Letty Rose Jeffreys

Hello, my name is Letty and I am a Birth & Postnatal Doula based just outside Saffron Walden.

COVID-19 Update: I am still working with clients during this somewhat strange and uncertain time. So far I have found supporting expectant parents over zoom/WhatsApp calls, email and text to prepare antenatally hugely successful and am still going on-call at 38 weeks. I can then either attend your labour in person during the early stages, or alternatively support over video call – these are options we can discuss and make a plan that everyone is happy and comfortable with. When the baby is here, I can support remotely with feeding etc in the first few hours and weeks. Please do get in touch if you have any questions or if you just need someone to talk to in these sometimes lonely times.

I have always been fascinated with birth and having had my son, Quinn, in 2013 and becoming Auntie to eight nieces and nephews, it quickly became a passion. I trained with Maddie McMahon at Developing Doulas when Quinn was just 4 months old – as soon as he was born I felt a strong calling to enter this line of work.

I have experience in attending and supporting natural birth, water birth, induction, home birth, hospital birth (both birthing centre and delivery units), twin birth, VBAC, Caesarean birth, severe perinatal depression, and birth after bereavement.

My aim is to walk with you, as you make your choices for birth and beyond. Every woman/couple choose to have a doula for a different reason, so exploring your preferences, any fears/concerns you may have and your vision for your perfect birth will help me to understand the support that you are looking for and allow me to then provide that during your labour. I can offer you evidence based information to help you make informed decisions about your care and nurture you with practical help and tips for pregnancy, birth and early parenting. I am very much aware that pregnancy brings with it a minefield of information – a lot of it conflicting, which can create doubt and confusion. I am here for you, to help you navigate the information available and be a sound board if required.

I am also there to support the birth partner, making sure that he/she is able to give you the support you need from them, whilst being cared for themselves. I am certainly not there to replace your birth partner (unless I am your sole birth partner which I have experience of). As your Birth Doula, I am your supportive labour companion, providing encouragement and reassurance, as well as the practical needs. I want to help you feel safe and secure and I won’t leave you alone throughout the whole labour and birth, unless you ask me to. I want to make sure the birth of your baby is as positive and fulfilling an event as possible – however your baby is born. We can chat antenatally about techniques you may wish to use to help you remain calm and in control throughout the experience.

Over the last few years my calling has unfolded before my eyes and I am proud to say I am an experienced Wise Hippo Birthing Instructor, I run group and private courses in North Essex and Cambs so I can also support you in this way if you choose hypnobirthing as part of your antenatal preparation. I am a qualified ABM Breastfeeding Counsellor and I find this skill absolutely invaluable when supporting clients once baby is here as well as during antenatal preparation. I am also a Placenta Specialist and have been trained to provide a modern and safe method for women to consume their placenta in capsule form as well as many other remedies for both mother and baby.

I have a keen interest and deep trust in general of women’s bodies being capable of natural birth, however, I am a strong believer in choices and having the ‘right birth on the day ‘and so I am also very supportive of medicalised/surgical birth if that is the route your labour/birth takes. Preparation for all outcomes is key to a positive experience.

I will be available to you 24/7 from around 38 weeks and once you call me, I will stay with you (and your partner), supporting both of you, until at least 2 hours after your baby is born. After the birth, I can help you to begin your breastfeeding partnership with your baby if that is your chosen feeding method. I will leave as soon as you are ready for some privacy and will then come and visit you  postnatally, to talk through the birth, or any concerns you may have as a new parents.

Postnatal Doula Support

My role is to provide non-intrusive support according to your family’s needs and wishes. I am there to help you relax and heal, while ensuring that the familiar daily household routine remains as anchored as possible. I can help with the following:

– feeding support (I am a qualified ABM Breastfeeding Counsellor and this skill is hugely valuable to my postnatal clients)

– emotional support

– help with baby basics

– food shopping

– simple cooking

– light housework

– pet care

– local errands

– help with older siblings

Please feel free to call me if you would like an initial chat about your requirements and any questions you may have.

Letty xx