Why hire a Doula?
- Charlotte Watson
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
The evidence-based, emotional and practical support you didn’t know you needed
If you're pregnant and reading this blog - chances are you've heard the word doula mentioned somewhere in your preparations for birth. But what actually is a doula and do you really need one?
In this blog, I’ll explain what a doula does, how doula support can benefit you (and your birth partner, if you have one), and what the evidence says (cos there's loads!)
Hiring a doula is about having tailor-made support to help you feel confident and truly nurtured through one of life’s biggest transitions, enabling you to thrive.
What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, practical and informational support before, during and after birth. Unlike midwives, doulas are not clinical staff – we don’t do checks or offer advise. Instead, we work alongside your care providers to support you – centring your choices, your wellbeing and your birth experience all the time.
A doula can help you:
Prepare for birth with confidence
Understand your options and make informed decisions
Feel calm and supported throughout labour
Support your partner so they can support you
Adjust gently to life with your new baby
Some doulas focus solely on birth support, some offer postnatal support and many (like myself!) do both. Take a look at the doula support options I can offer you on the website.
Fancy a chat about the Doula Support I can offer you.
Why hire a doula?
There are so many reasons people choose to bring a doula into their birth or postnatal team, but here are some of the biggest ones:
1. Continuous support makes a difference
One of the most powerful things a doula offers is continuity. In most hospital settings, the midwives caring for you may change throughout your labour. A doula is someone you’ve built a relationship with beforehand and who stays with you throughout – no shift changes, no rushing away. Just calm, grounded support revolving around you.
2. Evidence shows doulas improve outcomes
A 2017 Cochrane review showed that having a continuity or carer in the form of a doula during the pregnancy and birth can result in:
Increased likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
Decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with your birth experience
Decrease in the use of medications for pain relief
Decrease in chance of caesarean birth
Decrease in chance of instrumental vaginal birth
Decrease in use of epidural analgesia
Shorter labours by 41 minutes on average
Decrease in the baby's risk of low five-minute Apgar score
Lower chance of developing depressive symptomatology
Higher likelihood of establishing and continuing breastfeeding
It’s not magic – it’s the power of informed, continuous and nurturing support.
3. Your birth partner feels more confident too
Partners also benefit from having doula support. It means they don’t feel the pressure to “remember everything” or “be the expert”. Instead, they can relax, be present and support you emotionally – knowing that someone experienced is there to guide, reassure and advocate with you if needed.
4. Personalised care – tailored to you
Every birth is unique, and so is every family. As your doula, I get to know you, your preferences, your hopes and any worries you might have. I can help you navigate appointments, birth plans and unexpected turns with evidence-based information and confidence. Whether you’re planning a home birth, hospital birth or caesarean, your choices are at the heart of everything I do.
5. The early days of parenthood feel less overwhelming
Many doulas (myself included) offer postnatal support – and this can be a total game changer. From helping with feeding to holding the baby while you shower, making a cuppa or simply listening while you talk through your birth story, postnatal doula care is all about nurturing you. Postnatal doula support can help you feel less overwhelmed, less alone and more confident in your parenting choices. It can help you heal physically, emotionally and mentally. Because when you're cared for, you can care for your baby and everyone in the family can thrive, not just survive.
Is a doula right for me?
If you want to feel more:
Informed about your choices
Empowered in your decision-making
Nurtured throughout the ups and downs of pregnancy, birth and the fourth trimester
… then yes, a doula might be the perfect fit.
Ready to have a chat about the Doula Support I can offer you?
What my clients say
🌟 "Charlotte is the warmest most approachable human you will ever have the pleasure of meeting but she’s also a master of her craft! I started off intimidated by the thought of giving birth and feeling completely out of control… now I am confident, I feel capable in advocating for myself and in navigating conversations with medical professionals." Dawn
🌟 "We honestly feel that Charlotte has helped us massively on this journey and can’t thank her enough." Max
🌟"Charlotte is very approachable, knowledgable and calm and I am so grateful and will be recommending her to all the mums I know! Thank you :)" Vikki
Final thoughts
Hiring a doula is about having someone in your corner – who believes in you, listens to you and helps you feel safe, seen and supported.
If that sounds like something you’d like on your journey, I’d love to chat with you.
You can book your free, no-pressure discovery call, or drop me a message if you have any questions.
You deserve to feel confident, calm and supported. Let’s make that happen.
Charlotte x
Doula & Hypnobirthing Antenatal Teacher
Comments