Rachel Alred - Listening Doula

05/05/2026

⭐️International Day of the Midwife⭐️

Celebrating our independent midwife Bailey today on International Day of the Midwife

I’m so glad we decided to invest in independent midwifery care when we were having Henry.

We had a lovely community midwife (when we were able to see her) but where we live we didn’t have a designated home birth team so it was always the plan to have independent midwifery.

I knew about Bailey before I was even pregnant and when we had our initial chat I just knew she was the right person for us. I book with her when I was about 6 weeks pregnant, before I had even booked with my local NHS trust.

I know this isn’t a choice for everyone and it’s something we knew we would do well in advance of being pregnant, saved hard for and had a payment plan with Bailey. Henry was 4 months old by the time we had paid it all off!

It was one of the best decisions we made. Not only for the continuity of person centred care, but the support throughout in person and via phone and the extended postnatal care. Bailey made sure that Charlie was included too and it was a sad day when we had to say goodbye.

⭐️If you are pregnant, whether you are looking to hire an independent midwife or not, I encourage you to follow Bailey and see what she has to offer ❤️

04/05/2026

⭐️GOLD BOOBS⭐️

I have golden b***s! Well technically I gained my gold b***s almost 3 months ago, but it’s been a very full on (a little overwhelming and challenging truth be told) time here since H turned 1 and now he’s almost 15 months!

I am so proud of H and I getting to this point. It was always my goal to get to 12 months but only if that felt best for H and I together. I could not have got here without the initial support in those first days, weeks and months. As well as preparation and planning in my pregnancy.

I’m not sure where we go from here. I’ve always been responsive to H’s needs around feeding, having trust in our journey and reaching out for help if needed. He often still wakes at night and I settle him with a feed, more so with illness or teething. I am still enjoying breastfeeding (maybe less so when he’s biting) and I’m very well supported at work to pump although H is less keen to take expressed milk or cows milk for that matter but he has a lot of dairy in his diet and is eating more solids. There is no reason for us to stop so for now we carry on.

I have noticed a bit of a shift though in how I feel that I’m breastfeeding past 12 months and breastfeeding in public. I think this is down to societal pressure and expectations.

I don’t think people share about it as much, although I know a lot of people who are still breastfeeding over 12 months and way beyond, but I think the stats really speak for themselves; in the UK only 0.5-1% of the approximately 80% that initiate breastfeeding as the first feed a baby has, are still breastfeeding over 12 months.

But breast milk isn’t any less nutritional for babies and toddlers, in fact on the WHO website they state that “between 12 and 23 months of age, an average breast milk intake of about 500g/day still provides 35-40% of a child’s energy needs and is a good source of essential fatty acids and vitamins which may be comparatively lower in most complementary foods”. https://www.who.int/tools/elena/bbc/continued-breastfeeding

Continued in comments…

04/05/2026

☕️Let’s have a chat☕️

⭐️Are you looking for online support around your pregnancy, birth or postnatal journey?

⭐️Are you thinking that you may want to work with me?

➡️Then click the link in my bio and book in a FREE 30 minute virtual chat to see how we can work together 😊

When you are investing in your preparations for your birth and postnatal journey it’s important that you choose to work with someone that you connect with.

That’s why I offer a free 30 minute virtual chat over a cuppa (mines currently a decaf Yorkshire tea) as a get to know each other to see if what I can offer aligns with what you need and to see if working together feels good 😊

Rachel x

📸Photograph

🖋️Branding support

01/05/2026

01/02/2026

How is it possible that I am heading back to work this week?

I know it’s such a cliche thing to say but honestly this past year has flown!

Henry is almost one… wow and what a year we have had.

Postpartum is intense! It’s full of highs, lows and everything in between.

It’s not over either, did you know it takes at least 18 months - 2 years to recover from birth.

So if you aren’t feeling “there” (whatever there is) yet then do not worry, you are not alone.

Everyone’s timeline is different. Everyone’s navigating their own journey.

It’s weird to go from being with Henry 24/7 to him being in nursery.

I’m grateful we have this option and I am looking forward to returning to work but I also miss the fact that I’m not with him all the time.

🤷🏻‍♀️What if I miss him taking his first steps or first word?

🤷🏻‍♀️What will the impact be on our breastfeeding journey?

I didn’t have this concern with Charlie as he was older when he started and did half days initially as we had just moved to Yorkshire and I wasn’t back to work.

