The Doulaescence Mentoring Programme

Ksenia Serebryanikova

Ksenia is an experienced London Russian speaking Doula and Baby Massage practitioner whose family has been living in the UK since 2006. She is an aspiring spiritual midwife who found her calling as a Birth and Postnatal Doula in 2015. While tailoring an individualised approach to each family, she often draws on her personal experience of a different culture while enjoying working with families from all backgrounds. 

Ksenia says: “Mentors are to be ready to part with their hard-earned knowledge and the skills at the right time and in the right amount as the Mentees are proceeding on their individual journeys of becoming mother helpers. Patience and humility are to be my guides as I learn with each new Doula and cherish our collaboration. Joint aim being delivering bespoke care to each unique family while taking appropriate care of ourselves as Doulas and setting example of respecting the boundaries.”

Ellie Cook

Ellie is a postnatal doula in Cambridge with a special interest in perinatal mental health. She trained as a birth and postnatal doula in 2012 and works with vulnerable families as part of a local project as well as private clients. She has been a Doula UK mentor since 2019 and is a qualified NLP Master Practitioner. Ellie helps other doulas find their feet and confidence, and breaking any "limiting beliefs" that might hinder their journey.

Ellie says: “I think a good mentor meets their mentee wherever they are, and understands what approach will motivate the individual. At the same time, they will recognise their boundaries - much like they would as a doula- and not get caught up in the story. I tackle a lot of imposter syndrome with my Doula UK mentees and work hard to help my mentees value themselves. I feel the world needs many more postnatal doulas, and want to help those who feel as passionately about it as I do, to follow that passion and do this important work.”

Emma Harrison

Emma has been working with families for the past 20 years. She has a keen interest in maternal and infant mental health. This is where it all started for her. She first worked in the NHS in the mother and baby unit, supporting mums with mental health struggles. This interest came from her own birth experiences, where after having her second birth, she realised that things can be better. 

Emma says: "Mentors should be skilled in communication and empathy. Having a wealth of experience has helped me develop these skills. I offer a non judgmental ear as a mentor as I have been where you are at the beginning of my journey. I am a good listener, empathetic, and non judgemental. I am open to learning myself, am willing to question and challenge, and also opened to be challenged myself. Wrap this all up in a supportive space with me as your cheerleader - that's the qualities I bring to my mentees."

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Erin McGuigan

Erin is a Birth and Postnatal Doula, IBCLC, and Early Years professional. Her profession is all about birth, babies, children, and families. She is dedicated to helping parents thrive. She offers emotional nourishment, practical support & nutrient dense postnatal specific cooking to new families. She also offers Lactation support, the 3 Step Rewind Technique, perinatal anxiety support, Mother Blessings, Postnatal Ceremonies, Belly Binding & Birth Reflections. 

Her focus is on communication skills to help a family self reflect on their own strengths, building trust in themselves, and finding their inner voice. She offers compassionate, professional and nurturing support to all families who come her way. She loves to nourish families not only with her emotional support but also her cooking.

Erin says: “I offer a non-judgemental supportive space to discuss one’s doula practice. I am patient, respectful and friendly. I am eager to assist and invest in the growth and development of doulas and the important work we have to do.”

Antoinette Reynolds

Antoinette is a mother of three children and based in South London. She has transitioned from doula to midwife with a passion for community midwifery antenatally and postnatally. She has knowledge of mental disorders, domestic abuse and baby loss.

She is calm and intuitive, with a holistic outlook to postnatal care. She is focused on being a support for all families whether in her doula or midwifery role, and makes sure their voices are heard. She is a spiritual and holistic doula who believes birthing people know how and when to birth their baby.  She is passionate about the fourth trimester and supporting families with navigating through parenthood

Antoinette says: “A mentor that understands every doula has to start somewhere and be patient with the learning process for the mentee. I will take the time to listen to mentees and really ask them the raw truth of how they are feeling their doula journey is going.”

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Gemma Harvey

Gemma is a birth and postnatal doula from East Sussex; she has been walking the doula path since 2013 and is a trained sacred postpartum mother roaster, experienced woman centered massage therapist, reiki practitioner and very passionate cook! Nourishment, massage and the weaving of gentle ritual and ceremony are a large part of how she works and her greatest wish for every woman is that she transitions into motherhood healthily and lovingly, body and mind. With her this is through loving touch, heartfelt and mindful support and good nurturing food.

