Tanya's home birth story during the pandemic

‘The pool was amazing and allowed me to get on my hands and knees during contractions. I was sick at one point but I remember telling Jenna I felt like I was at the spa with the water and my twinkly lights and affirmations everywhere!’

Dear Midwives...we need to talk

‘I know the system is letting you down. Midwife means ‘with woman’ and I see how this has been taken away from you, how you have been stripped of the very reason you would have got into midwifery in the first place, to be with women.’

birth, doula, positive birth movementJenna RutherfordMarch 11, 2019doula, midwife, letter to, birth team, birth supportComment

150 things I've done as a doula

‘I’m celebrating five years as a doula this month so I took a trip down memory lane…what a journey!

Here’s a 150 things I’ve done since becoming a doula…’

doula, birth, motherhoodJenna RutherfordJanuary 17, 2019birth doula, postnatal doula, doulalife, doula Comment

My two minute conversation with Ina May Gaskin

‘...we can plan and plan and plan but we just can't know... and not knowing needs to be part of the plan too. Finding a way to be ok with that is important. Antenatal prep should be more about finding your voice to speak up when your intuition is giving off warning signals, helping you let go so you can ride the waves of motherhood and grounding yourself into a calm space so you can handle the overwhelm.’

doula, birth, birth without fearJenna RutherfordNovember 22, 2018ina may gaskin, guide to childbirth, spiritual midwifery, positive birth, doula, doula uk, birthComment

What does a doula do? Part Three

‘It is impossible for me to support a family in this intimate way without loving them. It’s not like loving your spouse, child or friend but it’s definitely love. It’s an emotional, private, personal and incredibly special time for the family and I get to be a part of it.’

Oxytocin and the dark night

‘Oxytocin is like a voyeur. Watching everyone else from a distance, checking who is paying too much attention, who is around, is it safe, are things relaxed, oh wait, maybe I need to back off...’

birth, doulaJenna RutherfordAugust 18, 2018birth, doula, oxytocin, doulalife, positivebirth

What does a doula do? Part one

‘Have you ever been listened to? Really listened to? I don't mean going out with with your girls on Friday night, downing prosecco and putting the world to rights. I mean, one on one, no interruptions, no judgement, just being heard? No one trying to tell their story, waiting for you to finish, no comparisons, just someone who is completely engaged with what you're saying, cares about what you're saying and quietly listens to you?’

birth, doulaJenna RutherfordJuly 23, 2018The Minimalist Douladoula, birth, pregnancy, antenatal, active listeningComment

It's not all about you.

‘You can't afford to get caught up in all the usual high expectations you have placed on yourself. No, you won't be able to have everything together all the time and always finish that to do list. You won't be able to be the perfect wife, daughter, sister or friend.’

motherhoodJenna RutherfordJune 19, 2018doula, motherhood, compassion, imperfect, new babyComment

Our homebirth featuring Jason Bourne

‘Her ‘surge’ passes and she eventually calms down and returns to her Zen-like state. Maybe it was just a tough one. In my relief I briefly think about offering paracetamol as a joke but don’t take the risk. She pads back to the bedroom and I return to Bourne.’

motherhood, dadsJenna RutherfordJune 5, 2018homebirth, positive birth, doula, hypnobirth Comment

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