NOUR believes that birth is the start of a better, more beautiful world. Both mother and child carry the experience of birth with them for the rest of their lives. A positive birth experience is the best start of a life and helps form a strong lifelong love bond between parent and child. That is why NOUR stands for nourishing this proces. According to NOUR, it’s not only the birth of a baby, it’s the birth of a family. Which deserves loving care and support founded on knowledge, experience and warmth. Making birth an empowering experience for mother, partner, and baby.
I am Anne Sophie van Grondelle and I live in beautiful Wageningen together with my husband, Art and daughter Lucy Marie. I love being outdoors and take (long) walks, often accompanied by our Dachshund, Diederik. Pregnancy and birth have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. It’s mind-blowing for me to fathom how a human being, with all its complex functions, can develop from just a single cell. The more I research pregnancy and birth, and all the physical and emotional processes that accompany it, the clearer it became to me how much the birth experience affects the life of both mother and baby. In my personal life and in my work as a doula, I experience the value of having someone alongside you in life when you go through life changing processes. Someone who knows the way — a guiding light — who supports and empowers you. A warm, loving and experienced presence. It is an honour for me to be that person for other people in the most beautiful process of life: becoming a mother and receiving a child.
A doula is a birth- and labour coach. An experienced and knowledgeable woman who offers nonmedical support before, during and after labour on a physical, emotional and mental level. It’s an age-old fact that women in labour are best supported by other women. The role of the doula is not to replace the partner nor the midwife, but to strengthen the team during this intimate process. At home as well as in the hospital.
The doula remains at the side of the mother for the complete duration of labour. She’ll do everything in her power to create and keep a peaceful and safe atmosphere, and to offer the mother and her partner a helping hand. Her presence, experience, and knowledge brings calmness, trust, and relaxation throughout the birth process. She supports the mother during labour with massages, breathing techniques and helpful birth positions. She knows the mother’s wishes and protects boundaries. She coaches, empowers, listens and reassures.
Click here to schedule a call with Anne Sophie to discuss the possibilities.
