What is a Doula and Why Might You Want One?
•Posted on September 08 2025
You might think doulas are only for hippies, rich people or people planning a homebirth. Maybe you’ve already got a hypnobirthing course booked and think a doula is the same thing!
You might also think that as you have a midwife free on the NHS you don’t need to pay for a doula (aren’t they the same thing anyway?!)
In this blog I am going to explain the difference between working with a Midwife, doing a Antenatal course and working with a doula, plus explain some of the different benefits a doula can bring to your birth team.
Who am I?
I am Charlotte, a Virtual Doula of over 2 years, a hypnobirthing teacher and a postnatal doula.
I offer virtual in your pocket support to help you make informed decisions and feel empowered throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum, as well as a hypnobirthing essentials course and in-person postnatal doula work.
Although doula is not an accredited or regulated profession, I did my training with The Red Tent Collective and I can be found on many directories.
What is a Doula?
The word doula comes from the Ancient Greek word doulē (δούλη), meaning "female slave" or "woman's servant", this gives you a clue as to what a doulas main priority is….you!
At its core the role of a doula is provide emotional and practical support throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum but the role has transformed into much more than that, there are many different types of doulas all with different specialities, knowledge and skills.
Some doulas (like me) specialise in helping women understand and navigate the guidelines within the NHS, providing evidence-based information to help you feel confident in your choices.
Others focus on the emotional and spiritual side of pregnancy and birth, guiding you with ceremony, meditation and inner work.
There are doulas that specialise in birth biomechanics (helping your baby get into the most optimal position for birth and troubleshooting issues in labour), and doulas that are trained in pregnancy massage and aromatherapy.
You can hire a doula that starts working with you only in postpartum, or one that begins in very early pregnancy (or even before you are pregnant!)
It might be better to think to yourself – what do you want from a doula, and then start your search there, there is a doula suited to everyone!
How can a Doula support you in pregnancy?
Pregnancy can be tough! Hormones, emotions, physical symptoms AND important decisions to make!
In the past, you would build a relationship with a small team of midwives who would support you throughout your whole journey, these days you may be lucky to see the same midwife twice, and its almost unheard of to see the same midwives in pregnancy that will be supporting you during labour (unless you have a private midwife!).
A doula can provide that continuity of care, building and maintaining a relationship throughout all stages of your journey, providing emotional support, helping to build trust.
Whilst a midwife is restricted to giving advice that falls within the current policy and guidelines a doula can help you explore traditional wisdom, physiology and help you to dig a little deeper into the guidelines, helping you to make decisions that feel good for you as an individual.
Midwives provide clinical care, such as testing blood pressure, checking for protein in your urine and other clinical assessments.
During pregnancy a doula may help with mindset work, helping you release fears and debrief previous birth experiences.
They will also help you make decisions on your birth plan, look at alternative pain relief options, teach advocacy tools and work with birth partners to understand their role.
A doulas role is not to provide a full antenatal education, although many of them can include this as an add on, it is usually expected that you do a preparation course or your own research alongside working with a doula.
Depending on the specific skills of the doula they may provide you with aromatherapy oils, herbal remedies, nourishing snacks and massage techniques!
Doula support during birth
You can choose to work with a doula just for preparation or have them come to your birth as one of your birth partners!
If you are working with a virtual doula, they will support you through messages and calls during early labour, and once you retreat into labour land they will continue to support you though your birth partner. Making sure they have the information they need at their fingertips, reminding them of your birth plan and how to use the advocacy tools you have already discussed. They can help you trouble shoot any difficulties you may be having, though changes of position or recommendations of comfort measures, and provide you with evidence-based information should you need to make decisions quickly.
When a doula attends your birth in-person they can offer more practical support, like setting up the environment and filling the birth-pool, as well as emotional support, massage and biomechanics.
A doula doesn’t replace your birth-partner (unless you want them to!), they are there to support and reassure you both.
You could also ask a doula to help care for other siblings and prepare food and snacks.
Doulas attend homebirth, but also hospital births, inductions, caesareans and freebirths, when choosing a doula you should ensure which environments they are comfortable supporting.
After birth your doula will usually stay to see you all settled in bed and do some tidying up! They may also help you to have that first breastfeed if that is in their skillset.
Its important to note that doulas do not provide clinical care during labour, they do not monitor vital signs, do cervical checks or administer medication.
What does a Postpartum Doula do?
Postnatal doulas have often have additional training in traditional medicine, nutrition and massage.
They come to your house for multiple sessions after baby is born, bring or prepare food and generally hold space for you as a new mum.
They may offer massage, prepare herbal medicines and teas, listen to your birth story and help trouble shoot any newborn behaviour you are unsure of.
May doulas have experience in supporting breastfeeding and can signpost you to further help should you need it,
Some may be happy doing light housework, or looking after the baby whilst you rest or shower, as well as helping look after siblings.
The Benefits of a Doula
Doulas are evidence based to have many positive effects on your journey to motherhood.
Continuous support in labour is linked to an increased rate of uncomplicated vaginal birth, along with a reduced rate of the use of pain relief. Women are also more likely to be satisfied with their birth experience and have shorter labours.
Working with a doulas has been shown to increase the number of families who begin breastfeeding but also continue with it.
How can you find a Doula?
There are many doula directories that can help you to find a doula near you, as well as looking at social media and attending local events.
If you wan to find out more about working with me as a virtual or postnatal doula you can go to my website