Kirstie is the most incredible doula, and the best decision we made as a couple in the run up to our twin daughters’ birth was to ask for her support. She shepherded us through a very difficult pregnancy, birth and postpartum period, advocating for us with genuine warmth and care. Kirstie is one of those people who does her job because she genuinely enjoys helping others, and I felt that she was as invested in the safe arrival of our daughters into the world as we were.
We originally reached out to Kirstie in the second half of my pregnancy. I was pregnant with twins, and as a result was very frightened of the high level of medical intervention that I knew I was likely to have. Kirstie was a great advocate for me and my husband, and helped to guide us through the multitude of hospital appointments, empowering us with information and statistics so that we could make genuine informed choice at every stage.
Kirstie listened carefully to what our vision for our birth looked like, and was open to supporting my wish for a home birth, while also helping me to prepare mentally and emotionally for the possibility of a cesarean. Without her gentle approach, I would not have been able to consider the possibility of anything other than ‘the birth I wanted’, because I felt so anxious about the possibility of having to go to hospital or stay in hospital. I did end up having to have a caesarean because one of my babies became footling breech, and I was so grateful that Kirstie had helped me to write a caesarean birth plan whilst still helping me plan for and focus on making my dream of a spontaneous, physiological home birth possible.
When we initially considered a doula, we were very focused on the birth, but Kirstie’s high level of support throughout the final third of my pregnancy and afterwards was incredible, and we realised that the true value of a doula is how they prepare you for birth, not just their presence at the birth itself.
The majority of doulas we considered only had a few meetings before the birth and one afterwards, but Kirstie’s fee included a 1-1 hypnobirthing course that is personally taught by her. We cannot recommend it enough.
We learned techniques there which meant I was able to endure a four day labour with no pain relief and was able to feel a sense of complete peace (although I was very tired by the end!). We were even able to rent the home birth pool from her! It was fantastic.
My only regret is that we didn’t work with Kirstie sooner. If we had engaged her at the beginning of my pregnancy, I think our journey would have been better if we had her lovely warmth and support earlier on.
By the end of the experience, we had complete trust in Kirstie, and it meant that even though I ended up having to go to hospital and have a cesarean (something I had previously been terrified of), having Kirstie there was phenomenally reassuring, and made everything feel less overwhelming. She was a vital presence during our time in the hospital, and was a clear, calm advocate for us during our birth and afterwards. She protected the birth space, spoke up on our behalf, and ensured that at every possible moment, we had an experience that was as aligned to our original goals and values as possible.
We ended up having to stay in hospital for two weeks (common with twins) and we employed Kirstie to continue to visit. Staying in hospital was very difficult for me and my husband, and Kirstie’s continued support and care made the days there feel a little bit brighter. She brought thoughtful presents, food, and cleaned and folded for us. Whenever she turned up it was chaos, and by the time she left, there would be calm: the room would be clean, we would both be holding a cup of tea and there would be flowers in a vase on the table. It was like a fairy would visit! Kirstie is one of those people who doesn’t ask how she can help, because she just intuitively knows how to help and gets on with it.
When I look back at my birth, because of Kirstie, rather than feeling disappointment that I didn’t get the birth I wanted, I feel so lucky and grateful at the four wonderful days I spent labouring at home in the birthing pool, surrounded by my husband and Kirstie, breathing my babies into the world. She created a magic energy and made me feel so comfortable and empowered. I carried that energy with me into the room at the hospital, and kept calm and grounded.
The biggest and most important thing Kirstie gave to us as a family was breastfeeding support. After having lots of things happen outside of my control during our pregnancy and hospital stay, I desperately wanted to be able to breastfeed our twins. The hospital said they’d never seen it done, and I felt completely unsupported and undermined. Then came Kirstie! She helped me to hand express colostrum, she taught me how to pump, and she helped me to latch my babies. Within hours of the cesarean, and because Kirstie had helped me to achieve a natural labour, I was breastfeeding my babies. They are now five months old and exclusively breastfed. Every time I feed them I send a happy ‘thank you’ to Kirstie in my head. Feeding my babies gives me so much joy, and I am absolutely certain that I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Kirstie’s help and support. She is just simply
amazing, and if I am lucky enough to have a third baby, I will call Kirstie the moment the pregnancy test is positive to book her as my doula.
Thank you for everything Kirstie. You are proof that despite the fact that lots of what I wanted didn’t come to pass, being scaffolded and propped up by someone so nurturing and informed meant that I was able to still access joy and preserve important boundaries in a very vulnerable and difficult time. I am so glad you do the work that you do.
Our beautiful baby was born at home, in a pool, in her nursery with Kirstie’s invaluable support. I would never have in a million years even considered a home birth.
When it was suggested to me early on in pregnancy by a friend my reaction was ‘I’m not that brave!!’ As a (pretty clueless!) first time mum I naively assumed birth would be painful, in hospital, and what would be would be in terms of any interventions etc I may need. However, having met Kirstie at a pregnancy workshop I straight away knew I wanted to do some antenatal/hypnobirthing classes with her to learn more about birth.
My partner and I enrolled to complete 1-1 classes with Kirstie which totally changed both my partner and I’s mindsets on the type of birth we wanted to experience for our baby. By the end of the course we just knew we wanted Kirstie to be there with us at the birth, and began exploring the possibility of a home birth. We hired a pool from Kirstie which containted everything we needed. I am so glad we did, looking back 8 months later the birth was everything we could have dreamed of and more.
