What does Birth Wish stand for?
The name Birth Wish embraces the kinds of support I offer. The logo embodies a falling star. According to popular belief, if you wish upon a falling star, it becomes true - Yes, I tested this myself :)
As a fertility coach, it's supporting you for the child whose birth you wish.
As a doula, it's supporting you for the birth you wish to have.
As a counselor/healer, it's supporting you for the person, the wish you want to birth.
I support your birth, your wish.
The logo of Birth Wish embodies a falling star. According to popular belief, if you wish upon a falling star, it becomes true - Yes, I tested this myself :)
What is counseling?
Counseling aims to reveal the underlying emotional and behavioral patterns behind your life questions. We go as deep as you wish and feel comfortable with. My job as a counselor is to facilitate you in finding the answers to your questions. We search for solutions together. We look for tools and ways that will help you deal with your issues yourself.
What is your approach as a counselor?
As a counselor, I espouse a person-centered approach. My counseling will be tailored to your needs. I am here to support you in discovering your wishes so that you can discover your own power. The aim is not only to gain insights, but also to find practical steps to bring in the change you wish for in your life.
I focus specifically on the following issues:
- fertility
- miscarriage
- fear of birth
- birth trauma.
I like to work with creative methods to support our counseling sessions.
Depending on what your personal preferences are, these methods include:
- visualizing
- drawing
- writing.
How many counseling sessions do I need?
When you contact me for counseling, we proceed as follows:
- We first call shortly to discuss what your question is and how I could help.
- We make an initial plan as to how we will work together.
- If we agree to work together, we conduct sessions of one to two hours.
- The amount and frequency of sessions will depend on your question and needs. On average, 5-6 sessions are needed.
- Your privacy is guaranteed. I work according to the ethical code of the ACC (Academy for Counselling and Coaching).
- I can counsel you in English, Dutch, Turkish, or French.
I also offer online counseling.
What is the difference between a fertility coach and a fertility doula?
A fertility coach offers you mental and emotional support before, during, or after your fertility journey. Especially if you are receiving fertility treatments, the psychological weight of the process progressively heavier. A fertility coach helps you to put things into perspective, to adopt new coping mechanisms, and to process fertility-related trauma's.
A fertility doula is more than a fertility coach. She offers continuous and holistic support before, during and after your fertility journey. She is there for you when you need her, not from session to session, but also to support you when it comes to egg retrieval puncture, embryo transfer, or miscarriage. It is hands-on support on all levels: practical, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.
Why should I work with a fertility doula/coach?
This is the ultimate way to take care of yourself during this difficult process. Whether you are searching for (medical) alternatives or trying to cope better with this process mentally & emotionally, coaching is bound to benefit you, whatever the ultimate pregnancy outcome.
Is a fertility doula/coach expensive?
How strong is your wish to get pregnant? Are you willing to pay for IVF abroad?
The benefits to your well-being with fertility coaching are guaranteed and it also has the potential to help you get pregnant. And that for a fraction of the costs you would have pay for medical or other alternative treatments.
What is a doula?
Doula literally is an ancient Greek word for 'a woman who serves'. A doula is not medically responsible for you (that falls under the domain of your midwife or gynaecologist) and can therefore totally focus on providing the personal support you wish to receive.
Why should I work with a doula?
A doula is your private support person, who is 100% focused on you and your needs alone. This could vary from:
- having a casual chat to helping you make decisions during pregnancy
- bringing you a cup of tea to giving you massages during birth
- just checking in to ask how you are to estimating if you need extra breastfeeding support during post-partum.
A doula is your fixed, trusted caregiver, throughout this special but also challenging period of transformation.
I have a midwife. Do I still need a doula?
Your midwife is responsible for the medical care of you and your baby. You meet all the midwives in a practice and do not know which midwife will attend your birth, unless you work with a caseload midwife.
Even though she would love to, a midwife is not able to attend to your daily worries throughout pregnancy or to be there with you from the beginning to the end of your birth, due to scope of their work and their time limitations.
How do you make photos when you are giving doula support?
I make photos of your most powerful and intimate moments. These are usually moments with your partner, when I step aside and can make photos.
We agree beforehand about where the priority should be during the important phases of labor.
Because I get to know you better as your doula, I can sense where your needs lie at the heat of the moment.
Childbirth is a private event. I don't want any strangers present. Is a doula or birth photographer a good idea then?
If you choose me as your doula or birth photographer, we'll know each other before the birth takes place. You know that it will be me - not a stranger any more - unlike all the strangers who you will meet for the first time if you have a hospital birth, for example.
As a trained birth professional, I know how to respect intimacy and privacy during childbirth. And you can always send me to another room if you want to be alone for a while. In the end, it's your birthing day!
Is a doula expensive?
Birth is a unique experience you cannot repeat. In case you do not have a positive birth, the consequences are real and long-lasting: mother unhappy, baby unhappy which leads to much higher expenses afterwards than hiring a doula to begin with.
What is belly massage? Does it hurt?
Belly massage is a gentle massage technique for all your vital organs. Its main goal is to release the tension accumulated in your belly area. The pressure I give will be adjusted to how you feel so that it does not hurt. It might feel sore in the beginning, but that is a sign of the healing process.
How does belly massage stimulate my fertility?
All internal organs in your abdominal area are connected to each other. A blockage in your intestines can lead to blockages in your reproductive organs. With belly massage, the first goal is to ensure that your digestive system works optimally and then to focus on your ovaries and uterus.
