I offer my doula support to families across Cornwall and the Devon border and have worked at Derriford, Plymouth, RCHT Truro and RD&EH Exeter hospitals. I also cover birthing centres in Cornwall – Penrice, Truro Birth Centre and Helston as well as home births. Over my 8 years working as a doula, I have supported all kinds of births from elective cesarean births to wild pregnancies and free births (and everything else in between!) I have specific experience of preparing and supporting families for vaginal breech birth, twins and vaginal birth after caesarean birth (on delievry suite, in birth centres and at home). I take a holistic approach to our preparation, as I know from experience that traditional antenatal education is rarely sufficient.
As your doula, I will provide unconditional physical, emotional and informational support to the whole family and help to ease your passage into parenthood. We will meet initially to see if I am the right doula for you, usually over a video call or if you are local to me, then there is the possibilty for us to meet in person.
Doula Support Packages
Essence – ‘Essential Nurturing Birth Support’
This is my essential package and includes the following:
- 3 x 2 hour in person visits plus check-in sessions by phone of video call as needed before your baby is born so we can get to know each other and discuss your birth vision and wishes. We will explore your options, work through any previous birth stories / beliefs around birth, explore how you can foster a positive mindset and talk about the physiology of birth. We will also cover biomechanics, positions to use during labour, relaxation and massage techniques and any alternative therapies you might wish to use.
- I will support you with writing your birth plan and can attend your birth planning meeting with your midwife / consultant if you wish me to. I am also happy to attend other pre-birth appointments if you feel you need extra support, however these meetings will be charged separately.
- You will have FREE access to my 6 week online journalling course to help you focus on the inner journey you are making during this transformational time
- You will receive an Astra-Mechanics hand drawn ‘birth chart’ for your due month and an explanation of what might be happening in the stars your baby’s due time.
- I will be available to you throughout our time together on the phone or by text and we will have keeping in touch calls between visits.
- An on-call period from 10 days before your estimated due date to 42 weeks. This means that I will keep my diary clear for you and be available to come to you when you go into labour. I will support you for the whole of your labour and birth until you and your new baby are settled.
- You will have access to my lending library of birthy books and resource sheets for links to helpful information on a variety of topics
- I am an experienced breastfeeding peer supporter so can help you to initiate breastfeeding if that is how you choose to feed your baby.
- 2 x 2 hour visits after your baby is born to give you a nurturing helping hand with your new family. My postnatal support also includes a sealing massage ceremony (Closing the Bones).
- Postnatally I will bring you nourishing and warming food and drinks to help you on your healing journey. Additional post-natal support can be booked separately. See Postnatal Support.
I will be on the other end of the phone, text or e-mail for you throughout our time together.
I am a trained Birthing From Within Childbirth Educator, so if you are interested in in person or online antenatal courses, these can be found in Birth Preparation and Pregnancy Support.
Your Investment – £1,550
Expansion – ‘Honouring your Birth Journey’
This is a deeper dive into honouring the journey you are making with drum journeys, ritual and ceremony. Three hours of antenatal education following the Birthing From Within method will also be included. Everything in the first package is offered, but you will also receive:
- 3 x hours of antenatal education using the Birthing From Within method – we will discuss your needs and you can choose what you would most like to explore with me. These sessions can be held via Zoom or in person if you are not too far from me. See my birth preparation courses for more information about Birthing From Within and what this might look like for you.
- Nurturing You – I will create a beautiful session for you during the last weeks of your pregnancy to honour you as you approach the birth altar. This could include a pregnancy relaxation sequence with my rebozo, herbal footbath, drum journey to visualize your birth, creative journalling / art, creating ‘padsicles’ or making a belly cast. We could even spend the time baking, cooking together so that you have some traditional postpartum foods in your freezer. We can release any remaining fears and set intentions for your birth. If you would like a full Mother Blessing Ceremony with a close circle of friends and family, these can be arranged separately although I will offer a 20% discount to anyone booking this package. To find out more, please read here
- 3 x in person meditations / shamanic drum journeys / healings for pregnancy and postnatally to be offered during our existing in person pre and postnatal sessions. For more information about this, please see Shamanic Drumming for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
- Closing the Bones Ceremony. More information about closing the bones can be found here.
Your Investment – £1,950
Late Booking
From 38 weeks onwards.
Sometimes you don’t know you need a doula until the last minute, you may have hit a bump in the road and need some extra support, or you may not have been aware of how amazing doula support can be and have just found out about it.
Whatever the reason, I am happy to offer a last minute package which will include 1 pre-birth meeting as it is important for me to get to know you and your wishes, an on-call period, attendance at the birth of your baby and 1 postnatal visit. I will also be available on the phone or by messenger / WhatsApp / text as much as you need me during our time together.
I am always happy to discuss your requirements and if you feel you need extra pre-birth visits or postnatal support, please get in touch and we can tailor make a package for you.
Your Investment – £950
Payment Schedule
My fees reflect the breadth of my birth doula experience and training. My packages are an outline of what could be included when you work with me – if you are expecting your fourth baby, you may want to work with me in a different way to if you are expecting your first baby. I will always meet you where you are and adjust the content of our time together accordingly.
I am one of Cornwall’s long established doulas and I do get very busy. Contacting me early in your pregnancy is advisable to secure your time with me. I love to work with families over a longer period of time and find those connections really beneficial when it comes to birth.
