I wanted to get into doula work over the last decade but never  had the courage to go for it until last year. Midwifery seemed very clinical and wasn’t exactly how I wanted to support people in their pregnancies and labour.

I think every person deserves a positive birth experience where their identity, ability, race, sexual orientation, faith and belief, age and socio-economic status should all be considered and factored in when creating support.

I wanted to train with Badass Birth as I feel it’s one of the most comprehensive, intersectional and diverse programme of training I’ve seen. I felt confident that different equality factors for people are considered. I also hope my training really opens up the option for doula support for many groups of people who feel misunderstood, pigeon-holed or sometimes completely forgotten about when thinking of their experiences and wants in birth.

I want to be a doula that validates people’s worries, concerns, wants and celebrations 

I know from my personal life experiences in being a queer, disabled woman some of the barriers different groups face and how certain spaces may feel intimidating to be a part of or not be fully representative of who you are and what you stand for as a person.

I want pregnant people and other doulas to know that they can feel safe and supported with me. I’ll endeavour to examine my own privilege to work hard to continuously develop my practice and understanding to prevent assumptions, ignorance or a lack of the full context of needs of other people I’ll be working with and partnering with for their pregnancy. 

I have a background in LGBT sexual health and youth participation with LGBT young people  across  areas such as mental health,  being care-experienced +LGBT and on gender recognition.

I’ve been a youth and community worker for the last decade and it’s given me a perspective on the lack of diversity and understanding of people’s different experiences of people’s pregnancy or the awareness of the different types of bodies that can be pregnant. I’ve supported young homeless couples who are pregnant,  a young trans man who is pregnant and an intersex young person who was starting a family with their partner. 

From speaking to them about their experiences, it was apparent that their healthcare providers didn’t seem confident in how to support or give these people a dignified and respectful experience they deserve. Already at a systemic disadvantage.

Since my late teens, I have always had a huge interest in pregnancy and supporting others. I developed arthritis in my late teens so never thought it would be a path for me.  With that diagnosis, I experienced systemic barriers and discrimination in trying to get the best support for myself. I want to utilise this to give people more advocacy and emotional support to help them feel seen, valid and understood by those around them through their fertility, pregnancy, labour and postnatal care.