Why hire Gillian Holmes?

You’re pregnant – congratulations! Maybe this is your first time, or maybe you’ve been here before. Either way you’re likely to be feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation!  By now you know there’s a lot more to growing a baby than the fun of picking out colours for the nursery and settling on a name. You might have already been confronted with serious decision-making about antenatal tests, birth plans and healthcare. 

With me as your doula, you have the reassurance of an experienced professional who can hold your hand, both physically and metaphorically, throughout your pregnancy and labour. This partnership gives you the confidence to make choices that are right for you knowing that I've got your back and I'm by your side.

My aim as your doula is to make you feel safe, supported, listened to and held, so you achieve your best birth experience. During our antenatal meetings, you, and your partner when possible, can use the time to talk about birth expectations and concerns, practise coping techniques, and make plans in an unhurried environment. As an National Childbirth Trust (NCT) teacher, these meetings can take the form of a bespoke antenatal course; or if you're attending antenatal classes separately, we can delve deeper into any aspects of labour and birth that are particularly important or interesting to you. We can discuss the choices you have in pregnancy and labour as I help you unpick the evidence around your options and explore your intentions, hopes and plans and we can get to know each other so you have a familiar face and reassuring presence during your labour.

Importantly, I'll be there at the birth, from whenever you need me until after your baby is born and you're happy for me to leave.

I'll still be available for support, guidance and cheerleading in those rollercoaster early days and I'll come back for a postnatal visit to wrap up your birth package. More postnatal support is also available if you need it going forwards.

I teach Yoga for Pregnancy and Baby Yoga in Stroud and Nailsworth and as part of your birth doula package I offer my clients half price Pregnancy Yoga from the start of our doula relationship until your baby is born. Importantly, as your doula you’ve got my full and committed support and can contact me with any questions or concerns whenever you need to. 

Antenatal meetings to explore all your options and ensure that you (and your partner if applicable) feel ready and excited about meeting your baby. I can tailor a package of sessions to suit your needs, which might cover -

• Exploring your hopes and wishes for birth: taking some time to reflect on what you envision for your birth experience. We’ll explore environment, support, pain management preferences and any specific cultural or personal rituals you’d like to incorporate.  If appropriate, we can also debrief and unpick any previous experiences.
• Reframing negative feelings: using hypnobirthing techniques to shift your mindset and alleviate any conscious or subconscious fears surrounding birth. Techniques such as visualisation, breathing exercises and positive affirmations can be incredibly helpful in empowering you to approach birth with a positive mindset.
• Understanding the physiology of birth: knowing what to expect during labour including the all-important role of hormones, as well as knowing what care is offered by local maternity services, will demystify the process and enable you to make decisions which are right for you and your baby.
• Practical skills for birth: discussing and practising your birth partners’ roles and responsibilities – such as massage, helping with positions and emotional support. Knowing how biomechanics can help you in pregnancy and during labour.
• Birth planning: working together to draw up a plan to ensure that you have considered all your options, and everyone involved with your care understands your wishes fully.
• Postnatal planning: preparing for a wonderful start to your parenting journey by considering the support you and your partner will need, self-care strategies and practical baby care.
• Birth pool run-through: if you're planning to have your baby at home and would like access to a pool, I can supply one as you approach your estimated due date and make sure you have all of the equipment you'll need for a successful home water birth.
• Weekly check-ins over a cuppa or via Zoom from 37 weeks so that we can talk through anything big or small that might come up as you get closer to the birth of your baby. 

During this time we’ll get to know each other as we discuss the ways you'd like to be supported during labour and birth, both physically and emotionally. We'll work together to ensure that the birth of your baby is the most magical moment it can be, allowing you to approach labour and birth with confidence and positivity.

You’ll have my ongoing support at any stage during your pregnancy and postnatally, if anything crops up that you want to talk about – you can feel free to contact me any time.

I’ll set you up a unique code for unlimited half-price Pregnancy Yoga so that you can join classes to help increase your comfort in pregnancy and practise positions and breathing for birth. Face-to-face yoga classes are held in Stroud and Nailsworth where you'll meet other local expectant mums; or I can supply videos if practising at home is your preference.

I'll be on call for your birth 24/7 usually from 38 weeks, ready to be with you during labour as soon as you need me, and I'll stay with you until several hours after your birth, when you're happy for me to leave you with your new baby. ​

We’ll have a useful postnatal visit to celebrate the birth of your baby, ensuring you are recovering comfortably. During this time I can help with breast or bottle feeding or any other baby care. This meeting is usually one week after the birth, but I can be flexible to suit you and your new family, and further postnatal support is then available on an hourly basis if required.

Contact me to arrange a free, no-obligation meeting in person or online so that we can explore the support you need. I'll then draw up a personalised package for you and supply you with a quote.