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Training to be a doula

Sam Sheppard: Why I trained to be a doula

Photo of Sam Sheppard. Sam is a white woman with blonde hair. She has a floral tattoo on her hand and arm. She's wearing a black top and is smiling. This article tells her story of why she came to train to be a doula.

Sam Sheppard is a doula based in Chelmsford, Essex, and is known as The Unapologetic Doula 😉 This is the story of why she decided to train to be a doula.

I’m primarily a birth doula, but I also do postnatal work from time to time. I think, actually I know, that I tend to limit how much postnatal work I do because I hold emotional energy pretty deeply, and work hard at processing it all. Being with a family for an intense period of time, as is typical with postnatal work, takes a lot out of me, so birth work I can moderate a little more clearly. I know that I need to protect my space. Does that sound too far out?! I don’t know! But seriously, it works for me, and that’s the point – you can be the doula you want to be, and offer the services that work best for you.

I actually only heard about doulas in September 2008, 7 days before I did the Nurturing Birth training! I’d never even heard of doulas until a friend from school mentioned it. Before having my own two children I worked as learning support for children with extra needs in an infant school. Then I had my two 18 months apart and took time away from employment. When they started school I went back to work and realised I didn’t want to do it anymore. I then injured my back and saw it as a sign and left!

I had become really interested in birth because my births were really different and I saw the importance of the right support, right from the off. The first birth was quite traumatic and it really didn’t need to be. I had a pretty narky midwife who treated me like I was a bit like a child who needed directing, think Charles Dickens! It was ridiculous looking back. I felt railroaded down a certain path. Feeling out of control led to me not having an ideal time, and the postnatal period was just as crappy…despite me convincing other people that I was coping fine. Hiding postnatal depression (although in hindsight I now think it was PTSD) was easy. My house was clean and tidy, cakes were baked and I would smile and coo when I needed to. Until I was alone.

Anyway that’s another story…but I feel it’s important to know that we all have ‘stuff’. Becoming a doula doesn’t mean you to have had the ‘perfect’ experiences.. whatever they are!!

We’re all working through own ‘stuff’ continually… we find our way through, with the right people around us. Actually, training to be a doula, and mentoring after the doula training, includes a massive amount of working through our experiences (birth related or not) that mean that we can come to support families and put our own stuff to one side, and not let it influence us. Many people find this part of doula training to be revolutionary to their lives.

I’d not been to any births other than my own before I trained to be a doula. For me, the drive was that I really wanted to support women. I’ve no real interest in babies, much to everyone’s amusement (I think they believe you’re a doula because of babies…what’s that about 😊) No, it’s about women for me. They are why I became a doula. I saw how language and people can really affect your birth. Those present make or break it. I know it sounds extreme but you’re super susceptible to other people’s feelings, words, energy and motivations when birthing and beforehand. Birth brings so much out of people. So many stories and beliefs about what birth ‘should’ (flippin’ heck I dislike that word!) be like. But most of what’s told to pregnant women and people is based on people’s owns fears, their own beliefs that they need validated, or wishes they had for a birth but didn’t have. So it’s very often not about the birthing woman or person at all and yet it still affects them as they’re the one hearing all of the offloading of others.

I love doulaing. But what I most love is seeing people step into their power. OK – that sounds cliched but it’s true. Seeing people go from undecided and unaware, to finding their feet and trusting their instincts, knowing that they know what they need, that their opinion is the only one that truly matters and that they have the strength within them to chose what’s right for them… It really is magical. When you see that glow, that extra height they have because they stand a little taller, that focus and self-belief, it’s bloody brilliant. Honestly, gives me goosebumps. I always feel emotional talking about it because it really is mind-blowingly brilliant.

I wish everyone could see the brilliance in every pregnant woman or person; the brilliance and strength that I see within them. Just creating a bit of space for them to breathe and process…oh that can change everything! And this isn’t just about birth. For me this is about life in general.

Could you imagine if every decision that people had to make was met with respect, space, time and love? What changes would we make! It’s something I’m really passionate about actually. Over the years I’ve seen that this isn’t just about birth. I mean it is, in that birth affects everyone…no matter where you’re from, what background, race or culture. We all see it at some point. But those skills that you learn as a doula, they affect everything, every part of our lives.

