Orla The Doula

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Orla The Doula

Postpartum Doula providing care and support to you and your family in the 4th trimester. Working in

31/10/2024

All set up and ready to teach yoga.

18/10/2024

Mamas to be.
It's so hard to get comfy when you're pregnant, and especially when you're nearing your due date.
Sometimes propping a pillow between your knees can support your hips and keep them balanced.
These are for sale in large tesco stores or via JML or even Amazon.
Or just pop a regular pillow between your knees. It's all about getting comfy!!

10/10/2024

Ready for pregnancy yoga.
Props by my side including my water bottle, by , blocks and a belt.

02/10/2024

In honour of I thought I'd share some of my journey.
I was "lucky" in that Edie latched pretty much as soon as she was born. In the C-section recovery area, my midwife helped her latch on, and my milk came in super quick (which I later realized was actually a bit of overproduction)
However, within a few hours, things got really hard, really quickly. Her latch wasn't right, and by the time I got to see a lactation consultant 3 days later I was sore, with cracked, bleeding ni***es. I was told off for asking about pumping, and baby was put on my breast with a "now that's what it should feel like," and I never saw the IBCLC again.
Fast forward a few weeks and I was so so low. I was pumping because I had a strong supply, but Edie could not latch without both of us ending up absolutely bawling. It was excruciating.
She was putting on weight, but had terrible pain and colic. My mental health took a massive nose dive, and I essentially went on hunger strike and my supply dipped. We supplemented with formula.
Enter a private IBCLC (we were lucky we could afford one) and we got a posterior tongue tie diagnosis. Long story short, we had it released and it saved my sanity. The 3rd pic is me the night before we got the tie snipped. I was doubting everything about myself as a mother. Worried it wouldn't work. And then what??
Pic 4 is a couple weeks later. I was a different person, the tie release made a massive difference to the latch. It took a few weeks of trial and error to find optimal positions etc but we got there.
And 4 years later, we're still boobing along.

It is the hardest thing I've ever done. I questioned my ability so so many times. I've felt like giving up so many times.
But without the support of groups like and my brilliant IBCLC who gave me advice, support and access to the resources to make informed decisions on our feeding journey, Edie and I got there together.

Whatever your journey, access to the information and support you need is key to a decision and feeding journey that works for your family.

Whatever way you feed your baby or family, being a parent is hard work. Youre doing great. ❤️

25/08/2024

This photo was taken when my daughter was just over 24 hours old.
I will never forget how I felt. I was confused, sore, anxious and could not stop crying. And neither could she. This was a moment of respite when we were both getting our energy back for another round. I walked the halls of the hospital at 3.30am (or slowly hobbled thanks to a C-section wound that was still fresh). I was so confused and wondered what was wrong with me, and my baby.

But I now know that all those feelings I had in those few days and weeks and months* ( and lets face it,years) after her arrival were normal.

Our bodies go through a MASSIVE shift. Physically, we go through so much, and then there's the hormonal and emotional change.
Tears are normal. Doubts about our abilities are normal. Feeling unsure, anxious, scared are all normal.

I wish we spoke more during pregnancy about what the immediate post partum period looks like, but I think we're starting to.

So to any mamas out there who are feeling any of these feelings while being so happy our babies are safely Earth side, please know it's all normal. I've been there, and emerged the other side.
Also, please know that it's also okay to ask for help. To ask for someone to take the baby while you have a sleep, some time, a shower, a meal using both hands, so that you can breathe. It's also okay to speak to your GP. They want the best for you and baby.*

Sending you all my love. 🩷🩵🩷🩵🩷🩵

*I went on to be diagnosed with post partum depression when my daughter was 9 months old. It took a while to ask for help and I wish I'd done it sooner but, we got there. My GP was amazing and really supported me.

22/08/2024

It's rainbow baby day today. August 22nd.
Rainbow baby is the term used for a baby that arrives after a loss. They arrive bringing joy, healing parts of our soul and heart, but are a reminder of the sorrow and heartbreak we go through.

Pregnancy after loss is hard. It's filled with fear, with anxiety, and worry. Every single pain or twinge takes up so much space in our brain and becomes a list of "what ifs".

Our beautiful girl arrived nearly 4 years ago. Our bright rainbow who arrived Earth side a year to the day after our loss. She brought an energy that helped heal us, but will forever be connected to her sibling. I held my breath from the second I found out we were pregnant until she was safely in my arms.

For those of you navigating pregnancy after a loss, for those of you who are hoping for pregnancy after a loss, or who think you will never be whole again, I see you. I feel your pain, and I send you my love and strength. Be gentle and kind to yourself as you heal. ❤️

🖼️ By my little rainbow baby who knows she's our rainbow, who brought all the colour back to us, and healed our hearts.

15/08/2024

Tepache.
Saw this on page ages ago but finally getting around to trying it today. It's a fermented drink so super good for our guts.
Come back to me in about a week to see how it goes. 🤞🤞

I've added all the bits from the pineapple, as well as ginger, lots of lime and brown sugar and water.

21/07/2024

Sunday plunge.
Best/worst Christmas present ever.
Always feel 100times better when I'm done. But sometimes I need to give myself a good talking to to get into it.
The breathing is one that I keep returning to. In an icebath, but also in daily life.

What helps calm you?

18/07/2024

Gorgeous, warming, powerful class last night at teaching Hatha to a group of powerful women.
Filled my heart with joy.
Back next Wednesday at 6.45.

19/06/2024

Grounding down and settling in before teaching Hatha this evening in

The barn is a joy.
As I sit I can hear birds singing, the breeze rustling trees and in the distance I can hear cars, and the odd cow.

Looking forward to welcoming this evening's class to reset bodies and minds in this special setting.

10/06/2024

What a beautiful way to start the day after a beautiful wedding.

Next up, icebath & hottub.

Can you tell I'm child free for the first time in three years.

06/06/2024

Last pregnancy yoga class for a couple weeks in this evening. Some of my mamas to be will be meeting their babies before the next course starts. So of course I had to bring back by for end of class.
Not sure I won't cry. 😭

I feel so honoured to hold space for all my students, but as mamas move into their matrescence, something magical happens and being able to support these beautiful people brings my heart great joy.

it's also the last beginners class for a while too but I'll be back in Mid July. Please check out to book the next courses.

❤️❤️

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