Jess Parkins
The Rebel Sunflower…all births, all bodies, and all families.
About me!
My transition to motherhood was fraught…and that is an under exaggeration by quite some stretch!! Following a traumatic and prolonged labour, my son entered the world via emergency caesarean section and for a while, I couldn’t talk about birth…at all. I was diagnosed with PND not long after, alongside symptoms of PTSD. Life was a struggle.
Around 3.5 years later – my second child arrived – a healing VBAC water birth, helped in no small part by some wonderful staff members at my local hospital. They had suggested I tried hypnobirthing, as well as having regular appointments with a Professional Midwifery Advocate. That element of continuity of carer and cheerleading gave me the confidence to believe that a VBAC was possible, and that I could face it without fear. The rest was all me – I researched, I read, I listened…I did everything in my power to prepare mentally and physically.
That day, the day my daughter arrived in the pool – I felt like I could run the world. It was so primal and powerful. That day changed my life because soon after, I realised that is exactly how I wanted others to feel about their experiences. Understood, supported, informed, formidable…goddess like! I believe we should ALL have the birth we want – however that looks. My approach is to ensure you have continuity, person-centred care, access to all the information and resources you need…with some fun and laughter along the way. My commitment is to support you in unlocking your power, following your instincts, and helping you overcome any fears you may have related to birth.
You bring the baby – I’ll bring the badass.
Training & Experience
Hairdresser, teacher, educational psychologist, paramedic – a handful of the career paths I have considered over the years…none ever felt quite ‘right enough’ for me to pursue though. I graduated in 2008 with a 2:1 in BSc (Hons) Psychology and entered the full-time working world soon after – in the glamorous world of incontinence products no less!! In the proceeding years – I bounced around various positions in the company mostly unfulfilled, sadly.
Once established in my outside work role as ‘Mummy’ and following a healing birth experience – I found myself gravitating towards the maternity world. I joined my local Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership as a Service User Representative a few short months after my daughter was born. From there – I became Co-Chair and not long after this I made the life-changing decision to become a doula (around 2021). It hasn’t happened overnight, and it has required a lot of hard work and commitment on my part…but here I am to tell the tale!! Some of the relevant experience / courses & training I have attended or am planning to attend are listed below:
- Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership – Service User Representative (2019-2022)
- Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership – Temporary Co Chair (2021-2022)
- Badass Birth Doula Training (2021)
- Postnatal refresher (the fourth trimester) – Grace Williams (2021)
- LGBTQ+ Competency – The Queer Birth Club (2021)
- Allyship – The Queer Birth Club (2021)
- Supporting Trans people in pregnancy – Transparent Change (2023)
- Trans people and perinatal mental health – Transparent Change (2023)
- Supporting Trans people in the postnatal period – Transparent Change (2023)
- Supporting fat birth – The Queer Birth Club (2024)
- Doula conversion course – The Riot Birth Network, formerly TBU Academy (2024)
- Supporting Neurodivergent Birth – ND Birth (2024)
- Birthing Biomechanics – The Serenity Doula (upcoming, Dec 2024)
