IN-HOME SUPPORT / ADMIN + BACKGROUND SUPPORT
UK-TRAINED & REGISTERED BIRTH & POSTNATAL DOULA / EX-PRIMARY TEACHER / LIFE COACH / PARENTAL WELLBEING ADVOCATE
Hi Everyone,
I’m Kirsten.
After over 20 years in the UK, working as a teacher, coach and birth and postnatal doula, I relocated back to New Zealand, in the middle of covid!
After taking time to settle the family and reacquainting myself with some of what this wonderful country has to offer, I retrained and qualified as a proofreader and editor. After stumbling across the Dew Drops website (no edits required!), I have been called back into the wonderful world of postpartum support – the smell of those newborns’ heads is hard to resist!
I have long been an advocate of mother and baby wellbeing, believing wholeheartedly in getting those early days right for improved long-term family health and happiness. In the UK I ran a retreat for mothers enabling them time for themselves, alongside caring for their baby; I also ran postnatal workshops on various topics and a weekly mothers wellbeing drop-in session (which is still running, over 5 years later). I worked alongside the midwives, obstetricians and policymakers within the local hospital and maternity units, advocating for women’s well-being during the perinatal period to improve birth and postnatal outcomes.
Part of that work also included a place on the local Perinatal Mental Health committee, ensuring lived-experience informed countywide 'best practice and policy' giving mothers' voices a place at the decision-making table.
I am a holistic nourisher- we all need different things at different times in the parenting journey. Working as a doula (meaning: ‘mothering the mother’) allows me the opportunity to provide practical and immediate relief and reassurance to new parents in whatever way they need. It is a privilege to come into a home and potentially turn a day around; often all it takes is a cup of tea and a chat. Folded washing, a clean bathroom and homemade snacks can help too, of course!
Alongside my Dew Drops hours, I am still proofreading and admin-ing, sitting at the computer closely supervised by my two cats (the Gremlins, siblings Oscar and Lando). Outside working hours, I provide taxi services for my teenage daughter, occasionally getting the chance to walk the lovely local hills and beaches, or to garden.
I am excited to be a part of the fabulous Dew Drops team and look forward to meeting you soon!