Su Huschke

Trust Your Gut

I’ve been facilitating women’s groups for over a decade. I trained as a doula because I believe that becoming a mama is a BIG DEAL. It’s a huge transformation. And because of that, it matters how we feel about it, every step of the way. Over the years, I’ve collected a bunch of tools that help us connect with our deeper selves – from yoga and creative writing to nature walks and herbal medicines to dream work and shamanic drumming. I’ll use whatever works for you. And if needed, I’ll make suggestions for other therapies and support services that might be useful for you. Sometimes there is healing that needs to be done before you can feel that connection to your heart, your belly, your baby. That’s part of the package in my services, because that’s what you’ll draw on when you’re birthing your baby!

Knowledge is Power

As a health researcher, I have worked with mothers from all walks of life for the past 12 years, in different countries around the world. I deeply appreciate that what is right for one woman might not be right for another. What I offer to my doula clients is the ability to listen with an open mind and an open heart, to ask the right questions, and to support each woman in deciding what is right for her and her family. I can help you find – and understand! – balanced, trust-worthy, evidence-based information. We can talk through the pros and cons of the medical interventions you are being offered and formulate the questions you want to ask of your care provider.

Healing from Trauma

I offer trauma-informed care that is sensitive to your particular circumstances, needs and boundaries. I am an accredited 3 Step Rewind practitioner and can offer birth trauma rewind sessions. I have worked with survivors of sexual abuse, with women who have experienced police and State violence, with refugees and undocumented migrants. Pregnancy, birth and parenting can bring up a lot of our old wounds and traumas. One of my key skills as a doula, researcher and women’s group facilitator is non-judgment: whatever your circumstances are, I will support you on your path, and I have a range of tools to support the healing process.

Training and Experience

• birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• health researcher (PhD in social science)
• traditional birth attendant in training (with Ruth Ehrhardt @ True Midwifery and Dr Rachel Reed @ Reclaiming Childbirth)
• co-founder of the Irish Birth Movement, a grassroots organisation to change birth culture
• 3 Step Rewind for birth trauma (with Ruth Olayinka, UK)
• trauma-informed care (IICP College Dublin)
• miscarriage and abortion support (with Samantha Zipporah)
• shamanic practice (with Manda Scott of Dreaming Awake)
• involvement in anti-racist and feminist activism
• fitness trainer and yoga practitioner
• lay herbalist
• 14 years of experience in health research, group facilitation and academic teaching
• mother to Willow (7) and Sól (4)

Su Huschke

Contact Su: 0899864283 or susann.huschke@gmail.com

Trust Your Gut

I’ve been facilitating women’s groups for over a decade. I trained as a doula because I believe that becoming a mama is a BIG DEAL. It’s a huge transformation. And because of that, it matters how we feel about it, every step of the way. Over the years, I’ve collected a bunch of tools that help us connect with our deeper selves – from yoga and creative writing to nature walks and herbal medicines to dream work and shamanic drumming. I’ll use whatever works for you. And if needed, I’ll make suggestions for other therapies and support services that might be useful for you. Sometimes there is healing that needs to be done before you can feel that connection to your heart, your belly, your baby. That’s part of the package in my services, because that’s what you’ll draw on when you’re birthing your baby!

Knowledge is Power

As a health researcher, I have worked with mothers from all walks of life for the past 12 years, in different countries around the world. I deeply appreciate that what is right for one woman might not be right for another. What I offer to my doula clients is the ability to listen with an open mind and an open heart, to ask the right questions, and to support each woman in deciding what is right for her and her family. I can help you find – and understand! – balanced, trust-worthy, evidence-based information. We can talk through the pros and cons of the medical interventions you are being offered and formulate the questions you want to ask of your care provider.

Healing from Trauma

I offer trauma-informed care that is sensitive to your particular circumstances, needs and boundaries. I am an accredited 3 Step Rewind practitioner and can offer birth trauma rewind sessions. I have worked with survivors of sexual abuse, with women who have experienced police and State violence, with refugees and undocumented migrants. Pregnancy, birth and parenting can bring up a lot of our old wounds and traumas. One of my key skills as a researcher and women’s group facilitator is non-judgment: whatever your circumstances are, I will support you on your path, and I have a range of tools to support the healing process.

