Postnatal doula
The first weeks at home
You've had a baby, and life changed in an hour. Sleepless nights, a body that's recovering, a small person you're learning from scratch — and at the same time you're working out who you are now.
I trained as a maternity nurse, and I chose the word doula. A maternity nurse looks after the baby. I look after you both — feeding and latch, your recovery, how to hold and settle and bath your baby, and how you are doing in all of it. We look for the rhythm that works in your family, not the one from a book.
What a day — or a night — looks like
DURING THE DAY
Feeding and latch. A shower you actually get to finish. Sleep, while I hold the baby. A meal. Questions answered as they come up, and the small things settled so that you can rest. And someone to talk to who isn't worried about you.
AT NIGHT
I'm awake so that you can sleep. I bring your baby to you to feed and settle them afterwards, or give a bottle if that's your plan. Most families book nights for the stretch where everything is hardest, not forever.
If you're in this country without family nearby, this is the support that family would have given. There is nothing indulgent about it.
From the first hours
Postnatal support often starts before you're even home. The first feed, the first nappy, the first time you're left holding your baby and everyone else has walked out of the room — those hours set the tone for the weeks that follow.
If you'd like me there in hospital as well as at home, say so and we'll plan it.
Days and nights
I trained as a maternity nurse, and I still call myself a doula. It is a word I am fond of and proud of: a maternity nurse looks after the baby, and a doula looks after both of you. Open the one you are thinking about.
Daytime supportMinimum 3 hours per visit
£30 / hour
Feeding and latch. A shower you actually get to finish. Sleep, while I hold the baby. A meal. Questions answered as they come up, and the small things settled so that you can rest. And someone to talk to who is not worried about you.
NightsMinimum 7 hours
from £245 / night
£35 an hour, minimum 7 hours
I am awake so that you can sleep. I bring your baby to you to feed and settle them afterwards, or give a bottle if that is your plan. You pay by the hour rather than for a fixed block — if you need seven hours one night and nine the next, that is what you pay for. Most families book nights for the stretch where everything is hardest, not forever.
Paying in instalmentsAsk me — it changes nothing else
Instalments
Postnatal support can be booked as a block of visits or one at a time, and paid in instalments. Just say so when we speak.
What families say
So grateful to Valentina for her incredible support throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postnatal period. Her calm presence, knowledge, and genuine care made such a difference at every stage. I truly couldn't have asked for better support.
— Katerina CalpaneThis was my first birth, and I was very nervous and completely unsure how to handle children. Valentina was incredibly helpful and taught me a lot about childcare, and she also helped me get used to this completely new role. My baby even began to recognise her and was very happy when she came. If I have a second child, I will definitely contact Valentina again.
— Alexandra BakroShe is a really nice, professional specialist. She knows her job and gives a lot of support. She answered all my questions and I was not nervous. It was my first pregnancy and I took a course with her, so I understood all the stages and knew what to expect.
— Olga BelenkayaAlready home and finding it hard?
You don't have to wait until it gets worse. Thirty minutes on the phone, free, and we'll work out what would actually help.
