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North East Home birth Network This very friendly Facebook group meets up monthly at the Baltic Front Room, in Newcastle to chat, talk all things home birth and to support parents planning or wondering about planning a homebirth. No need to book, you can bring partner, baby, toddler, your mum! Find the group on Facebook, request to join and you’ll see when the next meet up is, in March, usually a Friday morning. Last month we heard from a woman who gave birth at home in Gateshead, and another in Sunderland - in spite of there being no official home birth provision in Sunderland! After much battling and letter writing, she secured private midwives provided by the NHS.
This is what I’ve been up to lately…
27th March 2025 - Today I had my first reflections ‘mentoring session’ with my Doula Training Foundation mentor, talking about the first birth I supported in February, at NSEC hospital Cramlington. It was a such a useful process to write up a full report of the sessions I had delivered and the birth itself and then have the chance to talk through it and understand how it had gone. The learning opportunities are clear and I valued the session immensely.
August 19th 2024 - Had a lovely cup of tea and a natter with Vicky, another doula who trained with Doula Training Foundation, and who lives in the North East. I met up with her and my sister Clare to swap notes and chat about all things doula up here in the north of England. Doulas are a very friendly cooperative bunch and often work together in pairs, or help each other out as ‘back-ups’ for our on-call days. We’ll be meeting up again in September with other birth workers in the region
August 15th 2024 - I attended a webinar run by SANDS, the charity which works to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. It was very informative and good to learn of all the research being done and the resources produced for both parents and birth workers who experience this tragic loss.SANDS supports anyone affected by the death of a baby making sure they have access to compassionate, experienced support. They offer one-to-one and group support through various bereavement support channels and local groups.
September 12th 2024 - had a life affirming Doula Cuddle!
We (those who trained with Doula Training Foundation) have a monthly Zoom get together, to share tips and support each other in our work. Listening to other doulas’ experiences and getting important updates for all that goes on in the world of childbirth is invaluable, as well as being enormously enjoyable and inspiring. What did we do before ZOOM??! Doulas are all over the country, and in some areas, like ours there are very few, so it makes a big difference being able to connect in this way and to be in a lively and supportive WhatsApp group.
March 2025 - I have been involved in trying to secure a home birth for a client in Northumberland, who had it arranged only to be later told that the service was suspended indefinitely. It’s so wrong that women in our area are being denied the chance to give birth at home when all the evidence tells us this is usually the safest place to be for both mother and baby. Birth Rights are very helpful if you are facing this problem where you live. It’s only through women making their voices heard and fighting to have their choices over place of birth prioritised, by the NHS that things will improve. Birth Rights are collating evidence and campaigning on this issue vociferously.
October 4th 2024- met some lovely birth workers and pregnant women who are planning or exploring the idea of home birth, in Newcastle. And some mums who came back with their babies born at home!
This was a meet up of the Facebook group North East Home Birth Network, organised by Jess Ord, a Northumberland based doula and hypnobirthing teacher. What a fabulous way to spend a couple of hours, talking home birth and finding out what is happening in our region, as well as supporting women with particular queries or concerns. I’m looking forward to the next meet up soon. You can find this group on Facebook and request to join if you are considering a homebirth.