Have a read about me
“And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.”
- John Steinbeck
Hello, my name is Imogen, doula, artist & founder of The Cradle of Life. It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Professional Doula Certification
DBS Checked
First, a little about my experience…
As well as being a doula and a mother to my own brood of four, I have worked in various roles within early childhood education, including as a SEN one-to-one at KeyStage1 and as a creative workshop facilitator across a diverse range of settings, ages, and abilities. I also founded and directed Arts Against Abuse, a community interest company that aimed to raise awareness of domestic abuse through creative outreach projects. I am a strong proponent of human nurture and am passionately dedicated to promoting healthy human-nature relationships and reproductive rights for all.
Professional development:
Younique Postnatal initial preparation course - Postnatal Certification 2023
Nurturing Birth - Full Spectrum Doula Certification 2025
Newborn Parents - Parental brain summit 2023
Birth Companions - Understanding women’s lived experience of children’s social care proceedings: Virtual learning event 2023
APPPAH Live - Exploring Birth Psychology, The Innate Wisdom of Birth - How womb ecology becomes world ecology 2025
The Nurture Revolution - Nurturing the Developing Infant Brain and Maternal Brain for Lifelong Mental Health 2025
Next up, why I love Doula work…
Epigenetics and how it goes hand in hand with the soul!
One of the most mind-blowing things I learned on my journey through child and parent care is that we inherit more than just physical traits from our parents. Ours eggs and sperm carry a genetic imprint of trauma from up to three generations - meaning what I experience during my pregnancies may effect the behaviour and experience of my great grandchildren! That's why it's so important for expecting parents to get the nourishment, nurture, and support they need during pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. When parents are happy and healthy, their babies have a better chance of thriving too! Science tells us that high quality maternal care matters because:
Our feelings and emotional states are passed on to the foetus via hormones
these inform the child of the outside environment
information is passed through the umbilical cord and by cell migration
Cells from the foetus have been found in many different parts of the mothers body
trans generational stress trauma can be healed by the plasticity of the brain and its ability to re-wire
Genetic memory has been known for centuries as “ancestral healing”
Healing is always possible!
Throughout my journey as a mother, I've gained a deep appreciation for the joys and challenges of parenthood. As a child, I dreamed of marrying Elvis Presley and starting a family of my own. While I didn't get to fulfill the former, I did have the privilege of giving birth to four incredible children who have brought me immense happiness and, of course, the occasional heartache. Being a parent has given me a sense of purpose, but it has also shown me that there is always more to learn. Even if we possess a natural instinct for parenting, unexpected obstacles and experiences arise that require us to navigate with care and intention.
I founded The Cradle of Life to provide a support system for mums, dads and birthing people navigating the rollercoaster of the transition into parenthood. Through my own experiences, I have learned the importance of self-love, confidence, forgiveness, being well informed and being fully present in the moment. I have found deep fulfilment helping families find the mental and physical space to enjoy the foundations of parenthood which begin with the act of self-care. You cannot pour from an empty cup. The nature of life with a newborn is fleeting and our children are only children for a very short time though unsupported it can feel like an eternity. It flies by in the blink of an eye and suddenly those long nights of sleep deprivation seem so far away.
As a doula, my aim is to provide a supportive and encouraging presence throughout your parenting journey. I believe in the importance of listening to your instincts, recognising your desires, and navigating the bumps and twists along the way - nobody appreciates a trip hazard after all! Unlike midwives or health visitors, I offer continuous and ongoing support until you feel confident and empowered to move forward. My role is to provide you with all the information and options available, so you can make informed decisions that are right for you and your family. I understand that everyone's journey is unique, and I work with you to create a personalised plan that suits your needs and preferences. Whether you want me to be closely involved or take a more distant role, I am here to support and guide you, your family and can help regulate the flow of others around you too. Together, we can paint a beautiful picture of your parenting journey, filled with magical moments to cherish.
Now please feel free to stop here, but, if you really like reading, on to my inspirations!
Creativity, motherhood and “loving to the moon and back!”
As an artist, I find inspiration in the world around me, from the beauty of nature to the power of love. These sources of inspiration have helped me in my work as a doula, and I'd like to share a few with you.
One inspiration comes from the Shamanic Goddess "The great Creatrix," who embodies the qualities of an artist, writer, poet, and storyteller. She encourages us to be true to ourselves and our creativity, without fearing external judgment. She represents a dynamic power that is inextricably linked to all mothers - mothers of children, mothers of invention, mothers of causes, mothers of endeavors, and mothers of oneself. I believe that as humans, we all need a mother figure, and this goddess represents the ultimate embodiment of that nurturing presence.
Another source of inspiration for me is the universe itself, with all its mysterious and awe-inspiring elements like the moon, stars, and galaxies. When I contemplate the vastness of the cosmos, it reminds me that we are just a tiny speck in the bigger picture and that we cannot control everything. This understanding helps me feel more present and less anxious, knowing that we can only appreciate and be in the moment, and cannot shoulder the weight of the world.
Across cultures, the moon has long been associated with fertility and the ebb and flow of the female reproductive cycle. In Ashanti tradition, the moon Akua’ba is a fertility figure, and some even compare the cycles of the moon, from crescent to full, to the pregnant swell of a belly.
Finally, there is mother of pearl (nacre), the beautiful silver iridescent lining of the inside shell of some mollusks. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but it is also strong and resilient. Its hidden treasure-like quality is reminiscent of its magical and mystical creation process. In biblical terms, the "Parable of the Pearl" is used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.
While I understand that not everyone may share my enthusiasm for these sources of inspiration, I find that they help me connect to a larger universe and bring a sense of wonder and magic to my work as a doula. After all, the birth of a child is one of the rare moments in life that can truly overwhelm us with the mystical and magical process of creating new life. As parents, we have the power to soothe our children, impart adaptability, sensitivity, and intuition, and raise harmonious and balanced little people.
As a doula, I strive to help parents tap into their own inner strength and creativity, and to support them through every step of their journey.
