About Us
We aspire to bring about impactful change by empowering parents with the tools they need for a confident and joyful transition into parenthood.
Our mission is to empower and educate, equipping parents with the essential tools and unwavering support they need.
Carla
Co-Founder
Carla co-founded Ask the Midwife in order to create a sanctuary of support for those on their parenthood journey. She believes in empowerment and education, equipping parents with the essential tools and unwavering support they may need during their transition into parenthood and beyond.
After the birth of her son as a young single mum, she decided to go back and qualify as a Midwife with University College Dublin always with the plan to create this welcoming space she needed while on her own parenting journey.
"I believe every individual and family deserves a nurturing environment where they can come and have a chat or a cup of tea, there are so many questions and worries that come up in parenting, I want to create a space where people feel they can come and feel supported in this new life change. Whether that's doing antenatal education with us, doing one of our pregnancy yoga classes, or being assisted by one of our midwives into choosing which breastpump works best for your needs. "
Anna
Co-Founder
Anna, a former Chartered Surveyor with over a decade of experience in commercial property practice in Dublin and London, brings her expertise from working on cutting-edge retail developments to Ask the Midwife. Since returning to Dublin with her husband during the pandemic and becoming a mother to her son Alfie in 2021, Anna has felt firsthand the lack of support for new families in Ireland. With a second baby on the way, she is passionate in her mission to help support new mothers and fathers navigating their path to parenthood while building a community environment.
Despite many of Anna’s friends and family being in the early stages of parenthood, as a new mum, she found that there was a huge lack of places to turn for support and advice that wasn’t the internet in her early days of pregnancy and parenthood. From the first tasks of going to multiple pharmacies to fill a hospital bag to questioning which vitamins are best for a postpartum Mum. The lack of a physical space to help in these moments both big and small became abundantly clear as a huge need for new and growing families.
Fareedah
Midwife
Deciding to embark on the journey of becoming a midwife at the age of 17 was a natural choice for Fareedah. She was propelled by a profound passion for supporting and empowering women throughout the transformative experience of childbirth.
Fareedah’s decision to pursue a master's degree in dietetics alongside her midwifery background was a purposeful choice aimed at enhancing her ability to deliver comprehensive care. Recognising the pivotal role that nutrition plays in maternal health and fetal development, she sought to deepen her understanding. By integrating dietetics into her skill set, Fareedah aims to provide well-rounded guidance, fostering optimal health for both mothers and their newborns throughout the childbirth journey.
Inspired by the strength and resilience displayed by mothers, and driven by her commitment to promoting holistic healthcare for new mothers, newborns, and their families, Fareedah's aspiration is to contribute her knowledge to Ask The Midwife.
Meet our team
Samantha
Yoga Instructor
Sam's classes offer a unique blend of deep embodied connection, empowering movements, and mindfulness, skillfully combining playful approaches with traditional wisdom and anatomical alignments.
Sara Buttanshaw
Acupuncture
Sara believes in the holistic approach to health care. Looking at all aspects of your physical, mental and emotional health, weaving your personal story into each treatment.
Aoife Gill
Dietitian
Aoife currently works as a clinical dietitian in one of the main maternity hospitals in Dublin, covering a range of clinical areas in the maternity and gynaecology services.
Lisa Courtney
Sleep Consultant
Lisa is a certified Midwife and Infant Sleep Practitioner holding degrees from University College Dublin (BSc; MSc) and the University of Southampton.
Sarah Belton
Reiki & Fertility Circles
Sarah is a Registered General Nurse (RGN), Registered Nurse Prescriber (RNP) and Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP). With almost 20 years nursing experience, Sarah has reached the highest clinical qualifications and practices autonomously in her work.
Dr. Leora DeFlumere
Psychologist
Dr. Leora DeFlumere is a PSI chartered psychologist (M10259C) dedicated to evidence-based parent support. She is delighted to contribute as a mental health expert to Ask the Midwife by offering workshops, groups, retreats, one-off support sessions (including birth trauma, fertility treatment processing, and mental health concierge sessions).
Carolyn Coughlan
Carolyn qualified as a nurse in 2008 and as a midwife in 2010. After almost a decade on the labour wards of two busy Dublin maternity hospitals, moved to pursue her dream of becoming a homebirth midwife working in the Leinster area.
Valerie
Valerie is a reflexologist, whose focus is fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, & children. She teaches pregnancy yoga, mum & baby yoga, baby massage & reflexology workshops, hypnobirthing, and fertility yoga. She is a member of the National Register of Reflexologist, Ireland (NRRI), the International Association of Infant Massage Instructors (IAIM), RYT200 Yoga Alliance, Birthlight Yoga, KGH Hypnobirthing.
Our Location
Dún Laoghaire
114 George's Street Lower,
Dún Laoghaire,
Dublin,
A96 N6P6