It never ceases to amaze me. When it stops amazing me, I need to quit 😉

I also want to honour the fact that birth isn’t a wanted experience by everyone. I’ve doulaed for people making the decisions to not keep their pregnancy for reasons which are right for them. I admire and respect the strength and intuition of those making this decision. I feel that these women have also shown me a great deal in what it is to truly listen to our needs, to be mindful about what’s right for us, to move forward with a difficult decision knowing deep down it’s the right one. I feel for people going through it alone…there’s no shame and yet there’s a real stigma around feeling shame that needs to be broken down.

Much as I love being a doula, it’s not all perfect. There are challenges. The NHS is unravelling swiftly and with all the good will in the world it’s hard to stay focused and strong. I’m becoming more and more disillusioned and it really both saddens and angers me in equal measures. In fact it breaks my heart – for those working within the system, but more importantly, those using the service. Doulas have never been more desperately important and needed as they are now.

I do hope, in the future, that every birth is revered as it should be. The western culture is that we (mostly) need to crack on and act like nothing has happened. Have the perfect home, birth, get back into normal clothes as quickly as possible, make our own food with organic veg grown in our gardens, run our own businesses, make homemade gifts and stay smiling…whilst having a new baby. We need to stop, just stop and see the beauty, the magic, the freaking brilliance of all that is surrounding birth and those that birth!! It blows my mind, honestly it does. We keep humanity going, our bodies change and internal organs shift to accommodate that little new life and then shifts back…what’s not to freakin’ celebrate and honour!!

So there we have it. Part of me thinks everyone should train to be a doula, JUST to see the importance and amazing abilities we have when it comes to creating humans. To see the physiology. To learn the absolute importance of listening; to truly listen. To see the transformations and to understand that emotion isn’t a weakness, but a strength. To understand what our emotions are telling us and how we can work with them. To honour ourselves because we are amazing.

If you are looking for a doula in Essex,

Sam is The Unapologetic Doula on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_unapologetic_doula/

And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doulasamsheppard

Do you want to train to be a doula? Here’s the link to Nurturing Birth’s doula training courses: https://nurturingbirth.co.uk/doula-training-courses/

The importance of physiological birth

By Sophie Brigstocke

Photo of Sophie Brigstocke. Sophie is a white woman with long, light brown hair and she's wearing a blue top. In this article she talks about physiological birth.

My father, who became a farmer in his retirement, has a beautiful herd of Ruby Red Devon Cattle and there is something so special about being around them.
 
Several years ago, when the herd was managed by someone else, I witnessed one of the first-time heifers calving.  She was out in her field, surrounded by her cow friends and her labour started calmly and beautifully.  My daughter and I sat and watched as it unfolded, her contractions coming increasingly regularly.  Suddenly, the herdsman arrived on a quad bike, decided that she wasn’t birthing quickly enough and transferred her to a calving pen.  Once in there her labour slowed down and he decided that she needed further assistance.  The calf was pulled out and the farm workers congratulated themselves on having saved a calf.
 
The next day, when turning this new mother and her baby back out into the field, the cow turned on the three men and attacked them.  My Dad was one of those men. He was lucky to get away with only a broken neck.  This cow was utterly furious with what had happened to her and according to the farm workers she was never the same again.  Do we blame the cow for attacking the farm workers and my Dad – or do we look at what happened to her and learn?  
 
We have had a lot of conversations on the farm since that day.  I’ve shared a lot about physiological birth with my family and they know how passionate I am about supporting people (and other mammals!) to have the best possible birth experiences.  Now, on the farm, we have a watch and wait policy.  There is trust that these beautiful creatures instinctively know how to birth their babies.   Very occasionally intervention is required however, this is done as calmly as possible with minimum noise and fuss.  The cows are respected and I cannot tell you the difference in atmosphere.  It is a joy to be around.  
 
The amazing thing is how people on the farm have changed.  The men who grew up in farming communities where things were always done in a particular way have rethought their approach to supporting cows when calving.  Rather than rushing in to “fix” and “rescue” the cows, they are far more considerate of the environment and keeping things calm and peaceful. They are supporting physiological birth. The cows like and trust their care providers – they allow them to come close, to scratch their necks and bellies – they know their voices.  
 
