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About our Doulas

Emma Fraser and Leslie Altic came together to birth Belfast Baby Company in 2019. As BabyCo doulas we are passionate about supporting women and their families and offer holistic support, nurturing and guidance during your pregnancy, birth and the early days with your new baby.

 

Pregnancy is a time of big changes and strong emotions, and whether you are excited or nervous, or both, about the experience, we are there as you prepare to welcome your new little family member(s).  As your doulas we are a consistent source of support throughout your pregnancy and a known face helping you feel safe, comfortable and confident in labour and birth.

 

We are trained in many additional services that you can access during your pregnancy including hypnobirthing, antenatal education, aquanatal yoga and babywearing consultations.

As strong advocates for evidence-based information, we want to empower women to have their birth, their way. You will be supported to find the information and evidence around your individual needs and encourage you to discuss and explore options for your pregnancy and birth journey.

Our Mission

Birth is a life-changing experience and one that you will remember forever, so at Belfast Baby Company we ensure that you will have access to information and support to help you feel confident, positive and empowered as you transition into parenthood.

Leslie Altic

Leslie is a trained Birth and Postnatal Doula, Antenatal Educator, Hypnobirthing Teacher and Rewind Practitioner. She has two bright and boisterous girls at home, Abigail and Maya, and a wonderfully supportive husband Tommy. Leslie knows that the journey into parenthood is not always straightforward; there are highs and lows. Her first baby, Joshua, was stillborn, followed by the two very healthy, but extremely anxious pregnancies and births of her rainbow babies. This experience gave Leslie an appreciation in to how precious the time of pregnancy and birth are and how, with the right information and support, birth can and should be a positive and empowering life-changing event. Since the birth of her babies, Leslie has been involved in all things birth: from running bumps and babies groups and volunteering with SANDs (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity) as a befriender, particularly supporting women and their partners through rainbow pregnancies, to joining up with local maternity services, working to shape and influence maternity services, policies and guidelines. Leslie believes that expectant parents deserve to be supported to have a positive birth experience, in a way that is significant to them, so that they enter make the transition to parenthood feeling confident and with a sense of well-being.

Emma Fraser

I'm Emma and mum to three little ones, Caitlin born in 2012 in Daisy Hill Hospital, Elliott born in 2016 at home and Amanda born in 2022 again at home. With my husband Simon we live in the Southern Trust area and apart from the kids have a house full of animals too - 3 dogs and a cat, with fish and bees living in the garden.   I am a trained Birth and Postnatal Doula, Antenatal Educator, Hypnobirthing Teacher, Babywearing Consultant and Rewind Practitioner. My love of working in the world of birth grew out of experiences both good and bad, my first experience was a lovely quick hospital birth with Caitlin, my following pregnancy was a non-viable Molar Pregnancy, shortly after which I became pregnant again and had a wonderful home water birth with Elliott. Amanda arrived after a 6 1/2 year gap born en caul in the birth pool at home with Simon, Caitlin and Elliott all there.   For a number of years I've been involved in shaping maternity services in Northern Ireland, through local Maternity Voices Committees, audit teams and policy working groups. This has also helped establish relationships with some of the great midwives and doctors in the area, as well as understand the challenges that exist in our fragmented maternity system.   When I am your doula I want to ensure that you feel confident and safe, in preparation for birth, and getting used to life with a new baby. Having run skills workshops for birth partners and trained as an antenatal teacher I have lots of information and practical skills to share with you.  

Don't waste any time, contact us today!

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The breathing exercises and relaxations I learned during the hypnobirthing course definitely helped during labour. I don't think my birth would have been so straightforward and positive if I hadn't come to the classes. And I'm still using the breathing exercises now whenever I feel a bit stressed or anxious!

Hypnobirthing Mum – Belfast,

Leslie was so supportive and comforting throughout labour, and was able to keep me calm and connected which meant I stayed in full control throughout. She was a source of support and comfort for my birthing partner.

Sonya – County Armagh,

Leslie had a huge part to play in me having the most magical birthing experience, she was full of knowledge and very much understanding. She helped me become informed, supported me in all my decisions and empowered me throughout to get the most wonderful birth I planned.

Sonya – County Armagh,

Emma was a constant emotional/physical support throughout my labour. She was utterly invaluable to myself and my husband. She was hands calm presence. She was able to help with decisions I had to make during labour making sure my voice was heard and I was happy with the decision. She also was great at helping me make decisions when it was a struggle during labour.

Denise & Thomas,

Discussing our birth preferences with Leslie helped us to decide what kind of birth experience we wanted, and gave us the confidence to discuss our wishes with medical staff.  We believe that her support and faith in us put us in a strong position to have the natural birth that we wanted.  On the day, we were lucky that things worked out as we had hoped, but having her beside us also made us feel better able to tackle the situation, however it unfolded.

Lucy and Liam,

Leslie is a wonderful doula, and without doubt her working alongside us made a dramatic and positive difference to our experience of labour and birth.  Her priority was to understand what we were experiencing, what we hoped for, and how she could support us.  She was caring, knowledgeable, sensitive and a great listener.  She gave us valuable advice and emotional support both as we prepared, on the day, and even afterwards in her follow-up visit.
Lucy & Liam,

After attending 3 sessions of The Rewind Method I have started to come to terms with my birth experience. Now I can tell my story calmly, without crying, without feeling panicked. It has changed my whole mindset. Amazing!!

Rewind Client,

For the first time in my son's life, I can approach his birthday with optimism instead of increasing anxiety and feelings of dread/panic. Life changing. Thank you!

Rewind Client,

Emma was with me for my induction in the Royal. I couldn't have done it without her, encouraging me, helping me understand what was happening, and the massages for contractions!

Amelia – Belfast,

If it wasn't for Emma, my breastfeeding journey would have ended very differently. She was the only person who was able to help me at every hurdle, giving me both practical and emotional support at a time when I felt the most defeated and vulnerable. With her help, I was able to breastfeed my son successfully and am still breastfeeding him at 22 months!

Zoe – Ballymena,

Our breastfeeding journey would not have lasted as long as it did if it wasn't for that visit from Emma!

Karen – Dromore,

Emma was an amazing doula, she helped me feel confident and even excited for the birth! During the birth she was so calm and encouraging. I know that having the support of a doula like Emma is a huge part of why my birth was an incredibly positive, empowering experience. I wish every woman could have a doula like Emma!

Louise – Lurgan,