About
Joy
Antenatal educator, perinatal mental health hypnotherapist and breastfeeding counsellor, based in West Lothian.
Hi, I'm Joy.
For over 20 years, I've supported families through pregnancy, birth, feeding and the early days with calm, practical, evidence-based support.
But before any of the qualifications, I was a brand-new parent trying to find my feet.
I expected birth to be the hard part. No one prepared me for the intensity of what came after. The feeding struggles, the shift in who I felt I was, the constant “am I doing this right?” and the quiet worry that I should be coping better.
When my baby arrived, I experienced severe postnatal depression with very little support. That experience changed me, and it is a big part of why I do this work.
I've built the kind of support I needed back then: clear, steady, honest and genuinely inclusive.
However you're feeling today, excited, anxious, overwhelmed or somewhere in between, you're welcome here.
Depth of experience matters.
For over 20 years, I have supported thousands of families through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
My approach to antenatal education is shaped by professional training, adult education and years of working directly with parents.
I've worked in private practice, NHS-linked services and with national organisations, including as an antenatal educator, mentor and assessor for the NCT, and mentoring educators and teaching for Blossom Antenatal.
My background includes adult education, perinatal mental health, trauma-informed practice and infant feeding.
Alongside antenatal education and birth preparation, I support parents experiencing birth trauma, anxiety and emotional difficulties through my private practice and funded work with The Birth Republic.
All of this shapes how I work: calmly, clearly and with an understanding of both the evidence and the realities parents can face during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
Local knowledge matters too.
Most of my work has been based in West Lothian, but over the years I have supported families from across Central Scotland, including Edinburgh, Forth Valley, Fife and Glasgow.
I've supported dads through the Dads2B programme at St John's Hospital and helped champion parents' experiences through NHS Lothian Maternity Voices Partnership.
I am particularly familiar with the maternity services and care pathways across NHS Lothian and NHS Forth Valley and Fife where many of the families I work with receive their care.
That local knowledge helps me put information into context and better understand some of the questions, choices and experiences parents may be navigating.
Support that meets you where you are.
No standard script or one-size-fits-all approach. Just calm, clear and practical support shaped around what you need.
Small-group antenatal courses in Linlithgow
Private 1:1 online antenatal courses
Focused 1:1 birth preparation sessions
Pregnancy, birth trauma and emotional support
No pressure. No assumptions. No 'right way.'
I don't believe there is one right way to give birth, feed your baby or become a parent.
My role is not to tell you what you should do. It is to give you clear information, help you understand your options and support you to make decisions that feel right for you and your family.
Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood can be unpredictable. Good preparation is not about trying to control every outcome. It is about feeling better equipped to ask questions, adapt when plans change and understand what is happening around you.
I understand the evidence and I understand the maternity system, but I also understand that every family brings their own experiences, priorities and circumstances.
You deserve support that makes space for all of that.
Birth, babies and life outside work
These days, I'm an empty nester, which still feels slightly strange to say.
When I'm not talking about birth or babies, I'm usually out walking the dog in muddy boots, baking something while singing badly in the kitchen or listening to a true crime audiobook.
I have an entirely unnecessary shoe collection and a completely justified crush on Matt Bomer.
I believe in small joys, swearing when needed and support that feels like a deep breath.
Training and qualifications.
My work is supported by specialist training across antenatal education, perinatal mental health, infant feeding and birth preparation.
DipHE Antenatal Education
Dip. Perinatal Hypnotherapy
Certified TBR 3 Step Rewind Practitioner
Certified Hypnobirthing Practitioner
Certified Breastfeeding Counsellor (NCT)
Cert. Counselling Skills
Certified Aromatherapy for Childbirth
Doula Training (Nurturing Birth)
BD (Hons) University of Glasgow