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Birth and Doula Services |
I am an antenatal and postnatal doula* and breastfeeding supporter based in West Wales.
I run a regular Mamas for Mamas group offering advice on pregnancy, birth and parenting in Narberth- covering topics such as :home and hospital birthing, roles of doulas and midwives, breast feeding, attachment parenting, sling wearing, cloth nappies etc. contact me info@rachaelhertogs.co.uk for venue and times
At this point, due to family commitments I am unlikely to be able to attend births but as my own daughter gets older this situation will change!
"Birth is not only about making babies. It's about making mothers - strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and believe in their inner strength." Barbara Katz Rothman
Doulas are women who offer support during pregnancy, birth and postnatally. Some work antenatally, attending births or just for the postnatal period, others do a mixture - adapting to the needs of the women they work with. Doulas are not medically trained, but are able to offer physical and emotional support as well as providing continuity of care.
I trained with Dominique Sakoilsky and Louise Bennett on the Relaxed Birth and Parenting course. Between them they have a wealth of knowledge and over 35 years of doula and antenatal teaching experience. For more information on the Relaxed Birth and Parenting approach please visit the website www.relaxedbirthandparenting.com
I am a trained Breastfeeding Mother Supporter with the Association Of Breastfeeding Mothers.
I am registered and insured through The International Guild of Professional Practitioners/Embody (membership number P16489)
I'm a mother of three beautiful children (although 2 are grown up now!). Each of my births was a completely different experience- the first- in the late 80's being a typical hospital birth, the second ('92) a natural water birth and the third (2010) began as a home birth and due to medical issues ended up a hospital birth.
I breastfed all three of my children, although switched to bottle feeding at 6 months with my first child due to work commitments. All were worn in slings, I 'attachment' parented before the phrase 'attachment parenting' entered my world!
Through my experience as a mother and trained doula I hope to support mums in connecting deeply with their babies, and in experiencing a happy and healthy pregnancy and post natal period.
I am inspired by a vision of birth that honours women's right to choose what they want and empowers mothers to trust their instinct and intuition both in birthing and in parenting.
To find out more about me see www.rachaelhertogs.co.uk/about.shtml
Having an ante natal doula means you will have continuity of care throughout your pregnancy- someone to ask questions and who can give you the extra support that your midwife just doesn't have the time to do.
Each visit lasts a minimum of 2 hours; charges are £20 per hour, or six visits for £200. (concessions are available and can be discussed during our initial visit. Massage and or reiki treatments can be incorporated in to visits)
I live near Llanycefn in Pembrokeshire and can travel to Cardigan, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Tenby and areas in between. Areas further afield will be subject to extra travel costs.
Please contact me 0791 932 4448 or by email for more information or to arrange a free initial meeting where we will get to know each other and decide whether to work together.
As a post natal doula I will offer you a lot of practical and emotional support.Following the birth of your baby you may find it extremely helpful to have somebody just to listen. I will enjoy talking through any issues at all which you may have.I can also help with older children to give you time with your new baby. It is very important that you look after yourself in the postnatal period; I can help by looking after the baby so you can get some sleep, doing light household chores, some shopping and cooking for you and the family! I will support you in breast or bottle feeding, and provide information on many aspects of baby care.
This is a magical time for you and your baby, and as a Post Natal Doula it is my role to create the space for you to adapt to life with a new baby!
A well nourished mother is better equipped to nourish her baby!
The Role of a Post Natal Doula is tailored to each family, but here are some ideas of what I can offer you:
Each visit lasts a minimum of 2 hours charges are £20 per hour, or 6 visits for £200 (concessions are available and can be discussed during our initial visit)
"doula vouchers" can also be bought- these make a wonderful gift for a new mum! (and dad!)
I live near Llanycefn in Pembrokeshire and can travel to Cardigan, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Tenby and areas in between. Areas further afield will be subject to extra travel costs.
If possible we would meet before the baby is born, but often families do not realise they need help until they are in the thick of it! Contact me 0791 932 4448 or by email info@rachaelhertogs.co.uk with any questions and to book in a free meeting where we can decide about working together.
Womb Blessings and Womb Healings are for all women whether they currently have a womb or not, or have a cycle or not. The Divine Feminine energy is for all of us. The only condition for a Blessing is that young girls must have had their first Moontime to receive the energy.
A Womb Blessing or Healing can help ease menstrual problems such as irregular cycle, PMT, cramps, heavy flow etc. It can support pregnancy and birth, aid healing after birth, gently release birth trauma, support fertility treatment, ease the loss after a miscarriage or relationship break down.
A Blessing or Healing can simply be a beautiful gift to yourself!
A Womb Blessing is a beautiful and powerful way to accept and honour your femininity and to bring transformational healing to your womb, female energies and soul.
It releases blocked emotions, patterns, awakens and strengthens the presence of the Divine Feminine.
It helps you to accept Love and celebrate and enjoy all the beauty, strength, wisdom and creativity we have as women.
A Womb Healing is a gentle supportive way to awaken and revitalise your Womb centre and its female archetypal energies and bring self-empowerment, self-confidence and well-being. It also helps integration of the Womb Blessing energy and experiences.
I am one of 14 women trained in the UK by Miranda Gray to give Womb Blessings and Healings, and I am honoured to be one of the pioneers in Wales for this wonderful womb gift.
Treatments are done in your home for your comfort, fully clothed.
(Treatments are also available from my home, should you prefer, contact me for details)
Gift Vouchers are purchasable for all treatments- Womb Blessings, Womb Healings, Reiki and Massage. Give a gift thats different! Contact me to purchase one.
