What Does a Doula Actually Do?
If you’re pregnant and exploring your options, you may have seen the term doula and wondered:
“What does a doula actually do?”
Unlike midwives, doulas don’t carry out clinical or medical tasks.
We don’t monitor blood pressure.
We don’t catch babies.
We don’t replace NHS maternity staff.
So what do we do?
Short answer:
We support you; emotionally, mentally, informationally, and sometimes physically so you feel confident and safe throughout your pregnancy and birth.
Long answer?
Let’s get into it.
A Doula Supports You, So You Can Focus on Your Birth
Most women don’t struggle with birth itself, they struggle with the system.
Appointments feel rushed.
Information isn’t always balanced.
Decisions can feel pressured.
A doula helps you:
Understand your options
Navigate NHS pathways
Ask the right questions
Advocate for your preferences with confidence
Doulas don’t speak for you, we help you use your own voice.
During Pregnancy
We prepare you.
A doula:
Helps you understand your birth rights in the UK
Supports you with birth planning and preferences
Shares evidence-based information (not opinions or fear)
Helps you explore interventions, choices, and alternatives
Prepares your birth partner so they know how to support you
Think of it as having someone who knows the system, in your corner.
Emotional Support
Pregnancy isn’t just physical; it’s psychological.
A doula helps you:
Process previous birth trauma (especially after C-section)
Release fears or anxiety around birth
Build confidence and trust in your body
Feel heard, respected, and validated
Sometimes, the biggest breakthrough happens when someone finally says:
“You’re not being difficult - you’re advocating for yourself.”
Information, Not Persuasion
A doula won’t tell you how to give birth.
But we will help you explore what matters to you.
We might say:
“Here are your options, here’s the evidence, and here’s what that might mean for your birth.”
You stay in control. Always.
During Labour
We stay close.
Whether your birth is:
Spontaneous
Induced
Planned caesarean
VBAC (or VBA2C / VBA3C)
A doula is steady and calm when everything else feels intense.
We might:
Create a calming environment (lighting, music, essential oils if desired)
Use comfort measures like hip squeezes or counter pressure
Help with positions that encourage baby’s optimal descent
Protect your privacy and oxytocin levels
Help you stand your ground if your preferences are challenged
We are not emotionally invested in the hospital’s paperwork or timeline.
We are invested in you.
After Birth
We stay.
We don’t vanish as soon as baby is born.
We:
Make sure you’re fed and hydrated
Support with that early bonding and feeding journey
Debrief your birth, if you want to talk about it
Help you process what just happened
We stay until you’re settled, calm, and grounded.
Postnatal Support
Some families also choose postpartum doula support.
This can look like:
Breastfeeding support
Emotional check-ins
Light house tasks so you can rest
Holding space while you process the transition to motherhood
Because birth isn’t the finish line, it’s the beginning.
So, What Does a Doula Actually Do?
We hold the emotional, mental, and informational weight of birth so you can focus on birthing your baby, not navigating the system.
“A doula doesn’t make your birth go a certain way.
A doula helps you feel like you had a choice in every part of it.”
And that’s powerful.
Doula Support in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire & Surrounding Areas
I support:
VBAC / VBA2C / VBA3C
Physiological birth
Homebirth (including HBAC)
Planned caesareans with intention and autonomy
In-person doula support within 1 hour of Cambridge
Virtual support available across the UK
If you’d like to chat about your birth vision - no pressure, no agenda - you can book a clarity call here: