Phoebe Howe

Phoebe is a doula based in Reading, Berkshire. She is willing to travel up to 30 miles to provide support.

Would you like Phoebe to be your doula?

Email: phoebe@birthwithphoebe.co.uk or call 07889 388912 or visit www.birthwithphoebe.co.uk

About Phoebe

Phoebe’s passion for supporting women began when she was present at her mother’s home birth at the age of 11. This was then rekindled when she trained as a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter with the NCT in 2019 and began her studies towards becoming a Breastfeeding Counsellor and Birth Doula.

Having had a complex birth herself, Phoebe wishes she had used a Doula, and is driven by the desire to bridge the gap between birthing women and their wants and needs for labour and birth.

Phoebe takes a holistic approach, providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to the mother, and working with a birth partner if one is present. Phoebe has experience and knowledge in listening skills, breathing and relaxation techniques, and massage in order to support a mother in a variety of ways to meet her needs. She is also interested in aromatherapy and hypnobirthing, and is happy to work with the mother to come up with a birthing plan to encompass her wishes.

By working alongside midwives, Phoebe will act as an advocate and source of comfort to support a birth experience outlined by the mother, wherever she chooses to give birth.

Qualifications

NCT Doula (2002)
NCT Breastfeeding Peer Supporter (2019)
Completed L4 of NCT Birth and Beyond Degree (2021)

Practicalities

Phoebe will provide support by:

Meeting with you (and any birth partner you may have) beforehand, to get to know you and your individual wishes
Being available via text, phone, and email antenatally and for an agreed time following the birth
Being on call for up to 4 weeks surrounding your due date
Supporting you through labour physically and emotionally, and advocating for your wishes
Providing feeding support
Meeting with you within 6 weeks postnatally to debrief and talk through the labour and birth experience

Testimonials

"I cannot recommend Phoebe enough, the knowledge, care and love provided by her was endless.

Phoebe shared her knowledge with me which in turn pushed me to research and learn more about my body, labour and breastfeeding. This being my third child I really wanted to persevere with breastfeeding - now one month in, baby girl and I are thriving.

Phoebe made it a priority to provide information to me about anything and everything I was unsure about as well as reminding me that everything was my choice during my pregnancy and birthing experience.

Phoebe was professional, compassionate, and calm which allowed me to focus on my breathing and staying calm throughout my labour and I can't imagine the experience without her. Phoebe made sure all my wishes were heard during labour, made sure I was happy in my environment i.e. room, lighting, music and protected my privacy as much as possible which was really important for me.

I put it all down to having Phoebe as my doula that this was my most pain free, natural and best pregnancies and births compared to my previous ones.

Afterwards Phoebe called to check up on my baby and I multiple times and offered me support.

If I ever chose to have another baby I would without doubt have Phoebe as my Doula again!

I had such an incredible experience from start to finish with this birth and Phoebe, all in all making this the least stressful birthing experience for me.

Thank you Phoebe ❤"