Meet Sam
Postnatal Doula
I have been working as a postnatal doula since 2018 and my main priority is to support the well-being of a woman as she transitions to motherhood, by offering an invaluable continuity of care from birth to baby's first birthday.
Many will consider support through pregnancy and the birth process, but often the responsibilities, levels of fatigue and general life juggle, especially with other children, can feel challenging and overwhelming. The natural needs for rest, recuperation, healing and reflecting can be pushed to the bottom of the priority list.
To invest in postnatal support is to give yourself the opportunity to be listened to and having your needs validated, with no judgement, while encouraging you to trust your own instincts, and prioritising your own physical and emotional recovery, in your own space and time.
A woman considering postnatal doula support is to advocate and invest in her own health, whatever the birth may have looked like, while treasuring a unique time to bond with her baby and adjust to her own style of mothering.
Sam's
Story
I am a mother, a wife and a cancer survivor
I am a total yoga bunny, knitwear junkie and dog lover.
I love long walks on crisp autumn mornings and cosy nights in with a good movie and a hot chocolate.
My morning walks are my little meditations and space for myself to breathe, reflect and ground myself in nature, appreciating all the natural and seasonal cycles of life.
Family and friends are very important to me and have been a huge support over the years.
I have learnt so much about myself, through pregnancy, childbirth and becoming a mother, but also through four bouts of breast cancer when I was twenty six, thirty two, thirty four and in 2019, during our first lockdown.
After becoming a mother post cancer and experiencing a gap in support for those of us whose breastfeeding and health may be compromised at this monumental time, I feel passionately about specialising in this area and supporting other mothers who may find themselves in a similar position, with any type of chronic illness.
Areas such as secondary fertility, hysterectomy, early menopause, mental health and feminine identity are areas I can relate to deeply.
No-one is ever alone.
Daniella & baby Carter
"It was an absolute blessing having Sam as my doula. It gave me so much reassurance every week knowing she was coming and chatting things through with her."
Emma & baby Laurie
"Finding Sam for my first child made such a positive difference, it was obvious I would have her again with my second!
Marta & baby Astrid
“Sam is full of empathy and knowledge and has made my postnatal period wonderful. With all the lack of sleep and change, I still felt safe.”
Links & Resources
I have had a few articles about my postnatal work published online and in print, as well as speaking on a couple of podcasts, about my doula work.
Below is a collection of links for some of the recordings and articles for you to read and/or listen to:
Podcasts & Interviews
20th February 2023
Leila Baker, Head of Membership for Doula UK, speaks to Sam Reynolds about parenting with cancer.
11th June2021
Therapy in the eyes of Sam Reynolds, a postnatal doula, taking care of people throughout the childbirth and recovery process.
2020
BBC Sounds Soul Music programme speaks to Sam Reynolds about the surprising history behind Nina Simone's hit Feeling Good and the impact it has.