Training and Experience

• birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• health researcher (PhD in Social Science)
• traditional birth attendant in training (with Ruth Ehrhardt @ True Midwifery and Dr Rachel Reed @ Reclaiming Childbirth)
• co-founder of the Irish Birth Movement, a grassroots organisation to change birth culture
• 3 Step Rewind for birth trauma (with Ruth Olayinka, UK)
• trauma-informed care (IICP College Dublin)
• miscarriage and abortion support (with Samantha Zipporah, USA)
• shamanic practice (with Manda Scott of Dreaming Awake, UK)
• involvement in anti-racist and feminist activism
• fitness trainer and yoga practitioner
• lay herbalist
• 14 years of experience in health research, group facilitation and academic teaching
• mother to Willow (7) and Sól (4)

Aisling Finucane

Creating YOUR Birth Vision

As a doula I will honour your individual desires, hopes and expectations about the birth of your baby. I will support you to explore and navigate your own personal story at this exciting time of huge transformation. It is our right to be fully informed with evidence based factual information regarding all aspects of our ante-natal, labour and birth and post-natal care and I will help you to create your birth vision bearing all of this in mind. We also have a right to an empowered and supported birth and as a doula it is my job to be fully present for you on this journey in whatever way that needs to happen. In our antenatal visits we will get to understand and plan in detail exactly how you would like this to look.

Family-Centred Care

You need the time and space to be as present for yourself and your baby as possible during the stages of pregnancy, during labour and birth and also in the months and years afterwards. I am here to guide you to practically consider how this may be achieved, taking your own personal circumstances fully into account. My approach is always non-judgemental and person and family centred. I will draw on my training and my three very different birth experiences and I will hear you, respect your decisions and encourage you to view your journey in a holistic way.

Training and Experience

• birth doula (with DONA International)
• ‘Friends of Breastfeeding’ peer support group facilitator
• breastfeeding counsellor in training
• 15 years experience in front line social care and advocacy including family support, post-partum support and supporting women experiencing homelessness. 
• Trained in para-counselling, motivational interviewing, brief solution focussed therapy and occupational first aid
• Founding and current member of the Urban Co-op Limerick, a community resource supporting local and organic producers, and a number of other community intiatives
• mother to Ben (6), Aoibhinn (4) and Ayla (3)

Aisling Finucane

Contact Aisling: 086 400 7140 or afinucane@hotmail.com

Creating YOUR Birth Vision

As a doula I will honour your individual desires, hopes and expectations about the birth of your baby. I will support you to explore and navigate your own personal story at this exciting time of huge transformation. It is our right to be fully informed with evidence based factual information regarding all aspects of our ante-natal, labour and birth and post-natal care and I will help you to create your birth vision bearing all of this in mind. We also have a right to an empowered and supported birth and as a doula it is my job to be fully present for you on this journey in whatever way that needs to happen. In our antenatal visits we will get to understand and plan in detail exactly how you would like this to look.

Family-Centred Care

You need the time and space to be as present for yourself and your baby as possible during the stages of pregnancy, during labour and birth and also in the months and years afterwards. I am here to guide you to practically consider how this may be achieved, taking your own personal circumstances fully into account. My approach is always non-judgemental and person and family centred. I will draw on my training and my three very different birth experiences and I will hear you, respect your decisions and encourage you to view your journey in a holistic way.

Training and Experience

• birth doula (with DONA International)
• ‘Friends of Breastfeeding’ peer support group facilitator
• breastfeeding counsellor in training
• 15 years experience in front line social care and advocacy including family support, post-partum support and supporting women experiencing homelessness. 
• Trained in para-counselling, motivational interviewing, brief solution focussed therapy and occupational first aid
• Founding and current member of the Urban Co-op Limerick, a community resource supporting local and organic producers, and a number of other community intiatives
• mother to Ben (6), Aoibhinn (4) and Ayla (3)

Natasha Sinclair

Listen to Your Knowing

As a teacher, a holistic therapist and a Doctor of Chinese medicine for over 15 years, I have worked with many people in many different stages of life and wisdom. I have learnt the benefits of listening from the heart and the patience of holding and supporting people in finding their own enlightenment. In my experience we all KNOW the answers, and we all KNOW our needs in every given moment, however our environments, life experience, and expectations get in the way of our ability to hear and trust ourselves. I truly believe that with the right support, guidance, education, and hope, you can achieve anything.

As your doula, I will travel with you on your journey, I will reflect your needs, your courage, your strength,
I will honor you and your baby’s journey as if it is my own,
I will be an anchor when you need grounding
I will be your rock when you need strength
I will be your shield when you need protection
And I will lend you my courage, whilst holding your hand.
I will bring my bag of skills, so we can address any needs as they may arise, we will explore your choices, your physical and mental health, your interventions, your rights. Together we will do everything we can to protect your power and prepare you for the birth you desire.

