Sofie Lobbens - Bloomilly

Hello! I’m Sofie Lobbens, your doula and guide on the remarkable journey of parenthood. Living in Aalter with my husband Joris and our two children, Tilly and Vic, my path to becoming a doula was as transformative as the births I support. Initially, the birth of our daughter Tilly in 2015 led me through a challenging C-section, surrounded by uncertainties and fears. However, the birth of our son Vic, embraced by knowledge, support, and a deep sense of empowerment, changed everything. It’s this profound difference that fuels my dedication to helping other parents feel accomplished and proud of their birthing experience.

Since 2021, I’ve been a certified doula, weaving together my diverse experiences in various birth settings to offer comprehensive support. Fluent in English and Dutch, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many families, understanding and respecting the uniqueness of each birth.

My education includes certifications as a Body Ready Method Pro and Body Ready Birth Teacher from the USA, focusing on birth mechanics and empowering parents with knowledge. Additionally, I’m a birth photographer, capturing serene and respectful moments of labor and birth, preserving the raw beauty and strength of these experiences.

Beyond my doula services, I have my own brand of pregnancy and lactation tea blends Theia, designed to support women through their journey into motherhood. These unique blends are part of my webshop, which caters specifically to pregnant women and new moms, offering carefully selected products to support them from pregnancy through postpartum.

My expertise spans across babywearing, birth psychology, perinatal counseling, pregnancy massage, rebozo techniques, and much more. Rooted in a holistic approach, my advice is always grounded in proven facts and information, aiming to support your body and mind through this natural yet profound journey.

I offer tailored doula packages that include birth support and birth photography, alongside postnatal advice and support. My services are available to families within a 45-minute drive from Aalter, ensuring I’m there when you need me the most.

Let’s embark on this journey together, transforming fear into strength, and birth into an empowering experience. Contact me to learn more about how I can support you through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Prenatal doula support

• In person or online consultations
• In your home or in my private practice
• Number of appointments and duration catered to your needs and wishes
• This can include:
  • Pregnancy, birth, labor and postpartum education
  • Babywearing
  • Dunstan Baby Language
  • Perinatal counseling
  • Prenatal Massage

Prenatal doula experience: >3 years

Labour & birth support

In person labour support for the whole duration, until 1-2 hours after birth.
Back-up doula possible if desired.

Can support labour and birth:

• in your home: YES
• in a birth centre: YES (max. 45 minutes from Aalter)
• in hospital: YES (max. 45 minutes from Aalter)

Birth doula experience: > 3 years and > 15 births attended

Postnatal doula support

• In person or online consultations
• In your home or in my private practice
• Number of appointments and duration catered to your needs and wishes
• This can include:
  • Babywearing
  • Dunstan Baby Language
  • Perinatal counseling
  • Postnatal Massage

Postnatal doula experience: >7 years

Other related services and activities

• Pre- and postnatal massage
• Babywearing consultations and rentals
• Dunstan Baby Language consultations
• Body Ready Method One-on-One Consultation
• Webshop for moms: pregnancy and lactations tea, mom care products, baby care products, gifts for moms

Training & certifications

• Doulatraining Vlaamse Federatie van Doula’s vzw – 2020
• From Womb to World with Anna Verwaal – 2020
• Hormonal Physiology of the birth process, breastfeeding and optimal attachment with Anna
• Verwaal – 2021
• Spinning Babies Workshop with Jennifer Walker – 2021
• Body Ready Method and Body Ready Birth Teacher Training with Lindsay McCoy, US – 2022-2024
• Rebozo workshop 2022
• Closing the bones workshop 2023
• Pre- and postnatal massage level 2 training – 2024
• Perinatal counselor with Draag-Kracht – 2021
• Trauma conscious birth care with Celine Boelens – 2023
• Emotional first aid for parents and babies with Thomas Harms – 2022
• One-on-one birth photographer workshop with Renate Van Lith – 2022
• Babywearing consultant basic and advanced training with Trageschule Dresden – 2017
• Teacher training Liefdevolle Verwachting – 2019
• First Aid for babies and children – 2018 and 2022
• Member of Vlaamse Federatie van Doula’s

Pricing

On my website you can find info on the doula packages. You can always contact me for more information or a quote catered to your needs.

Testimonials

“I was afraid to bring my first child into the world without a supportive person by my side. That’s why I chose a doula. During the pregnancy, Sofie provided us with a lot of information that we didn’t know. That definitely helped us. During the birth, she was very attuned to what I needed, she supported me and gave me courage. Because of Sofie, I had a beautiful experience with my first childbirth. The photos she took then are very dear to me. Thanks to her support afterwards, I learned to understand my baby better. I feel like a better mother than I had previously thought.”
~ Laura

“We turned to Sofie for doula support and birth photography for our second miracle. We immediately felt very comfortable with her; the conversations were very pleasant and informative, and I really had a lot of support from Sofie during the pregnancy (which did not go as ‘planned’). Also, when I was in labor at the hospital, it was a great support that Sofie was there, both for me and my partner. It was nice that we both had someone to rely on, who kept a cool head and thought of the little things that we weren’t focused on at that moment. Sofie was present at the right moments and kept to the background at the right times. Always perfectly where she needed to be, never ‘too much’. The photos of the birth are truly beautiful and perfectly capture how the delivery went, a wonderful memento of a powerful moment. For a (next) pregnancy, we would contact Sofie again immediately, no doubt about it! Thank you so much, Sofie!❤️”
~ Nele

“Dear Sofie, thank you for your guidance during one of the most challenging moments in our lives. We gained so much from the conversations and the exercises beforehand. You gave us the confidence to make it our own story. The delivery was intense, difficult but at the same time such a beautiful experience, which I look back on with great pride. The way our son came into the world, through your guidance, your kind and encouraging words, your support. You stayed with us from the beginning until the moment of his birth, and I am so grateful for that. Your encouragement or just the silence when needed… We will always remember this and tell our son about it later. Also sharing your tips and expertise was very valuable. Words cannot describe how thankful we are, but still a big THANK YOU!”
~ Els