What’s a Doula? – Learn Why It Matters for Your Birth & Postpartum

We are there for YOU.

If you’ve ever wondered “what’s a doula?”, you’re not alone. A doula comes with no agenda other than to support you and your choices as you birth and care for your baby. No one else in your journey can truly do this: midwives have obligations to the NHS, and family members often bring their own experiences, views and opinions. So the main answer to “what’s a doula?” is: the person in the room who is there just for you.

As your doula, I work for you – my sole interest is helping you discover what you want, and how to achieve those goals. In a world that has lost sight of instinct, doulas are big believers in the innate wisdom of a pregnant woman and the deep knowledge she holds within. This extends into the postnatal period: I’m there to champion your choices as you find what works for your family and your style of parenting.

What’s a Doula? – The Evidence

Research shows that having a doula really helps! There’s strong evidence that continuous support in labour improves birth outcomes – and even more so, that support from a doula specifically (rather than midwives, family or friends) has additional positive benefits. This includes a 39% lower chance of Caesarean birth, and a 15% increase in vaginal births with no assistance (1).

In the postpartum period, research tells us that new parents who feel well-supported adjust to becoming parents more smoothly. In cultures where women are nurtured in the weeks after birth, there are higher rates of breastfeeding and reduced postnatal depression.

(1) Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 6;7(7).

We are your tour guide.

What’s a doula, really? Think of us as your guidebook for birth and postpartum.

Being pregnant, birthing your baby and then caring for them can feel like landing on the moon! Even though I believe you have all you need within you to become parents, our culture doesn’t always support that instinct. Instead, birth and parenting can feel like a new world: the language is different,

the choices are different, and the landscape is unfamiliar.

I used to love travelling in my twenties, always with my trusty “Lonely Planet” guidebook. It didn’t make the decisions for me – but it gave me the confidence to explore, learn the language, and know my options. Doulas are a bit like that guidebook.

As your doula, I’ve walked this path before. I’ve spent well over a decade immersed in the world of pregnancy, birth and newborns. I’m a reference point and a source of information and reassurance for you both. I’ll help you map out your birth journey, and remind you that you have all you need to get there.

We fill in the gaps.

When I became a mum, I became conscious of all the “gaps” around pregnancy, birth and parenting. The most obvious? Many women come out the other side and describe their transition to motherhood as lonely and difficult – simply because they didn’t have the right support at the right time.

In birth, feeling safe and confident, and trusting your instincts, are the most important things. But this can be hard: maybe you’ve never done this before, or had a difficult experience last time. You might want to make a choice that goes against hospital guidelines and feel unsure how to do that, or you might transfer to hospital and suddenly be surrounded by strangers. A doula provides a buffer against all of this.

Through relaxed antenatal sessions, I help you nail down your birth preferences. You can reach out to me any time in pregnancy, and when you go into labour, I’m there from whenever you want me to be. This can give you the confidence you need to let your body do what it already knows how to do.

After your baby is born, you may find that while there are plenty of appointments during pregnancy, that all fades away when you bring your baby home. Many of us live far from family, and it’s not always easy to ask for – or accept – help. New parents need non-judgemental support, companionship and reassurance as you find your way, along with practical help. I provide all of this as your postpartum doula.

Now I know what's a doula - how do I hire one?!

Now that you know what’s a doula, how do you hire one? You can find my birth doula page by clicking here.

You can find my postnatal doula page by clicking here.

On those pages, you’ll find details about how I can support you, my prices, and a detailed FAQ section. But I always love to hear from you personally –

please feel free to contact me using the form below.