How many of us know and trust our care providers?  How many of us feel truly listened to and respected in our choices?  And what happens to us if and when we aren’t supported in a respectful, compassionate way?  When I shared this story with the midwife Kemi Johnson, she said that as humans we would be far more likely to turn on ourselves rather than our so-called protectors.  Rather than getting angry, pushing and shouting, after an unnecessarily interventionalist birth we would be more likely to self-blame and tell ourselves that we had failed.  It is no great surprise that perinatal mental ill-health is as common as it is given the number of people whose births are interfered with when it’s not necessary.
 
We don’t fail.  We are failed by a system that doesn’t trust us, our instincts and our choices.  It is interesting that the World Health Organisation suggests that 10-15% of births might need some form of intervention and our caesarean rates are soaring well over double those numbers. Triple, in many cases.  It is also interesting that before birth became so medicalised the WHO stated that only 5-10% births needed medical support. Supporting physiological birth works.
 
This is not a blog to damn the medical profession.  This is a piece to highlight the importance of physiological birth – to bring our focus back to how our bodies naturally birth, to recognise just how we are hugely capable IF we are supported in the right environment.  So many people are losing their innate belief in the power of the birthing body.  We need to reclaim it.  People experiencing physiological birth often feel really empowered and positive.  It can have real impact on the way they bond and connect with their new babies, on feeding and on how they recover and experience the fourth trimester.  It goes so far beyond the “day” of birthing.  

This week on the Nurturing Birth podcast I talk to Nurturing Birth doula and mentor Simone Dyer about her journey into doulaing.  I was particularly taken with a phrase she used when talking about the need for validation as a birth supporter  

“We often rob people of their lessons.” 

What are we robbing people of when we rush in to fix and control?  What is possible when we are present and witness?   

If you are inspired to become a doula and support women and people to have the best possible birthing experience then check out the dates of our upcoming doula courses. We will be scheduling more dates soon so do come and let us know if you have any particular requests.  If you would like to chat about taking a doula course when don’t hesitate to reach out to me on the Nurturing Birth number – 07305 044482 or by email on [email protected]  I always love chatting to people who are on the cusp of starting their doula journey.  

Have a great week
Love
Sophie
x

Victoria Fox – My doula journey

By Victoria Fox

Photo of Victoria Fox, a black and white image of a white woman with long, dark hair.

Although I’ve not yet taken on any clients, this is my journey to where I am now and why I trained to be a doula!

I first heard about doulas after I gave birth to my son in April 2020. I was speaking to a fellow new mum about how we would love to be involved with birth but didn’t feel midwifery would be a good fit, and she mentioned Doulas. I had no idea what she was talking about! We spent hours talking about it and it occurred to me that my sister had been acting as my doula even though none of us knew it was a role that existed. I felt very lucky to have had that support. I could see first hand how beneficial it could be to other pregnant women and people, even though Covid-19 meant my sister could not attend the birth in the end or visit me postnatally.

I was on maternity leave when I trained as a doula. My job at the time was Front of House Administrator for the Deafness Support Network. I enjoyed this work as it was incredibly varied – I got to help people with hearing (and sight) loss everyday and it meant I could use my British Sign Language (BSL) skills. I didn’t return to this role, however, as I wanted to dedicate myself to doulaing. Then I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant again!

I’d been to one birth before training to be a doula. I was 21 years old and a birth partner for my best friend. It was a miracle she even fell pregnant due to a long list of medical issues, so the whole pregnancy had been closely monitored and the birth was always going to be a high-risk event. Although we had agreed beforehand that I would leave for any internal examinations and for pushing, I was thrilled to be able to support her through the long labour process and any spare time I had outside of my job at the time was spent supporting her postnatally.

Training to be a doula just felt like something that would fit me and my new life as a mum. Particularly having given birth during a global pandemic, I feel well equipped, like there’s nothing that a new parent could say to me, good or bad, which would shock me. I feel confident that I can support them without judgement.

I think when I do start working more, the main thing I may struggle with is when I can’t ‘fix’ something. Even though I know that’s not my role and I’ll be helping by supporting and listening, I am a people pleaser and I do worry that I’ll perhaps give too much of myself. My other concern will be to not fall into an educator role simply because I’m so excited about everything I’ve learned and learning, maybe it’ll all come spilling out of me when it’s not in the clients’ best interest.

