About me

I’m Tamsin (she/her) and have lived in the Colchester area since 1999, spending many years commuting for work until the toll of travelling became too much and I decided to change direction and follow my passion for working with new parents, by training as a doula.

I’ve previously had a wonderful creative career working around food; my first proper job was with Delia Smith, who set me on the road to becoming a recipe writer, author, stylist and magazine food editor. Over the years I have created hundreds of recipes, which I can share with you via my batch cooking service, spreading love through food.

Growing up as one of 4 siblings, I aways knew that I wanted to be a mother and envisaged my own noisy throng of children around the kitchen table – but we don’t always get what we wish for! The dual challenges of creating a baby as a same-sex couple plus unexpected fertility issues meant that I only got to experience the journey of pregnancy, birth and postpartum once, and there was a lot along the way that didn’t go to plan, from a long medicalised labour that culminated in a C-section through to all kinds of obstacles with breastfeeding.

The realities of new parenthood were a real shock to the system; I expected it all to ‘come naturally’ so hadn’t learned much about typical newborn behaviour and ended up doubting myself at every turn (especially as all the books gave such different advice). Of course I knew that life would change greatly but not how utterly overwhelming it would feel.

Without family nearby and with most of my friends living in London, I really could have done with the support of a doula to reassure me and boost my confidence as I navigated this new phase of life (as well as to feed me and hold the baby while I had a shower). I certainly couldn’t have managed without the support of my NCT group who became real lifesavers (and are still firm friends).

As my son got past the baby stage, I became very active in volunteering with the local NCT branch and loved being able to support new parents by acting as a listening ear and sounding board, signposting them to trustworthy resources. All in all, it was just a matter of time before I would inevitably follow my natural calling to become a doula. Many people say that my personality is very calming – and that I give great hugs when they’re needed!

I feel passionately that no matter your life circumstances, everyone should have the emotional and physical support that they need to make each birth experience their own. Whether you are close to immediate family or not (geographically or emotionally), gay or straight, single or married, first baby or fourth, you should feel empowered to have the birth and postpartum experience that you desire. It’s so important to understand and trust how your body works for birth and feeding – and how your baby knows it too! My experience and knowledge can help to guide you along the way, building your self-belief while advocating for your choices.

When I’m not cooking or obsessing over babies and infant feeding, you may well find me taking a cold-water swim, out for a walk or a cycle ride, curled up at home with my latest crochet project or learning yet more about birth, breast/chest feeding and beyond!

Rainbow families

I’m a queer co-parent to one son, who I gave birth to in 2007. He was conceived via IVF using my egg and ID-release donor sperm after several failed rounds of IUI (and many prior years of planning, preparation and saving up for treatment), so I know just how challenging any kind of fertility journey can be. Although we were keen to have more children, sadly further attempts were unsuccessful.
Knowing that there are so many varied ways in which to create a family, whatever your gender, sexuality or age, I’m keen to support all kinds of people from single parents and straight couples through to trans parents and surrogate pregnancies, as well as those on the neurospicy spectrum.