I am Sophy Yildirim (she/her). I am a full-spectrum antenatal, birth and postnatal doula based in Portsmouth, UK. I work in person within an 1.5 hour radius, remotely the only limit is your signal strength. I am also a birth preparation and hypnobirthing teacher. I provide antenatal & hypnobirthing classes in South East Hampshire for groups and privately.

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I started supporting parents and prospective parents as a breastfeeding support charity volunteer in 2007. I am a retired La Leche League leader. I became a doula after 7 years of running Southsea Slings; a baby sling library and information service. I continue to provide Southsea Slings services including the sling library, online and pop-up shop and baby carrying consultations. I have extensive experience of providing infant feeding and new parent support.

As your doula I can assist you in preparing fully; making space and time for you to talk, think and plan for the pregnancy & birth you want. I am there to support you through your pregnancy & birth, giving you unconditional, non-judgmental encouragement and warmth.

As your postnatal doula I am here to offer you essential areas of support. Simply listening to you without any agenda, providing specific practical support, e.g. infant feeding or baby carrying solutions, helping out with a baby’s siblings, or with basic household tasks. I offer companionship that boosts your confidence. Often the support I give is emotional and practical rolled into one.

I studied law and anthropology, this helped to build the foundations for being a doula; especially the knowledge that our human rights are critical in making truly informed choices. Access to evidence based information in preparation for becoming parents, giving birth and caring for babies is crucial. This preparation helps to ensure a more positive experience of birth, becoming a parent and the postnatal period.

I am very pleased to have studied on Leila Baker’s Side By Side Doula Preparation Course. I am recognised by Doula UK

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I trained with The Birth Uprising school of hypnobirthing and am very proud to represent their science & rights based approach of hypnobirthing in Portsmouth, South East Hampshire & West Sussex.

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In 2020 I also attended online: The Queer Birth Club’s ‘LGBT+ Competency Workshop’ with AJ Silver and ‘Black Breastfeeding Week – International Online Event’ organised by Breaking Breastfeeding Barriers.

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I was actively involved in a Portsmouth Peer-to-Peer Birth Support Group after my first child was born in 2004. I now love volunteering on the committee for a local community support group called Informed Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond and I am currently co-chair along with fellow doula Sally Carter.

If you are interested in the services I provide please do contact me, or feel free to go ahead and book a no strings chat with me here.