Harriet Paintin: Doula, Ayurveda Practitioner, and Registered Nurse

After years of working in the health service and supporting women who have given birth within the NHS, I realised that the ‘person centred care’ I was delivering was limited by the structures I worked within. How could it be person centred care if only one model of healthcare is offered?

I have spent a good chunk of my life in India and I speak fluent Hindi, so I decided to travel and learn from communities and cultures where healthcare is characterised by natural healing, nurturing, and community support. I spent time in a hospital where they blend western medicine with yoga, Ayurveda, and other traditional forms of healing in order to achieve the best outcomes for their patients; I worked in the 1 acre garden where 135 varieties of medicinal plants are grown, the medicine making department, and the clinics where patients come for treatment. I stayed in villages and learned about local healing remedies passed down through generations, and I learned from midwives in indigenous communities who continue an ancestral way of practice. I consolidated this learning by studying Ayurvedic Pregnancy Care and Baby Massage at the School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma in Kerala, India.

In my practice as a doula I combine this learning with my western medicinal training and experience to bring my clients the ‘best of both worlds’ - I am passionate about incorporating relevant aspects of traditional healing into modern lifestyles.

I have experienced countless clinical environments in the NHS since starting my nurse training, from intensive care to A&E, and everything in between. Because of this I am confident in supporting my clients through NHS processes and systems, I am cool, calm, and level-headed in all kinds of clinical environments, and I have a thorough understanding of the physiological processes of pregnancy and birth. Above all, I am a fearless advocate for my clients and I will never shy away from ensuring that my clients are receiving all the information about their care and giving full, informed consent for any interventions.

I completed my Doula training with Kaz Woodbury using the ‘Continuum Doula’ model which emphasises the importance of continuity of care, and I offer 6 antenatal sessions plus 6 postnatal sessions. Given that my first experiences with birth work were with friends, right from the outset I felt the importance of knowing my clients well before accompanying in one of the most intimate of experiences - childbirth.

I passionately believe that ancient knowledge and traditions of healing can fill the gaps left by modern western medicine, and offer huge benefits to people on their pregnancy and birth journeys. In many societies around the world, during the postnatal period the mother is nourished and cared for to restore her strength after the intense physical and emotional experience of birth. While we may not all have access to a ‘village’, my Ayurvedic postnatal packages offer some of the restorative, rejuvenating, and nourishing aspects of traditional postnatal care which are practical, relevant, and can be easily integrated into modern life.

I live in Clapton, and I cover all areas of North and East London

Training and Qualifications

Continuum Doula Training with Kaz Woodbury - October 2023

Ayurvedic Pregnancy Care and Baby Massage - The School of Ayurveda and Panchkarma, Kerala, India - March 2024

Adult Nursing MSc - City University, London - September 2021

I am committed to keeping myself up to date with the latest evidence-based information and practice through self study and additional certified training.

I regularly undertake full DBS checks for my work within the NHS, I am fully insured for my Doula and Ayurvedic work, and I hold a full, clean, driving license.