Before I had my own kids, I probably would have wondered the same thing. But now, having been through my own journey to parenthood, I completely understand the importance of what doulas can offer and I want to share this with expectant parents! And it’s not all birth brats, hippies or willow trees!

As NHS maternity services continue to be stretched, antenatal care is very often disjointed, with women seeing numerous midwives during pregnancy and birth. An increasing number of women are having difficult or traumatic birth experiences. And the medicalisation of birth leaves many women feeling coerced into making decisions that they did not want to make or feeling like they had no choice. All of this can contribute to postnatal mental health issues, which can then affect the ‘birth’ of the new family and the changing and developing relationships. Unfortunately, as we heard at the NI Maternal Mental Health Conference last week, the state of the current maternal mental health services here are still severely lacking.

Doulas build a relationship with the mum (and her partner) antenatally, getting to know her and her family and their wishes for the birth and immediate postnatal period. Doulas listen, provide information and encourage women to trust their own instincts. Doulas provide that invaluable continuity of carer and a source of continual emotional and physical support throughout pregnancy and labour. And research shows what doulas have known all along, the beneficial effects of having a continuous presence during labour; mums are more likely to have a positive birth experience and less likely to need medical pain relief or a caesarean section.

I trained as a doula because I am passionate about providing this continuity of carer to women and their families, empowering them through evidence-based information to make the decisions that are right for them so that they can have a positive birth experience, the birth they want. And whether that is a home birth, a water birth in an MLU or a planned caesarean, a doula is there to support you.

As doula Maddie McMahon writes in ‘Why Doulas Matter’ (part of the brilliant ‘Why it Matters’ series and a great book not only for expectant parents considering hiring a doula but also for healthcare practitioners), being a doula comes from within and isn’t something that can be necessarily be taught.

‘Doulas are witnesses’

Of course, doulas are trained in the physiology of birth and breastfeeding and keep up-to-date with evidence-based research and what’s going on in local maternity services. Yet, being a doula is about so much more; it’s about connecting with and supporting both mum and partner, creating that relationship so that you know exactly what their wishes are without them saying. Doulas complement a midwife’s work, and not being bound by hospital policies can truly be there to offer support and encouragement, massage and comfort measures.

Every woman deserves to have a positive birth, in the way that they want, to be treated with respect and be an active participant in her birth. But the birth of a baby is also the birth of a mother and ultimately, the birth of a new family and parenthood should be celebrated. Having a new baby, whether it’s the first or the fourth, can be overwhelming and exhausting and new parents still need support postnatally, support that gives them the time and space to build a bond with the baby. Postnatal doulas provide this additional support, coming in to do a bit of light housework or laundry, preparing meals or looking after older children so that they can have more time to bond. Supporting a mother (and partner) through such a life-changing event is an amazing privilege.

That is why doulas matter – empowering women in birth and supporting the birth of a mother and her family.