Choosing someone to support you on your journey into motherhood, to be by your side and advocate for you every step of the way through birth and beyond is a deeply personal decision.
If you’re here, whether you’re preparing for your first journey into motherhood or you’ve given birth before, you’re probably already aware of the power having a highly skilled and experienced doula can provide.
You’re keen to avoid the potential for trauma within the current maternity system and want an alternative model of care.
You understand the importance of a relationship-based model of care and value a continuous, supportive relationship with your doula.
You take a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing and are seeking a birth experience that aligns your values.
You want to be actively involved in your care decisions and ensure your voice is heard throughout the process.
You see birth as a natural, physiological process – not a medical event – that should be undisturbed as much as possible.
You want a skilled and knowledgeable advocate who can help navigate the healthcare system and ensure your wishes are respected.
I’m passionate about providing personalised, relationship-based care that respects and empowers you and I strongly believe that every woman should have the information, and be supported in their decisions, to experience birth and motherhood in a way that they choose. Having a baby is about so much more than just labour and birth, and there are many moments along the journey where support can make all the difference. With me, you’ll have an advocate, a confidante and an experienced professional dedicated to making your birth experience positive and fulfilling.
I’m passionate about providing personalised, relationship-based care that respects and empowers you and I strongly believe that every woman should have the information, and be supported in their decisions, to experience birth and motherhood in a way that they choose. Having a baby is about so much more than just labour and birth, and there are many moments along the journey where support can make all the difference. With me, you’ll have an advocate, a confidante and an experienced professional dedicated to making your birth experience positive and fulfilling.
Here is how I would love to support you:
- Building a Relationship: From our first meeting, my goal is to build a trusting and supportive relationship with you. I’ll be with you every step of the way, from pregnancy through postpartum, ensuring you always have a familiar face and a compassionate ear.
- Listening and Advocacy: Your voice matters. I will make sure you feel listened to and that your preferences are respected. Together, we’ll develop a birth plan that reflects your wishes, and I’ll advocate for you within the healthcare system, ensuring your needs and choices are honored.
- Believing in YOU: I believe in the power of undisturbed, physiological birth, and I believe in your innate wisdom and knowing, and that you know your body best. With my experience and knowledge, I’ll support you in creating a calm and empowering birth environment, to support you in welcoming your baby into the world in a way that is right for you and your family.
- Navigating the System: The maternity system can be complex and overwhelming. I have extensive experience in navigating it and will help you understand your options, make informed decisions, and ensure your rights are protected.
- Holistic Health Support: Your overall wellbeing is paramount. I integrate holistic practices to support your physical, emotional, and mental health. From hypnotherapy to NLP and somatic coaching, I offer tools to help you stay grounded and connected throughout your journey.
My dedication to supporting mothers has compelled me to develop both an extensive set of skills and knowledge over the past 20 years, as well as an incredible network (‘the village!’) of complementary support to share with you.
My services can be fully tailored to the support you desire and include:
- Birth doula support for all birthing scenarios, including experience and confidence supporting freebirth
- Infant feeding support (breast/bottle/combi), including comprehensive tongue function assessments
- Bespoke postnatal doula support
- Perinatal emotional wellbeing coaching
I also bring the village to you, who can support you with:
- Nourishing cooked meals, inspired by the philosophy in Heng Ou’s brilliant book ‘The First Forty Days’ and extending a far into your postpartum journey as you and your family need
- Holistic sleep support
- Comprehensive breastfeeding assessments by an IBCLC breastfeeding specialist
- Specialist postpartum women’s physiotherapy (aka a ‘Mummy MOT’)
- Birth pool hire
Support packages start from £2000 for families within a one-hour radius of York and can be fully tailored to meet your needs.
In order to deliver the quality of care I love to provide, I support a select number of families each year.
If you’d like me to be your doula, please complete the form below, and I’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Testimonials
I cannot recommend Mel highly enough. She enabled us to have the most positive birth after having had a previously traumatic experience. Mel is extremely knowledgeable, experienced and committed. During our three-day labour at home, she provided the support that both my husband and I needed, giving us the faith to go on. Mel was hands on with practical help and most memorably coached my husband, giving him the confidence and knowledge to support me perfectly throughout. I credit Mel with enabling us to have a wonderful home water birth after previous caesarean and what we believed was the best start to life for our son.
Angela Holmes
Mel was fantastic. She was so kind and full of knowledge on how I could achieve the kind of labour that I wanted. It went exactly to plan and not many women can say that. I have no doubt that this was due to Mel’s techniques with me during early labour. She taught me exercises to ensure that the baby’s head was in a good position for a swift, uncomplicated labour. Mel has a very warm personality and is extremely caring. I knew as soon as I met her that I wanted her to be my doula.