I see myself eventually becoming a birth doula when my children are older, and I have more freedom/flexibility and I just really hope that it becomes something that helps put food on the table whilst not feeling like a ‘job’. I think it will bring me so much joy.

Victoria is a doula based in Ellesmere Port. Want to get in touch with her? Here you go!

“But I don’t know enough to be a doula!”

Photo of Michelle Every, a white woman with long hair, wearing a light blue jacket, standing in the countryside.

By Michelle Every

When people connect with me, as they look into training to be a doula, I often hear the same theme coming up

“How do I make sure I know enough?”

“Will clients expect me to know everything about birth or the early days with a newborn?”

 “I am worried that the client will ask me something that I do not know the answer to”

“I am scared of looking silly or letting my client down with my lack of knowledge”

Do you have these thoughts and questions, too? Are you worried about whether you know enough to be a doula?

Let’s start by asking a really important question:

As a doula, what do we need to know?

Personally, I am someone who does not naturally and easily retain information. I can remember people’s stories really well, but factual information seems to disappear from my brain’s filing cabinet. Some other doulas have a natural ability to remember anything they have read; many are somewhere in between.

We are all different, as doulas and as human beings, and the brilliant news is that being a doula is all about being ourselves. We are called to be authentic and unique. However, what we don’t need to be is a walking encyclopaedia of everything there is to know about pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period!

If I don’t need to know loads of facts to be a doula, what do I need?

The role of the doula is to support the client to make informed decisions. Part of this may be to help them to find factual information they are searching for. This is why signposting is our friend!

Our training courses teach you about evaluating information, so that you can feel confident to signpost your clients, whether that’s to the Nurturing Birth blogs and manual or elsewhere. Once you’ve completed a Nurturing Birth doula course you may choose to follow one of our CPD (continuous professional development) programs, such as our Expansive Course modules from Specialist Contributors or our Membership programme (due to launch early 2022).

However, it’s really important to stress that one of our vital doula skills is to be able to be honest enough to say that we do not know all the answers but that we are committed to helping our clients to find what they need.

Using reflective and open questions often helps the doula client to connect to their own power and inner knowledge. These types of questions provide them invaluable space to explore what exactly they are looking for. This can be one of the most precious and powerful parts of the doula journey. Really being heard, really being given the space to set out our feelings, thoughts, worries, aspirations and desires; this is not something that many of us have the privilege of experiencing in our day to day lives. As doulas, we can be the person to gift this to our clients. We can also gift it to ourselves through our doula mentors.

Doulas have the freedom to walk alongside the client and signpost rather than educate, lead or overpower them. We don’t need to have the clinical knowledge of a doctor or midwife, and we don’t need to have all of the answers for all of the babies. In fact, we can never have all of this. We don’t need to. A doula’s skill and value lies in helping our clients to navigate through it all, to find their own answers. Nurturing Birth is here to help you to be the doula who can do this.

Are you ready to find out more? Take a look at the training courses that are available to you now. We can’t wait to see you there!

Anne Glover – Becoming a doula: My Story!

Photo of Anne Glover. Anne is a white woman with straight brown hair that is falling over her right eye in the photo.

By Anne Glover

Anne trained as a doula with Nurturing Birth in June 2015. Since then, she’s been a full time doula based in Northern Ireland.

Are you primarily a birth or postnatal doula? 

I love doing both birth and postnatal doulaing, but the demand seems to be primarily for birth doulas here in Northern Ireland. We’re working on that!

When did you first hear about doulas?

About 10 years ago, I was living in Eastern Europe and whileI was there I came across an article about doulas in a women’s magazine. It seemed so idyllic and made so much sense to have someone you could trust to guide and reassure new parents throughout pregnancy, birth and the early days with a newborn.  I decided that it’s what I would like to do when I returned to Northern Ireland, or when I retire.  I would have loved to have had a doula at my births and postnatally, but unfortunately I didn’t know about them 30 years ago!

What were you doing before you trained as a doula?

I had been living overseas for almost 30 years and was looking forward to returning home. My 3 children are all grown up and whilst I had done various jobs whilst travelling, I now felt that it was my time to do something on my terms, something that I felt passionate about. I’ve always worked or volunteered in the social care sector, and in fact was a family support volunteer with a local charity, https://www.tinylife.org.uk/ when I was doing the Nurturing Birth doula training. My working career spanned from the bank, administration in public and private hospitals and international schools overseas, childminding, disability development management, support work at homeless drop in centre and eventually to the best job in the world – being a doula!

