TESTIMONIALS

Jo Hawkesford

The founder of Cheshire Doulas and mother to four beautiful children, three girls and one boy. A Certified (Trainee) Birth and Postnatal Doula, trained by Nuturing Birth Doula Training, with Bushra Finch, founded by Pieter and Valerie Goedkoop. Also currently training with the National Childbirth Trust completing the Diploma in Antenatal Education.

I have a considerable level of experience, working with pregnant and postnatal women, caring for children and serving women for the past 13 years and loving the joys it brings. After the birth of my first baby I knew my destiny was to work with mothers and babies.

My birth philosophy is simple:
"Every woman deserves to have the most positive birth experience she can possibly have, to feel safe and secure, to feel supported enough to let go. Being empowered to trust in herself and those around her, to be able to go within, let go of her fears and embrace childbirth. To birth her baby, her way."

My work began by volunteering with a postnatal depression support group, just making the drinks, but the more I spoke to pregnant women and women with new born babies, the more intrigued I became by how important our birth experiences were to us. In between having my 4 children, I continued to work with pregnant and postnatal women, gaining understanding from my own experiences and those of others. My own births were all so very different, I had my first baby in hospital and the other three at home, and have the best memories of all of them. Each birth inspired me more and more and my desire to empower other women became a passion and ambition. I truely believe there is so much to be learnt from every birth as each woman, baby and birth are totally unique (as were mine), so too are their set of circumstances and background. Protecting the positive memory of each individuals experience is an integral part of my work.

For 4 years I worked as a Postnatal Co-ordinator for The National Childbirth Trust, ensuring mothers received the support they very much needed and that new mothers received information about what was happening in their area for mums and young babies.

In 2005 whilst living down in Devon, due to my husbands work, I set up a Pregnancy and New Mums Support Group called Circulating Friends. This was primarily set up for the wives and partners of men in the Navy. Women whose husbands were away on duty, either during pregnancy and or during the early months of their babies lives. Many women came to the group to find support from each other, suffering from postnatal depression or just generally struggling on their own. Women who were lonely and felt isolated, found friendship and support within the group, facilitated by myself, the women became empowered, stronger mothers.

During this time I also worked alongside several antenatal teachers, helping at antenatal classes for couples. Listening to the needs, wants, questions, fears and concerns of many first time parents. Helping at the antenatal classes was really enjoyable and the understanding I gained during this time has been valuable for my work as a doula, it also inspired me to become an antenatal teacher myself. Alongside working as a doula I am continuing to train with the National Childbirth Trust as an antenatal teacher.

My decision to become a doula came about due to my dedication to empowering new mothers and supporting them during their pregnancy and afterwards, to help them to form a strong bond with their babies in the first few precious weeks of life. I bring warmth and compassion, understanding, empathy, empowerment and support to each and every birth I attend. My goal is to enable every woman to feel positive about her labour. To feel supported by those people around her whom she loves, so she can give birth, feeling secure and held. Allowing the labouring woman to go within her body, to birth her baby, her way.

"Supportive Birthing Your Way"
Jo Hawkesford
Birth and Postnatal Doula