Doula Ooh la la: that's me! Vanessa Fontaine, a committed, trained and certified doula,
practitioner of perinatal hypnosis & rebozo.

Doula, oh my goodness, where did that come from? First, let me introduce myself!

I am Vanessa, born in Normandy, Breton at heart, mother of two boys, and a passionate doula. My own motherhood has transformed me profoundly.

From the moment my eldest son was born prematurely, my life was turned upside down.

I discovered the power of matrescence, that period of transition when you become a mother and also rediscover who you are.

From this transformation came a conviction: no parent should go through these moments alone or in uncertainty.

My journey to becoming a doula... Oh my goodness!

In 2011, I began working with families, initially as a volunteer supporting parents facing high-risk pregnancies or premature births. I played a vital role… I was there to listen to their emotions, without judgement, and to offer support without prescribing solutions.

My motivation? To offer you a safe space in a moment of intense vulnerability.

Being as close as possible to women and couples, listening to them, understanding them, supporting them and validating them in their role as parents by offering them a safe space, free from judgement, taboos and censorship.

This journey naturally led me to the profession of doula. After 15 years in communications, I wanted to fully embrace this vocation and chose to train as a doula. This significant career choice was a turning point for me. It allowed me to refocus on what was essential, on my values and, above all, to rediscover meaning in my daily life. However, it was not without fear and apprehension. Becoming a doula in France today is an ambitious, even slightly crazy, venture! I chose to be optimistic, to focus on the future, to trust my instincts and to do it with boldness and panache… Doula Ouh là là was born on a beautiful morning in January 2024. 🌼💗🐣

My doula training and support tools

Become a doula with Envol & Matrescence

Over the course of nine months, I learned:

emotional and physiological support for motherhood;
athe professional role of a doula and non-violent communication.

This training also led to the creation of Bum’Paillettes, an association I co-founded to offer voluntary support to parents going through difficult times, particularly through discussion groups.

Perinatal hypnosis (including the HypnoNatal® method)

Trained by Lise Bartoli and her team, I use hypnosis to:

support women undergoing infertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART);
alleviate trauma related to pregnancy termination, bereavement, or childbirth;
help women reveal their inner strength;
enable women to approach childbirth with serenity and confidence.

To learn more about perinatal hypnosis and how I use this tool to support women through difficult journeys, click here!

Taking care of the body with Slow Rebozo®

From Anne Belargent, I learned the essential techniques of Slow Rebozo®, which allow me to offer moments of refocusing, grounding and relaxation through the body.

This simple fabric allows for a moment of deep relaxation, letting go of the body by offering it a point of support, to better relax the mind.

I offer treatments at any stage of life, during pregnancy or postpartum, with two or four hands, with or without oil massage.

And because I am curious about everything, I am constantly expanding my knowledge: podcasts, documentaries, reading… anything related to perinatal care nourishes me.

I regularly train in new subjects and new care techniques so that I can offer the women I support the most accurate and appropriate approach, because they deserve the best.

I am a member of the Doulas de France association and a signatory of the Ethical Charter, which provides a secure and legal framework – for doulas and parents – for doula activity in France and enshrines doula support in a secular and civic approach.

Doula or midwife: what's the difference?

Midwives are medical professionals who specialise in women’s health. They support women throughout their lives and during pregnancy. They monitor the health of the baby and mother and perform the necessary medical procedures before, during and after childbirth.

Doulas, on the other hand, are non-medical companions. She is there to:

listen, allow space for emotions, doubts and fears;
provide information about all options and enable informed choices;
offer emotional support;
provide a reassuring and continuous presence.

A doula never replaces a midwife. She complements her, occupying a more intimate, freer space, centred on the human being.

Doula Ouh là là: a doula for all families

I am addressing all those who are experiencing parenthood or a transformation in their intimate life:

heterosexual, homosexual and single-parent families;
assisted reproduction, surrogacy and adoption;
bereavement or illness;
female transitions (first period, menopause, etc.).

I believe in an inclusive, respectful and deeply human approach, where every story is legitimate and every emotion is welcomed and given its place.

My commitment is to enable every woman, every couple, every parent to be the protagonist of their own journey.

I don’t make decisions for you.

I help you to trust yourself, to understand and accept what you are going through, and to make informed choices. I accompany you with gentleness, sometimes humour, and always with a lot of heart.

My only goal: to give you the keys to experiencing parenthood [or any other transition] in alignment with who you are.

Doula Ooh la la: that's me! Vanessa Fontaine, a committed, trained and certified doula, practitioner of perinatal hypnosis & rebozo.