I’ve been fortunate over the last few years to be in the company of Doulas as friends and colleagues we share similar passions and I have always had a great interest in Maternity care. I recently completed a MNT Training with OCN a Maternity Practitioner Award at Reading University. MNT trained Maternity Nurses are considered to be amongst the best in the industry due to the high quality standard of training given. I was taught by highly experienced team which included a Midwife, Maternity Nurse, Child Care Lecturer, Breast Feeding Counselor and Sleep Specialist. The training has equipped me with knowledge and practical skills to perform my Maternity Nurse duties, which I feel is an excellent introductory career path to study and qualify as a Doula.
I have researched a number of Doula training opportunities and have found that Doula Consultancy UK delivery’s the best professional Doula training accredited by Middlesex University. I am confident that Doula Consultancy will provide me expertise training to ignite my spark of excellence.
Since completing the MNT training I have successfully secured bookings as a Maternity Nurse/Pregnancy Masseur offering support during pregnancy birth and postnatal care. All my clients are unique and have individual family needs which are identified and addressed during consultation. I am aware that as a Doula I will also support families of all backgrounds it is imperative that I am sensitive and respectful and take into account families religious beliefs and cultural needs when supporting mother/families during pregnancy birth and postnatal care.
I'm a mother of 3 children and a Grandmother and know the process of conceiving, being pregnant and given birth can be a joyful and traumatic experience. My first memory of caring for a newborn, I was 17 years and Nursed my brother with SMA formula. Up until that time he had only been breast fed for two months and my mother was taken critical ill in hospital, I learnt at a very early age that pregnancy birth and postnatal care can have a life changing impact on family’s wellbeing. It was challenging to settle him and he wasn’t responding to feeds, I had to keep a piece of my mother’s clothing close by for him to smell her scent and eventually he was able to settle.
My first experience in the delivery suite, I supported a Mother and her partner rhythm of her breathing through the contractions and played my harp to create stress relief and enhance a peaceful atmosphere. She labored for a long time and became tired and emotional; I was able to get her to stay focused on her breathing and reassured her that she was doing a great job. It was interesting to note that the amazing Midwives were the first ones to guide/coach expecting parents through the birth process. It was great to work alongside and observe the Midwives checking the cervix for dilation, monitor contractions and baby’s heartbeat, check mothers blood pressure and pulse, administer pain relief, assist doctor/nurse during delivery, clear baby's throat and general care of baby, After care for the mother once delivery of child/placenta is was truly an honorable experience to support an expectant mother and welcome their newborn into this world and to have firsthand insight that the role of a Doula goes beyond the delivery suite .
Training as a Doula will bring so many rewards I’m excited to learn more about women's care, assist with family planning and menopausal management, health and maintenance , disease prevention and provide information & support covering pregnancy, child birth risk and contraindications in pregnancy, and postnatal care. Throughout my life I have taken part in extracurricular subjects/activities which I was committed and punctual. The key courses I studied that compliments Maternity care is NNEB (Nursery Nurse ) a practical and theoretical training in the care of young children and child protection. I successfully completed 23 modules and practical training in the foundation of caring from birth to 18 years physically, intellectually, emotional, linguistic and socially. Being certified as a Nursery Nurse I had the opportunity to work in baby and toddlers group, nurseries, early years of excellence center, schools, and crèche youth organizations and worked with disabled children and their families
International Harp Therapy Program (Harp Therapist) gave me the skills to learn about the power of sound vibrations and resonant tone using empathic conversation to affect positive changes in patient’s physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Some of the topics covered communicating care in helping relationships, foundations of counseling, understanding people, learning modes of music and how to improvise, the practice and experience of empathy, Boundaries and self-care and the basis for music development. I learnt valuable tools to understand interactions with others. My education has involved knowledge of hospital procedures interactive skills training, music therapy as well as more profound dealings with the death and dying process at San Diego Hospice and Cancer support hospital in Wake Forest Medical Centre in North Carolina. I have independently worked with Cancer patients offering Harp Therapy and supported their families during bereavement (still birth).
Abdominal Sacral Massage- is a complimentary therapy that incorporated theory and practical experience. The topics I learnt was Basic Anatomy and Physiology - Estrogen, Progesterone female reproductive system, pelvic floor muscles, Pathologies in the pelvic area, Pathologies associated with menopause, Self-help techniques and contraindications, pathologies of female abdominal-sacral area, breast care, food supplements, fertility, when to use massage in pregnancy and case studies. My academic studies have given me an inclusive approach to working with women, children and their families. I have also facilitated workshops and retreats to empower women's health and vitality and taught them self-help sacral massage techniques and worked with women who had experienced abortions, miscarriage, still birth, death of a child, fertility problems domestic violence rape and sexual assault. I am very keen to research the politics of Maternity care especially within Mother and baby units in Prisons. In prisons women are subjected to poor pregnancy health, inadequate antenatal care and at risk of postnatal depression. Studying to be a Doula accreditation by Middlesex University will provide me with fundamental comprehensive tools to excel as a Doula. I welcome the opportunity to study as a Doula to build on my existing skills; I will be honoured embark on accepted.
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