My Approach

The First Path Birth Companion Philosophy

Pregnancy and birth are deeply unique, profound and transformational experiences. This is highly honoured within the support at The First Path Birth Companion, and YOU will be met where you ARE. There is no other place from which to begin and to be led from.

Your needs, beliefs, expectations and personal birth, loss or neonatal experience lead the way and are centred always. You and your baby are worthy of receiving safe, respectful and individualized care, based on who you are and what you want, irrespective of the path you are walking. You lead the way and I walk alongside.

As a pregnancy and birth companion, I see YOU. I see your individuality and I see the ways in which the maternity care system might discriminate against you, or cause you harm based on who you are (for example your race, ethnicity, citizenship, spoken language, social or economic status, education, gender, disability, body size etc).

You are YOU and I hold you in support that is trauma informed and rooted in advocacy, justice and protection of your rights. You deserve no less in the maternity care you receive.

I will walk with you as you step into your personal power, so you can think deeply about what you want, confidently make care decisions based on your unique needs, consent to (or refuse) care options and advocate for yourself and your baby. Learning how to own your pregnancy and birth experience, and how to use your voice to communicate what you want is a personal commitment to yourself. My support is never about “saving you” or telling you what to do. I am here to guide you in your knowledge building, critical thinking and decision making so that you are heard and respected within maternity care that can be challenging and sometimes harmful to navigate. You and your baby matter. Always.

"Being a Palestinian man giving birth in Scotland carries its own weight. I was aware of my body in ways I had never been before. Allison created a bubble around us. Not by blocking people out, but by helping me stay grounded inside myself. She would say, “this is your body. This is your baby. What feels right?” Those words anchored me. I felt safe. Not just physically safe, but emotionally safe. Identity safe. Culturally safe. She honoured my masculinity while honouring my capacity to birth. She did not reduce me to anatomy. She saw me as a whole person. When decisions needed to be made, she laid out information clearly and calmly. No fear. No agenda. Just options. Then she would say, “You get to choose.” That power was always mine. She simply held the lantern so I could see it. For any trans parent, for any parent from a minority background, for anyone who feels slightly outside the ‘norm’ of maternity care, Allison does not just support you. She sees you. And that makes all the difference" (RW)

Whether you feel you need a listening ear, a space to find your power and voice, support to navigate appointments, specific antenatal education or support during your labour and birth, I will come alongside you. I will be your voice in the moments when you can’t find or use your own, and will advocate for you when you cannot, do not want to, or you request that I do so. Come as you are and we will take the journey from there, I look forward to supporting you.