If you’re considering finding support during your pregnancy, for your birth experience or for during the early weeks and months of postnatal life with a new baby a doula might be just the right thing for you.
It's not uncommon for people to live far away from family or old friends, the kind of people who traditionally we might have relied on for emotional support, to lend an ear, a shoulder and a helping hand when you're pregnant or in the early weeks with a new baby. Doulas do all of this - and some more.
What is a doula?
Not a counsellor, but able to offer emotional support.
Not a midwife, but knowledgeable about birth.
Not a cleaner or lactation consultant, but someone who can offer support that helps you rest in order to adapt to being a new parent.
Doulas are non-medical professional supporters who help women and birthing families during pregnancy and the birthing year. Generally they’ll be trained by an accredited organisation but they don't have to be - they aren’t regulated and are not medical professionals. In fact doulas can’t offer medical support or give clinical advice, even if you book one who has previously been medically trained as a nurse or midwife.
If you’re looking for someone outside of the NHS to step into that role explore options for hiring an independent midwife.
So what does a Doula actually do?
One of the things that many people really like about having a doula is there’s generally the option for some specific learning in a private setting. This will give you the chance to explore birth choices and options for planning with someone who’s outside of the NHS systems and can help direct you to evidence based information that may or may not be presented otherwise.
They will listen to you and support your choices, as a cheerleader and advocate.
They may have other interests or skills that can help you in your choices, and they will likely have good local knowledge and a network of aligned professionals who may be of use in other areas (whether that's an awesome osteopath for pelvic pain, or an infant feeding specialist who can visit you at home).
During your pregnancy your doula will likely be getting to know you your birth partner your family. In order to support you all, because these are individual human relationships not prescribed to do list, it’s important that they have a sense of the rhythm of your family life can easily locate the cutlery drawer, a cloth for spills, and they know how you like your tea.
This getting to know you phase also helps facilitate feelings of safety familiarity that are really helpful for the birth process, which is essential if they're going to be the continual support person for your pregnancy and labour.
So they’d be there for the whole birth?
Most doulas will aim for this - yes. They'll likely come to you at the point you feel like you need support. That means they could be on call for up to 5 weeks and be with you throughout your labour, whether that’s short or long. Some doulas work in teams or with backup, so it’s really important to know how your doula might handle the unexpected (in their life or your birth).
How much does a doula cost?
Between £800 and £3,500 in the UK currently. This will likely reflect their experience and other skills they bring to the birthday party! It's worth getting clarity on what's included when you book - they may be an acupuncturist or homeopath, but is that part of your birth package or an extra?
There is an access fund with Doula UK and new doulas will likely offer lower cost sessions while they gain experience.
How to find and book a doula
Where to look
Doula UK maintains the main national directory of trained doulas across the country, searchable by location. It's a good starting point since doulas listed there have agreed to a code of conduct, even though the profession itself isn't formally regulated. Other doula training bodies host directories of trained doulas, see: Nurturing Birth and The Doula Directory
Local recommendations (word of mouth, antenatal groups, NCT classes) are just as valuable, since a personal fit matters more than credentials alone.
Meet more than one
Most doulas offer a free initial chat, in person or over video, before you commit. It's worth speaking to two or three rather than booking the first person you find. Cost matters, but the relationship matters more, you'll be sharing an intense, unpredictable experience with this person, so trust and ease with them counts for a lot. That means your partner needs to get on with them too - the last thing you want is a strange dynamic in the background or for your partner to feel like the support isn't for them,
When to book your doula
Doulas normally take on a limited number of clients each month to guarantee they're available for your birth, so popular or experienced doulas can book up early, sometimes months in advance. If you know you want one, starting the search in early-to-mid pregnancy gives you the most choice.
What to expect financially
Most doulas ask for a deposit to secure your date, with the remainder due later in pregnancy (often around 36 weeks before they go on call). It's worth asking exactly what's included in the package (number of antenatal visits, postnatal follow-up, on-call period) before comparing prices, since packages vary a lot between doulas.
Did you have a doula? Or maybe you are a doula? If you have anything else to add or share please feel free to comment below.
2026 update from Emilie:
I'm not currently taking any birth doula clients in Frome, however I'm working as a birth coach and am happy to explore supporting you as a coach. Read more about the difference between a birth coach and a doula here.