Jo Richardson
Finding out I was pregnant with my second baby should have been pure excitement, but it was tainted with fear and panic due to my last pregnancy and birthing experience. I felt let down and traumatised, and my trust in the healthcare system was shaken. That’s when I knew I needed a doula.
I was incredibly fortunate to find Mel, a breath of fresh air, offering so much more than I ever expected. She not only made navigating the system smoother but also instilled confidence in me to pursue the birth I wanted. Whenever I felt deflated, I knew I could count on her to lift me up.
Mel helped me deal with past trauma, fear, and anxiety. She was a rock, someone I could trust, and always there when I needed her. She supported not just me, but also my partner. Mel made me feel safe, and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her.
Nothing was ever too much to ask for; she always went above and beyond and never failed to show up when we needed her. If you’re considering a doula, please go for it. It’s one of the best choices I ever made. I will always be grateful to Mel for being a part of our journey!
Chloe
What a difference [Mel and her network of support] made for me when expecting, birthing and starting to look after baby number two! I learned so much, had a much more positive experience than the first time round and I am now taking those newly learned skills forward into my parenting and other areas of my life. If you are ummimg and ahhing about whether a doula is for you or not then don’t hesitate – it’s worth it! Thank you to Mel for the Three Step Rewind birth trauma sessions – if you think ‘just being teary‘ about a past experience isn’t enough to warrant these sessions, then think again and let yourself learn to remember your experience in a different way.
Elly Kornas
I honestly can’t recommend Mel enough. […] Mel’s support throughout my pregnancy was fundamental, and her presence on the day of my baby’s birth made all the difference. I had a quick, healthy and peaceful birth, just like I planned and dreamed of with Mel during our prenatal appointments. After my baby was born, Mel’s guidance with breastfeeding was LIFE SAVING. And I mean it! If it wasn’t for Mel, breastfeeding would’ve not been a reality to me. Her support, knowledge and guidance is amazing and made ALL the difference in my journey. Like I said, I can’t recommend her services enough. It’s been a privilege and an honour sharing my journey with her and I can’t thank her enough for everything she’s done to me and my family. Don’t think twice, book her ASAP! You’ll thank yourself later. You, your pregnancy and your family are worth this beautiful investment.
You’re a star, Mel!! Thanks a million.
Paula Weiller
I’m so glad we found Mel! I knew I wanted to have a doula and from the first zoom conversation (it was during the lockdowns) I felt that she was the right fit for us. I was very anxious and knowing she was there to talk to and guide us through made a huge difference. There is so much info online that it can become really overwhelming and having Mel meant one clear voice we could trust. She supported us postnatally, too, and even though I thought the run up to giving birth would be where I needed her most, it turned out that the postnatal period was where we were most grateful to have her. Invaluable support from someone who really understands.
Victoria Troth
We are so glad that we chose to share our pregnancy and birth with Mel and Claire. The support is priceless and I honestly can say our experience wouldn’t have been so positive without them. Mel went above and beyond during my labour and I can’t thank her enough for all of the support, advice and love she shared throughout. We felt so informed and calm knowing that we had her there on our side. Although we planned a homebirth that we couldn’t have due to staffing issues, Mel ensured that we got as close to the environment we hoped for as possible despite being in hospital. Claire’s visit when we arrived home really helped us come home when we were struggling with breastfeeding whilst still in hospital.
If we are lucky enough to have another baby in the future, we wouldn’t hesitate to have Mel and Claire share the experience with us again. We would recommend [them] to anybody and everybody! Thank you again both of you x
Amy Gilbank
When looking for a doula, I wanted someone well-rounded. Someone that could empathise and listen, someone who I could trust from the beginning and someone who could be assertive under stressful situations. This someone is Mel. Mel strikes the balance between understanding how birth can be a spiritual and emotional journey but also recognising and respecting potential medical challenges.
Mel was our advocate during challenging conversations with medical professionals and provided guidance and support throughout. She has a wealth of contacts, so was able to recommend various services during times of need. She and Claire provided invaluable breastfeeding support, even driving over to our house at the drop of a hat when breastfeeding was cripplingly painful.
I do not doubt that the birth of my daughter would have been completely different if it wasn’t for Mel and I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed if it wasn’t for her and Claire’s support and guidance.
Thank you for providing such a positive start to motherhood.
Jessica Treadgold