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I am Siobhan Smith
The Birth Doula
I am married to Paul, together we have three children and two crazy springer spaniels. I was born and raised in North London and come from Irish parents, hence the name “Siobhan” pronounced Shiv-on. Its Gaelic, (Irish), having an unusual name often involves a lot of explaining that its not pronounced Si-o-ban. I love spending time with my family and friends. My hobbies include eating cake and exercising to work off the calories, although I haven’t managed to get the balance quite right on that.
I have been supporting families as a birth & postnatal doula since 2011. To date I have attended over 300 births and supported many more families in the postnatal period.
I provide emotional and practical support before, during & after the birth of your baby. I can help you navigate the maternity system and be that continuity throughout your pregnancy. If you have a partner I will be their wing-(wo)man, supporting them through what can feel like an over whelming responsibility.
Postnatally I will support you while you adjust to your “new normal”. I will be that helping hand guiding you while you explore your parenting skills. I can support with the common questions most parents have about the day to day care of a newborn and help you recognise what is normal newborn behaviour. I also work as a night nanny for when you feel you need to recharge your batteries.
Register Entry Number: 13489
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I am available to work in North London, Watford, Berkhamsted, St Albans, Harpenden, Chesham, Aylesbury, Chorleywood, Beaconsfield and surrounding areas
I trained at the beginning of 2011 with BirthBliss Academy completing a birth and postnatal doula course and full mentoring program, gaining recognition and accreditation status. I am a member of Doula UK and follow their philosophy and the Code of Conduct.
I have a full DBS and insurance as well as being accredited by FEDANT.
When I’m not working with expectant and new parents some of my other roles include: Working at The University of Hertfordshire as a visiting lecturer and one of their Experts by Experience. I attend the university delivering workshops of the student midwives as well as sitting on the interview panel for the midwifery degree applicants.
I am a member of my local Maternity Voices Partnership where we work alongside our local NHS trust with co-production to improve maternity services for the people that use the service and the staff that work within it. In the past I have volunteered at the Royal Free hospital, Hampstead in North London and at Watford General hospital, Hertfordshire as a Breastfeeding Peer Support Worker. This gave me great insight to the way in which midwives, obstetricians and paediatricians work and an opportunity to attend many educational courses along side the medical professionals as a result of working with them.
I am also a doula mentor for new doulas going through the recognition process with Doula UK as well as being Head of Accreditation and training course facilitator for The BirthBliss Doula Academy.
I have experience of working in all types of environments: hospitals, birth centres and home births.I have even attended a birth on a boat.
I have experience of working with different types of births such as: water births, VBAC, breech, caesarean births and multiple births and have supported many parents deemed as having high risk pregnancies and births. I have also supported many families through pregnancy and childbirth following previous trauma.
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