About Me

My photo
Rugby, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
I am a mother of five children, four daughters all born in hospital (two now grown up!) and my son, born at home. One thing I know is that I would have had much more positive birth experiences if I had been well informed and well supported. Many women are feeling the same way and are seeking out the extra care a Doula can give them. I have been a Birth and Postnatal Doula for several years now, and am also a Lamaze Childbirth Educator providing 1-1 classes in antenatal preparation and baby care. I have special classes to help parents prepare for twins, homebirth, waterbirth, and parenting a new baby/babies. I am also a qualified antenatal teacher with the NCT and facilitate group classes in the Rugby/Coventry area. As a single mother I have an affinity with the special challenges of one parent families, or families where one partner is unavailable much of the time to offer support.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

*** Waterbirth Photo Competition ***


Twin Mama Jade has entered a lovely birthing photo into a waterbirth photo competition. The photo was taken moments after baby Bodhi had been born into his mothers arms, and his twin sister, Maya was still in the womb. Maya had been in the breech position until Bodhi had birthed leaving her room to manouver and birthed head down 18 minutes after Bodhi made his way into the world. In the picture you can see Maya getting into position to birth.

Jade had a beautiful natural home waterbirth for her twins, and will be writing her blog all about it when she has some time, at the moment she is enjoying her babymoon!

here is the competition link, please do vote, and feel free to share:

http://www.mygoodbirth.com/waterbirth-photo-competition?file=Jade_Bodhi_Maya_Northamptonshire_UK.jpg&f=none

Friday 28 October 2011

A huge welcome to beautiful Twins!




Welcome earthside to gorgeous twins born Saturday 15th October, Baby girl Maya Angelica, and Baby boy Bodhi Phoenix, both born at home in the birthing pool. well done and congratulations to their whole family, especially their Auntie Julie and big brother, Eden who were there to welcome the babes in to the world, and massive respect to two parents who trusted their bodies, their babies and themselves to create a beautiful birth for their little ones. Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to be your doula and giving me such a precious memory, you have been an inspiration!! :) x




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Welcome Baby Luke!





Welcome to the world Baby Luke, born at home in the birthing pool. congratulations to mum and dad and big sister Holly! :) beautifully supported by the lovely Gill Blayney


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Tuesday 23 August 2011

Welcome Twins Jenia and Carolina!!!

A huge welcome to twin girls Jenia and Carolina! two beautiful girls born on the 27th July 2011. Congratulations to fabulous Mum and Dad, Claudia and Felix, it has been a special time being your doula. thank you!! :)


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Thursday 18 August 2011

..........Welcome Baby Rowan........

Congratulations to Jasmin and Alan for the beautiful birth of Baby Rowan on the 28Th July, just as dawn was upon us! It was an absolute privilege to be part of your support team and welcome Rowan into the world. A truly magical natural journey of a calm and peaceful lotus birth. all my love to Rowan and her fabulous parents, and thank you for the amazing memories I shall treasure :-) xxxxxxxx

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Saturday 2 July 2011

New Lamaze Classes!

I am very exited to be in the finishing touches of preparing to teach my first Lamaze classes next month and am really feeling positive about the Lamaze message helping to promote natural birthing. The six healthy birth practices are simple yet effective, and this is going to be the most wonderful way of bringing my yoga, massage and of course, Doula experience all together to establish courses which help women prepare for an empowered birth experience..



here is a link to my new website:- http://www.lamazebirthing.co.uk/


please do have a look and let me know what you think!


thank you!









Thursday 16 June 2011

.....Welcome Baby Willow Rose!!!!.....

Welcome to the world Willow Rose, born at home, in the water last week. Mum Jo did wonderfully walking throughout labour before retreating to a darkened living room with gentle music playing. Baby Willow was gently birthed in the water before the midwife arrived, and all was well. Congratulations to Jo and Eddy, and thank you Rebecca, co-doula for being part of a magical evening!
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Saturday 4 June 2011

Lamaze Birthing, Celebrating Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting the Lamaze Way!


I am now a Lamaze Childbirth Educator and will be providing classes and courses to help expectant parents enjoy a healthy pregnancy and birth.


Lamaze Philosophy of Pregnancy

• Pregnancy is a normal, natural life event.
•Women’s bodies are perfectly designed to nourish and nurture their babies through pregnancy.
•The months of pregnancy are necessary for babies to develop and grow, for women’s bodies to prepare for birth and for women to become mothers.
•Pregnancy provides an opportunity for mothers and fathers to begin forming lifelong bonds with their babies.
•A good support system, a healthy lifestyle and the ability to cope with the stresses of life promote a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth and a healthy baby.
•The health-care system and care provider can increase or decrease a woman’s confidence in the normality of pregnancy and in her ability to have a healthy baby.
•Lamaze education empowers women gain confidence in their bodies, to trust their inner wisdom and to make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting.


