I'm Kicki Hansard

I’m Kristina Hansard, but most people call me Kicki. I was born in Åsele, Swedish Lapland, where the midnight sun and Northern Lights were part of daily life. My Sámi ancestry and family history are deeply rooted in the land and shaped who I am today. My great-grandmother was a jordemor, a traditional midwife, who helped women in her small village give birth. Her work inspired generations of care and resilience, which I carry with me as a doula and educator.

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In 1990, I moved to England, trading snow-covered forests for the rolling hills of Hertfordshire, and became a mother to two daughters, born in 1998 and 2000. Their births at Watford General Hospital were transformative experiences that deepened my connection to the power and vulnerability of childbirth.

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Motherhood shifted everything. Before my daughters were born, I worked in the IT industry after training as a Legal Secretary. But one Sunday, I came across a magazine article about doulas, and something clicked. It was like discovering a piece of myself I hadn’t realised was missing. A few months later, in July 2002, I trained as a doula in London with Kassandra Clements and Ingrid Lewis. From that moment, I knew my work was to guide women and their families through one of the most transformative journeys of their lives.

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A Blend of Learning, Experience, and Advocacy

My doula journey hasn’t just been about my intuition or personal experiences, I’ve built it on a foundation of learning and expertise. Over the years, I’ve earned qualifications like a BSc Open, a Diploma in Professional Relaxation Therapy, and a City & Guilds Level 3 in Education and Training.

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But some of my most meaningful learning came from the giants of the birth world. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and learning from Ina May Gaskin, Michel Odent, Sheila Kitzinger, and the incredible Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus, who have profoundly shaped my perspective. I even had the honour of inviting Penny Simkin to lead workshops in the UK, which remains a career highlight.

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Beyond supporting birthing families, I’ve put pen to paper. I wrote The Secrets of Birth and contributed to The Roar Behind the Silence. My most recent book, published in 2020, is a guide for healthcare professionals supporting survivors of sexual abuse through pregnancy and childbirth, a subject close to my heart.

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Supporting Doulas and Families

I was involved in helping shape the early doula movement in the UK and have spent more than two decades supporting doulas and families through training, mentoring and education.

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Over the years, I have contributed to projects, conferences and conversations that helped raise awareness of doula support and the importance of emotional and practical care during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. This included building relationships with organisations such as the Royal College of Midwives, the Maternal Mental Health Alliance and the 1001 Critical Days campaign, with the hope of creating greater understanding around the value of compassionate support for women and families.

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Since 2005, I’ve trained over 1,500 doulas, many of whom now run their own courses, workshops and communities. Seeing the different paths they have taken and the families they now support continues to be one of the most meaningful parts of this work.

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Alongside my work in the UK, I’ve also shared workshops internationally, including in Australia and China.

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My Path, My Legacy

This work isn’t just my job; it’s my calling. I’m still a doula at heart, but these days, I focus on mentoring, teaching, and creating spaces for new doulas to flourish. I believe in holding on to the traditions of supporting women and their families while always being open to learning something new.

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From the snowy forests of Swedish Lapland to birthing rooms and classrooms around the world, this journey has been extraordinary. I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.