Hi congratulations on your pregnancy and Welcome

My name is Joan, and I combine my experience as a mum, nurse, doula, and reflexologist to provide you with the best-personalised care and support on your journey. I have supported couples at their birth as a birth doula for 12 yrs and have taught HypnoBirthing to over 1500 couples. I would be so honoured and happy to support you too.

Qualifications

• Registered general nurse
• Aromatherapy diploma
• Reflexology diploma
• Massage Therapist
• Reiki practitioner
• Bach flower remedies practitioner
• Hypnobirth instructor
• Birth Doula
• Rebozo and closing the bones ceremony facilitator
• Biomechanics for labour and birth

Professional life

My professional career began in health care when I trained and qualified as a Registered General Nurse, later specialising in acute medicine. My first roles were in busy London hospitals in Obstetrics and Gynaecology wards, Accident & Emergency and Intensive care Units.

Once moving out of London and having children, it all changed when one of my children was very poorly. This opened up a whole new world to complementary medicine and a more holistic approach to health and well-being, leading to years of study in Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Body Massage, Bach Flower Remedies, Reflexology & Maternity Reflexology, Reiki, eventually becoming a HypnoBirthing instructor and Doula.

I launched my business BirthWell in 2009 and have supported pregnant women with my complementary therapies for almost 20 years. In 2009 I trained in HypnoBirthing with the original Mongan Method and KG hypnobirthing training, and have been teaching it since. It is not just a course you get with my classes, it is a complete antenatal education programme giving you the science and information plus the tools to feel confidently prepared for whatever path your birth may take.

I trained as a Doula in 2011 with Michel Odent and later with the Birth Bliss academy, joined Doula UK in 2011 and have been the Doula UK representative for Hertfordshire since 2016.

It has been my mission to help as many families enjoy pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenthood as possible. Providing doula support is a privilege and an honour for me on every level, and I have now supported over 100 births, some with the same families three times over the years.

Every birth is different, and every woman has different needs and wishes for her birth, it’s such a unique and special time to be invited to a birth – it is the biggest reward in my birth world.

Personal Life

I grew up on a dairy farm not far from the sea in County Galway in the west of Ireland. I am a mum to 3 grown-up children, auntie to 33 nieces and nephews, and Yaya to 3 beautiful grandchildren. I am one of 10 children, I was a home birth, and I learnt a long time ago about how magical and normal birth can be. I love cows, the countryside, the sea and all my family.

Having my children in hospitals, I quickly realised with my first child how being naive, uninformed and trusting of my care providers made me vulnerable and a prime suspect for many medical interventions.

I did not allow this to happen for my following two births; I took control, became informed and experienced much more positive births.

I’ve lived in England twice as long as I’ve lived in Ireland but I still speak with a soft Irish accent which my couples love for their hypnobirthing relaxation sessions. I enjoy holidays by the sea, I love good food, and a glass of wine with family and friends. Helping young families to ease into parenthood positively with my help and support brings me a lot of joy and I feel grateful to be doing something so worthwhile. A positive birth sets a new family up beautifully for early parenting.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

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