What is a doula? Doulas support women and birthing people during pregnancy, birth and in the early post-partum period. They are a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

What does a doula do?

As your doula, I walk alongside you and support you in exploring your options and gaining information as well as confidence. No one knows your body and your baby better than you! Furthermore, as a doula I can support not only you as the birthing or new mother/person, I can also support your wider family. Maybe you have older children, a partner, a pet?

As a doula I offer my support to you during pregnancy, for the birth and/or the early post-partum period. Help you (and your partner/family) explore the local options and how they may apply to your individual situation.

This is your pregnancy, your birth, your body, your baby. You make the decisions and choices!​

According to the information leaflet from Doula UK there is evidence to show that having a doula can mean:

• Reduced risk of Caesarean birth † *
• Reduced risk of instrumental birth †*
• Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth †*
• Reduced rate of induction of labour †*
• Shorter labour †
• Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience †
• Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding *
• Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding
& breastfeeding at 6 weeks *

*Brigstocke S. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, vol 24, no 2, 2014, pp 157-160
† Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5