Birth Doula Support in Liverpool & the North West

I’m Cathie, The Hypno Doula — a birth doula, hypnobirthing teacher and qualified hypnotherapist, with additional training in biomechanics for birth, Rebozo and birth trauma support.

I support all kinds of births, from homebirth and physiological birth to induction, epidural birth, planned Caesarean and everything in between. I'm not here to tell you what the 'right' birth looks like. I'm here to help you understand your options, make decisions that feel right for you and have someone firmly in your corner.

Based in South Liverpool, I provide individual birth doula support across Liverpool, Merseyside, parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester and North Wales. Shared-care support with Lauren is generally available within approximately 30 minutes' travel of Liverpool.

Not sure whether you're within our area? Get in touch and I'll let you know whether we can support you.

Birth support is available either with me individually or through my shared-care partnership with Lauren, The Leopard Print Doula.

“Cathie was the most amazing birthing doula that I could have ever asked for.”

Olivia, birth doula client
5-star Google review

★★★★★

Client Review

There are two ways to have me as part of your birth team — individual doula support with me, or shared-care support with Lauren and me.

Complete Birth Support

Everything you need for knowledgeable, reassuring and continuous support through pregnancy, labour and birth.

✓ 2 antenatal preparation sessions
✓ Birth preferences & planning
✓ WhatsApp support throughout pregnancy
✓ On-call support around your due date
✓ Continuous support throughout labour & birth
✓ Support for your birth partner
✓ Hypnobirthing MP3s & resources
✓ Postnatal check-in

Enhanced Birth Preparation

Everything in Essential, with deeper preparation to help you and your birth partner feel informed, confident and ready for the different ways birth may unfold.

✓ Everything included in Essential
✓ Private hypnobirthing session
✓ Biomechanics & birth positioning
✓ Rebozo, acupressure & comfort techniques
✓ Dedicated birth-partner preparation
✓ Personalised birth planning
✓ Postnatal visit

My highest level of individual support, with extra time, personalised hypnotherapy and more support before and after birth.

✓ Everything included in Signature
✓ Additional antenatal preparation session
✓ Private pregnancy hypnotherapy session
✓ Priority WhatsApp support
✓ Encouraging-labour preparation session towards the end of pregnancy
✓ Additional postnatal support
✓ Dedicated birth debrief
✓ Closing the Bones postnatal session
✓ New-parent gift

Premium Birth Support

Every package includes the same committed, continuous support from me throughout labour and birth...

£1,250

£1,550

£1,999

★ MOST POPULAR ★

Flexible payment plans available — please ask when you enquire.

Planing Caesarean but want Doula Support?

A planned Caesarean doesn't mean you have to miss out on doula support. I offer dedicated support for Caesarean birth, including personalised preparation, birth preferences, hypnotherapy and practical support to help make your birth feel calm, informed and your own.

After supporting our first birth together, we realised just how naturally our skills and approach complemented one another.

Shared care means you’ll get to know both Cathie and Lauren during pregnancy, so when labour begins, the doula who comes to you is already someone you know and trust.

Cathie primarily provides daytime birth support, while Lauren primarily covers overnight call-outs, with flexibility and handover between us where needed.

For you, that means continuity of care without relying on one person to somehow remain fresh, focused and fully present throughout an unpredictable or particularly long labour.

Two doulas. One joined-up approach to your care.

A collaborative birth support service from The Hypno Doula & The Leopard Print Doula

We will divide the 'on call' time between us, generally split between day/night on call. This allows us to be more ready when you give us that call.

You'll have both of us in your corner throughout pregnancy, with someone there to answer your questions, support you when you need it and provide fresh, focused support during birth

🌙 Lauren
The Leopard Print Doula
Primarily overnight support

☀️ Cathie
The Hypno Doula
Primarily daytime support

Every package includes shared-care birth support from Cathie, The Hypno Doula and Lauren, The Leopard Print Doula. Simply choose the level of pregnancy and birth preparation that's right for you.

Complete birth support

Everything you need to feel prepared, supported and cared for throughout pregnancy and birth.

£1,850

Everything in Essential, plus more personalised preparation to help you and your birth partner feel confident and ready for birth.

Our most comprehensive package, personalised pregnancy preparation, extra postnatal care and a few lovely extras too!

The ultimate experience

Choose your support

£1,500

✓ 2 antenatal birth planning & preparation sessions
✓ Time with both Cathie & Lauren before birth
✓ Shared on-call birth support
✓ In-person support throughout labour & birth
✓ WhatsApp support throughout pregnancy
✓ Hypnobirthing MP3s & workbook
✓ Postnatal check-in

Deeper preparation

✓ Additional private hypnobirthing session
✓ Biomechanics & birth positioning preparation
✓ Rebozo, acupressure & comfort techniques
✓ Dedicated birth-partner preparation
✓ Full birth preferences & planning support
✓ Postnatal visit
✓ New-parent gift

£2,250

✓ Everything included in Signature
✓ Additional personalised preparation session
✓ Encouraging-labour preparation session towards the end of pregnancy
✓ Choice of pregnancy or postnatal massage with Anna
✓ Additional postnatal support
✓ Priority WhatsApp support
✓ Luxury new-parent hamper
✓ Handmade baby blanket

Will I meet both Cathie and Lauren before my birth?

Yes. Getting to know both of us is an important part of shared care. We'll both be familiar with you, your birth preferences and what's important to you, so whichever of us attends your birth is already someone you know and trust.

How does the day and night shared-care system work?

Cathie primarily covers daytime support and Lauren primarily covers overnight call-outs. Birth doesn't work to a timetable though, so we'll always use common sense and flexibility rather than simply watching the clock!

