Doula UK was founded in 2001 to promote life-changing support from skilled doulas for families in the childbearing year regardless of circumstance, while advocating for better support.
We have approximately 700 doulas working in all parts of the United Kingdom. Each member must complete Doula UK approved training, go through a period of mentoring and comply with the Doula UK Code of Conduct. We nurture our membership, so they can unconditionally support the needs of everyone involved in pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Doulas can prevent trauma by providing practical, emotional and nurturing support to the whole family during pregnancy, labour and after the birth of a baby. By offering information, and promoting self advocacy doulas give confidence which can be very empowering in helping people to expect safe and respectful maternity and postpartum care.
How Doulas Reduce the Risk of Trauma
The benefits of continuous support during labour and birth were highlighted in a Cochrane review, which analysed data from 26 studies across 17 countries involving more than 15,000 women. The following outcomes were observed for women and birth parents who were given continuous support from a doula or labour companion.
● More likely to have a vaginal birth (without the need for caesarean, forceps or vacuum extraction)
● Less likely to use pain medications
● More likely to have shorter labours
● More likely to be satisfied with their birth and postnatal experience
● The babies may be less likely to have low five-minute Apgar scores, which assess babies’ health and well-being at birth and shortly afterward
● Increased equity directly through improved women’s empowerment and provision of culturally responsive care, and indirectly by reducing the over-medicalisation of childbirth
● Increased likelihood of initiating and establishing breastfeeding
A difficult labour, lack of support, an unplanned caesarean section or emergency treatment for the mother/birth parent or baby can contribute to the risk of experiencing trauma. Doula support can therefore reduce the risk of experiencing perinatal trauma.
