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Nurturing Birth

Doula Courses | Education | Doula

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…here to nurture, inform and empower doulas and families

07305 044482 | info@nurturingbirth.co.uk

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What is a Doula?

A Doula \DOO-luh\ is an experienced person who offers emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth.”

A doula believes in “mothering the mother” – enabling a woman to have the most satisfying and empowered time that she can during pregnancy, birth and the early days as a new parent. This type of support also helps the whole family to relax, adapt to and enjoy the experience.

How is a doula going to support a family during pregnancy and birth?

As birth becomes ever-more medicalised there is far less continuity of care. A doula is a valuable support during the antenatal period and through the birth itself, enabling parents to make informed choices about their care, signposting relevant research-based information and being a reassuring presence.

Postnatally, she is able to provide the support that women used to expect of their families and community in times gone by. She can give confidence as the new mother learns how to respond to her baby/babies’ needs, recovers from the birth and finds her feet.

Interested in becoming a Doula?

Nurturing Birth run Doula Training courses throughout the UK and beyond.

Find out about our Doula courses

Looking for a Doula?

Nurturing Birth run a Directory to help women and families find the right doula for them.

Click here to start your postcode search.

You would make a great doula if you are:

Nurturing Birth Doula Courses

A survey of birth doulas conducted by Nurturing Birth showed:

Percentage births which ended in caesarean section

Only 12.5% of births supported by doulas ended in caesarean section, just under half the national rate of 25.5%


12%
Doula supported births

25%
National average

Percentage women who had a home birth

26.3% of women had a home birth with doula support, compared with the 2.4% national rate.


26%
Doula supported births

2%
National average

Epidural uptake

Epidural uptake was less than 15%, compared to a 62.9% national average (49.3% spontaneous births).


15%
Doula supported births

62.9%
National average

Breastfeeding at six weeks

96.4% women who gave birth supported by a doula initiated breastfeeding, and of those 81.4% were still exclusively feeding at 6 weeks (as compared to 73.9% and 47.2%.)


81.4%
Doula supported births

47.2%
National average

It has also been shown by research undertaken in the USA that having the support of a doula is likely to reduce the length of labour (Kennell & Klaus)

This research has been published in MIDIRS.

The full article is available here

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Award winning Doulas

MAMA Awards 2017 - DOULA OF THE YEAR​ Winner - Sophie Brigstocke, Nurturing Birth

MAMA Awards 2017
DOULA OF THE YEAR​

Sophie Brigstocke,
Nurturing Birth

Nurturing Birth Twitter

Good perinatal mental health is crucial always, but during a pandemic it should have extra focus https://t.co/jgZGxjwkIT
- Wednesday Jul 8 - 1:12pm

A member of

Doula UK approved course | Positive birth, Supporting Families.

Get in touch

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Telephone: 07305 044482
Email: info@nurturingbirth.co.uk

Images by Jaha Brown

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