Hi, We’re Your Brighton Doulas: Charlotte and Lauren
We met and worked in London, supporting more than 200 clients between us, and then moved to Brighton with our families for a new start by the sea
We’re different in lots of ways but let’s start with the ways that we are the same…
We both believe passionately in physiological birth and the many skills we have to support it. We also believe that all birth is special and sacred, and regularly support clients who choose to have epidurals and planned caesareans, as well as those who plan to birth without any intervention. We both view birth as a right of passage for the family and are here to hold you physically, emotionally and spiritually as you navigate that transition. We support all kinds of families with respect and experience, to help your journey feel easy and beautiful. The most important things to us, are that you have the information you need to make decisions, and that your voice is listened to on the day. Our aim is to support your intuition so that your birth feels right for you whatever that looks like.
Client Testimonials
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Client Testimonials -
“Lauren provided incredible support for the birth of our second baby. She has a wealth of evidence-based information to share, was on call when plans threatened to go awry, and was an invaluable member of the team on the day, including being a great advocate for me. I feel lucky to have had a really positive experience and Lauren was definitely a key part of that. She has also been at the end of a voicenote many times since with continued wisdom! I really couldn’t recommend Lauren more highly, she’s wonderful!”
Carla - Mum of Clementine
“The biggest and most heartfelt shout out to our incredible doula, Charlotte. Booking with her was hands down the best investment we made during this journey - we truly can’t recommend her enough.”
Ruth & Leanne - Mums of Myles
“We have been lost for words. Thank you Charlotte for going above and beyond, from that first conversation we had until now, and I’m sure into the future too. Thank you for making us feel that nothing was too much to ask or silly - and for helping us to see that we could do it. And we did!”
Alice - Mum of Raffie
“I think it’s fair to say that without Lauren our experience of birth would have been very different and far worse. She was amazing and despite challenging circumstances made the whole experience an extremely positive one. She was so helpful, kind and caring during the birth and delivered in every way she said she would often going above and beyond. As new parents we have found that her advice prior to birth and her help during the birth has empowered us to make positive decisions and not simply accept the status quo. As a guy in a delivery room (who is slightly afraid of hospitals) and a first time Dad, Lauren’s help was invaluable!”
Benjamin - Dad of Domino
“We were just toasting over our first proper glass of red, and we both agreed that having you was worth every penny and so much more. You brought the most beautiful energy and light to our experience, and for that we will be forever grateful.”
Gemma - Mum of Luna
“If you’re considering a doula to support you in the lead up to, during, and post birth, I couldn’t recommend Lauren highly enough. For us, there couldn’t have been a better investment. A huge thank you for everything you’ve done for our family.”
Elizabeth - Mum of Luca
Lauren Milligan
I’m a Vogue editor-turned birth doula; Scottish, originally from just outside of Glasgow, but I’ve spent the last 15 years living in Barnes, south west London, with my husband and four children. Now we’ve come to beautiful Brighton and I have the pleasure of supporting families from London and Surrey to Sussex.
In the past 15 years, I’ve had four very different babies in four very different ways and the more time passed the more I realised how important that birth experience is to what kind of parents and family you become. Having a birth that you feel informed and in control of helps you begin parenthood from a positive position - stronger physically, mentally and emotionally and ready to make decisions for you and your baby.
Before becoming a doula, I was a journalist specialising in interviews. Talking to people and getting to know them is my greatest joy, and something that I continue to do every day as a doula. In almost a decade as news editor of British Vogue I met hundreds of incredible people - from models and designers to actresses and musicians - and told countless fascinating stories, but nothing mesmerises me like the story of someone’s - anyone’s - birth.
As well as having gained my doula certification with Kicki Hansard - award-winning author and founder of the Birth Bliss Academy and The Doula Directory - I have completed training in aromatherapy, acupressure and massage for birth; and The Three-Step Rewind - an NLP-based technique to help expectant parents work through previous trauma ahead of the birth. I am qualified in pregnancy and postnatal yoga, and am a reiki master - techniques that I use both in birth and during the clients’ pregnancies to help them find comfort and calm. My aim is to support, and help the birth partner support, the mother using these techniques before and during labour.
Birth is not something to endure, but something to be relished and feel proud of afterwards - however that looks for you - and my aim is to support you towards that goal.
From leafy London to beautiful Brighton
Charlotte Ferreira
I’m mum to two gorgeous girls: six-year-old Margot and one-year-old Lola, and since 2021 I’ve been supporting families as a birth and postnatal doula. My work is my passion, birth support my obsession, and if I were ever on Mastermind, the Zwischen would be my specialist subject.
Birth fascinates me, and this work truly feels like a calling. I have a tendency to overwork and overanalyse (hi, Virgo sun), so evidence-based research is often my late-night reading. But I also carry bucket-loads of compassion, empathy, and optimism, follow intuition above all else, and love conversations that get deep quick. I want to know you, what makes you tick and what your story is.
Outside of the birth world, I’m very much a girl who can do both. I adore a Reformer Pilates class followed by an overpriced coffee and croissant, but I’m just as happy roughing it on the west coast of Scotland in our old VW camper. I’m the rule-following eldest child, with a rebellious love of (admittedly fine-line) tattoos and piercings. I’m super creative with zero imagination and my dinner of choice on a Monday may well be a homemade dhal but by Tuesday it will be crisps and dip.
Back to the transformational journey of birth; I’ve supported families through home births, hospital births, VBACs and HBACs, gestational diabetes, pregnancy after loss, IVF births, caesarean births, hypnobirthing, and water births. I’ve worked with solo mums and same-sex couples, and I offer my support without assumptions or judgement. When I say my care is bespoke, I mean it: it’s created with you and for you. In the past 15 years, I’ve had four very different babies in four very different ways and the more time passed the more I realised how important that birth experience is to what kind of parents and family you become. Having a birth that you feel informed and in control of helps you begin parenthood from a positive position - stronger physically, mentally and emotionally and ready to make decisions for you and your baby.
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