Massage is an ancient therapy, an extension of the instinctive urge to touch. It counteracts stress by providing an opportunity for deep relaxation.
Massage has been found to introduce relaxation and reduce stress, decrease swelling in the arms and legs by increasing blood and lymph circulation, relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints (especially in the low back, hips and legs), reduce stress on weight-bearing joints and enhance the pliability of skin and underlying tissues.
In addition, Massage in pregnancy can improve the outcome of labour and ease labour pain. Massage for pregnant women is not only physically beneficial, but the human touch can be comforting and provide emotional support during pregnancy.
Treatments are done in your home for your comfort, and can be done on a massage couch or wherever is comfortable; depending on how heavily pregnant you are and cost £55 (treatment will last 1- 1½ hrs)
Reiki means universal wisdom and life energy. It is a Japanese form of healing similar to spiritual healing where the practitioner channels healing energy to aid the physical and energy body to heal.
Reiki is a gentle treatment, completely safe for pregnancy and as a support for birth, it brings about deep relaxation, feelings of joy and well being, sensations of warmth, cold, tingling, colours, waves and gentle movement are all reported feelings during and after a treatment.
Reiki during pregnancy not only offers treatment for the mother but also for the development of the baby. Many pregnancy 'discomforts' can be alleviated by Reiki treatments, such as backache, headaches, stress and anxiety, nausea, etc. Reiki brings energy levels into balance, and often symptoms disappear. A Reiki treatment helps mum to relax deeply and cleanses her body and spirit. The deep relaxation and peacefulness many people experience during and after a Reiki treatment can be of huge benefit to a pregnant mum.
During pregnancy there maybe be fears about the birth or perhaps about being a 'good enough' mother or the upcoming responsibility. Reiki will help to ease these emotions. In addition to all this, Reiki helps deepen the relationship between mother and child.
Reiki can be effective in supporting restoration of the mind-body-spirit system after birth. Nourishing a mother supports her to fully nourish her infant!
Fathers and birth partners can also benefit from Reiki treatments. Caring for a newborn can be draining to both partners. Reiki can help restore and balance energy levels as well as provide some much-needed time out during this busy time.
Treatments are done in your home for your comfort, fully clothed and can be done on a couch or seated and cost £40 (Treatment will last 40mins to 1 hour)
I will help you create a beautiful Blessing for yourself and your unborn baby
A Blessingway is a wonderful ritual for the mother-to-be. It celebrates her step into motherhood (or motherhood again!) Baby showers are fun and a wonderful way to gift new parents things they need for the baby. A blessingway, however, is a unique way to honour the mother.
During the gathering, friends of the mother come together to give her support and encouragement. It is a wonderful and affirming time for her.
Oftentimes the friends at the ceremony agree that as soon as they receive word labour has begun they will say a prayer and light a candle for the mother. This support can mean so much to a labouring woman.
Many believe that the blessingway tradition was begun by Native Americans. It was a ritual to offer blessing at many life passages, not just pregnancy. But it is commonly thought to be the origin of the pregnancy blessingway.
A blessingway is usually a spiritual event on some level. It can purposely hold elements sacred to the mother's religion or it can simply be spiritual in the sense that all present are giving their spiritual and emotional support to the mother-in-waiting.
Costs: Support in creating blessing (2hrs) £50
Attendance and leading blessing £150 (this includes creating the ceremony)
A Naming Ceremony is an opportunity to declare before family and friends, your promises to be as good a parent as you can, and for adult friends or relatives to confirm their special relationship with your child.
I can support you in creating a personal ceremony for you, your baby and your family.
Parents often ask 'what happens at the ceremony?'
The answer is that it's your ceremony and you choose what goes into it. However, the structure of most Naming Ceremonies is along the following lines:
Optional extras!
Costs: Support in creating ceremony (2hrs) £50
Attendance and leading ceremony £150 (this includes creating the ceremony)
Please note that I live near Llanycefn in Pembrokeshire and can travel to Cardigan, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Tenby and areas in between. Areas further afield will be subject to extra travel costs.
Each visit lasts a minimum of 2 hours; charges are £20 per hour, or six visits for £200. (concessions are available and can be discussed during our initial visit.)
Massage and/or reiki treatments can be incorporated in to visits and be added on to the 6 visit package at an extra charge of £30
Each visit lasts a minimum of 2 hours charges are £20 per hour, or 6 visits for £200 (concessions are available and can be discussed during our initial visit)
Massage and/or reiki treatments can be incorporated in to visits and be added on to the 6 visit package at an extra charge of £30 "doula vouchers" can also be bought- these make a wonderful gift for a new mum! (and dad!)
Treatments are done in your home for your comfort, fully clothed.
Womb Blessing- this is a seated treatment and lasts approx 45 min-1hr- £40
Womb Healing- this treatment can be done on a couch or seated depending how heavily pregnant you are and lasts approx 45 min-1hr- £35
Womb Blessing and Healing (Only available to those who have received a series of Womb Healings previously.) This is a seated treatment and lasts approx 1 ½ hrs £45
Treatments are done in your home for your comfort, and can be done on a massage couch or wherever is comfortable; depending on how heavily pregnant you are and cost £55 (treatment will last 1- 1½ hrs)
Treatments are done in your home for your comfort, fully clothed and can be done on a couch or seated and cost £40 (Treatment will last 40mins to 1 hour)
Support in creating blessing (2hrs) £50
Attendance and leading blessing £150 (this includes creating the ceremony)
Please contact me 0791 932 4448 or by email info@rachaelhertogs.co.uk for more information or to arrange a free initial meeting.