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

I have two children. My first birth was incredibly traumatic, I was out of control, shocked and felt fearful and unworthy after, for many years. As a result of this I explored my trauma and fear in a therapeutic setting to prepare myself for my second birth. As a result of lots of positive work and support I had the birth of my dreams. After I felt conflicted: alight with pride on one side and a grieving mess for the birth of my first child. I felt robbed of what should have been the most incredible day of my life. The grief turned to anger, which then turned to determination…this is why I became a doula.
I hope to aid all women in deepening their knowledge of self. I hope to support all women in holding onto their power and encourage them to surrender to the truly most majestic experience of their lives. I hope to open your mind to the possibility of having a euphoric, enlightened birth experience, and I hope to have the honor of witnessing your baby’s first breath.

Training and Experience

• Birth Doula training (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• Peer support mental health training (with Aras Follain)
• w.r.a.p training (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) with Aras Follain
• Acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine (Shannon School of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine)
• Holistic therapist (including baby massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, tuina, and many more)
• Hand in Hand Parenting
• First responder
• Singer and musician
• Mum to Tyler (16) and Aobha (10)

Natasha Sinclair

Contact Natasha: 0876490571 or Sinclair.natasha@gmail.com

Listen to Your Knowing

As a teacher, a holistic therapist and a Doctor of Chinese medicine for over 15 years, I have worked with many people in many different stages of life and wisdom. I have learnt the benefits of listening from the heart and the patience of holding and supporting people in finding their own enlightenment.
In my experience we all KNOW the answers, and we all KNOW our needs in every given moment, however our environments, life experience, and expectations get in the way of our ability to hear and trust ourselves. I truly believe that with the right support, guidance, education, and hope, you can achieve anything.
As your doula, I will travel with you on your journey, I will reflect your needs, your courage, your strength,
I will honor you and your baby’s journey as if it is my own,
I will be an anchor when you need grounding
I will be your rock when you need strength
I will be your shield when you need protection
And I will lend you my courage, whilst holding your hand.
I will bring my bag of skills, so we can address any needs as they may arise, we will explore your choices, your physical and mental health, your interventions, your rights. Together we will do everything we can to protect your power and prepare you for the birth you desire.

I Am Woman Hear Me Roar

I have two children. My first birth was incredibly traumatic, I was out of control, shocked and felt fearful and unworthy after, for many years. As a result of this I explored my trauma and fear in a therapeutic setting to prepare myself for my second birth. As a result of lots of positive work and support I had the birth of my dreams. After I felt conflicted: alight with pride on one side and a grieving mess for the birth of my first child. I felt robbed of what should have been the most incredible day of my life. The grief turned to anger, which then turned to determination…this is why I became a doula.
I hope to aid all women in deepening their knowledge of self. I hope to support all women in holding onto their power and encourage them to surrender to the truly most majestic experience of their lives. I hope to open your mind to the possibility of having a euphoric, enlightened birth experience, and I hope to have the honor of witnessing your baby’s first breath.

Training and Experience

• Birth Doula training (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• Peer support mental health training (with Aras Follain)
• w.r.a.p training (wellness recovery action plan) with Aras Follain
• Acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine (Shannon School of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine)
• Holistic therapist (including baby massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, tuina, and many more)
• Hand in Hand Parenting
• First responder
• Singer and musician
• Mum to Tyler (16) and Aobha (10)

Michelle Ryan

The Wonder of Birth

I have four sons and each of their births have been my life’s most defining, empowering and spiritual moments. Pregnancy and birth for me as I experienced them, were times of immense and wonder-full learning about myself and my baby. The kind of joy and gratitude I felt after each baby’s birth was so profound it’s hard to describe with words. While all my babies were born in hospital, it probably wasn’t the ideal for me. In hindsight and knowing what I’ve learned through each of my births, a doula would have given me the exact personalised care that I now realise I needed and wanted.

Always By Your Side

As your doula, I will spend time getting to know you, so that a bond of trust and confidence is formed. This bond has a remarkable effect on the birthing experience for everyone involved, especially the birthing mother. I will make sure that you feel consistently cared for, and listened to and heard. My care focuses on minding women intuitively and lovingly while they become a mother (again). I will do everything in my power to help you feel relaxed, calm, confident, content and unafraid. I will stay by your side and support you completely, emotionally and physically.

Like a Friend

In our work, we have deep respect for the uniqueness of every birthing experience. We don’t control or make decisions. We are like a friend who knows the process of labour and birthing very well, and encourages you to feel completely competent and perfectly designed to birth in comfort and integrity. A positive birth is a most empowering and terrific experience. Every woman deserves this. Because, for me, a well woman is a well mama. And a well mama is the best basis for a well family.