I thought I would be fine second time around and I know the nursery well and most of the staff in the baby room looked after Charlie so I know them already.

I love what I do and I’m excited to be back with wonderful colleagues and get to be Rachel again. Also able to drink a hot cuppa anytime I want!

I guess what I’m trying to say is it is ok to find this change hard and look forward to it at the same time. Both things can be true.

⭐️If you are at this stage right now I’m sending you love ❤️ You have got this and my DM’s are always open if you want to chat about it 🥰

Rachel x

22/12/2025

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and see you in the New Year 🎄❤️

It’s time for me to take a break from this page and enjoy some time with my family and friends over the next couple of weeks.

What a year 2025 has been with welcoming H into our family 🥰 and C starting school. I feel so very lucky and have so much gratitude for all the highs and lows we have experienced this year and getting to experience the rollercoaster that is postpartum for the second time.

I can’t believe that my maternity leave is almost at an end and H will be settling into nursery at the start of the new year. I don’t feel ready for that, but do you ever? It’s another milestone to embrace and navigate.

That saying is so true how the days and nights can feel long but the years feel short. How will H be 1 in Feb?!

For now I am going to just try to be as present as I can, try to rest a bit and enjoy our first Christmas as a family of 4 ❤️

Hope you all can take some time for you over the festive period and enjoy time with those you love.

Rachel x

16/12/2025

Please be aware that although we will be open over the Christmas and New Year period, there will be a few changes to our normal opening hours:

December 24th: Telephone support using the on call number (07903 174 429) only from 12pm. The infant feeding drop-in at Farcliffe will not be running on this day.
December 25th and 26th: CLOSED
December 31st: Telephone support using the on call number (07903 174 429) only from 2:30pm. The Farcliffe drop-in will be running as normal.
January 1st: CLOSED.

Remember that The Breastfeeding Network (UK) has a helpline that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They can be reached on 0300 100 0212. You can also DM them - look for on Instagram or Facebook.

20/11/2025

It's cold out there this week! If you wrap up warm and brave the weather this Friday, we will be waiting for you at The Rockwell Centre from 10am -12pm.

We had a lovely session for Baby Week last week, and are looking forward to welcoming you all again this week. There will be warm drinks, toys, and good company! No need to book a place or commit to coming to a number of sessions - simply turn up.

If you have any questions, please give us a ring on 01274 287 968.

10/11/2025

❤️9 months of Breastfeeding Henry❤️

Today I got my ruby b***s 🥰

It feels like a lot has happened since I got my silver b***s (6 months) as we have navigated some hurdles that could have impacted negatively on our feeding journey including surgery for my gall bladder removal. I actually think my recovery was aided by the fact Henry was breastfeeding, thank you oxytocin!

We have also had teeth coming through and position changes as a result, alongside managing biting, ni**le twiddling, pinching, pulling down and pulling off (mostly in public), juggling feeds around offering solid food as well as illness.

Henry is still fed responsively, fed to sleep mostly and still wakes to feed during the night. We have no plans to stop anytime soon and I’m just embracing the journey 🥰

Oh how grateful I am for it all and I will always be thankful for the intensive support we received at the start as well as continued support from friends, peers and colleagues.

I had to draw on that support recently as I had a solo trip with some of my oldest friends which meant 4 nights away from my boys. Henry had a freezer stash as well as some ready made formula and he had started eating his solids but I totally underestimated the impact it would have on me physically and emotionally.

It was so wonderful to have some quality time with friends but I could not fully relax and enjoy it as the pumping, uncomfortable b***s waking me up at night and hand expressing into public toilets did take its toll.

I’m lucky I have a good supply and although there was a noticeable dip when I got home, it quickly resolved and Henry was immediately back on the breast ❤️

Wherever you are at on your feeding journey I’m celebrating you today too! 🥳

If you are struggling or yet to start please seek out the support that’s available in your area. My DM’s are always open and I can signpost you in the right direction 😊

Swipe for photos of a recent feed, a feed on day 1, 9 months out compared to 9 months in 🥰❤️

15/10/2025

Hi Friends and Followers 👋🏻

⭐️Can you help? ⭐️

The Eldwick School Association (ESA) is looking for Raffle Prizes for the Winter Fair.

The ESA are a registered charity and raise vital funds to support with the Children’s learning, development as well as fun activities that the children enjoy.

If you are able to please message me or email [email protected] 🎄

Many thanks ❤️🥰