What is a Doula
A doula is a constant companion through your unique journey of becoming a parent(s). Rather than feeling like you are enduring a series of procedures or interventions, your doula supports you to make informed choices and feel safe and secure about your upcoming birth.
A doula creates space to talk through your birth options or simply reminds you to check in with your own intuition when making important decisions. They recognise that every woman is different and that her well-being affects her physical health. That is why a doula will spend time getting to know you, listen to any concerns you may have and provide all the emotional and physical support you need to feel strong in mind and body.
In trials*, women cared for during labour by a birth doula, compared to those receiving usual care were less likely to give birth by caesarean section, less likely to give birth with a ventouse or forceps, and less likely to use any analgesia or anaesthesia.
My birth outcomes
However you are planning to birth your baby, Doula support really does make a difference. I’ve been reflecting on my work over the last year and these are my statistics from 2025.
42.9% of my clients birthed in the midwife led birth center, the national average is around 5-10%
21.4% were at home, the National average is around 2%.
14.3% of my clients had an unplanned caesarean Birth in line with The World Health Organization (WHO) which maintains that, while essential for safety, cesarean section (CS) rates should ideally be 10–15%.
From the very first time we sit down together, I’ll start giving you the tools, information and resources you need to plan the kind of birth that feels right for you. But more importantly, I’ll spend time getting to know you. What makes you feel safe, What helps you relax. What you’re excited about. What you’re worried about.
Because birth isn’t just physical (although I absolutely have plenty of comfort measures up my sleeve) it’s emotional too. You need to feel safe. Your partner needs to feel safe. And that only happens when we’ve had the time to talk things through, make plans, and put the right support in place so that when labour starts, you can just focus on birthing your baby.
I might come along to appointments with your consultant or midwife if that feels helpful, making sure you feel informed and supported. When labour begins, I’m almost always with you at home in those early hours (unless baby has other ideas!), helping you create a calm space and supporting a gentle transition when we meet your Midwives.
I’ll make sure your midwife understands how you’d like to be cared for. While she focuses on the clinical side of things, I focus on you, your comfort, your confidence and especially the atmosphere in the room. That might look like back rubs and warm water, but it also means making sure everyone has drinks, snacks, reassurance, the right music, clear information if plans need to shift, and steady encouragement throughout.
And when you’re tucked up in bed with your baby in your arms, I’ll quietly slip away, knowing you felt supported every step of the way.