Birth Doula in London Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Get a Doula on the NHS in London?

Unfortunately, no. It isn’t possible to get a doula on the NHS. While a very small number of doulas are employed by some NHS trusts, they work for the trust, not for you. Though their role is helpful, it’s not the same as having your own doula.

If you're on a low income and face other disadvantages, there are doula charities where doulas volunteer their time. For example, I volunteer for an organisation called Doulas without Borders.

Many doulas also adjust their fees if possible to allow them to work with a family. Contact me if you wish to discuss this.

Doulas are increasingly being included in private health insurance packages, so if you have one, it may be worth checking if they will cover the doula's fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Doula in London or Wimbledon?

Doulas are self-employed and run their own small businesses, so they are free to charge whatever they wish. Some doulas display their prices prominently, while others may require you to contact them to find out. My prices and packages are available here.

When you become a doula, it’s good practice to be mentored through your first few births. This means a more experienced doula supports you throughout the process and provides an opportunity for reflection and debrief afterwards. As the birthing family, you are often asked to provide feedback as well. Mentored doulas usually charge less than someone with more experience.

In London, mentored doulas typically charge £800+, while fully certified doulas charge £1200 - £3500. You can always ask a doula for a breakdown of their costs, although the role is holistic and not entirely quantifiable! The packages doulas offer can also vary and may include additional services, such as hypnobirthing or placenta encapsulation.

At what point in pregnancy should I hire a doula?

This is a great question! The answer is: it’s never too early, but never too late either. Many doulas take on a limited number of clients per month to guarantee availability for your birth. The earlier you book, the more choice you will have, and you’ll have more time to build a relationship with your doula.

That said, some families book a doula later in pregnancy, and I have had clients book me as late as 37 weeks! Depending on the support needed, I can often be flexible with my pricing, so always contact me to find out more.

Are doulas legal in the UK and London?

Yes, absolutely! Doulas are entirely legal in the UK. If you are birthing in a hospital, you are allowed two birth partners to support you during labour—typically your partner and your doula (but not always). At home, you can have whoever you wish present. So not only are doulas legal, but they are also a viable option.

Doulas are not medically trained, so it would not be legal for them to act as a healthcare professional at any point in your pregnancy, birth, or postpartum. For example, they cannot listen to the baby’s heartbeat or perform vaginal examinations. It is legal for a doula to attend your birth even if you have chosen not to have midwives present (free or unassisted birth), but again, they cannot act in the capacity of a medical professional. The charity BirthRights has some great information here.

A doula cannot legally give medical advice. If the doula is a member of an organisation like Doula UK, they are also bound by their code of conduct and should not be giving advice related to pregnancy, birth, or postpartum, but instead providing families with information and support to make the right decisions for them.

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife in London?

While doulas and midwives can complement each other, there is a big difference in our roles. A midwife is a trained medical professional, registered with a relevant professional body, and employed by the NHS (with the exception of independent midwives who are self-employed). This means they are highly regulated, and you can expect a certain level of competence and skills to support you in your birth, especially if there are challenges beyond the physiological norms. Depending on where your midwife works, they may be experienced in supporting the type of birth you are hoping to have. They offer a range of antenatal, in-labour, and postnatal support and checks for you and your baby.

However, midwives have obligations to their employer, which means they are required to complete a lot of documentation during labour, limiting the time they can spend providing hands-on support to you. They are also compelled to offer interventions in line with their NHS trust policies, making it difficult for them to deliver personalised, responsive support at all times. Midwives are also focused on both your baby’s wellbeing and yours, which is important, but means they are unable to focus entirely on you. They often work in shifts, so you’re unlikely to meet the midwife supporting you before the day of the birth.

A doula is employed by the family they are working for, which means we only have obligations to YOU. This allows us to support you freely in your choices. We don’t need to see things through the lens of policies or guidelines, though we can help you understand them and explain the recommendations. A doula focuses on the birthing family throughout the entire labour, usually providing remote support at the beginning, coming to your house when needed, and then travelling with you to the hospital if you choose to birth there. We can be hands-on or hands-off depending on what you need, and we are a continuous presence at your birth. One of the major advantages of hiring a doula is that you will have that trusted face present for your labour and birth, for both you and your partner.

What Does a Birth Doula in London Do and Why Is It Important?

This question is a bit like "how long is a piece of string?"—every birth is different, so I never know exactly what I will do! Find out more about what a doula does on this page.

During the birth itself, a doula typically supports in three main areas:

1. Emotional support – This is a key area where a doula can make a real difference. We help you pace your labour emotionally, provide reassurance, and hold the space for both you and your partner to feel safer and more confident.
2. Physical support – A doula can do many things in the background (or foreground) to make things more comfortable for you, such as providing counterpressure on the sacrum, filling up water bottles, organising a birth pool, cutting snacks, making a nest of cushions, etc. Doulas are guided by what you need at the time since birth is a very intuitive process.
3. Informational support & advocacy – Antenatal preparation sessions before birth provide much of the decision-making that influences what’s needed on the day. But birth is unpredictable, so a doula can provide information as needed and advocate for your choices.

A doula will also stay with you after the birth for the immediate postnatal period, ensuring you are ready to begin life as a new or growing family.

How Do I Find Out More?

If these FAQs have helped you decide that you would like to book a doula for your birth or postnatal period, do not hesitate to contact me using the form below or visit my Birth Doula and Postnatal Doula pages to find out more.

Ready to hire a birth doula in London?

Contact me today for a consultation, and let’s start planning your positive birth experience.