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Meet the Team
Imogen and I (Sara) work as a team, delivering antenatal appointments together and covering each other's on-call period in case the primary Doula on-call cannot make it. We like to operate a turn-about system for clients, alternating who is the main doula on call. However, if you have a strict preference we will always accommodate.
Doula, Anthropologist, Yoga Teacher & Hypnobirthing Instructor
Sara Friend
Thank you for finding your way here to this site, I'm Sara, founder of Orkney Bump to Baby Support. I'm also a mum of two boys, wife, yoga teacher, doula, hypnobirthing instructor and Doctor of Social Anthropology.
I fell in love with birth at a very young age, but it wasn't until the highly medicalised birth of my 1st son and my personal exploration in my yoga practice that I decided to make the leap from Anthropology into the world of birth. I was left with this deep feeling there was so much more to birth than I experienced. I completely nerded out on the subject, reading high-level meta-analyses, learning the wisdom of fellow experienced birth-workers and listening to the stories of women who birthed in their power.
My specialties include supporting the primary birth partner to feel involved, (or alternatively) taking the place of a primary birth partner if there is none, supporting home births, cooking a post-birth meal, helping mama to relax through the contractions, cheer-leading and reminding you of how amazing you are doing! I'm trained in Biomechanics for Birth, which helps with baby's positioning and am an expert in knowing when to back off and when to step in.
Doula, Psychologist & Pilates Instructor
Imogen Johnson
Hello, nice to meet you - I am Imogen - wife, mother, daughter, sister, Christ-follower, and passionate about all things birth & people! A psychologist + pilates instructor by trade.
I discovered my love for birth work when I attended my sister’s home birth all the way over in snowy Canada. The birth of my niece forever changed my perspective on this event and spurred a fire in me to serve women and their families in my community through being a traditional doula.
I believe birth is sacred; an initiation and transition with monumental physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences that our modern world rarely makes room for.
To support fellow women on this journey is a heart-affair for me; I am here to be your advocate, friend, space-holder + cheerleader as you walk through the portal of birth into motherhood. Originally from Germany, but now living in rural Scotland, I am a bit of a health-nut + love to be outdoors, bake, surf, and spend time with my husband and son. When I am not home, I am usually travelling to visit family in Europe or Canada.
The Essentials Package
This is a wonderful choice if you want a birthkeeper to support your choices and help you plan for your birth. This package will provide you with a level of support and care that will enable you to feel confident to birth, however you choose.
This includes:
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Two free-flowing Antenatal sessions to first figure out how we can best support you, then build on this support in the second session
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An on-call period from 38-42 weeks (or until your baby is born)
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Support via WhatsApp or email within standard working hours (8 am-8 pm) for the duration of your pregnancy
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Support for the duration of your labour and birth, and remaining with you after the birth to ensure you are settled and comfortable with your baby.
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A postnatal session within a week of your birth to check in with you, de-brief the birth, and meet your lovely baby again. We will also bring a meal and can support you with breastfeeding.
The Enhanced Package
This is the ideal choice if you want a birthkeeper to support your choices and help you plan for your birth, but are also interested in educating yourself and your partner (if present) about birth physiology. This package will provide you with an enhanced level of support and care that will enable you to feel confident to birth, however you choose. The added antenatal and postnatal appointments provide an extra level of care, without the full investment of the All-In Support Package.
This includes:
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1 initial free-flowing session to help get us all acquainted
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Antenatal Support:
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Session 1: understanding physiological birth (stages of labour, baby's movements/position during labour, mother's movements, third stage of labour)
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Session 2: facilitating physiological birth; the brain, the body and hormones
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Biomechanical adjustments at each antenatal meet-up
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An on-call period from 38-42 weeks (or until your baby is born)
-
Support via WhatsApp or email within standard working hours (8 am-8 pm) for the duration of your pregnancy
-
Support for the duration of your labour and birth, and remaining with you after the birth to ensure you are settled and comfortable with your baby
-
Postnatal Support:
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A postnatal session within a week of your birth to check in with you, de-brief the birth, and meet your lovely baby again. I will also bring a meal and can support you with breastfeeding.
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A second postnatal session to catch up and support you in any way you feel helpful
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The All-In Package
A personally tailored package of care & support throughout your pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. We support your right to birth the way you choose and will use my knowledge and skills to help you have a positive, physiological birth experience. We do not undertake anything clinical or medical, but provide holistic physical and emotional support, and advocate for your needs & those of your baby.
This includes:
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Antenatal Support:
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Session 1: understanding physiological birth (stages of labour, baby's movements/position during labour, mother's movements, third stage of labour)
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Session 2: facilitating physiological birth; the brain, the body and hormones
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Session 3: discussion about risks, fears, and management
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Session 4: birth preferences, birth team, birth environment, & birth plan
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Session 5: a backup session for support
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Biomechanical adjustments at each Antenatal meet up
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A Hypnobirthing programme to support your birth hormones and reduce tension
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Any pregnancy yoga or pilates classes we offer
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An on-call period from 38-42 weeks (or until your baby is born)
-
Support via WhatsApp or email within standard working hours (8 am-8 pm) for the duration of your pregnancy
-
5 weeks Birth Pool rental
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Support for the duration of your labour and birth, and remaining with you after the birth to ensure you are settled and comfortable with your baby
-
Postnatal Support:
-
A postnatal session within a week of your birth to check in with you, de-brief the birth, and meet your lovely baby again. I will also bring a meal and can support you with breastfeeding.
-
A second postnatal session to catch up and support you in any way you feel helpful
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A final postnatal session around 6 weeks after your birth to check how you feel you are coping
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More About Doulas
You can think of a doula as a trained birth partner, usually with a number of special skills that promote a positive birth and aid the primary birth partner in better showing up for the birthing woman.
Top-class research (Cochrane Library 2017) has shown that the support of a doula in the birth space can have substantial positive effects on the outcomes for both mum and baby when carried out alongside regular medical care.
For even more information, check out: https://doula.org.uk/what-doulas-do/