Doula Amy Manners
Down-to-earth doula support
with an emphasis on postpartum care
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In and around Hanau
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English and German
With a combination of empathy, education, and experience, I support mothers, birthing people, and families throughout the rollercoaster ride of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenthood
Photo credit: Annemarie Lea Geburtsfotografie Frankfurt
Postpartum
Welcoming your new baby into the family can be a wonderful and also overwhelming experience. If it's your first baby, there is a very steep learning curve as you adjust to your new normal. Parents with older children often worry about how to balance everyone's needs and ensure everyone gets enough attention. And if you have mulitiples, there just aren't enough hands for the job!
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No matter what your situation, I believe extra support in these early days is always beneficial.
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As a postpartum doula, I offer personalised in-home support, centred around you and your well-being. It is so important to allow your body to heal and recover after giving birth, so I'll provide some time and space for relaxation and self-care. Let me take a few chores and some meal preparation off your to-do list.
I also put a high priority on emotional support, and you will be able to talk through your birth experience, your everyday concerns, and your changing identity in a safe space. With my wide range of experience, I'll be alongside you as you get to know your baby, and support you to feel confident with feeding, bathing, sleeping, and reading your baby's cues.
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Find out more:
Pregnancy & Birth
A lot of us like knowing that we are in control of our lives and we love to have everything planned out and organised. Birth, however, is not an everyday situation and certain aspects of it are out of our control. ​In my doula practice I work closely with you during pregnancy to help you approach birth with a flexible and positive mindset.
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Let's plan for what we can control, and think through the possibilities and options available if things do take a different route. Good preparation and continuous, reassuring doula support during labour and birth can lead to an empowering experience where you feel safe and strong, even if your Plan A turns into Plan D.
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Giving birth is one of the most important moments of your life, and you deserve to be individually cared for, well-informed, and emotionally supported throughout.
Learn more here:
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My story
I had never heard of doulas when my husband and I were expecting our first baby. We went to a birth-preparation course, bought all the gear, and were blissfully unaware of all the challenges ahead.
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After a painful pregnancy, a traumatic birth, and a difficult, sleepless recovery, I was left wondering what had gone so wrong.
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In the midst of those early days with my baby, two women had a huge impact on me and I am forever thankful for them. Claire, a community midwife, listened carefully to my desperation and gave me some amazing advice to try immediately. Leanne, a breastfeeding counsellor, chatted with me each week at a drop-in session and showed me what to do, while giving me the confidence that I was doing a wonderful job.
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Preparing for my second baby, I learned about birth doulas and hired the lovely Dagmar. She listened to all my worries and helped me put my plans and thoughts together. Not everything at this birth went smoothly, but I look back on it with a feeling of pride in how I trusted and understood my body. I loved the extra support from having her there as well as my husband.
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I still wasn't aware of postpartum doulas, but my mum was able to live with us for the first 4 weeks, which was a huge help. She cooked, cleaned, held the baby, and played with the toddler, leaving me with plenty of time to rest. I was able to focus on breastfeeding and enjoying my baby.
Because I know first-hand what a difference the right support at the right moment can make, I am passionate about being that person for other families and spreading the word about doulas.
Queer-inclusive
It's important to me to be intentionally inclusive and accessible for the LGBTQ+ community. So much in the pregnancy, birth, and family world is directed at heterosexual, cis, partnered women, which can leave a lot of people feeling left out and invalidated. Family is much more diverse than that, and can come in all shapes and sizes. You are welcome here and I am continually building my education around queer birth and families. If you have any feedback for me, I would love to hear from you.
I have put together some resources for you here:
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