Kate Wallace

More about me

I live in Petworth, West Sussex with my partner and mischievous miniature dachshund Dolly. I am originally from Liverpool, but have lived in the South for over 20 years. My background is in education leadership.

I have 4 grown up children, Sophie, Martha, Rudy and Mags, who are all amazing (of course!) and I am very lucky to have 3 beautiful grandchildren as well. I also had 2 baby boys, Tom and Isaac, who sadly didn’t make it past the second trimester. 

My births were all very different in both their circumstances and how they unfolded. I had my first daughter Sophie when I was 18. It was a very medicalised birth and, looking back, whilst the professionals were all very kind, I felt completely disconnected from the experience. My second baby was 9 years later  and I thought that I had prepared myself by writing a ‘birth plan’. However the birth and the ‘birth plan’ bore very little resemblance to one another as I had no idea what to do to ensure my birth preferences were possible! 

My 2 baby boys arrived next, about 11 months apart and sadly we have very little apart from their names to remember them by. With subsequent births, I was monitored very closely by the hospital, which was all done sensitively and carefully but I didn’t know that this was optional. Fortunately for me, I had an amazing midwife who had looked after me during the pregnancy and birth of Tom and Isaac and for both my following pregnancies. It was wonderful to have someone with me who knew me and my story and who was there to encourage and support me through those times of such mixed emotions (thanks Jill). To add to all of this, my husband left when I was pregnant with my fourth baby…as you can imagine, this was a really tricky time to navigate. Again, I was truly blessed to have the support of two amazing women at this birth – thank you Robyn and Jaki for the best girls’ day out ever!

At the age of 43, I became a grandmother (although I’m known as ‘Kitty’ to all the grandchildren). I am privileged to have been present at all 3 births with my daughter and her partner. She is an amazing mother and was serene and in control during all of her labours – I don’t think I ever felt either during any of mine! She showed me that it was possible to be present and involved in the labour and birth process – thank you Sophie.

In essence, I have had many and varied experiences of birth and had ‘unofficial’ experience and giving of, doula-like support. Every pregnancy, labour and birth are unique and miraculous in so many different ways. And, whilst our bodies are designed to perform this truly amazing feat of creating, growing and birthing a tiny human being, there is much we can do to feel informed and prepared for the way this journey may unfold – and this is why I wanted to become a doula.

I feel that every birthing person and their family benefits from continuous emotional and informational support before, during and after childbirth. Having a doula that you and your partner, if you have one, have chosen, to provide a familiar face and a constant companion can deliver enormous benefits. As your doula, I will respect and nurture you; support your birth choices; provide research based evidence to respond to your questions; help to create and sustain a calm and unhurried environment for your birth; hold your space and do all that I can to support your transformation into parenthood.

Every woman deserves to birth how they would like to. Every woman deserves a doula – I would be honoured to be yours.