Training and Experience

• birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• secondary school teacher
• mother of four kids

Michelle Ryan

Contact Michelle: 086-3907472 or michelleryan05@gmail.com 

The Wonder of Birth

I have four sons and each of their births have been my life’s most defining, empowering and spiritual moments. Pregnancy and birth for me as I experienced them, were times of immense and wonder-full learning about myself and my baby. The kind of joy and gratitude I felt after each baby’s birth was so profound it’s hard to describe with words. While all my babies were born in hospital, it probably wasn’t the ideal for me. In hindsight and knowing what I’ve learned through each of my births, a doula would have given me the exact personalised care that I now realise I needed and wanted. 

Always By Your Side

As your doula, I will spend time getting to know you, so that a bond of trust and confidence is formed. This bond has a remarkable effect on the birthing experience for everyone involved, especially the birthing mother. I will make sure that you feel consistently cared for, and listened to and heard. My care focuses on minding women intuitively and lovingly while they become a mother (again). I will do everything in my power to help you feel relaxed, calm, confident, content and unafraid. I will stay by your side and support you completely, emotionally and physically.

Like a Friend

In our work, we have deep respect for the uniqueness of every birthing experience. We don’t control or make decisions. We are like a friend who knows the process of labour and birthing very well, and encourages you to feel completely competent and perfectly designed to birth in comfort and integrity. A positive birth is a most empowering and terrific experience. Every woman deserves this. Because, for me, a well woman is a well mama. And a well mama is the best basis for a well family.

Training and Experience

• birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)

• secondary school teacher

• mother of four kids

Sandra Healy

Sandra is an experienced midwife and supports the team at our Wellmama workshops and events.

Trusting Birth and Trusting Women

Supporting women through their birth journey has been one of the great joys of my life. I have worked as a midwife since 2006 and I continue to be awed by the amazing power of women to grow, birth and nourish new human life. I have a deep respect and trust of women, their bodies and birth. One of my priorities when working with women is to instil this sense of trust while also creating for them a sense of safety and comfort. My work as a homebirth midwife has helped me support women on very different journeys, helping them to find out what is right for them. I also work in a maternity hospital, so I have developed the skill of helping women navigate the maternity system to assist them make and execute the choices that are right for them.

Counteracting Fear

As birth becomes increasingly medicalised, I believe it is important for women to explore how they can have a healthy, safe pregnancy and birth while also having a positive, life-affirming transformational experience. Many women begin their pregnancy journey consumed by fear and perceptions of risk. My years as a midwife and researcher have demonstrated to me how fear can deprive a woman of the positive, transformative experience of birth that she is entitled to. I believe that this fear can be counteracted through supportive midwifery and doula care where concerns and risks are explored and discussed in a safe environment.

Training and Experience

• Registered midwife (working in both a maternity hospital and facilitating home births)
• Birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• Hypnobirthing instructor (KG Hypnobirthing)
• Spinning Babies practitioner (with Gail Tully)
• Newborn Examination Course (Queens University Belfast)
• Midwifery researcher in the area of protecting physiological birth
• Mother to Sean, Oliver, Kalem & Milla and grandmother to Jesse

Sandra Healy

Sandra is an experienced midwife and supports the Wellmama team at our workshops and events.

For HSE homebirth services, contact Sandra at healy.sandra1@gmail.com or call 086-9418294

Trusting Birth and Trusting Women

Supporting women through their birth journey has been one of the great joys of my life. I have worked as a midwife since 2006 and I continue to be awed by the amazing power of women to grow, birth and nourish new human life. I have a deep respect and trust of women, their bodies and birth. One of my priorities when working with women is to instil this sense of trust while also creating for them a sense of safety and comfort. My work as a homebirth midwife has helped me support women on very different journeys, helping them to find out what is right for them. I also work in a maternity hospital, so I have developed the skill of helping women navigate the maternity system to assist them make and execute the choices that are right for them.

Counteracting Fear

As birth becomes increasingly medicalised, I believe it is important for women to explore how they can have a healthy, safe pregnancy and birth while also having a positive, life-affirming transformational experience. Many women begin their pregnancy journey consumed by fear and perceptions of risk. My years as a midwife and researcher have demonstrated to me how fear can deprive a woman of the positive, transformative experience of birth that she is entitled to. I believe that this fear can be counteracted through supportive midwifery and doula care where concerns and risks are explored and discussed in a safe environment.

Training and Experience

• Registered midwife (working in both a maternity hospital and facilitating home births)
• Birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales)
• Hypnobirthing instructor (KG Hypnobirthing)
• Spinning Babies practitioner (with Gail Tully)
• Newborn Examination Course (Queen’s University Belfast)
• Midwifery researcher in the area of protecting physiological birth
• Mother to Sean, Oliver, Kalem & Milla and grandmother to Jesse