Hi I am Sonia. I’m originally from France but have been living here in North London since 1998. I had an interesting career working in art galleries but after the birth of my daughter in 2007 I became interested in learning more about breast feeding and retrained as a lactation consultant. I’ve worked both privately and for the NHS. I think it was supporting new mums on postnatal wards that fed my interest in becoming a birth companion and doula. I began to read about the subject and found Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin. It’s an incredible book and one I still recommend any pregnant woman to read however many times she has given birth before. It opened my eyes to what a difference properly supporting women can make to their experience of childbirth and how helping reduce anxiety can dramatically lower the risks associated with birth. I’ve also experienced this first hand. I feel so lucky that I had both my children here in London where there are so many different birthing options available to women but I know too that so many choices can also be overwhelming and that some can seem hard to access. In 2007 when I had my daughter my experience of labour was long and difficult, two years later armed with more support I gave birth to my son in the peaceful, calm environment I wanted.

I really believe every woman should be supported, listened to and nurtured as she gives birth so I decided to become a doula. I began to go to conferences and then managed to train under Michael Odent and Liliane Lammers.

I am also a volunteer birth companion for Birth Companions, a registered charity, which means I work on a voluntary basis with vulnerable women.

It’s amazing to be able to help women at such an incredible time in their lives. I’m fully qualified and have had the privilege of witnessing many babies journey into the world but I never stop learning and being curious. This is really part of my philosophy and leads me to continually advance my skills and seek out new ones. I love learning, going to conferences and courses to keep up to date and being even more inspired.

I am also a trained hypnobirthing teacher and baby shiatsu practitioner.

This means I can offer pre-natal training, support parents through labour and, if wanted, work with them afterwards supporting their feeding choices and helping them settle into family life.