Belfast Baby Company

Highly recommend the Belfast baby Company! Both Leslie and Emma are knowledgable and experienced doulas and I felt confident, safe and relaxed with them from the start.I worked with Leslie who helped me to navigate a new healthcare system, having only just recently moved to Belfast. She gave me the knowledge and confidence to make choices that worked for me.Leslie’s calmness was so reassuring to me and my birth partner and at every stage she offered empathy, warmth and positivity.My birth did not go according to plan but due to Leslie’s support it was still an overwhelmingly positive experience.

Emma and Leslie became a huge part of my pregnancy journey. My partner and I learned so much from them. They were so knowledgeable and generous with their time and there was never a question too silly.I received so much support during my pregnancy that I was confident enough to choose the plan I wanted, even after a rather complicated pregnancy. Knowing that I would have someone else in the room with me that knew me as a person (not a patient") and that would advocate for what I wanted was such a relief. Having a knowledgeable voice in the room that would speak up for me helped me to relax and made me enjoy the process. I was absolutely elated when I was able to have the water birth I was hoping for.Leslie ended up being present at my son's birth at the Active Birth Centre in the Royal. Her calming presence made such a difference to the room's atmosphere. She really held the space for me

Leslie really helped put my mind at ease with 3 one to one hypnobirthing classes. Felt by the end I understood the labour process and it's stages a lot better and was ready for it. Was able to do hypnobirthing throughout my induced labour with no epidural, which is what I wanted to accomplish! Would have felt so much more nervous going in if it wasn't for Leslie's help and support. Highly recommend.

Leslie and Emma have been an incredible support through various situations that have arose in pregnancy with explaining options and providing information in a calm and reassuring way.I had a wonderful refresher on hypnobirthing techniques and practice with Leslie and fully endorse and recommend this to any expectant mum. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and practical learning experience thatI know will have a hugely positive impact on my upcoming birth.Thank you ladies for being the cheerleaders I have needed.

We had such a positive experience with the Belfast Baby Company. Being pregnant for the first time I was nervous (even fearful) about all things surrounding birth. With the help of Leslie and Emma and their experience and knowledge they set my mind at ease, both my husband and I felt empowered with knowledge they gave us and that I would be receiving the support I needed for a home birth. The WhatsApp group before the birth was brilliant to be able to ask questions and keep in touch.Come the day, Leslie was invaluable during the birth, she was calm throughout being so attentive to me and a comforting presence. It was a fast labour giving me little time to get in the groove but she had my back throughout and was able to share my wishes with the midwives without me having to worry or think too much!Once baby arrived I had to head to hospital for some stitches and again Leslie was brilliant, it was here when suddenly faced with a medical environment, lots of questions and a rush of hormones I felt a little overwhelmed. Being able to ask Leslie for advice and her advocating for my best interests and wishes was amazing.I can’t recommend my experience highly enough and we would definitely be using the Belfast Baby Company again if the occasion presented itself!

We are 7months in now with our second child and my wife and I cannot compliment Belfast Baby Company enough and Leslie who was our doula. it was a bit last min through no fault of theirs but the time taken to listen to my wife and I, to go through the options available to us then the practicalities when it came to D day were exceptional. Leslie went above and beyond, made my wife feel comfortable and listened to - she spoke on her behalf (and mine I might add). The follow up visit too was really appreciated as it was at a time when we needed a bit of a 'reset' or 'recharge' to try to wrap our head around things. (The soup and biscuits helped too!) As a male, and now a father of two I would have no hesitation in recommending Belfast Baby Company to anyone looking to avail of their services.

Leslie from belfast baby company was my doula and she was great all the way. I believe it’s important that there is a personal connection when you choose a doula and I really had it with Leslie. All the prep sessions with her were more for the sake of my husband, as it was my third pregnancy and 90 percent of what we went through I already knew one way or another. But I’m sure it will be very useful for first time parents.As for the day X, the events developed very quickly and there wasn’t much for Leslie to do, as first she wasn’t allowed to be with me in the assessment unit (where I was held prisoner with intense labour for 1,5 hour, just kneeling on the floor breathing through contractions) and than at 17.00 I finally was let into labour ward, 50 minutes later my baby boy was born.Overall I felt much more confident knowing that Leslie will be with me and she always was in touch and very helpful with any questions, fears, doubts and i had a lot of them!Thank you very much Leslie, the only thing I regret that I almost didn’t have a chance to feel your magic hands on my lower back when I needed them so much ❤️

I would highly recommend the Belfast Baby Company hypnobirthing course. Leslie was wonderful at not only going through the process of hypnobirthing which made me look forward to birth rather than worrying about it, but also going through the stages of labour, and what to expect in any scenario and making me more aware of my options during birth. This allowed me to really think about what I wanted, but also making me accepting should things not go to plan. With midwife appointments being quite quick having someone to discuss pregnancy and birth with, in great detail was so helpful, I knew what to expect and had no concerns going into labour. My labour was also hugely helped using the breathing techniques, and as hoped I was able to do a water birth which lasted 6 hours and I was able to get through without any major pain relief, which was important to me as I wanted to have a midwife led experience, and the classes with Leslie really helped me know where I was in labour, and trust my body to do what it needed to do, without panic of fear. It was also great for my partner who understood what I wanted during labour and could help with the breathing when contractions ramped up a bit. I would highly recommend this course for anyone who is pregnant!

I would highly recommend Leslie and the Belfast baby company for hypnobirthing. We had a in person 1 to 1 Hypnobirthing course with Leslie who was exceptional. Before starting the course I was very anxious about my labour, I didn’t think I had a good pain threshold and was worried my partner wouldn’t know how to support me. Leslie completely armed us with the knowledge and confidence. We had a positive ‘normal’ labour story, with no interventions. Both our mindsets had completely changed and we were able to manage through the labour, my partner was a fantastic support couldn’t have done it without him. Leslie went beyond and we are forever grateful. We welcomed a healthy baby boy called Lucian in Dec. Thank you Leslie

I was so lucky to have both Emma and Leslie working with me for the birth of our second son. After the birth of our first, despite it being a positive experience, we vowed we'd hire a doula next time as we could see how useful an extra set of hands would be. My goodness both Emma and Leslie were so much more. They were always on hand on WhatsApp during pregnancy for guidance, advice, perspective and a very caring listening ear when I had a tough day.COVID hit in my third trimester and Emma and Leslie were instrumental in keeping me up to date on changes and making me aware of what the systems and new guidance were. In the end they assisted me in contacting my trust to secure a home birth. I ended up going to hospital, Leslie couldn't come in with me but gave me excellent independent advice and even came to hospital grounds for moral support. My birth was a beautiful transformative water birth that was achieved solely because Leslie assisted me asking the right questions and supported me emotionally throughout. I am so grateful to the Belfast Baby Company for their nurturing care, emotional support, listening ear and up to date independent advice. I'd highly recommend them