Erin Zohrehie:
Infant Feeding Specialist &
Postnatal Doula
Care When It's Crucial
Hello! I’m Erin, and I am an Infant Feeding Specialist and Postnatal Doula working in the greater Berkshire area. I help new mothers ease into their new role by providing the support they need to initiate and establish breastfeeding. I’m passionate about the postnatal period as it is a special and fleeting time, and I help to provide an anxious-free time for an exhausted mother.
My Story
My experience with children started before I can even remember. My mother was a child minder, so our home was always filled with children. By the age of about 7, I started to help my mum, caring for both my siblings as well as the other children. And by the time I was 11 I was independent enough to insist that I could babysit for my siblings while my parents went out for an evening. Soon afterward I was hired by family friends and neighbours to care for their children too.
While attending university, I volunteered as an assistant in the pre-kindergarten class, then went into the work world. Interestingly, every job I held was somehow related directly or indirectly to children, whether it was working for a publisher helping to create children’s school books, at an international school,or teaching English to children privately. Later on, I worked as a supply teacher for nurseries. I'd love to be in the ‘baby room’. This job lasted until I was about to give birth to my own baby.
Because I had gotten help with breastfeeding just when I was about to give up, I felt passionate about helping other mothers. I trained as a breastfeeding counselor with the Breastfeeding Network, completing their advanced course and going on to work at Royal Berkshire Hospital for the next five years. It was so rewarding helping thousands of new mothers to get their feeding off to a good start with more chances of them to reach their breastfeeding goals. Sadly, due to funding cuts to programs such as these, I was made redundant in May 2018.
I continue to work in a more hands on way, with a wrap-around care provided to a new mum. In these days when we often live far from family, it is crucial that a new mother be allowed to have ample time to bond with her baby, and to support her practically as well as emotionally. It's my dream that every new mother be able to feel well cared for in the first few weeks after giving birth.
My Services
Postnatal Doula Support
Postnatal Doula sessions provide ‘wrap-around’ care to new parents. There are practical matters such as general tidy-ups and simple meals, which can make life with a newborn so much easier! A typical session lasts three to four hours and can be as frequent and as on-going as your family needs. There would be ample time for mum and baby to bond, for you to get plenty of rest and to recover from the birth, and to enjoy healthy home-made meals. Listening and empathy is part of the emotional support side, and can help prevent postnatal depression.
Breastfeeding Support Care Packages
Gold
This package almost always allows a mother and baby to establish breastfeeding- which means both will on to have a lovely experience with breastfeeding for weeks, months and sometimes even years to come! It covers the most crucial postnatal period (the first six weeks) to learn this very important skill.
Mum will learn to latch baby on well, we can address any pain she might experience, and she will receive help to understand hunger signs as well as signs that the baby is feeding well. Reassurance and encouragement are important factors in getting off to the best start!
In the case that further assistance needed due to tongue-tie or other problems, I can help give you available options, allowing you to make the best decisions for you and your family.
Home visits each week
Six weeks of on-going message and phone support
Observing a typical feed to assess positioning and attachment
Listening to all things baby and feeding related to put together a picture of where feeding improvements can be made
Crucial signposting where needed and encouragement to carry on, focusing on the positives
Helping both parents to understand normal newborn behaviour and dispelling any concepts or myths
providing informative videos and articles relating to mum and dad’s parenting style
Providing information about local mums clubs and other social activities in the area, helping mum to connect with her peers
500.00 / 6 weeks of support
Silver
Two home visits
Two weeks of vital text and phone support to provide continual encouragement, answer any questions surrounding infant feeding, and provide important information relevant to mum’s personal needs
180.00 / 2 weeks of support
Bronze
One home visit to help mum off to the best start with breastfeeding. Observing a typical feed and tweaking positioning if necessary
50.00
40.00 follow up visit
50p per mile when over 10 miles from RG2
Payment in advance, please get in touch for payment info
“Erin has been an amazing help and support. I am extremely grateful as thanks to her knowledge and understanding of babies she identified the problem of my baby’s tongue tie which helped a lot. If it weren’t for her, baby would have continued to struggle to feed. Her positive, friendly and bubbly personality helped so much.” ADM
“I was struggling with my health and one twin in the hospital and one at home. Erin gave me the space/time to recover, and I was able to visit twin in the hospital without having to worry about George at home. She did some cleaning, cooking and washing which meant I, my mum and my husband didn’t need to worry about those chores. Erin was cheerful and empathetic. Her desire to please shines through. She clearly loves babies, and took lovely care of him and was very attentive.” KJ
"Our family is still sane (well, almost...) thanks to Erin swooping in like Wonder Woman during the postnatal weeks. And I have to admit we couldn’t bear to let her leave us until the ‘newborn’ was well over a year old!! Seriously, she is not a luxury but a necessity. Every woman should have a postnatal doula, especially if you don’t have family support." LC
Look at this bit of nature's beautiful design.
Female humans are also designed beautifully to make enough milk for their babies. Don't let culture, rumours, or subtle marketing undermine your confidence in this precious fact.
Erin Zohrehie (Mummy Minder)
Contact Me
07403198152
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