Guest post - A Mum Voice & Mother Mother Doula: recovery from PND

A personal account of postnatal depression and recovery written for A Mum Voice

PersonalRuth PayJune 14, 2019Mother Mother Doulapostnatal depression, anxiety, birth, birth trauma, newborn, breastfeeding, supportComment

Night Weaning | Instagram post

Another challenge in this beautiful breastfeeding journey...

Ruth PayApril 21, 2019, family bed, rochester breastfeeding, north kent pregnancy, bedsharing, birth doula, rochester birth support, night weaning, breastfeeding, cosleeping, normalise breastfeedingComment

Thoughts on: Why The Politics of Breastfeeding Matter, Gabrielle Palmer

This book was the surface level reason for an argument between my husband and I the other day. The real reason for the less than ideal tone of voice in the heated discussion was…

birth doula kent, Birth Doula Medway, Doula Medway, Kent DoulaRuth PayDecember 10, 2018breastfeeding, normalise breastfeeding, fed is best, breast is best, boycott nestle, lactavist Comment

Thoughts on - Why Mothering Matters, Maddie McMahon

This is the book I want everyone to read.

Ruth PayNovember 20, 2018midwives, guilt, doula uk doula, why doulas matter, doulas, developing doulas, kent doula, , why mothering matters, breastfeeding, tired new mum, south london doula, maddie mcmahon, nhsComment

Gift ideas for a new family

Arranging or attending a baby shower? If you’ve not had kids it can be hard to know what to get a new mother, I’ve got a few tips together from my experience as a mother and a friend of people with new babies.

Doula BusinessRuth PaySeptember 23, 2018Mother Mother Doulapnd, postnatal depression, postnatal doula, newborn, new mother, support for mothers, maternal mental health, kent doula, mother the mother, , breastfeeding, postnatal, medway doula, gift ideasComment

Guest Post - Sarah Turner of The Informed Family: Why I care that women can breastfeed...and why I don’t judge you if you aren’t

A beautiful piece on breastfeeding and why it IS political and why is DOES matter if we care about it or not by Sarah Turner of The Informed Family.

Doula BusinessRuth PaySeptember 4, 2018Mother Mother Doulabreastfeeding, normalise breastfeeding, motherhood, family, informed is best, happy baby, new mother, newborn, formula, politics of breastfeeding, low milk supply, healthy babies, mental health, supportComment

I might have stopped breastfeeding if it weren't for social media, that doesn't make me better than you

Doula BusinessRuth PayAugust 5, 2018social media, breastfeeding, formula feeding, informed is best, social justice, am I breastfeeding right? Comment

World Breastfeeding Week 2018 - Breastfeeding health benefits

It shouldn't be the case that by sharing information about breastfeeding I feel like I am scaremongering those that formula feed. That is not my intention, and I don't think information about breastfeeding should be hidden to protect us from feeling guilty. We shouldn't feel guilty if we make informed choices for the best of our baby and family and Ourselves.

Doula BusinessRuth PayAugust 2, 2018Mother Mother Doulabreastfeeding, am I breastfeeding right?, normalisebreastfeeding, rochester breastfeeding, how long should I breastfeed?Comment

Instagram post - C-section, 'natural birth's and failure

Doula BusinessRuth PayJuly 30, 2018pain relief, labour, c-section, breastfeeding, birth, doula, baby, motherhoodComment

Interviews with people about doulas, birth and new born life: 5. Mother of a four month old

Interview with a mother about her recent experience of hiring a doula for the birth of her daughter. "She was a guiding light"

Professional developmentRuth PayJuly 27, 2018Mother Mother Doulainterviewwithaparent, Positive Birth Movement, first time mum, home birth, birth doula, interviewwithsomeonelikeyou, , what is a doula, breastfeeding, happy baby, birth story, normal parentComment

Instagram post - National Breastfeeding Awareness Week - how to be still

This is us in the first 6 weeks. Sitting on the bedroom floor. Dressed! Next to me is an apple core, a box of cereal bars, 2 bottles of water, a green smoothie and breast pump.

PersonalRuth PayJune 22, 2018Mother Mothernew mum, , slowing down, fedisbest, breastfeeding, postnatal, normalisebreastfeeding, new mother, bottle feedingComment

International Doula Month - book club: Nurturing New Families, Naomi Kemeny

International Doula Month Book Club - Maddie McMahon, Why Doulas Matter

Includes an excellent use of the phrase "lady parts". Need I say more?

A little bit? Ok.

Doula BusinessRuth PayMay 16, 2018pregnancy, bookreview, breastfeeding, book club, birth, birth partner, pregnancy plan, doulaComment

Doula UK introduction workshop 14th April / leaving your baby for the first time

I'm writing this on the train on the way to London for the introduction to being a doula day, led by Ali Edwards.

Professional developmentRuth PayApril 29, 2018Mother Mothermanual pump, , breastfeeding, doulaintraining, Doula UK, baby, selfcare, babysitting, bottle feedingComment

Breastfeeding and Bottles

I wanted to write about how we got our breastfed baby to take a bottle and how I feel about that. Maybe you are struggling to get your baby to take a bottle, looking for a rest from breastfeeding once in a while, having a tough time pumping much milk.

There has been a bit of pressure on me to make sure that my baby takes a bottle.

postnatal support, birth doula kentRuth PayApril 16, 2018Mother Motheris my baby getting enough milk?, breastfeeding, rochester breastfeeding, am I breastfeeding right?, how long should I breastfeed?, babyComment

Feed me: the impact of a mother's choice to breastfeed. Or not.

I want to talk about feeding babies. More specifically about how mothers want to feed their babies. How they want to feed them but don't.

Ruth PayMarch 18, 2018Mother Motherbreastfeeding, doula, mother, motherhood, rochester doula, london doula, rochester breastfeeding, kent doula, formula feeding, is my baby getting enough milk?, am I breastfeeding right?, how long should I breastfeed?Comment

Well, let's start then

It feels eminently sensible to make sure that I have a profitable company before breaking away from a regular pay check. I have two reservations about that. Scrap that, three reservations;

Doula - Kent & London