"The best birth partners are not the ones who know all the right answers, but the ones who know how to listen, support, and love unconditionally."
- Penny Simkin
ABOUT ME
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Hello & welcome, I'm so glad you're here. My name is Alexia, & I’m a doula with a deep rooted passion for supporting parents through the incredible, transformative journey of pregnancy, birth, & beyond. My path into birth work wasn’t linear, but it feels like everything I’ve done so far has led me here. I spent seven years traveling the Mediterranean whilst working in the yachting industry, where I developed a strong intuition for care, & learned calm under pressure. Towards the end of 2024, I departed the industry in pursuit of my doula qualifications. This led me to Nurturing Birth, in London, where I spent some time studying & learning the role of the doula in birth work, before qualifying as a birth & postnatal doula.
Growing up between the coastal beauties of Zululand & the island of Cyprus shaped my love for the ocean, & inspired me to study Oceanography & Environmental Science at the University of Cape Town. I'm also a scuba diver & enthusiastic lover of water sports, which keep me grounded & connected to the elements I love. My curiosity for the human body, & particularly female-centric health/wellness, has always grown alongside these interests, eventually guiding me toward birth work. I’ve always been drawn to the strength, wisdom, & resilience of birthers, & I’m especially passionate about holistic health, nutrition, & movement, things I believe are essential in preparing for & recovering from birth.
As a doula, I bring a calm, nurturing, & reassuring presence to the spaces I enter. I’m here to help you find the information you need, support your choices, & create a safe & empowering environment - whether it’s your first birth or your fifth. When I’m not working with families, you’ll find me in the gym, volunteering, playing tennis, cooking or baking up something wholesome, or spending time with those closest to me.
I’d be honoured to walk beside you on this journey; please feel free to reach out, I’d love to connect.
THE DOULA ROLE
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Bringing a doula into your birth team means choosing continuous, compassionate support, no matter what kind of birth you’re planning. Whether you envision a physiological, undisturbed birth, are exploring medical options, or know a planned caesarean is the right path for you, the presence of a doula can offer clarity, reassurance, & a sense of empowerment. A doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides physical, emotional, & informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, & the postpartum period. A doula’s focus is entirely on you, your comfort, your voice, & your vision for birth.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Numerous studies show the profound benefits of continuous support during labour from a trained doula:
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Reduced birth trauma & improved emotional outcomes
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Lower rates of medical interventions, including inductions, epidurals, & caesareans
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Shorter labours & fewer complications
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Higher satisfaction with the birth experience
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Lower risk of postpartum depression
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Increased confidence in early parenting
A 2017 Cochrane Review found that people who had continuous support during labour were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth, & less likely to need pain medications, forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery, or caesarean birth. They also reported more positive feelings about their births (Bohren et al., 2017).
Support for Your Birth Choices
Every birth is unique, & so are your choices. Whether you choose to birth at home, in a hospital, with or without medical pain relief, or by planned caesarean, my role as your doula is to walk alongside you without judgement.
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Planning a physiological birth? I’ll help you with how to prepare your body & mind, understand the rhythms of labour, & protect the space around you to support the hormonal flow of birth.
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Preparing for a caesarean (planned or unplanned)? You still deserve informed, empowering support. I’ll help you create a gentle birth plan, process emotions around the procedure, & provide continuous care before, during, & after surgery.
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Unsure what you want yet? That’s okay too. We’ll explore your options together, at your pace.
Your Birth, Your Way
I’m not here to tell you how to give birth. I’m here to support the birth you choose, to walk with you as you learn, question, plan, & embrace the experience ahead. With a doula on your team, you don’t have to do it all alone, you get to be held, informed, & supported every step of the way.
SUPPORT PACKAGES
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Antenatal Support
Empower yourself with knowledge & confidence as you prepare for birth & create your own birth preference outline. Together, we’ll explore your expectations, address any concerns, & ensure you feel prepared, supported, & in control of your journey into parenthood. Allow me to assist you in making informed decisions.
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Birth Support
As your birth doula, I’m here to hold space for you, protect your sense of calm, & act as your oxytocin guardian - helping create an environment that supports the natural flow of your labour. Birth is powerful, my role is to help you feel safe, supported, & confident every step of the way.
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Postnatal Support
While so much focus is placed on preparing for birth, the period that follows is just as important & often overlooked. Postnatal support can ease this transition & help new parents feel more grounded, confident, & cared for. As your postnatal doula, I offer emotional, practical, & logistical support tailored to your needs.
Get in Touch
For a complimentary meeting & interview to decide if I am the correct fit for you.
Alexia Carolin
Southern Suburbs, Cape Town
@nestedtonurtured
