My fascination with birth began with me as a young girl, pouring over my mother's copy of Dr Spock's Baby book. When I became pregnant in 2013, I awakened to a world of complexity, beauty and challenges. It seemed as though everyone had an opinion about my body and my baby – my midwife, my family, friends, baby books, websites… I had so many decisions to make, and although I was usually so certain and strong-minded, I actually felt quite unsure and vulnerable. Eventually, I realised that I needed to learn to trust my instincts, and to find my inner compass amidst a sea of expectations, conventions and protocols.

I gave birth to my daughter at home with the support of 2 wonderful NHS midwives and a Doula. It was then that I came to understand the power and privilege of having someone there to accompany me throughout that huge transition without judgement. I decided then that I wanted to become a birth worker, and to play a role in enabling people to empower themselves through the birthing journey, whilst holding the question: How can we make this support accessible to all? My work with Doulas without Borders is part of this commitment. I gave birth to my second child, who we conceived following a miscarriage in hospital during the First Lockdown in 2020. I chose an induction due to an acute medical condition, so it was a very different experience to my home birth! But nonetheless powerful and beautiful. I learned a lot and it made me even more certain about the work I do, and the importance of providing support during this time.  

Aside from birth work, I have been involved with women-focused projects since my time at Leeds University, when I brought the first Community Production of the Vagina Monologues to the UK in 2001. I went on to run a women-only theatre production company, before working with Lynne Franks at the SEED network. I have been involved in running women's circles for the past 10 years, where I have learned the importance of women-centred networks of support. Within this context I am in a learning process around widening my understanding of inclusion for the LGTBQ community and recognising the inadequacy of some of the terms used around pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

More recently, I made and toured an award-winning documentary film and community-building project called wetheuncivilised: A Life Story, which looks at ecology, spirituality, activism and what it means to be a human being at this time of environmental and sociological crisis. The film asks: How can our actions honour future generations?