For a variety of reasons my dreams for a birth at home with no interventions were at risk of being derailed in the days leading up to our babies birth. Kirstie provided constant support, guidance and encouragement just when we needed it, so that in the end, when my waters broke at home my partner and I had the confidence to remain at home just where we had planned to be, with Kirstie providing practical and emotional support throughout, working with the midwives who we were lucky enough to have with us who were entirely supportive of our birth plan, which Kirstie had helped us to produce.
I had no examination during labour, and no stitches after the birth. Our baby was born in the most calm and relaxed way and I owe that to Kirstie. Kirstie was incredibly patient, she was with us for over 24 hours and despite inevitably being exhausted herself stayed until we were ready for her to leave. Kirstie left us tucked up in bed with our new baby after the most incredible experience of our lives.
Kirstie has kept in touch offering support and check in’s during the early post partum days but also since to ask how we all are and to share pictures etc as our baby grows. I am so incredibly thankful to Kirstie and would recommend her 1000% - best decision we ever made!
Sweet, sweet Kirstie ~ I couldn't have done it without her support & knowledge!
From the 5th month of my pregnancy I started to feel a niggle that I really needed to learn more about what I was doing, which was, planning a home birth. I was passionate about this pursuit but when it came down to it, all I had was instinct to carry me.
My husband got on board to meet for birthing lessons with Kirstie, after coming across her website. I was nervous to meet her for our first lesson, but left feeling very connected to her, supported and most of all inspired to begin the journey toward my home birth.
Kirstie helped in every aspect. Firstly, by helping me to understand the physical process of labour and how to prepare mentally and physically for this. Lastly by providing breathing techniques and stretching methods while in labour to support the baby moving down lower into the pelvis and relaxing my body for this
Although at the time this felt most important, it was the later stages I would come to know was most important to have this woman by my side, as a doula.
After several lessons, coaching us wonderfully through this intense process of preparing for a new child, we decided to take her on as more than just a teacher, but as our doula for hypnobirthing. She would be there for the birth of my son. And so much more.
She helped to set up the birth pool, provide a space for the midwives and to communicate my needs amongst them. She acted as a mediator on my behalf so they could best be there for me in the way she understood was best. I found her help on an emotional level very supportive as she provided space for me to lean into what I needed to be feeling. She provided essential oils on a cloth for me to smell throughout later stages of labour, a gentle distraction and comfort.
She spoke to me throughout with great words of encouragement and strength. She also knew how to help in quiet ways, making sure my surroundings were most supportive, i.e. keeping the chat surrounding me to a minimum and keeping an air of positivity and calm. Overall, I would not have been able to accomplish a successful birth without her guidance and knowledge. I can’t speak highly enough about her role in my birth. From start to finish. And still ongoing today. Her support is limitless
Thank you Kirstie, for being the one that understood me when no-one else could. For consoling me, when no-one would and for teaching me how to be the best version of myself in every moment that counted. I wouldn't wish anyone to go through this process without support. It is just so important. So thank you.
Kirstie is THE most caring and passionate person in the world! She coached my wife and I through a whole course and then was up all night with us as I delivered our second beautiful baby girl.
I’d had a bit of a traumatic experience with my first and Kirstie definitely had her work cut out for her to try and undo all those negative feelings. My wife and I were sceptical about how she could actually help but we are both confident to say that she did completely!
I delivered my baby at home, in a pool, with whale music, calm lighting and everything completely under our own control. From having my first daughter, which was highly medicalised, I went to affirmations, embracing my body and working with it to bring my baby to us.
There is absolutely no way I would have been able to achieve this without Kirstie’s help and for that, words don’t do this wonderful woman justice.
Things took a little bit of an adventure in the end but Kirstie was there throughout the whole thing and always our advocate.
I cannot express how much gratitude and wonder this lovely lady deserves.
Thank you so much!
Kirstie helped me to have the most magical first birth possible!
My waters broke naturally at 36 weeks, I was then of course informed that I wouldn’t be able to have the home birth that I had planned & I needed to come into hospital. I politely declined and I stayed at home for the next 7 hours, relaxing in the sunshine, listening to meditations & talking to Kirstie on the phone.
When my body told me it was ‘go time’ I was driven round to the hospital, again politely declined any checks/ medical intervention & I called them once I knew baby was coming. I delivered my baby naturally, with no pain relief in 20 minutes!
I’m now due my second baby & I just know my birth is going to be just as fast & magical as the first. I can’t thank Kirstie enough for her knowledge & support on my rights from the first call we had together right up to guiding me through the early stages of labour!
Kirstie was absolutely wonderful in preparing us for the birth of our first child. Even though I always knew I would have to have a planned C Section, I still wanted to be as prepared as possible, be educated on the process, and learn about Hypnobirthing coping techniques.
Kirstie tailored some bespoke sessions for us, her knowledge is outstanding and her relaxed yet incredibly informative approach, equipped us so well for the birth. We couldn't have gone through the process without her and will forever be so grateful. Highly recommended!!
I'm pregnant with my first baby, and, although I know a fair bit about early years and beyond, pregnancy and labour is not something I claim to have any knowledge about. So when I spoke with Kirstie about the potential of hypnobirthing, I was really excited.
If you're not sure of anything, I thoroughly recommend this course. Kirstie is knowledgeable, patient, kind and thoughtful. She always makes sure you're okay with a concept, and won't move forward until you've voiced any worries, questions or just something you need to be reclarified. I have left the course feeling calm, and with a fountain of knowledge.
I know my choices and as both my husband and I are going into the latter stages of pregnancy (and eventually labour) empowered. My husband, ever the cynic, was not fully on board at the beginning, but trusted my judgement. He left the course happy and glad he had participated. It is definitely worth your time!
Thank you again Kirstie for investing your time and knowledge into our pregnancy journey.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and advocate working in partnership with your healthcare provider to ensure your medical needs are met.