I usually ask for a booking fee of 50% to secure my time, with the remaining 50% paid at 37 weeks or you can pay in 3 instalments over our time together. I am aware that rising costs of living are making things challenging for many of us, so if you would like doula support and think you may not manage the fees, we can discuss other options to help you to spread the cost.
I may need to charge additional fuel costs depending upon where you live.
Birth Client Testimonials
In the first month of pregnancy I really had no idea what my role as a dad would entail throughout pregnancy and the birth of our little boy. Whilst my partner started to prepare for the birth, in what seemed to me to be in sync with her natural motherly instinct, I felt like a spectator, isolated and unaware as to how I could play a meaningful part in supporting her. Only when we started our journey with Jo did I discover my role as a birthing partner.
Jo delivered sessions that included the physiology of birth, guided meditations, astra mechanics, birthing positions, birth planning and a birth run through session whilst sharing informative resources throughout, which were extremely helpful. As the sessions went by our plan evolved, our confidence grew and I felt prepared to make decisions to support my partner in any eventuality.
With Jo’s careful guidance I went from being a spectator, to being the proud Gatekeeper, equipped with the knowledge and tools to support my partner alongside Jo at our little boys home birth. I am proud to say this was the most amazing experience of my life.
Jo has a infectiously calm aura coupled with a highly professional approach that made my partner and I feel at ease from our first session through to last of her post birth support visits. She is a very special human, to whom I am eternally grateful and I truly can not recommend her support enough.
DM, Birth Client (Dad), April 2025
Jo is so knowledgeable and a wealth of useful information to make the whole pregnancy and birth process feel informed and in control. I got the home birth I’d so wanted and came out of it feeling supported, empowered and like I welcomed my baby into the world in the best possible way for us. The closing of the bones ceremony was just the icing on the cake. Would highly recommend
JF, Sept 2024
Jo is a truly amazing doula, she supported me through my twin pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey. Carrying identical twins made it a more complicated pregnancy, but Jo was able to help me to navigate the system and understand my birthing rights. She has a very calming presence, deep wisdom and is a fantastic listener. She’s kind, caring, compassionate and very knowledgeable, all of which make her a wonderful doula. I felt very lucky to have her by my side throughout my journey and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone considering the support of a doula.
SD, Birth Client, Oct 2023
Possibly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Jo was incredible from the first day I met her and without her, I wouldn’t have had the amazing birth experience that I achieved. Jo’s expert techniques, experience and advice were second to none and her postpartum help and support has been wonderful. I had my last session with Jo a few days back and can honestly say that I’m sad that I won’t be seeing Jo as often. I always knew how I wanted to birth and with her support, I got the free birth that I wanted. If you are thinking of hiring a doula, Jo is absolutely amazing. Couldn’t recommend highly enough. Thanks Jo for all your support
HT, Birth Client, September 2023
We have had the absolute pleasure and honour of having Jo as our doula for both our babies’ births, 3.5 years apart, and this has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Jo is friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and thorough around all things birth education, open minded and respectful. She is honestly everything a woman needs when being supported through pregnancy and birth.
Throughout pregnancy she listens deeply to your wishes, concerns and/or questions, offering deep insight into any area of pregnancy and birth. During both my labours she has been an invaluable addition to my birth experience. Between Jo and my partner, I felt held, supported, empowered and safe. This has made for the most incredible experiences that I will cherish forever.
A few days post birth, I had a beautiful womb massage from Jo and a chance to chat over our birth experience. Jo also delivered us a batch of homemade dahl which was delicious and very much appreciated during the early postpartum days. I am so so grateful to Jo. If you are someone who is considering having a doula, I would say it is 100% worth it and Jo is a truly wonderful person for the role.
SM, Birth Client, July 2023
We went through quite a few hurdles and changes throughout our pregnancy and although I tried to remain calm and collected it wasn’t always easy at times – Jo was able to help me stay on a level where I felt grounded. She has such a gentle and kind presence that I feel it would be hard to be stressed around her. She really helped us feel in control and empowered and she gave me the strength to battle things that I perhaps wouldn’t have had the energy to do if she wasn’t supporting us. She’s a beautiful soul.
SD, Birth Client, Aug 2021
Jo was supportive and knowledgeable. She provided me with useful information from the very start. Before the birth she helped me with my anxieties and uncertainties. During the birth she knew exactly what was needed and when. For instance she was aware of the babies positioning and therefore knew what would help during the contractions. After the birth the closing of the bones ceremony felt very special and an important part of the journey to motherhood. Jo was always very kind, calm and unobtrusive. I would highly recommend.
SE, May 2021
Jo is the most wonderful doula. She supported us throughout pregnancy, labour and after the birth. She ensured we had all the information we needed for a well informed birth plan, she was there for us as soon as we felt we needed her on the day of our labour and supported us through a very positive water birth experience.
Sarah, Birth Client, December 2019
Jo helped me and my husband throughout the labour so much. I ended up using the birthing pool. I didn’t think this was going to happen due to complications, but Jo really helped to make this happen. I highly recommend Jo. She helps you to realise you have a choice about things you wouldn’t think about.
Laura, Birth Client, Dec 2018
For more testimonials, please see my Testimonials page or Google Reviews.
I also have reviews on my social media https://www.facebook.com/JoKidmanDoula or https://www.instagram.com/birth_in_your_power/.