If labour continues for a long time, we can hand over between us where appropriate, helping you have continuous support from a doula who is rested, focused and already knows you and your preferences.

Will both doulas be at my birth?

Shared care doesn't usually mean having two doulas present throughout your birth. Depending on when labour begins and the circumstances at the time, either Cathie or Lauren may attend, and there may be a handover if labour continues for a prolonged period.

You'll have met and built a relationship with both of us beforehand, so neither of us is simply an unfamiliar 'back-up' doula.

What happens if neither of you can attend?

Having two doulas already provides an additional layer of reassurance because there are two people who know you and your birth preferences.

In the unlikely event that neither of us can attend because of illness, family emergency or circumstances outside our control, we'll make every effort to arrange suitable back-up doula support from our trusted contacts and provide remote support where appropriate.

Do you only support homebirths?

Not at all. We support homebirths, birth-centre births and hospital births, including induction, epidural birth, VBAC and planned or unplanned Caesarean birth.

We're not there to steer you towards one particular type of birth. Our role is to help you understand your options, prepare for different possibilities and feel supported in the decisions that are right for you.

What does a doula actually do during labour?

Sometimes it's hands-on support such as massage, counter-pressure, Rebozo, positioning, biomechanics, acupressure or helping you find ways to stay comfortable. Sometimes it's helping your birth partner know what to do, keeping the environment calm, reminding you of your preferences or helping you understand what's being offered. And sometimes it's making tea, holding a hand and being the calm person in the room when everything feels a bit much.

Will you speak to doctors or midwives for me?

We don't make decisions or speak for you, but we can help you understand your options, remind you of questions you wanted to ask and give you space to think before making decisions where clinically appropriate. A big part of our antenatal preparation is helping you feel confident using your own voice and understanding informed consent.

Does having a doula replace my birth partner?

Absolutely not. We're there to support them too. They know and love you in a way we never could; we bring birth experience and practical knowledge. We can help them know how to support you, give them reassurance and allow them to eat, rest or go to the loo without feeling they're abandoning you. Ideally, we work as a team.

When do you go on call for my birth?

Our standard on-call period begins 10 days before your estimated due date and continues until two weeks afterwards.

If your baby hasn't arrived by then, we won't suddenly abandon you! We'll continue to do everything reasonably possible to attend your birth. However, because we may have other clients or commitments booked after your formal on-call period, we can't guarantee the same availability beyond that date.

One of the benefits of having two doulas is that there is greater flexibility, and if neither of us can attend we'll do our best to arrange an appropriate back-up doula.

What areas do you cover?

For shared-care support with Cathie and Lauren, we generally cover births within approximately 30 minutes' travel of Liverpool, e.g. St Helens, Ormskirk, Warrington.

Cathie also offers solo birth doula support across a wider area, including Liverpool, Merseyside, parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester and North Wales.

If you're unsure whether we cover your area, just get in touch and ask.

What if my birth plans change?

Then we adapt. Birth can be unpredictable, which is one reason we spend time during pregnancy talking about your preferences and your options if things take a different path. Our support isn't dependent on you achieving a particular kind of birth.

How do payments work?

A non-refundable booking fee of approximately one-third of your chosen package price secures your space in our diary.

The remaining balance can then be spread across monthly instalments, with the full package price due before we begin our on-call period.

If you're booking later in pregnancy, we'll agree a shorter payment schedule with you so the balance is paid before we go on call.

I'm not in Liverpool. Can I still work with you?

Possibly, depending on your location and our availability. For families further afield, Cathie also offers Virtual Doula Support throughout the UK, including birth preparation, personalised support and virtual labour support.

Pop your details below and I/we will be in touch!

You don't need to book a full doula package to have support preparing for birth. Whether you'd prefer personalised support, a birth class or something you can work through in your own time, there are other ways I can help.

Virtual Doula Support

Personalised pregnancy and birth support wherever you are in the UK — from one-off guidance to continuous virtual labour support.

Hypnobirthing & Birth Prep

Practical birth preparation combining hypnobirthing with biomechanics, comfort techniques, birth choices and tools your birth partner can actually use.

Prefer to prepare in your own time? Explore my hypnobirthing workbook, MP3s, guides and downloadable birth-preparation resources.

Birth Preparation Resources

Birth support backed by specialist training

Doula UK

I’m proud to be a mentored doula with Doula UK — the largest network of doulas in the country, recognised for its high standards of care and ongoing professional development. Being mentored means I’m continually supported by an experienced doula while I grow and refine my practice, ensuring families receive the very best, evidence-based, and compassionate support.

Doula UK Access Fund

I’m also listed on the Doula UK Access Fund, which helps make doula care available to families who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Every family deserves to feel supported, respected, and empowered during pregnancy and birth — and being part of this initiative allows me to offer that care more inclusively. If this is something that could help you, you can get referred by a healthcare professional. As part of the Access Fund we complete additional training around vulnerable clients, Data Protection and other important considerations.

My approach brings together practical doula support with specialist training in hypnobirthing, hypnotherapy and biomechanics for birth.

I trained as a birth doula with The Doula Training Foundation and have continued to develop my skills through additional training in Biomechanics for Birth with Optimal Birth, Rebozo techniques and EasiBirthing® Hypnobirthing.

I'm also a qualified hypnotherapist, which means I can bring additional tools for relaxation, anxiety, fear and confidence into the way I support you during pregnancy and birth.

But just as importantly, I've supported families through real births — including homebirth, hospital birth, induction and Caesarean birth — and understand that birth rarely fits neatly into a textbook.