Doula Kin

Hello, I’m Victoria, a postnatal doula and I live in south-west London with my husband and two chi

07/09/2023

Lovely words from a client. It was such a privilege to be a part of her first few months as a mother.

30/06/2022

Moving from one to two....

There is just 20 months between my children. My youngest was very premature and came out of hospital on home oxygen for three months which was added a whole new level. I found two under two a challenge!

There are many advantages to having two very close together. They both will (hopefully) nap, they will grow up doing similar things/ have similar interests (or at the very least even just like the same tv programmes.)

As a postnatal doula I'd say a third of my clients hire me for their second baby (or 3rd,4th and even 5th). And it's often to take care of the newborn for a few hours so that the older child gets some one to one time with mum. Or it's taking care of baby so mum can rest. Two under two can be quite physical with the older one still wanting to be carried and held, pushing loaded buggies and toddlers on buggy boards. Plus navigating your own recovery from two pregnancies and births very close together.

I wouldn't change my two for the world. But what I should have done better is ask for more help in the early days.

If you've had two close together what would be your tips for mums expecting a second?

20/09/2021

I am officially an accredited postnatal doula 🎉

In the last 12 months I've been on a journey of personal growth and reflection. My initial Doula training in 2020 was just the beginning... because the accreditation process meant putting theory into practice out in the real world!

I chose to retrain as a doula after my second child was born and battled life threatening illnesses. This was a turning point for me, when I stopped taking life for granted and decided to follow my passion.

I did some coaching with .saunders who gave the courage (and kick up the bum) to quit my marketing job and embark on a new career.

And I haven't looked back. 💫

I cannot wait to see what the next 12 months holds.

20/08/2021

Double trouble! 👶👶

I adored every minute working with this family and learned so much from this twin mama. I started the night they left hospital when they were four days old.

Supporting this family with three children under the age of two (yes that's right!) was an absolute privilege.

I am in absolute awe of twin parents and how they learn to attend to the needs of their children.

06/08/2021

I'm taking a holiday with my family and a trip to the coast 🏊‍♀️🌊 I've been really busy with work these past few months.

It feels like there's more demand than ever for postnatal support at the moment. The old Igbo proverb from Nigeria is "It takes a village to raise a child" and don't we now know how true that is...

03/08/2021

It's - hurray breastfeeding is amazing!!! ✨ (We all know that.)

But with the UKs breastfeeding rate sitting at 1%* at six months* we have so much work to do.

The "breast is best" mantra can cause anxiety for so many new mums. Feeding babies is a journey, and in my experience as a postnatal doula (and mother to two babies) this journey can look so different to what we expect, and we're rarely adequately prepared for this. Many mums who I've supported who now successfully and exclusively breastfeed required help along the way from lots of sources. From hand expressing, pumping, colostrum harvesting, feeding tubes, bottles, top-ups with formula, lactation consultants, tongue tie consultants and LOTS of emotional and practical support.

In my experience mothers REALLY want to breastfeed and are extremely upset when it doesn't go to plan. They can blame themselves and feel like a failure.

I feel really passionate that breastfeeding is regarded as a journey, not an all or nothing "it either works or it doesn't".

Our culture here in the UK isn't set up to help women succeed at breastfeeding. Women aren't provided with support to establish breastfeeding after birth. Often the only way to access this is by paying for a lactation consultant. The time and energy required to establish feeding isn't always possible when you don't have family around to take care of you and provide opportunity to rest.

Feeding can be incredibly hard and I'm sending all my love and positive energy to to those who are struggling. Know that you're doing your best and that alone is amazing.

###

* Source https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/about/breastfeeding-in-the-uk/

18/07/2021

Slings are not just for outdoors. I use them around the house with my clients newborns.

For a newborn that's been inside the warmth of its mother's belly, their little bodies pressed up against ours, the beat of our heart right alongside theirs is instantly calming.

01/07/2021

Let me introduce myself....

To those I've yet to meet in real life.

I'm Victoria, a postnatal doula based in SW London. I love insights into other people's lives on the gram (aka nosy) so thought it time I shared something about myself on these squares.

⭐️ I'm 38 years old and originally from Worcestershire but have lived in London for 17 years.

⭐️ I am half British 🇬🇧 half Nigerian 🇳🇬

⭐️ I'm a wife and mother to two beautiful children, a five year old girl and three year old boy. 👦👧

⭐️ I was bought up by a single mum (which now I'm a mother myself, amazes me 🤯)

⭐️ I'm also a special needs mum and carer to my son who is non-verbal and has delayed development. We're currently going through the autism assessment.

⭐️ I spent 15 years working in marketing and comms before quitting to retrain as a doula.

⭐️ I was a Samaritans phone volunteer in my twenties. It's one of the best things I've ever done.

⭐️ I love in equal parts trash 📺 like Made in Chelsea and documentaries like Storyville. I'll take British films over Hollywood any day.

⭐️ I prioritise me time which is exercise and group classes. The way it boosts my mood is unbelievable. I'm definitely a more patient and positive mum when I train two to three times a week.

⭐️ I listen to a lot of audio books and radio four 📻. I'm always looking for recommendations.

⭐️ I really ❤️ my job, and doing something I genuinely love and feel 💯 my authentic self is nothing short of revelatory.

22/06/2021

It's a nice feeling knowing I made life a little bit easier for this new mama.

I adore being present for the beautiful, intense, all consuming, and joyful newborn period.

28/05/2021

I recently supported a charity called Ella's, who provide urgent care, long term support and freedom for survivors of trafficking and exploitation.

I ran an online session for some of the women who are currently pregnant. We covered birth physiology, different options and practical tips, and how they might feel in the first few days postpartum. It was an opportunity for the women to talk, share concerns and questions and learn as a group.

The women at Ella's have all survived trafficking and exploitation. These challenges can be amplified in pregnancy and childbirth.

The women are all doing incredibly well and I couldn't be more in awe of their strength and positivity.

13/05/2021

Putting on a bit of slap to cheer me up on this rainy day! I rarely wear make up but I have a zoom postnatal planning session today, so will be faced with my own reflection!

I'm really getting into wearing hairbands to cover my post-baby hair regrowth (even though the baby is now three!?)

06/05/2021

Five years ago, my beautiful baby girl arrived. Far from the the perfect birth... nothing went to plan... But it was the best day of my life.

Happy Birthday Juliette ###

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50 May Road
London

Website

https://www.thedouladirectory.com/united-kingdom/twickenham/doulas-near-me/victoria-salt

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