Blog
Why I think black women, brown women, women of colour, need their own space to talk.
I had been thinking about this for a very long time and recent events made me realise that I hadn’t written about it yet. Safe, separate spaces for black women. I had posted, what I thought was, a simple request for a black doula up North (I’m in London. And yes...
It’s not that birth is painful, it’s that women are strong
I sometimes wonder what the popular birth narratives mean to black women. My brain started moving along these lines one day when, yet again, the meme ‘It’s not that birth is painful, but that women are strong’ appeared on my social media feeds. I have no issue with...
Black Breastfeeding Week
With World Breastfeeding week upon us and Black Breastfeeding Week coming into view, it is time to think about the support that we give to women during this period of their lives. Much is said about the ‘mom wars’ and how guilty women who choose, or need to formula...
What is a doula worth?
What is a doula worth? I’ve started to get a series of enquiries that has me wondering what people think a doula is worth. Many are shocked when I quote my fee. This is to be expected as I am rather expensive, however, when I ask what they were hoping to pay, I’m...
What does it mean to silence a voice?
I recently wrote an article that I submitted to the doula organisation that I belong to. I spent time on it and was careful to step back and review it regularly. I asked another doula to write a companion piece. I then submitted them both. The response to the article...
Becoming Mars Lord
For the last few years I have struggled with my name. Not my actual name. I enjoy being Mars Lord. Easy to remember, to Google, to share. No. The name that I have struggled with is the name I chose for my doula work. The word doula, in the ancient Greek, means...
Are Doulas a Fad?
Women have always supported women with birth. They may not have been called doulas, they were the birth companions, the birth keepers. One would bring practical support. Food and drink. Another would bring spiritual comfort. Another emotional support. And another...
Why I love being a twin doula
My gorgeous pair are now 12. It doesn’t seem but a moment ago that I was holding just over 10lbs of babies. Lady Baby came out 4 minutes before BoyChild. She was 4lbs 5oz and he was 5lbs 14oz. I called them FatBoy Slim (still do really). They were born via caesarean...
Why I love being a Doula
It’s 3.08am and I’m in deep sleep. Los Van Van rings out from my phone. I love a good salsa ringtone. Always wakes me and makes me want to dance. It wasn’t ringing to invite me dancing though. A baby was on the way and its mum wanted me. I trained with the fabulous...