Gemma says: “I feel that we all need a mentor as we embark on our doula journeys and I know first hand what a positive impact a good mentor can make. The best qualities in a mentor are listening with an open heart, being honest and candid and offering balanced feedback when needed and of course a true passion. I can help new doulas find their authentic way of doulaing, providing the tools, insight, guidance and support you deserve to truly thrive on your wonderful doula journey.”

Tricia King

Tricia is a doula, IBCLC, baby massage instructor, Holistic Sleep Coach and babywearing peer supporter. She is trained in listening and reflection skills and uses these on a regular basis in her work and private life. Tricia is particularly interested in perinatal mental health, and recently completed a MA in Public Health looking at that topic. She is interested in how the process and experience of matresence relates to mental wellbeing. She also has experience of motherless motherhood and the additional complexity this brings.

Tricia says: “I think a good mentor is able to strike a balance between being a good listener and supportive presence, while still being able to challenge and push a mentee to grow and reflect, especially if they don't seem to be doing so naturally on their own. A good mentor will track progress from session to session, and will be able to notice any themes in development for a mentee. The concept of the Critical Friend is a good summary of a good mentor in my mind.”

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Photo credit: Emily Newell, @eviegracephotography

Sarah Tessier

Sarah began her journey supporting parents in 2014 when she trained as a breastfeeding peer supporter and Antenatal Teacher with the NCT. When she was on maternity leave with her second child in 2017 she trained as a postnatal doula with Younique Postnatal.

Since 2014, she has supported over a thousand parents as a breastfeeding peer supporter, antenatal teacher and postnatal doula. She feels blessed to have found what it is she's meant to be doing and is passionate about postnatal planning and helping parents have the start to parenthood that they deserve.

Sarah says: “Many of the qualities that make a great postnatal doula also make a great mentor. Just as I listen and offer support to help families find their way, I do the same with mentees. All of the families I support, each mentee I work with is unique so I tailor my support to their needs and meet them wherever they are in their doula journey.”

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Victoria Greenly

Victoria began her journey supporting parents in 2011 when she was asked to train as a breastfeeding peer supporter with the BFN, helping staff in busy South West London NHS baby clinics for 3 years. In 2013, she started working as a postnatal doula. Since then, she has supported over a thousand parents with feeding their babies and over one hundred families as a postnatal doula.

Her passion supporting choices and informed decision making for women, parents and families has been her primary focus for 10 years. Additionally, of great importance to her is parent and baby wellbeing. 

Victoria says: “We can use similar skills to the ones we use for our clients as mentors: deep listening, reflecting back, compassion and guided support to find one’s own path. As well as a passionate postnatal doula I hope to be a passionate Postnatal Mentor!”

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Jojo Heather

Jojo is a postnatal doula based in Hertfordshire. Completing a foundation degree in birth and beyond, Jojo found a passion in postnatal support and changing the narrative around the fourth trimester in the UK.

In addition to doula support Jojo is also a breastfeeding counsellor and facilitates baby massage and mum & baby yoga sessions and a busy weekly drop in support group for new parents.

Starting out in 2020 meant Jojo had to be creative in building up work, clients and reputation. The challenges of starting out are still fresh in the mind and as a mentor I would like to walk alongside new doulas stating out to help guide them and find their confidence in the support they can offer.

Louise Dredge

Louise is a postnatal doula and hypnobirthing teacher based in Aberdeen. After having her
children, she re-trained in 202 and changed career from Primary teaching in order to support
parents-to-be and new families. As a former Early Years Teacher, Louise’s style of doula-ing is
centred around nurture; for both babies and new parents.

Louise uses her background in teaching and the philosophies of learning to guide new parents and
to enable them to build confidence in their own skills and abilities. Louise is also passionate about
perinatal mental health having volunteered for PANDAS & Miscarriage Support for Pregnancy After Loss. As a doula, Louise keeps emotional and mental health and wellbeing at the forefront ofeverything she does for a new family.
Louise lives in Aberdeen with her husband and two children, Maisie and Logan.

Louise loves being part of the birthing and postnatal community and has recently been part of setting up the Aberdeen Birth Collective with three other doulas, to provide funded birth and postnatal support for all.