Birth Doula in London Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a doula on the NHS?

Unfortunately, no. It isn’t possible to get a doula on the NHS. A very small number are employed in some NHS trusts but this means they are working for the trust and not for you, so their role, whilst probably very helpful, is not the same as having your own doula.

If you are of a low income & face other disadvantages then there are some doula charities where doulas volunteer their time – for example I volunteer for an organisation called Doulas without Borders.

Many doulas will also adjust their fee if possible to allow them to work with a family. Contact me if you wish to discuss this.

Doulas are increasingly being included in private health insurance packages so if you have one of these it may be worth checking if they will cover the doulas fees.

How much does it cost to hire a doula in London?

Doulas are self employed and run their own small businesses, and are therefore free to charge whatever they wish. Some doulas display their prices prominently, others you need to contact to find out. My prices and packages are available here.

When you become a doula it is good practice to be mentored through your first few births: this is where a more experienced doula supports you throughout the process and gives an opportunity for reflection and debrief afterwards. As the birthing family you are often asked to provide your feedback as well. Mentored doulas will usually charge less than someone with more experience.

In London, mentored doulas typically charge £800+, and then fully certified doulas £1200 - £3000. You can always ask for a doula for a breakdown of their costs, although the role is holistic and therefore not entirely quantifiable! The packages doulas offer can also vary and include additional services such as hypnobirthing or placenta encapsulation.

At what point in pregnancy should I hire a doula?

This is a great question and I would say the answer is it’s never too early, but never too late either! Many doulas will take on a limited number of clients per month in order to guarantee good availability for your birth, and therefore the earlier you look for a doula, the more choice you will have. I provide support from the moment someone pays their deposit, and therefore the earlier in pregnancy you book the longer time there is to build a relationship and have your questions answered. At the same time, there are lots of different reasons why someone might only consider a doula later in the their pregnancy, and I have had people book me as late as 37 weeks! I tend to be of the philosophy that everything happens and works out for a reason. Depending on the support someone needs if they book late, I am able to be flexible in my pricing, so always contact me to find out more.

Are doulas legal in the UK?

Yes, absolutely, doulas are entirely legal in the UK. If you are birthing in hospital then you are able to have two birth partners support you when you are in labour, typically your partner and your doula (but not always!). At home you can whoever you wish present... So not only are they legal, but also a viable option. Doulas are not medically trained and therefore it would not be legal for them to act as a healthcare professional at any point in your pregnancy, birth or postpartum: for example listening to the baby's heartbeat or performing vaginal examinations. It is legal for a doula to attend your birth even if you have chosen not to have midwives present - free or unassisted birth - but it would again be illegal for them to act in the capacity of a medical professional. The charity BirthRights has some great information here.

A doula cannot legally give medical advice, as above. If the doula is a member of an organisation such as Doula UK then they are also bound but their code of conduct and should not be giving advice related to any area of pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but instead equipping families with information and support to make the right decisions for them.

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Doulas and midwives can really complement each other, but there is actually a lot of difference in our roles. A midwife is a trained medical professional, registered with a relevant professional body, and employed by an NHS trust (with the exception of an independent midwife who is self-employed). This means lots of great things: they are highly regulated and therefore you can except a certain level of competence and skills to support you in your birth as needed, particularly if there are challenges beyond the physiological norms.  Depending on where your midwife works, they may be very experienced in supporting the type of birth you are hoping to have. They can offer a whole range of antenatal, in labour and postnatal support and checks to you and your baby.

However, alongside this, they have obligations to their employer, and therefore they are required to complete a lot of documentation, which means they will be making notes constantly throughout the labour and detracts from the time they can spend providing hands on support to you. They are also compelled to offer you interventions in line with their NHS trust policies, which can make it very difficult for them to deliver personalised, responsive support at all times. Midwives are also focussed on your baby's wellbeing, as well of yours, which of course you want but it means they are unable to completely focus on you. They also tend to work in shifts, and so in the hospital you are very unlikely to have met the midwife supporting you in your before, and at home this would also not be guaranteed.

A doula is employed by the family they are working for therefore only have obligations to YOU. This means that we can freely support you in your choices. We don't have to see you through the eyes of a policy or guideline, although of course we can help you to understand why these exist and what the recommendations are. A doula is able to focus on the birthing family during the whole labour, usually providing remote support at the beginning, coming to your house when needed, and then travelling with you to the hospital if this is where you have chosen to birth. We can be hands on, or hands off, depending on what you need, and we are a continuous presence at your birth. You get to know your doula during pregnancy and one of the major advantages is knowing you will have that trusted face there for your labour and birth, for both you and your partner. With a doula you are completely in control of who you hire, and can make sure it is a great fit for you.

What is the point of a doula / what does a doula do during birth?

This question is a bit "how long is a piece of string" and one of the brilliant things for me is every birth is completely different so I never know exactly what I will do! There is more information on my page about doulas. During the birth itself, a doula usually supports in three main areas:

1. Emotional support - this is such a key area, and one where a doula can make a real difference. We can help you "pace" your labour emotionally, provide reassurance, and hold the space for both you and your partner to feel safer and more confident.
2. Physical support - there are so many different things a doula can do during birth in the background, or foreground, to make things a little more comfortable for you such as counter pressure on the sacrum, filling up water bottles, organising a birth pool, cutting up snacks, fetching the birth pool, making a nest out of cushions etc. Doulas are totally guided by what you need at the time, as birth is a very intuitive process.
3. Informational support & advocacy - the antenatal preparation sessions before birth are where a lot of preparation for birth happens and you make a lot of the decisions that will influence what is needed in terms of information and support on the day. But birth is not always predictable and so a doula can support you and your partner with the information you need at the time, and also advocate for your choices and decisions where needed.

A doula will also stay with you after the birth for the immediate postnatal period and ensure you are ready to begin life together as a new or growing family.

How do I find out more?

If these FAQs have helped you decide that you would like to book a doula for your birth or postnatal period then do not hesitate to contact Lisa using the form below or visiting my birth doula and postnatal doula pages to find out more.