About
About Anna Pifko — doula in Kent & London
A doula and mother of three, supporting families across Kent, Medway and London through pregnancy, birth and the weeks that follow.
My name is Anna Pifko — Анна Пифко in Russian. I am a doula, a Doula UK recognised mentor and a mother of three. I trained with Red Tent in 2016 and have since qualified as a baby massage instructor, an antenatal educator, a bone closing ceremony practitioner and a Bach flower practitioner, alongside a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Child Development. All of it feeds into the way I work.
My role is to make sure you are informed, supported and heard. I am available for your questions throughout pregnancy, I stay with you for the whole of your labour, and I make sure the first weeks at home are about your recovery as much as your baby’s care.
Birth rarely follows a script, and no one can promise you a particular outcome. What can be shaped is how well prepared you feel, how clearly your wishes are understood by the people around you, and how you are cared for whatever direction things take.
Home birth, birth centre, hospital, planned or unplanned caesarean, induction, VBAC, twins: I have supported families through all of these, and there is no version of your birth that would make you a difficult client.
What stands behind the calm
Fifteen years of mothering and ten years of birth work shape the way I support you.
- 15 yearsof mothering three children. Two of them are neurodivergent, so advocating for a child within health and school systems is familiar ground for me.
- 10 yearsas a doula, supporting births at home, in birth centres and in hospitals across Kent, Medway and London.
- BSc (Hons)Psychology with Child Development, University of East London, with my research focused on mothers, sleep and early attachment.
- Doula UKrecognised mentor, guiding newly trained doulas through reflection, debriefs and recognition.
- Publishedresearch of my own. I read the evidence at source rather than relying on summaries of it, which is what keeps my practice current.
Experience
- Supporting families since 2016
- Mother of three, fifteen years of parenting
- Home, birth centre, hospital and caesarean births
- Twin pregnancies at home and in hospital
- Births in more than one country
- Working in English and Russian
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Psychology with Child Development, University of East London
- Author of published research in psychology
- Carrot approved
- Red Tent doula training (2016)
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care
- Certified baby massage instructor, IAIM (2019)
- Doula UK recognised mentor
- Trauma-informed care and safeguarding training
Training
- 2016
Red Tent Doula Course
- 2018
Bone closing ceremony and rebozo — Natalia Tominina
- 2018
Postnatal doula — Doula Link
- 2019
Baby massage instructor — IAIM
- 2019–2020
Red Tent Radical Educators course
- 2020
Antenatal educator course — Doula Link; bone closing ceremony — Natidoula
- 2020
Recovery after caesarean — seminar with Olga Kapustina
- 2019–2021
Microbiome courses: microbirth, group B strep, breast milk & infant microbiome, infant epigenetics (45 CPD hours)
- 2021
Bach remedy course — Evgeni Shmukler (35 CPD hours)
- 2022
Abuse in childbirth — Darya Utkina
- 2022–2025
Psychology modules, University of East London; research on maternal sleep deprivation and attachment
- Priory
Trauma-informed care, safeguarding, neurodiversity, inclusive practice, basic life support
Questions and answers
What does a doula actually do?
A doula provides continuous emotional, physical and informational support through pregnancy, birth and the weeks afterwards. I help you prepare, stay with you throughout labour with massage, breathing, positions, rebozo and aromatherapy, help you put your wishes across clearly, and support your recovery once your baby is here.
Does a doula replace my midwife?
No. Your midwife and doctors are responsible for the clinical side of your care. A doula carries out no clinical tasks at all: I do not perform examinations, monitor your baby or give medical advice. The two roles sit alongside one another, and most midwives are glad of a well-prepared doula in the room.
How much does a doula cost in Kent?
Birth support starts at £1,800, depending on what is included. Postnatal support is £30 an hour with a minimum of four hours per visit, monthly support through pregnancy is £150 a month, and the first consultation is free. If cost is the obstacle, do say so: Doula UK also runs an Access Fund for families in financial hardship.
Which areas do you cover?
I am based in Lordswood, Chatham, and work in person within about 55 miles: Medway, Maidstone, Gravesend, Dartford, Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Ashford, Sevenoaks and London. Courses and consultations are available online anywhere in the world.
Do you support caesarean and home births?
Yes. I support births at home, in birth centres and in hospital, planned and unplanned caesareans, induced labours, VBAC and twin pregnancies. A caesarean birth deserves just as much preparation and support as any other.
Can I have support in Russian?
Yes. I work in both English and Russian, which many families find invaluable when medical terminology in English is hard to follow, or when the wider family speaks Russian.
What is a bone closing ceremony?
It is an unhurried ritual that marks the end of pregnancy and birth and the beginning of what comes next. We talk over herbal tea, release tension with rebozo massage, a herbal bath, aromatherapy and belly massage, and close with a gentle wrapping in rebozo cloths. It can be done from three weeks after birth, and it is equally meaningful years later.
When should I book a doula?
The second trimester is ideal, as it leaves time to prepare together and for you to get to know me. That said, I have been called in advanced labour and it has still made a difference, so it is never too late to ask.
What if my birth does not go to plan?
Many births take an unexpected turn. My role does not end when the plan changes: I stay with you, help you understand what is being offered and why, and make sure you are still being asked rather than told. Afterwards, we can talk it through as many times as you need.
Would you like to meet?
If you have questions, or would simply like to see whether we are a good fit, book a free 45-minute online meeting. There is no obligation to go further.