I created and launched Stockport Birth Services in 2016, helping families in Stockport, Greater Manchester and the Peak District. I support families to achieve better births and postnatal experiences through expert antenatal education and empowerment. This gives you the knowledge and confidence for your journey into parenthood.
Why Choose Stockport Birth Services?
I offer more than just antenatal courses; booking with me gives you access to a huge amount of expertise, experience, and a network of birth support and community in Stockport.
- Community-based: New parents need a village, and I help you find that. Your support doesn’t end when the course does; I give virtual support and info-sharing for as long as you need it. You can also tap into a thriving pregnancy and postnatal community through my work at inspireHER Women’s Hub.
- Political: Working with individual families is only part of what I do. I strive for system change – this means I work with lots of health organisations to try and make system improvements.
- Passionate: Fiercely and unapologetically so, and it sometimes comes out as a few F-bombs! I balance that with empathy, sympathy and a nice cup of tea.
What Makes Stockport Birth Services Tick
Stockport Birth Services has existed since 2016, but I’ve been working with families in the ‘birth world’ since 2012. I didn’t have a great first birth and that experience drives me to make it better for all families. I bring evidence-based knowledge, heart-led teaching, experience, and a deep understanding of how birth works – and how the system works. You won’t get fluff here. You’ll get honesty, respect, and a safe place to prepare and grow.
Working with me is informal, full of good information, and very real. There’s space to ask the “silly” questions (spoiler: there are none), to talk honestly, and to feel genuinely seen. Your choices will never, ever be judged.
I’m about helping you feel confident, informed, and connected – however your journey unfolds.
My Ideal Client
Empowerment isn’t something I can teach; you have to be ready, willing and able to step into your power as parents. If you want to go through pregnancy and birth being told what to do and when to do it – I’m not the provider for you. I help families learn and understand what’s right for them; that sometimes means challenging the status quo.
If you’re a first-time or subsequent parent looking to understand your options, make informed choices, and actively work to make your birth as good as it can then we should work together. I’ll help you reduce the overwhelm and anxiety you’re feeling so you can face birth confidently.
Every family I work with are looking for more than they can get through NHS antenatal classes. They want information that’s personal to them and to the location they live in. The first-time parents I work with are often overwhelmed by conflicting birth advice and are maybe anxious about labour. Those who are on their second or subsequent birth experience are often either repeat bookers because I helped them achieve their goals first time round, or pregnant again after a traumatic or difficult first birth; I give them a sense of safety, control and emotional support.
I’m an inclusive practitioner and support many LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent families. I bring both deep knowledge through training and academic work of the challenges LGBTQ+ people face in the maternity system, and the understanding of lived experience as a neurodivergent person birthing within the system as well as targeted training.
Qualifications & Experience
- FEDANT-accredited antenatal training since 2016
- qualified Hypnobirthing practitioner
- child development qualification, focusing on the physical, social, intellectual and emotional development from pregnancy through to 5 years of age
- pgCert in Public Health with a focus on women’s health, working with communities, and working with under served communities
- past experience as breastfeeding peer supporter under Stepping Hill Hospital for a decade
- membership and training with Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
- trained course creator and facilitator
- trained in holistic approaches to pregnancy, birth and beyond such as rebozo
- equity training from multiple organisations for cultural competence, maternity and healthcare for Black and Asian people, maternity and healthcare for LGBTQ+ people, maternity and healthcare for neurodivergent people
- worked with Stockport Maternity Neonatal Voices Partnership for over a decade to improve local and regional services
- working with organisations such as NHS England and universities to ensure service user voices are part of their work
