Laurence Jonkers

My name is Laurence, I am a Brussels-based doula, fascinated by birth, motherhood and parenthood since my little boy was born in 2018; my biggest pride… and challenge. When I realized I was not alone in this challenge, I traded my Environmental Consultancy career for a training at the Centre Pleine Lune from Québec (and many more after that), in order to become a doula.

I support women and couples before, during and after birth, whatever their choices and their journey. What I like most in this job is to (re)create links and build bridges: to help people (re)connect to one’s inner self and to nature, to take care of the infant-parent bonding and to break down the isolation many new parents experience.

I organise monthly Baby Sign workshops with new parents at the perinatal centre Naissentiel, in Etterbeek, but also at home for private workshops, in order for them to learn how to better understand their babies, reduce frustrations and crying, and contribute to bond in a special, playful and joyful way.

I also organise Mothers (or Couples) Blessing Ceremony. In these magical moments with your loved ones, you will be showered with love, joy and wishes. The aim is that you feel celebrated, supported and loved in your journey through motherhood or parenthood.

I lived in Valencia, Spain, for 12 years, in Sweden for 18 months and in Peru for 6 months. I came back to Belgium with my husband in 2014, in my 30’s, and I know what it’s like to live abroad, to have to learn everything new, to adapt to a new culture and society and to live in a multicultural family. I am bilingual French and Spanish, and I speak fluent English.

I am also a nature guide and I love to bring young and old outdoors and make them marvel at the treasures of nature.

I am a member of the Réseau Bébé Signe, as well as the Association Francophone des Doulas de Belgique, for which I am a co-referent for Brussels-based doulas with Vanessa Denaeyer.

I am looking forward to hearing from you and your journey.

Prenatal doula support

Doubts, questions and topics are unlimited when becoming a parent; even before pregnancy. I offer a 40’ call in order to ask you some questions, to understand your concerns, expectations, needs and to finally see how I can help you.

As a doula I provide emotional, informational and physical support to women and couples during preconception and pregnancy. This support is complementary and does not replace any medical support or follow-up from your midwife or your gynecologist.

During prenatal sessions we go through your experience, your desire for a child, your motherhood, parenthood history. I am here to listen to your concerns, your doubts, the changes in your body, in your head and in your identity.

We will go through the basic needs of birthing women, of postpartum mums and of babies, the conditions that facilitate normal birth, as well as your specific needs and preferences in order to feel secure and comforted during labour and postpartum

Prenatal doula experience: 1 year

Labour & birth support

Can support labour and birth:

• in your home: YES (with your midwife(s))
• in a birth centre: YES (Le Cocon (Erasme); others upon request from the parents to their midwife)
• in hospital: YES (CHIREC Delta, Erasme, others upon request from the parents to their gynaecologist / midwife)

Birth doula experience: 1 years and 1 birth attended

If you wish me to be present during birth, I need to know you very well. We will have at least 3 encounters during your pregnancy. I will be on call 24/7 from week 37 until your baby is born, and I will arrive at the place of birth (home, hospital or birth centre) as soon as you want me to.

During birth, I act as a little fairy who transforms your delivery room into a cozy cocoon, with softened light, some sweet music if you wish and affirmation cards, some herbal tea and warm oil in order to massage you for contractions relief. I am a calm, reassuring and tender reminder of your strength, your courage and your confidence, taking care of your intimacy, your bubble. I am also a confident support for your partner and I encourage him or her into taking up the place he or she wishes to take.

Postnatal doula support

If I was present at your birth, I will come at least once in the following week to 2 weeks. It is a honour for me to hear you share your birth and early postpartum story, put into words your often intense and emotional experience. I am still present for what the co-parent might need to express, and I might also give you some insight of how I experienced it, which might close the gap and give you a full vision of your birth.

During the days, weeks and months following the birth, I can also provide emotional support as and when needed; I am a caring and a non-judgemental listener, and I support you through the various aspects of your new life. I help you identify your needs and activate your resources to help you gather your village around you. I also take care of your baby while you take a nap, a shower or a break.

Other related services and activities

• Mothers (or couples) Blessing Ceremonies
• Mother-babies walks into nature, with me alone or in groups
• Closing the bones rituals (together with a colleague)
• Baby Sign workshops

Training & certifications

• 2022-23: Formation de base en accompagnement à la naissance – Amélie Blanchette &Isabelle Challut, Centre Pleine Lune
• 2022: Plantes et périnatalité – Eva Bonandrini
• 2023: Séminaire Paramanadoula : Physiologie de la naissance – Michel Odent & Liliana Lammers (Barcelone)
• 2023: Facilitatrice d’ateliers Bébé Signe – Marie Fournier, Réseau Bébé Signe
• 2023: Formation « Facilitatrice de Mama Blessing » – Marie Charlie @mama_joy
• 2023: Les bébés aux besoins intenses – Ingrid Bayot
• 2024: Être doula du père et du co-parent – Amélie Blanchette, Centre Pleine Lune @ameliedoula @centrepleinelune
• 2024: Coaching et parentalité positive – Emilie Lucas @emilie.lucas.lifecoaching
• 2024: Approche quantique de la naissance : entre science et sacré – Karine Laseva @quantikmama
• 2024: Alimentation de la femme enceinte et allaitante – Charlotte Vanmechelen @charlotte.bonbien

Member of the Association Francophone des Doulas de Belgique (AFDB)

And co-referent for Brussels AFDB doulas, with doula Vanessa Denayer

Pricing

• Prenatal session (Average duration of 1h30) – €60
• Birth presence and 24/7 standby from 37th week – €390
• Postnatal session (Average duration of 2h) – €90
• Mother-babies walks in nature (group) – from €15
• Mother/couple blessing ceremony – €280
• Closing the bones rituals with 4 hands – €300

Packages and tailor-made offers available upon request

No transport costs if accessible by bike within 15 min from Uccle.
If more, +€10 for transport costs

Testimonials

“What we most appreciated in our prenatal encounters was your listening capacity. Your smile, your joy. You are extremely generous and you made us trust you like we never did to anyone else as a couple. During birth, it was impressive to see how you were at the right place, at the right stance, with the right gestures, the right words; in lign with our couple, our project, our wishes. You arranged the delivery room incredibly and converted it into such a little cocoon: light, music, herbal tea, affirmation cards… You found your place without taking over Julien’s, neither the midwife’s, nor the gynaecologist’s. Everything went so harmoniously. A real gift! We truly felt that it was more than a training; a real calling. You can’t explain what a doula is; you need to experience it to understand it!”
~ Marie & Julien, parents of Rafaël

“We participated in a Baby Sign workshop with a close couple of friends when our babies were 11 and 12 months old. We spent a very good evening during the workshop, which allowed us to better integrate what exactly was Baby Sign. More than a means of communication with our children, it is also an exercise to enter their universe, to realize what makes sense or not for them, and to give them a tool to express their feelings. Our 2 children integrated very quickly the signs “manger” and “encore”. 2 months after the workshop, we continue to sign the words that seem important to us, even if they don’t repeat them yet. It’s awesome to see how they evolve and progress through the signs, thank you Laurence!”
~ François & Valérie, parents of Walter