Meet the Birth Atelier London Team
Clemmie Hamdan
DOULA | HYPNOBIRTHING TEACHER | ANTENATAL EDUCATOR
Clemmie is a birth doula, hypnobirthing teacher and the founder of Birth Atelier London — a multidisciplinary antenatal programme designed to prepare women and their partners for birth within today’s maternity system.
Her work centres on restoring birth physiology to the heart of preparation, while helping couples understand how modern maternity care functions in practice — so they can navigate both with clarity and confidence.
Through her work supporting births across London, Clemmie has seen how preparation that integrates physiology, system awareness and partner alignment can meaningfully shape both experience and outcomes.
She is known for her calm, grounded approach and her ability to hold space for nuance — supporting families to make informed decisions that feel right for them, whatever path their birth takes.
Emilie Gourgue
DOULA | PRE & POST-NATAL YOGA TEACHER | EX-MIDWIFE
Originally from Belgium, Emilie is a trained midwife, birth doula, and pre- and postnatal yoga teacher, supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Her work brings together clinical knowledge and embodied practice, with a particular focus on the connection between breath, movement, and the physiology of birth. She supports women to better understand how their bodies work in labour, and how movement, positioning, and breath can influence both progress and experience.
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Alongside this, Emilie places strong emphasis on informed choice — helping families understand the options available to them within the maternity system, so they can make decisions that feel aligned with their needs and preferences.
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Through her combined experience in midwifery, doula support, and antenatal education, she has seen how preparation, continuity, and the right support can meaningfully shape both birth and early parenthood.
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Her approach is practical, grounded, and encouraging — helping women feel more connected to their bodies, more confident in their choices, and better prepared for the realities of birth.
Liz Hanley
INDEPENDENT MIDWIFE
Liz is an independent midwife with over 20 years’ experience working across both the NHS and private practice, in hospital and community settings.
Liz brings a deep understanding of how maternity care works within the system, as well as outside of it—offering a rare perspective on how different models of care can shape both experience and outcomes.
At the heart of Liz’s work is a commitment to continuity of care and truly individualised support. She believes in listening carefully, creating space for informed decision-making, and supporting women to feel confident in their own ability to birth.
Liz has a particular interest in homebirth, waterbirth, and supporting families planning VBAC/HBAC, as well as those choosing to birth outside standard guidelines. Her approach is grounded, respectful, and centred on helping each family navigate their options with clarity and confidence.
Maelle Lelardic
DOULA | HYPNOBIRTHING TEACHER | LACTATION SPECIALIST
Maelle is an antenatal and postnatal doula supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenthood.
Her work is centred on providing calm, attentive support during a period that can feel both transformative and overwhelming — helping families feel more grounded, informed, and emotionally held as they navigate this transition.
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Drawing on both her professional experience and her own journey through three very different births, including caesarean and VBAC, Maelle brings a deep understanding of how varied and unpredictable the path into parenthood can be. She supports families to explore their options, prepare for the realities of early parenthood, and approach this transition with greater confidence and self-trust.
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Her approach combines emotional presence with practical guidance — from antenatal preparation and postnatal planning to feeding support, newborn care, and early recovery — ensuring families feel supported not only in birth, but in what comes after.
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Known for her warm, empathetic approach, Maelle meets each family exactly where they are, offering non-judgemental, personalised support that respects individual choices, circumstances, and experiences.
Mathilde Renard
WOMEN'S HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST | PRE & POST-NATAL PILATES TEACHER
Mathilde is a physiotherapist specialising in women's health, supporting women through pregnancy, birth preparation, and postnatal recovery.
Her work focuses on helping women understand their bodies — particularly the role of the pelvic floor, breath, and surrounding systems — and how these influence both birth and long-term recovery. She places strong emphasis on education, ensuring women understand the “why” behind what they are experiencing so they can move forward with greater confidence.
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Through a combination of clinical expertise, hands-on treatment, and practical guidance, Mathilde supports women to prepare their bodies for birth, manage common pregnancy symptoms, and recover with strength and stability in the postnatal period.
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Her approach is precise, gentle, and deeply individualised — centred on listening carefully to each woman and providing care that feels both supportive and empowering.