rebecca spaven postnatal doula
What Does A Postnatal Doula Do?
As a Postnatal Doula, I begin working with a family in the first few weeks or months after the birth of their baby and can be with a family for as long as they need my services.
I also support an antenatal approach to the postnatal experience, allowing for appropriate planning and considerations of all aspects of their world to be explored before the baby has arrived.
I provide emotional, practical and informational support to new parents and repeat parents, supporting them with commitment on their journey to be the parent that they desire to be.
Emotional Support
- Emotional support, listening and talking over concerns relating to your birth or early parenting
- Support with building the bond with your baby
- Support with establishing, maintaining or enhancing relationship equality with a partner
Practical Support
- Physical postnatal support to allow for your day-to-day comfort during the period of recovery after birth
- Baby care, including bathing, nappy changing, baby carrying, swaddling
- Baby feeding support, including breastfeeding, bottle feeding and formula feeding
- Practical household support
- Accompanying you on your first trip out, to appointments, baby classes or events.
- Support with older siblings
Informational Support
- Safer Sleep guidance
- Signposting to appropriate support services
- Signposting to suitable baby product options
For a full list of services provided, please get in touch!
meet rebecca
About Me
I am a 41-year old Mum to a 6-year old boy, and a wife to a wonderfully eccentric, autistic, much older boy. I love them both to bits, but my postnatal journey was hard; I was lonely, vulnerable, and self destructive.
It was my experience that ultimately set me on the path of Postnatal Doula. I then made the leap, leaving my job in the Fire Service after 14 years, to follow my heart and begin a new and exciting journey.
It is my own personal and professional mission to ease parents comfortably and peacefully into parenthood, or extended family life, and if I can prevent just one parent from feeling as lost, lonely and confused as I did, it would mean everything.
As your postnatal doula, it is my promise to you that I will tailor my services with precision to you and your family’s requirements, adapting to circumstances and in a manner that works for you.
I offer emotional and practical services, alongside appropriate signposting and support options – we can work out together the services that I can offer to match your postnatal needs.
I am also a Doula UK Recognised Postnatal Doula, having completed my Mentorship with Younique Postnatal in October 2024. The support from both of these communities allow me access to a wealth of peer support, offering me the chance to continuously, proactively and positively reflect on my work as a Postnatal Doula.
To enhance my practice as a Postnatal Doula I have trained as both a
Cry-sis Listener and a PANDAS Helpline Volunteer, and regularly volunteer on their Helplines talking to parents who seek guidance, support and someone to talk to. I am also a TBR 3 Step Rewind Practitioner, supporting parents in releasing negative emotions surrounding perinatal trauma.
training, courses and workshops completed
Family Dynamics & Perinatal Mental Health
PANDAS - 2024
APP Webinar 2024: Essential Knowledge For Preventing Maternal Suicide
Action on Postpartum Psychosis - 2024
Perinatal Mental Health - Creating Culturally Safe and Faith Sensitive Care
The Lantern Initiative & Dr. Aaliyah Shaikh - 2024
Birth Trauma and Pregnancy Loss: Acknowledging and He
Family Dynamics & Perinatal Mental Health
PANDAS - 2024
APP Webinar 2024: Essential Knowledge For Preventing Maternal Suicide
Action on Postpartum Psychosis - 2024
Perinatal Mental Health - Creating Culturally Safe and Faith Sensitive Care
The Lantern Initiative & Dr. Aaliyah Shaikh - 2024
Birth Trauma and Pregnancy Loss: Acknowledging and Healing the Wounds
Transforming & Advancing Change
Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK 2024
The Motherhood Group - 2024
Breaking the Silence: Addressing Stigma & Barriers.
Transforming & Advancing Change
Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK 2024
The Motherhood Group - 2024
The Mental Wealth Mamas Podcast
Guest Speaker - 2024
Birth Trauma Training
PANDAS - 2024
Perinatal Mental Health Training
PANDAS - 2024
TBU Hypnobirthing Conversion Course
TBU - 2024
PANDAS Foundation Volunteer Training
PANDAS - 2024
Perinatal Mental Health
NHS - 2024
Suicide Awareness Training
Zero Suicide Alliance - 2024
Safeguarding
PANDAS - 2024
Infant Sleep Summit
The Zzz Hive - 2024
SIDS and Safer Sleep Training for Professionals Working with Young Parents
The Lullaby Trust - 2024
Doula UK Conference 2024: Inspire & Connect
Doula UK - 2024
Child Safeguarding Awareness Training
Academics - 2024
The Parental Brain 2.0 Summit
Newborn Parents - 2024
Future of Postpartum Masterclass
Maranda Bower - 2024
Postpartum Nutrition for Professionals Masterclass
Maranda Bower - 2024
Why Attachment Matters
Zzz Hive - 2024
Paediatric First Aid
ABC Medical Services - 2024
Nurturescience and Zero Separation
Toni Harman and Dr. Nils Bergman MD, MPH, PhD, MB, ChB, DCH - 2024
How to Support New Families to Plan a Peaceful & Positive Postpartum
JoJo Hogan - Slow Postpartum - 2024
Team Baby
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) - 2024
Your Birth Story & Beyond Event
Guest Speaker
Hosted by Your Birth Story - 2024
Masterclass on the Microbiome and the Infant Immune System
Toni Harman and Professor Rodney Dietert - 2024
Masterclass on Human Milk, The Microbiome, Infant Formula, Surrogacy and More
Toni Harman and Dr Meghan Azad - 2024
Intuitive Infant Feeding
Younique Postnatal - 2023
Infant Sleep Summit
The Zzz Hive - 2023
TBR Hypnobirthing Teacher Training
TBR College of Perinatal Emotional Health - 2023
Sensational Solids
Younique Postnatal - 2023
The Parental Brain 101 for Professionals that Support Parents and Babies
Newborn Parents - 2023
Understanding Reflux Workshop
Younique Postnatal - 2023
A History of Positioning and Attachment – Updated
Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA - 2023
Neonatal Stories For Change
Thames Valley & Wessex ODN Neonatal Parent Advisory Group - 2023
Traumatic Birth Recovery 3 Step Rewind
TBR College of Perinatal Emotional Health - 2023
LGBTQ+ Competency in Lactation Workshop
The Queer Birth Club - 2023
Honouring The Postnatal Body Workshop
Younique Postnatal - 2023
The Parental Brain 1.0 Summit
Newborn Parents - 2023
Doula UK Conference 'Stepping Up For Change'
Doula UK - 2023
Red Flags for Breastfeeding Supporters Cathy Watson Genna - 2023
Supporting Families Through Pregnancy Loss and the Death of a Baby
SANDS - 2023
Paediatric First Aid
ABC Medical Services - 2023
Postnatal Planning Workshop
Younique Postnatal - 2023
SIDS and Safer Sleep for Babies
Lullaby Trust - 2023
Cry-sis Listener Training - 2022
Younique Postnatal Doula Initial Preparation Course – 2022
How to Support Trans Birthing People in the Fourth Trimester – Transparent – 2022
What is in the Infant Microbiome – 2022
How To Safely Support Traumatised Parents in your Care Masterclass – TBR - 2022