Had you been at any births before training to be a doula?

Yes, I supported my sister at her second birth many years ago and was completely blown away to see my niece enter this world, especially as the midwives had already left the room when her wee head started to crown. I felt very fortunate to get a glimpse of a natural birth, with baby deciding when it was the right time to be born. As a result of that experience I looked into training as a midwife but then we moved to live overseas for almost 30 years… I’m a firm believer in everything happening for a reason and I now know that I was never meant to be a midwife.

What made you decide to train as a doula?

We were planning to return to UK to live and after having done various jobs for many years, due to moving around, I decided to look again at training to be a midwife. I sought advice from a midwife friend who was a senior lecturer in midwifery, about doing the degree, and we also talked about doula training.  

There were not many doulas in Northern Ireland, and as I love a challenge I decided to do the doula training first and then see if I should look more into the midwifery degree. However, the more I delved into being a doula and looked at the various training courses, the more I could relate to becoming a doula rather than a midwife. Honestly, as soon as I commenced the Nurturing Birth doula training, I felt like I’d found my true calling! I just wished I had discovered this path earlier in my life.

I’ve always been fascinated by birth and babies, loving the mystery and magic that surrounds this life-changing event.  It would have been pure bliss to have had a doula at my births, especially my first when I laboured most of the time on my own.  I can also appreciate the need for postnatal support for various reasons, but especially if the family don’t have any other support at all with a newborn.  I came away from that course full of enthusiasm for birth, feeling that everyone should know what we were taught at the course.  After all, birth is such an important and exciting life-changing event in most people’s lives.  

What do you love most about being a doula? 

So many things!

It’s the best job ever! 

I’ve always been a ‘people person’ and thrive on caring for others. Being a doula takes this to another level.  I love meeting new families, taking time to get to know them and growing our relationship together. It really feels amazing when a family I’ve been supporting is confident and knowledgeable about labour and birth, and the fire lights in my belly when they make informed decisions about their own birthing journey.  It sounds very clichéd, but it really is an honour to be with a family as they prepare to meet their precious wee baby, to support their pregnancy journey, and then to be with them throughout labour and birth.  There’s nothing quite like it in the world, witnessing the birth of a baby!    There is laughter, joy and tears, all surrounded by excitement and anticipation.

My beautiful granny is my inspiration.  She was in her 30s before she had the first of 6 children, including a first breech birth followed by a premature birth, all born at home and all breastfed until 9 months old.  She also supported other labouring mummies in her neighbourhood, because that’s what women did in those days, until the doctor arrived! A doula before her time!

What do you find challenging about being a doula?

There are a couple of things that I personally find challenging being a doula. It’s tough sometimes to say goodbye to families, especially when you became a part of their precious pregnancy and birthing journey. But supporting families to feel empowered and confident is all part of my role, so saying goodbye is also a sign of success – so I keep telling myself!

The other thing that I find really challenging is the lack of knowledge and awareness there is generally on what a doula’s role is, not only in society but also in the maternity services. This is something I’ve been working on for the past 6 years, trying to raise awareness about doulas.  Since the pandemic it has really become even more evident that our role is misunderstood, and our importance to our client has been underestimated. It is vital for everyone who is managing maternity services to remember that it’s the woman or birthing person’s choice to have a doula, and therefore we are an essential part of their birth team.

What do you want from the future/where do you see doulaing taking you?

A couple of years ago I started a podcast (Let’s doula it!) to raise awareness about doulaing in NI, which has proved to be a great success!  So, I will continue will that. I’m also a founder of the first doula collective in NI (https://www.doulasni.co.uk/) and I absolutely love working with other like-minded doulas! We are able to combine our expertise and specialities to offer a wide, specialised service tailored to the individual family’s requirements.  There has never been a better reason to work together since the pandemic! Doulas need doulas!

I’m also actively involved with Doula UK. I cherish supporting other doulas and seeing them blossom into amazing professionals.  

In the future I’d love to see doulas recognised as much more than birth partners, as a vital part of the woman’s or birthing person’s birthing team. I really enjoy building relationships with midwives and obstetricians, demonstrating how we complement each other and provide families with the care and respect they deserve. 

