Blog - Doula UK

From midwife to doula – interview

30th August 2017 This interview with Doula UK member Pat Wood, first appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of The Doula magazine. Pat is a doula, mother and grandmother to six. She lives in Bedford with her husband Tim, who she married in 2015. Pat enjoys walking her dogs and occasionally going … [Read more...]

Keeping the Better Births vision alive

This guest blog was written by Jo Dagustun, Greater Manchester birth activist 23rd August 2017 Following the publication of Better Births (the 2016 National Maternity Review report), each area across England is now in the process of drawing up a 5-year maternity service vision and … [Read more...]

Remembering Marshall Klaus, who has died aged 90

17th August 2017 We received the sad news yesterday that Marshall Klaus, who (with John Kennell) conducted clinical trials on the medical outcomes of doula-attended births, and adopted the term ‘doula’ to refer to a person providing labour support, has died. In addition to his work for DONA … [Read more...]

Doula UK responds to ‘normal birth’ news articles

16th August 2017 On 12th August The Times published a piece which caused concern in the birth world. Its central premise was that with immediate effect the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) would ‘no longer tell women that they should try to have babies without medical … [Read more...]

Doula UK comments on The National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA)

11th August 2017 Doula UK welcomes the NMPA, a collaboration between three medical Royal Colleges, which highlights the importance of obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists working collaboratively to deliver improved outcomes for women and their babies. The fact that so many clinicians and … [Read more...]

Transitioning

This piece, by Kate Medlin, was first published in The Doula magazine. In labour, the transition period is often referred to as the most challenging stage. Women who have previously been coping well can break down, feel completely overwhelmed, experience the ongoing contractions as … [Read more...]

HIV and breastfeeding Case Study

This piece, by Doula UK member Anne Glover, was first published in The Doula magazine. Recently I was a doula for a young mum who expressed a great desire to breastfeed her second child, something she was denied with her first child based solely on the grounds that she was HIV+. Here in Northern … [Read more...]

Rekindling sex after having a baby

This piece by Charlotte Simpson was first published in The Doula magazine. We all know that having a baby completely changes the landscape of our lives. Managing these changes is often at the heart of conversations between new mothers, supportively sharing the ups and downs of daily … [Read more...]

Why all doulas should have a sling!

This piece, by Sophie Messager, was first published in The Doula magazine. As a doula I wouldn't be without my sling! I find it invaluable to be able to help parents choose a carrier for their baby, to see the joy on their faces when their baby contentedly falls asleep in the sling and they can … [Read more...]

Naturopathic Care In Pregnancy

This piece by Juliana O’Boyle was first published in The Doula magazine. As a pregnant mum myself I had endless questions and worries; how do I eat safely and naturally to meet my baby’s nutritional needs? Which herbs and supplements are safe and effective for my nausea, heartburn, … [Read more...]