What is a doula?
A doula is a companion who is not a healthcare professional and who supports another person through a significant experience such as childbirth. I am a doula who specialises in the postnatal period. I support new parents in the first days, weeks and months with their new babies and can help with breastfeeding, cooking nourishing food, emotional support and advice. You can find my services here.
Why should I hire a doula?
Being a new mother to a new baby, albeit being the most incredible and joyful experience, comes with its challenges; whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, you will more than likely find things a little overwhelming at first. Some people might say that the partner, the close family or friends should step in to offer support and – whilst they can to some degree – not everyone has this close support network. Additionally, the partner will often want to focus their time on bonding with their new baby. Doulas have the knowledge, the deep understanding, the compassion, not to mention the practical side of things such as cooking, all the things that are so vital in making a new family’s experience a happy and positive one.
What's the difference between a doula and a midwife?
Whilst a doula offers emotional support, care and nourishment, they are not medical. Whereas midwives are trained healthcare professionals.
As a doula I can’t undertake medical examinations or diagnose any medical conditions. But I am here to signpost to the appropriate healthcare professional if needed.
What types of families do you work with?
I am offering post-natal services to all families without discrimination, mono, cis or homo-parental, regardless the conception type (natural conception, assisted conception, surrogacy), and also after an adoption process.
What sort of things does a doula have to keep confidential?
Although doulas are not registered professionals, they are of course bound to confidentiality. I have the obligation and offer the absolute assurance that anything personal will stay between you and me. I will only share personal details if you have said I can, or if it’s absolutely necessary.