Doula na mara Galway Birth Services

15/10/2021

Thinking of all of those that have lost a baby or babies and those who will never be seen as parents because their babies didn't make it. I see you and I am here.

27/08/2021

While we have not been very active here on social media we are all very active in our Doula work.

We are a collective of birth and post birth Doulas covering a very large area from Donegal to Clare, bringing in Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon. Our role is to support you on the journey you choose however that looks. We will provide evidence based information and empower you along the way.

To learn more about us and all our work as birth Doulas, be it for a hospital or home birth, and our in home and virtual post birth support see http://www.westcoastdoulas.ie/ Feel free to email or DM us here too.
Aine, Ann, Bairbre, Mairead, Michelle and Tara. 💙

30/06/2020

I am asking my friends to please sign and share this so we can get back to doing what women need us to do.
Thanks.

Birth Doulas must be granted access to support their clients in Irish Maternity hospitals.

22/06/2020

This is exactly how I felt at my last birth!

14/03/2020

To help you through this uncertain time, .ie & it's members have come together to offer a Virtual Doula Service for pregnant people & those in their postpartum period.

The aim of this service is to allow you to access doula supportregardless of your location, financial situation or health condition.
As doulas, who are non-medical birth & postpartum professionals, we will not be providing any medical advice or replacing any medical or antenatal services
deemed necessary for you.
We are currently working on our on-line booking service. However, in the meantime, feel free to drop us a DM & we'll be back in touch as soon as we can.

11/03/2020

Love these ladies! They support and inspire me every day.

We love our meet ups and today was no different. Being part of West Coast Doulas means we are there to not just support you but also support each other. This is our Doula village.

Of course we have lots of chit chat, catching up on what's happening in each other's lives. We then enjoy hearing about how we're all getting on with our clients.

It was exciting to hear about all the births that the birth Doulas were honoured to be part of including twins and a home birth.

Talking through how the postpartum Doulas are supporting clients post birth is important too and seeing if there is more we can do for each other and you.

The morning always goes too fast with a quick photo at the end.
Doula Association of Ireland

05/01/2020

It is quite common to wonder if your baby is truly drinking enough milk at the breast. It’s nearly impossible to measure the milk, because it can’t be seen. So, how do you tell if your baby is getting enough? This is a great infographic with everything you need to know.

Click here for more info on how to know whether your baby is getting enough milk —> bit.ly/2IzG4lC

05/01/2020

From the article...
"Get louder, get bigger and surround yourself with extraordinary love when choosing your birth team. It might be the first time you’ve ever done such a thing, but I promise it won’t be the last."

Doula Domino Kirke on why your birth providers are so important, and how to choose them wisely.

19/08/2019

Try to listen to your body when in labour and avoid the bed unless absolutely necessary.

Midwife slams practice of making women give birth on their backs in bed.

09/05/2019

So excited to be in this month's Galway Now magazine with my fabulous doula family!

12/04/2019

Baby Bonding Course, Naduir, Furbo Wednesdays 11.00 to 12.30 6-week course for parents and carers 1 May to 12 June (one week break on the 22 May) Course Cost: €85. Payment in full due by start of course. To register for this course, please complete this form and pay €20 deposit to hold your plac...

30/03/2019

As world doula week draws to a close I want to express how humbled I am to share the most intimate times with families as a Doula. I am happier "working" now than I have ever been. Nothing like snuggling with a new born while momma gets some much needed rest too. That little hand holding on tight...😍😍😍

30/03/2019

With the royal baby only weeks away, one person who may well be clearing her diary very soon is the Duchess of Sussex's rumoured doula. Here's what all pregnant

16/03/2019

This is a loaded topic. Even putting aside the costs think of how much planning and researching so many of us put into choosing a vacation spot, buying a car...planning any big event such as a wedding. Many times parents choose the ‘free’ hospital class as they believe all classes are equal...(they aren’t). To get truly unbiased information choose an independent childbirth educator who can let you in on what really happens at your hospital.
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Truly informed parents get why having a doula can transform your experience (when L&D nurses are begging parents to hire one you know they know something you don’t). That ‘something’ is that although this is the biggest day of your life - it’s another day at the office for them and when they have more than one family to care for you and your partner may be left alone for periods of time with no support. Don’t get me wrong your nurse/midwife wants you to have a positive birth but they know how stretched a busy L&D can be and it is so frustrating for them but it’s reality. Plus having a doula has significant benefits for you and your baby.
💫Less cesareans
💫Less Pitocin
💫Less epidurals
💫Shorter labors and more
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The first two weeks postpartum can be the most intense weeks of your life. A postpartum doula can help you find your feet especially if you are breastfeeding. They are worth their weight in gold.
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If finances are tight ask around, ask for payment plans, put it on your baby registry and ask family/friends to contribute. Ask your health insurance about coverage.
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Get creative! Consider the cost of the beautiful nursery you’re planning or that 1k stroller with all the bells and whistles...say no to the Snoo and say yes to birth you’ll remember for all the right reasons.
❤️

💐💐💐

16/03/2019

The myth that what we do is just a luxurious add-on for the rich is far from the truth

04/03/2019

YOU ARE A BADASS.

(via Twitter.com/JodieUtter)

04/03/2019

A little more about me!

I’m Mairéad Kavanagh, Doula na Mara.
I live near Claregalway, Co. Galway with my 3 young children and husband. I am a DONA International trained birth and postnatal Doula.

Since I can remember I have had a fascination with birth and babies especially newborns. As a teenager I occasionally “missed” the bus to school so I could spend the day with close family friends helping after the birth of their children. I considered being a midwife but ended up doing a business degree. I worked in various administrative roles, including PA to members of the management team, in University Hospital Galway for over 10 years. This has given me a great insight into the workings of a hospital and the pressures the staff are under.

My desire to help women through their own birth and postnatal journey has grown since becoming a mother myself in 2010. My first birth experience was nothing like what I had imagined or wanted and as a result I struggled for the first few months with my newborn and found breastfeeding very difficult. I felt like a failure, alone and overwhelmed. I had always dreamed of being a mother and was so disappointed I wasn’t thriving.

My subsequent 2 births were very positive and thus, very healing experiences and this confirmed to me that I wanted to help women have the most positive experience possible. Every woman should feel supported, nurtured and respected during this time. We should feel safe, cared for and listened to.
I believe every birth is special whether it's at hospital or at home, medicated or unmediated, medically assisted or unassisted, and every baby's arrival deserves to be celebrated. I aim to guide women and their families through pregnancy, labour and delivery, and life with their new baby.

Having a Doula with you through the whole journey can make this hugely transformative time much easier on the whole family, but most especially, on the mother.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Mairéad
Mairéad Kavanagh – Doula na Mara
Claregalway, Co. Galway
Tel: 0866824734
Email: [email protected]
W: www.doulanamara.ie
FB: doula na mara

28/02/2019

Great clip to help visualise what breastfeeding should look like...