feel prepared and to understand how you would like to be supported during your labour and birth. 

• Being there for whoever is there for you.  Doulas are also there to support fathers, partners, grandparents... I am not there to take the place of your birthing partner (if you have one), but to support, encourage and enhance the birthing experience for you both.

• Supporting you to navigate the maternity system, perhaps accompanying you to antenatal appointments if you feel you'd like a little extra support or an extra listening ear.

• You will have access to my extensive collection of pregnancy, birth and parenting books and I can share with you my many visual resources so you can explore and understand the physiology of labour- knowledge is key to feeling in control of your birth!

• I have TENS machines for loaning to clients and if you decide you would like to birth your baby at home I can help you to arrange a birth pool.

• Being available by text, phone or email whenever you need me at any time during your pregnancy- I'm always there to reassure and chat things through.  

• Setting aside an on call period 24/7 for 10 days before and until 2 weeks after your due date.

• Staying with you throughout your labour and birth providing physical and emotional support.  As your doula I will stay by your side ensuring you feel supported in whatever environment you choose to birth your baby, providing massage, relaxation, encouraging movement and comfortable positions for labour or just being there for you, holding the space for you to feel safe and cared for.   

• Gently supporting those first couple of hours after birth.

• Providing one postnatal visit, meeting with you after the birth of your baby/babies and giving you the opportunity to talk through your birth experience and discuss any other support you may need.