Doula Mentoring
Once you have completed your Doula Preparation course, we highly recommend being mentored through your first few jobs. Whether or not you choose to join Doula UK, you can still be mentored by one of our carefully selected Doula Mentors.
Side by Side Doula Mentors have at least 3 years of experience, are members of Doula UK and are committed to providing new doulas with holistic, person-centred mentoring while they find their feet in the world of perinatal support.
Uduak Udondem
Uduak is based in London and offers a number of complementary services including pregnancy massage, Arvigo therapy and yoni steaming
My holistic practice started with my work as a birth doula in 2006, supporting women to deliver their babies into this world safely and with confidence.
My role as your mentor is to remind you of the power and strength you hold in your doulaing journey and beyond, as well as preparing you for the challenges you might face and how best to manage them successfully.
We do better together side by side as there is a force of energy that is shared in times of learning, exploring joy, success and sorrow.
07931 503 069
Thando Zwane
Thando is based in London and also offers hypnobirthing and antenatal preparation workshops
The fear, the uncertainty, the excitement, the self-doubt, the big dreams….all parts of you are welcome in our Mentor-Mentee relationship. We will shine a light on your strengths and improve the areas that need attention. Be assured that our relationship will pluck you out of your comfort zone and expand your knowledge helping you to trust this calling and birth yourself into a doula your clients will adore and you will be proud of.
I am the doula’s doula and I strongly believe that community is important in this work. Get in touch to explore working together.
07951 511 233
Beverley Hinton
Beverley is based in Sutton and is also a hypnobirthing teacher, Newborn Baby Observation Practitioner and Holistic Sleep Coach
It’s an amazing feeling to know that your quiet presence can infuse others with calm, confidence and self-belief.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking the dogs and being outdoors.
I like to keep up to date with birth/postnatal research by attending courses and reading journals and books.
I love being a doula, and feel it is a job where you are constantly learning. I am excited to have the opportunity to walk alongside you as you begin your journey as a doula, supporting you with some of the things I have learnt over the years, and also learning from unique you.
07816 847 743
Bev Samways
Bev is based in Croydon and is a hypnobirthing and aquanatal teacher
Given my experience and strengths, I specialise in supporting couples to use Hypnobirthing techniques and feel passionate about encouraging them making informed decisions about their care. I believe that families can experience their best birth in many different ways, whether that’s in or out of a pool, at home or in hospital, meeting their baby with a vaginal or abdominal birth.
Having the privilege of providing support to a range of families, in varying birth environments and circumstances, I’m excited to be offering my support to newly trained doulas walking their own path into the birthing world.
07732 058 271
Michele Misgalla
Michele is based in London and is a pregnancy & postnatal yoga teacher, hypnobirthing instructor and Spinning Babies Parent Educator
I am a recognised Birth Doula, and have supported over 50 births since 2018 in a wide variety of settings. I have supported couples, solo parents and vulnerable and asylum seeking pregnant people who are under Home Office care. I am also a mother of three, one born in hospital (King's) and two at home. I feel so fortunate to have experienced such positive, fulfilling births and my aim as a doula is to help every birthing person to have the birth they wish for, feeling supported and empowered every step of the way. I have a wealth of experience I can share with you as a mentor, supporting you on your wonderful journey of becoming a doula!
07796 967 422
Lina Duncan
Lina lives in East London where she works as a birth and postnatal doula, a childbirth educator and as a coordinator at Neighbourhood Doulas
I have been a doula and a midwife in Mexico, the Philippines, Hong Kong and India. Coming full circle to return to London in 2016 after 20 years abroad, I bring a wealth of experiences and cultural awareness to my doula practice and mentor role. I became a Director and Coordinator at Neighbourhood Doulas in 2020 and the growth I continue to experience enhance my doulaing and mentoring skills.
As your mentor you can expect me to be a good listener and to hold space whilst you discover and grow into the birthworker you dream to be. I believe in growth in communities, I love networking and it makes my heart sing to witness the birth world expand in diversity and that each birthing person might see themselves in a doula somewhere. Get in touch to connect and see if we’re a good fit
07498 991599
Mentoring Feedback
Working with Michele as a mentor has been a great experience, I don’t have any negative thoughts or experience on the whole process. I feel somewhat sad that it has come to an end, I will be forever grateful for her patience and support and wish she was geographically closer for more in person networking and collegial support! Michele is a great asset to the SBSD mentoring team.
“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers* – strong, competent, capable mothers* who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”
Barbara Katz Rothman
*while this quote uses "mothers", Side by Side doulas recognise all birthing people and expectant/new parents regardless of gender identity