I know I’m very lucky to have found my calling, and to be able to go where life leads me on this amazing doula journey!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just in case I never have enough to do, I also volunteer for AIMS on the campaigns team! I feel that to campaign for any improvement to maternity services is always worthwhile 🙂

Anne Glover’s Nurturing Birth Directory Entry is here: https://nurturingbirthdirectory.com/doulas/united-kingdom/county-antrim/belfast/anne-glover/

Anne’s email: [email protected]

Anne’s website: https://motherdoula.com

Anne’s Doula Group website: https://www.doulasni.co.uk/

Instagram: annehypnodoula

Instagram: doulasni

Facebook: Doula Anne Glover (https://www.facebook.com/doulaanneg)

Facebook: HypnoBirthing Anne Glover (https://www.facebook.com/HypnoBirthingAnneGloverNI)

Victoria White – My Journey to becoming a doula

Photo of Victoria White. Victoria is a white woman with long blonde hair. She's wearing a blue top and a thin gold chain.

By Victoria White

I first heard about doulas when I was pregnant with my second child. I had really struggled during my previous postpartum, and I was looking to source some more support second time around. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any doulas working in my local area. But I did come across the Nurturing Birth doula training course, and that planted a seed in my mind about my future career!

I originally trained as a marine biologist, and I worked for 10 years as an environmental consultant to offshore industries. The work was interesting and varied, but I didn’t feel fulfilled. I was always keeping an eye out for inspiration to train and work in a different area.

Before training to be a doula, the only births I’d been to were the births of my own daughters (and my own!). Both births were very medicalised and were similar on paper, but the way I felt about them was very different. The second time, I had done my research, and I felt in control throughout the process. I trusted my body, which was something I didn’t experience the first time.

I became interested in the wellbeing and mental health of birthing people and new parents, following my own challenging experiences. Unfortunately after the births of both my daughters I experienced a lack of consistent support and isolation, during a difficult postnatal period, and it made me think there has to be a better way. I trained as a Mother Supporter with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, and found supporting people breastfeeding at our local support group extremely rewarding.

During my second pregnancy, I discovered the Nurturing Birth doula training course and I knew it was something I was keen to explore further. When my daughter was 6 months old, we moved as a family from Aberdeen in Scotland to Paris, with my husband’s job. We moved just a week before the Nurturing Birth training course was due to be held in Aberdeen! So I put the idea on the back burner. However just months later the Covid pandemic presented me with an opportunity. Nurturing Birth had developed a Distance Course online. I enrolled in the summer and completed my coursework and received my doula certification in November 2020.

There are so many things that I love about being a doula. There’s a large community of expats in Paris, many of whom are starting families. They are not living in their native countries and are often facing the challenges of pregnancy and birth in a foreign country with no family support and perhaps also isolation from friends. I really love seeing the difference that having an English-speaking doula can make; to help them navigate the French system, plan their birth, and support them during those early weeks postpartum. It is without a doubt the most rewarding work I have ever done.

Of course, there are challenges. In the first year of working as a doula, I have, like many others, found imposter syndrome to be an issue. I have struggled with a lot of self-doubt! But my confidence is growing and I am learning how to observe my inner-critic objectively (and to tell it to pipe down!).

Looking to the future, I am coming to the end of a year-long course working with Alex Health of the Traumatic Birth Recovery College on many different topics relating to perinatal mental health. I am also a certified TBR 3 Step Rewind Practitioner. I have loved this work and hope to support more clients with their emotional wellbeing and resilience. Next year I plan to run an online workshop on Perinatal Anxiety, and ultimately I am considering training as a psychotherapist in addition to offering doula support and 3 Step Rewind services.

The last thing I want to add is that being doulad myself throughout my first year working as a doula has been invaluable. I have been part of the Nurturing Birth mentoring program since my certification, and it has been such an important part of my doula journey so far. I have felt encouraged and nurtured by my mentor, but also completely in control of my own path and development. It has really boosted my confidence and also encouraged my self-awareness.

Victoria is a birth and postnatal doula working in Paris. You can reach her through her Nurturing Birth Directory listing: https://nurturingbirthdirectory.com/doulas/france/ile-de-france/neuilly-sur-seine/victoria-white/