Ellen Wood

Ellen lives with her husband and two boys in the South Wales area, near Caerphilly. She currently supports women and their partners during pregnancy by delivering antenatal courses and is happy to travel up to 45 minutes into the surrounding areas.

Ellen works with parents antenatally as an NCT practitioner as well as currently training to run pregnancy yoga classes. Her work also extends into the postnatal period with her being trained through the International Association of Infant Massage as well as undergoing further training with the NCT to become a postnatal practitioner.

Before starting her training with the NCT, Ellen worked with the National Foster Agency helping many families through difficult situations and circumstances, undergoing continuous training within the agency including safeguarding, managing disruptions, infant first aid and attachment and bonding. Because of her experience working with many different types of family units she is non-judgmental and fully supports others in making choices that are right for their family.

Ellen then took some time away to have her own family, with her second son being born at the very start of the coronavirus pandemic. Through this she has an extreme sympathy and understanding for others who are also are birthing at this difficult time and feels that doulas are a way to support you as well as your birth partner to be able to enhance the birthing experience for you both.

Ellen truly believes that when a woman receives continuity of emotional and physical support and care throughout pregnancy, birth and into the fourth trimester they are more likely to come away feeling like they have had a positive experience. Ellen is happy to meet with you (and your birthing partner) to listen and talk about your birth plans, provide informed, non-judgemental knowledge and act as an advocate if needed. Ellen would also be happy to support with providing physical relaxations, breathing techniques or massage during your labour and birth.

Ellen will be happy to support you in any chosen birthplace whether that be at home, in a birthing centre or a hospital and to be there with you through a vaginal birth or a caesarean birth. She will also be there to support you through your feeding choices and can signpost you to further information and resources if needed.

As your doula, Ellen would be there from pregnancy, through birth and beyond to help ease the emotional transition into parenthood for your new family, ensuring you always feel heard and focused on to be empowered to have the experience you wish.