Hannah Fletcher

More about me

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve had a strong instinctual desire to nurture people. As the eldest in my generation, I watched siblings and cousins come after me and was always so excited at the prospect of a new baby. It felt so incredibly natural to me to be involved and help, doing whatever I could to make things easier for the family. As I got older, this urge to guide and support people also grew, but I never really knew what to do with it. It was during my own pregnancy with my first child that I learned about the role of a doula. I found one for myself and the impact she had on me and my journey into motherhood has been ever lasting. I knew then that this was my calling. I wanted to be for others what she had been for me and my family; a pillar of unconditional, non-judgemental support, with a compassionate and truly listening ear.

I was incredibly fortunate to train with Developing Doulas in the Summer of 2023. I built on my existing knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, as well as learning new practical skills for supporting families through their journey into parenthood and beyond. I had already completed a breastfeeding support course with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, and a baby wearing course with Born to Carry. The doula preparation course felt like the perfect next step. I made some incredible connections during this time and my wonderful doula sisters continue to be a great source of support and guidance for me.

My practice as a doula is founded on respect for autonomy and a person’s right to make their own choices. I am committed to providing access to unbiased, evidence based information so that women and birthing people can make fully informed decisions about their care. I truly believe that every pregnant person is deserving of a positive and empowering experiencing when bringing their child into the world. Where and how this happens is of course important to a lot of people, but we know that birth is unpredictable, so no matter how things unfold, it’s how you feel about it that really matters.

I am extremely passionate about antenatal education. Knowledge is power, and the more you know the more in control you can be. I work closely with my clients during pregnancy to build a picture of their ideal birth and discuss all the things that might influence this, what the evidence shows us, and what their options are. I also place huge value on the immediate post partum period and fourth trimester. I feel that supporting parents to prepare for this sacred time is crucial. Learning about what your baby will need and how they will behave can help to shape your expectations, which in turn can make it easier to get through those more challenging times.

It is an incredible privilege to walk with a woman and her family as a new baby is welcomed into the world. I recognise that each pregnancy, birth and postpartum is unique, so I tailor my care to your specific wants and needs. I’d be honoured to support you on your journey and look forward to hearing from you.