Lamaze Philosophy of Birth

•Birth is normal, natural and healthy.
•The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families.
•Women’s inner wisdom guides them through birth.
•Women’s confidence and ability to give birth are either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.
•Women have a right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
•Birth can safely take place in homes, birth centres and hospitals.
•Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom.


Lamaze Philosophy of Parenting

• Good parenting is vital to the physical, emotional and spiritual health of our children, ourselves and our society.
•Parenting is joyful, important, challenging and deeply satisfying work that is worthy of everyone’s best efforts.
•Parenting begins before birth. The intimate connection between children and their parents must be respected and protected from the moment of birth throughout life.
•Mothers and fathers play unique, irreplaceable roles in their children’s lives.
•Babies and children thrive in close, consistent interaction with their parents.
•Parenting is a learned art. our most important teachers are our own parents, our family and our children.
•Good parenting requires the support of family, friends and community.
•Knowledge and support enhance parents’ confidence and ability to make informed decisions that meet the needs of their children and themselves.

Classes will be held weekly in Rugby and surrounding area, please get in touh for more information, or look out for my new website which will list course venues, dates and times...

thank you!

Sunday 20 March 2011

The beautiful baby Ethan!

..........Welcome baby Ethan, a most gorgeous baby boy! born on 7th March 2011, a lovely gentle labour, congratulations to first time mum and dad, Collette and Bill - you were fabulous!! xxx

xxxWelcome to the world baby Jed!xxx


Welcome to the world baby Jed born at 43weeks on 25th January 2011, and congratulations to his amazing family.. Jed arrived after his mum was led on an amazing journey through a planned homebirth onto a transfer and emergency cesarean section.. sometimes this is the way is is going to need to be to welcome a baby safely into the world.. and this was Jed's way. His mum was absolutely amazing and instinctively knew that Jed was reaching a point that she was going to have to ask for assistance to meet her baby.. and she was right!

thank you for chosing me as your doula and sharing your journey with me, it was a truly amazing birth that I shall always remember with gratitude and awe. xxxxx

Demeter Retreat - Celebrating Motherhood!





A huge thankyou to all the wonderful mothers who came along to the Demeter retreat yesterday and shared a wonderful day all together - celebrating motherhood!


We shared a lovely breakfast, lunch and evening meal together and took part in activities that made us think about our lives as women, mothers, lovers, wives, daughters.. the list goes on.. !!

A special moment for me was the barefoot outside yoga under the light of the full orange moon - the largest full moon in 18 years - beautiful! :-)
The next womens retreat will be a 'red tent' event.. email me or Rebecca for details...
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Monday 10 January 2011

Demeter Retreat - Celebrating Motherhood!


Do you have to give up your life when you become a mother and settle for a life of domesticity and servitude? Only if you want to! Yet it is enormously difficult in Western Culture to find a balance between a mother’s needs and the needs of the family. This retreat aims to uncover hopes that were locked away with the arrival of our babies and to seek this elusive balance.
In times gone by, women supported each other, gathering to... tell their stories and to craft. Research now shows that these activities lead to stronger mental health and better problem solving ability. I believe that we can reclaim this community of women and make our lives richer for it.
Where do we start? Certainly telling our own stories is a powerful beginning. We might also look to myths and fairy tales to find role models and illumination for our lives. The first goddesses were all powerful and ruled all aspects of the heavens and earth, gradually they became diluted and were divided into several gods and goddesses, however we can learn from the attributes of each character. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest and a mother herself, which is why the retreat has been named after her. She divided her time between motherhood and ensuring that the grain grew and the rain fell, pretty fulfilling work!
The retreat will use nature, craft, storytelling and discussion to consider how we can retain our individual identity and dreams whilst nurturing our children, regardless of their age.
We look forward to seeing you there.
A day to explore and celebrate your life as a mother, whether your child is a baby, adult or somewhere in the middle.
Through storytelling, craft, yoga and discussion we will look at aspects of motherhood and consider how to retain our individual identity and dreams whilst nurturing our children.
£65
To include three meals and refreshments.
Payments in installments available, full cost to be paid 28 days in advance of event
Overnight accommodation available Friday & Saturday nights @ £30 per night.


Contact Rebecca @ rebeccacoates74@gmail.com or myself @ fay@sacredspiraldoula.co.uk for a booking form or more information

.......Welcome Baby Finley!.......


A huge welcome to Baby Finley born on Christmas day at home!
Well done to his fantastic mum who decided to have her first baby at home where she felt safe and in control.

Gorgeous Finley was born at 4.09am Christmas morning 2010! What a wonderful and special day that was!

I will always treasure the memories of this very special Christmas, and huge thanks to new mum for giving me the honour of being her Doula. Congratulations and welcome to the world Baby Finley!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx