What is The Cradle of Life?

The Cradle of Life is a care-led social enterprise creating practical, trauma-informed tools and support for people navigating life’s major transitions. Our work exists to address gaps in continuity of care, offering accessible guidance and emotional safety at moments that shape how people live and care.

We create card deck toolkits, trauma-aware learning spaces, private doula support, and trauma–informed education, all rooted in evidence, lived experience, and a commitment to dignity and inclusion. By combining creative tools with care-centred services, we help people move through change with greater confidence, connection, and trust.

  • Enhance your practice and support your clients by taking our online trauma, power and consent in birthwork course.

  • Support is available through private doula care or via our practical toolkits designed to offer guidance, reassurance, and continuity whenever you need it and help you live the life you really want.

  • Collaborative opportunities include guest speaking, training, and thoughtful partnerships with organisations and brands aligned with our care-led values.

Founder Story

Imogen Paton, Founder, Cradle of Life Ltd

Private doula practice & circles

A doula provides emotional, practical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. While midwives focus on medical care, a doula is there for you—offering steady, compassionate support, advocacy, and a calming presence. We provide the kind of continuity of care that public healthcare often can’t, holding space in a way even the most loving family or friends sometimes struggle to manage during such a big life transition.

Cradle of Life Circles are nurturing, supportive spaces where people can share, reflect, and feel truly seen—free from judgment or pressure. What makes our circles unique is their hybrid approach: blending learning-based discussion with space for personal reflection. We believe that combining informed guidance with trust in your own intuition creates the most positive and empowered birth experience.

We run both antenatal and postnatal circles for mothers, as well as dedicated sessions for fathers-to-be, offering connection, guidance, and real support as you navigate the transition into parenthood. I’m a certified birth and postnatal doula, a trauma-informed practitioner, and a mother of four. I bring lived experience, warmth, and clarity to every family I support—walking alongside you without judgment and holding space for whatever you need. Whether you’re preparing for birth or adjusting to life with a new baby, I’m here to help you feel grounded, informed, and genuinely supported.

You’re welcome to book a free, friendly 15-minute consultation to find out more.

Book Now
A woman with blonde hair holding a young child with curly hair, against a white brick wall. The woman is smiling gently, wearing a brightly patterned top with pink, blue, yellow, and purple, and purple pants. The child is wearing a striped shirt and blue shorts, with the child's face hidden as they hug the woman.

Speaking & workshops

Imogen is available for interviews, podcasts, and public speaking engagements on topics including birth justice, trauma-informed care, and creative advocacy.

As an ambassador for Solace Women’s Aid, she has spoken to audiences of over 200 people, and been featured in a range of media including magazines, newspapers, radio, and television.

Bring warmth, honesty, and lived experience to every platform, Imogen welcomes opportunities to share her story and amplify the voices of those often unheard.

Enquire now
Open magazine featuring a young woman's face on the cover titled 'Brave Face'; a page with colorful handwritten messages and drawings, including a red heart, a purple peace sign, and various words like 'Always Reach Out' and 'Katy'.
A woman speaking at a podium with a glass of water on it, at the Mayer Brown venue, wearing a black shirt with text that says '#dailypoklikkeaud.'
Woman smiling and pointing towards a banner that reads BBC Crossing Divides with a stylized graphic of two hands reaching towards each other. The banner also includes a URL and hashtag. To the left, there is a list of countries and regions such as Iraq, Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Honduras.
Cover of The Dulwich Diverter, a local newspaper, featuring a woman with long blonde hair wearing a blue patterned dress sitting on a sofa with colorful cushions, holding a deck of cards, with a light-colored artwork on the wall behind her.
A woman with short blonde hair, pink eyebrows, and earrings, wearing a red sweater.
A man in a blue suit is conducting an interview with a woman in a black shirt and leopard print pants, sitting in front of a large window in a room with brick walls and curtains.

Contact me

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and either myself or someone from the team will be in touch shortly.