Lauren Marsh

More about me

Please include your mobile number on the enquiry form, and be aware my reply may go to your spam folder. I will always reply within 24 hours. It may be easier to contact me via my email address/phone number.

Follow this link for information regarding the ‘Your Autonomous Birth’ workshop – this doesn’t just teach you your rights in pregnancy and birth, but also how to use them.

Welcome to The Ruby Nest! My name is Lauren Marsh and I specialise in homebirth, freebirth, wild pregnancies and pregnancy/births outside of guidelines! 

I set up my business after the birth of my son Reuben (Ruby), when I was faced with a bad birth experience and continued to struggle during my early postnatal journey. I decided I didn’t want others to have to go through what I had gone through, and I was determined to support families through their journeys in whatever way I could.

Since then I’ve spent hours upon hours supporting countless families, researching, studying, attending courses, gaining qualifications and talking to other birth workers to build my knowledge and skill set to support families through their pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey.

In May 2020, our family packed up our home and moved into our van, and I became the travelling doula for 1.5 years. Living that way enabled me to support all families across the country, as well as raise my son in the best way we’re able to. Due to my previous living arrangements I am also well versed in supporting families off grid/living alternatively.

I am also one of the Directors of The Autonomy Hotline, a fantastic team of independent specialists dedicated to supporting families resisting coercion in health and social care and the courts.

My main passion is ensuring all my clients know their rights in pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, are given all the information they need to make informed choices, and feel supported in the decisions that they make. I strongly believe in you following your heart and intuition, and I’m there to support you every step of the way.

I have personal experience in extended breastfeeding, as well as currently attending a breastfeeding accredited course to be able to offer further assistance, so I’m able to support you with infant feeding.

I’ve also completed courses in baby wearing, breastfeeding homeopathy, the menstrual cycle, supporting families expecting babies with Down’s Syndrome, supporting families through baby loss at any gestation, a reflux and colic masterclass, and I’m also a hypnobirthing teacher.

As well as birth and postnatal doula services I also offer:

• Continuum care doula services
• SOS doula services
• Your rights in pregnancy and birth workshop
• Antenatal classes
• Hypnobirthing classes
• Starting solids workshops
• Bump castings
• Reclaiming your pregnancy
• Mother blessings
• Hourly support

When it comes to our babies, I follow a child-led approach, and strongly believe in the values of gentle-parenting and giving each child the respect they deserve.

I am constantly thinking towards the future, and what our long term goals are for supporting pregnancy/postpartum. I want to change the way society see’s birth, to eradicate the myths centered around birth, and I want every single person to have the pregnancy, birth and postnatal care that they deserve.

Having been off grid myself, I’m also able to support other families living off grid/alternatively.

For details of birth doula, continuum care doula and SOS doula packages, please see my website.

My birth doula support package includes:

• 1 free 15 minute call/zoom to discuss the package, and any questions you may have
• On going phone/text support from making your booking up to 6 weeks after birth
• 2 antenatal visits (in person or zoom) – go through previous births, how your pregnancy is going, birth plan, birth preparation, attendance at appointments if you wish
• Free access to my ‘your rights in pregnancy and birth’ webinar (worth £5)
• Cord tie, and informational leaflet on how to use it (worth £6)
• My pregnancy affirmation cards pack (worth £5)
• ‘Make your own padsicle’ kit (worth £8.50)
• On call for you from 38 weeks
• Birth attendance – supporting you through your birth, supporting you advocating for yourself and staying with you for a few hours post birth to help get you settled (can also upgrade to a birth doula photography package if you wish)
• 1 x 4 hour postnatal visit in the first few days after birth to go through the birth, feeding help, emotional support, and any questions you have.
• 10% off any of my other packages or services
• 10% off coupon code for my shop

My postnatal doula support package includes:

• 1 x free no obligation 15 min phone/zoom call to go through any questions or queries, and check that were the best fit.
• Ongoing support via phone/text from date of booking
• 1 antenatal visit to discuss post birth preferences ie. feeding, sleeping, support
• 1 cord tie, and informational leaflet on how to use it (worth £6)
• My post birth nutrition and recipe book (worth £5)
• ‘Make your own padsicle’ kit (worth £8.50)
• 5 x 4 hourly sessions (works out at £18 p/h) where I can support infant feeding, breastfeeding, newborn care, cook meals for you or your family, light housework, watch baby whilst you shower/nap, watch your older children whilst you bond/nap with baby, support your partner, attend health care appointments with you, non-medical approaches to healing, emotional support, family support and much more. TO BE USED WITHIN THE TWO WEEKS AFTER BIRTH.
• Sign-posting and helping with necessary referalls
• Birth debrief
• 10% off any of my other packages or services
• 10% off my shop

If you need longer sessions/more sessions, please contact me to arrange.

All packages can be tailored in any way you need, shortened, extended etc.

Full details of my packages and services can be found on my website. If there’s something specific you’re looking for but can’t see it, please get in touch and I’ll always do my best to accommodate all requests, and if I can’t I will assist in signposting you to the best place.

I am open to payment plans

Please include your mobile number on the enquiry form, and be aware my reply may go to your spam folder. I will always reply within 24 hours. It may be easier to contact me via my email address/phone number.

Testimonials:

“Lauren goes above and beyond to help me and support my newborn baby as a first time Mama. I had never heard of doula’s before until I spoke with Lauren but she has opened up my awareness with her knowledge about what she does, what she can do for me and help me become the best Mama I can be. I would recommend Lauren for her support, expertise and confidence.”

“Lauren has been my doula since my baby was born, she has always been so supportive of me and helped with any issues I’ve had. There nothing she hasn’t supported me with including stopping breastfeeding due to unforeseen issues postnatal regardless of being a breastfeeding advocate. Never has she made me feel like I’m not making the right decisions for me and my baby. I will certainly be using her again for any future pregnancies and births and will always recommend her to anyone looking for their own doula!”

“Lauren was my doula to begin with, I found her to be very understanding and has supported me as a first time Mum. Especially, whilst my baby was in the neonatal intensive care unit, she guided me with her knowledge and expertise around breastfeeding and has continued to do so throughout our journey and it’s undoubtedly thanks to her that I have continued to exclusively breastfeed my little boy at almost 5 months. She is always available on the phone, message and in person and has always made me feel at ease when I have left him with her. I would have no hesitation to recommend her to anybody.”