Janette is a 34 and from Hull and has two sons, Joshua, 22 months, and Jacob, ten weeks. She was supported by a doula from the SureStart volunteer doula project.
Two weeks before Jacob was born, my support network fell apart. My mum, who was going to be my birth partner, suddenly passed away, and I discovered my partner was cheating. I was devastated, and had visions of giving birth all by myself. My physiotherapist, who was treating me for SPD (a condition causing pelvic pain), told me about the Sure Start volunteer doula scheme. She explained that it was totally voluntary and wouldn't cost me anything.
At first, I thought my mum would never forgive me for replacing her. But when I met Sharon, my doula, I knew I was doing the right thing. I felt like I’d known her for years.
My contractions started five days early at 7am. Sharon met me at the hospital at 8.30am. I was 6cm dilated, and opted for an epidural. Sharon kept talking to me as the anaesthetist put the epidural in to take my mind off it, and made everything seem calmer and more controlled than in my first labour. She made me laugh and encouraged me when I became emotional about my mum not being there, without patronising me.
Jacob was born at 5.06pm, and despite the circumstances, it was a wonderful birth experience. I couldn’t have got through it without Sharon.
