Julia Kitching

Hi, I’m Julia and I am a 5 star rated, experienced birth and postnatal Doula and certified HypnoBirthing Teacher from Leeds in West Yorkshire. I am also the Co-Chair for Leeds Maternity Voices Partnership. I live with my partner James, our two children, 1 cat and 1 dog. You’ll often find us at a Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey game, enjoying family holidays or eating good food, in nice restaurants.

As a highly trained, experienced, expert in my field, I help families to make informed decisions and feel calm and confident during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I experienced two very different births with my children. My first baby was an undiagnosed breach, unplanned caesarean section and my second birth was a beautiful, virginal birth (VBAC – Vaginal Birth After Caesarean).

I have been through the Doula UK mentoring process for birth and postnatal support and I am considered an experienced and recognised Doula. I support families right from pre-conception, such as those who are going through IVF, to pregnancy, birth and postpartum. As a certified and fully qualified HypnoBirthing Teacher, I teach families all about the mind and how it can play a massive part during the birth process. Birth should not be something that is feared, but unfortunately due to many different external factors, women do fear birth and this can create lots of negative consequences and complications.

Having a Doula by your side during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, can really help to increase the odds of having a positive experience. A positive birth looks differently to different people and that’s why I support all kinds of births, whether that’s a vaginal birth with or without any pain relief, caesarean sections, waterbirths, vaginal births after caesarean (VBAC), home births, hospital births or induced births. I am there for the woman and her partner and support the family in anyway that they desire. Whether that’s emotional support, physical support, providing information to help with decision making and birth rights, advocating if required or just being present. I am also trained in biomechanics for birth and aromatherapy for birth. This means that I can safely use essential oils during labour should you want me to and advise you on different positions that you might want to try during labour, to help make things easier and more comfortable.

My training and experience has given me so many amazing techniques, tools and knowledge, which I love sharing with expectant parents, including birth partners, to educate them about birth and help them to increase their chances of a great birthing experience.

I can help you to go from feeling anxious about your birth, to feeling excited. I will never make decisions for you, but will provide you with all the information that you need, to be able to make your own informed decisions that are right for you and your baby and I will hold your hand all the way.

”If you are at all anxious about having a baby, then a Doula can be invaluable to help you to make decisions, advocate for you during birth and manage your anxieties and fears” – Alison, Leeds

“Julia very subtly empowered us through the whole process and this led to a great birth experience, that I will always look back on with positivity.” – Emily

”We decided to have a Doula, because I was very nervous about pregnancy, birth and also the transition to motherhood and wanted a bit of extra support. We had a bit of up and down support from our midwife and I wanted someone on hand, that I could trust, throughout the process. If you are at all nervous or worried about anything to come, a Doula is worth their weight in gold!” – Victoria

”Julia has a calm and comforting presence and she was a great source of support for both myself and my husband.” – Nikki

If you would like to find out more about what I can offer you, please get in touch for a FREE 30 minute consultation or visit my website at www.babadoulaservices.co.uk.

Julia x