The BirthBliss Doula Academy is dedicated to the improvement of perinatal care by working towards a recognised and reliable standard of attitude and education in our doulas.

The BirthBliss Doula Academy offers a thorough, passionate and creative curriculum as well as following the core curriculum of doula education in the UK. 

We trust that doulas are respected and acknowledged members of perinatal services, working alongside the midwife to provide emotional and physical comfort as well as continuity of care. The BirthBliss Doula Academy recognises the professional expertise of the doctor and midwife. 

Our definition of a doula is a compassionate, loving individual who believes that childbirth is a normal part of life. They trust that the overwhelming majority of women (birthing person) in their care will be able to birth naturally. However, they will support every client in their choice of birth environment and way of birthing. The doula can provide continuity of care, strives to be a beacon of hope and will never cease to look for the good in any situation they meet. The doula is one hundred percent committed to the expectant, labouring and new mother’s (parent’s) well-being and their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual safety. Doulas are independent of outside control and have no agenda other than to provide emotional care, information and skilled practical support.

The BirthBliss Doula Academy will work toward a reliable standard of care through the following principles:
  1. The emotional, mental and spiritual needs of the expectant, labouring and new mother (parent) are as essential as their physical well-being
  2. The doula is mothering and supporting the mother (parent) and provides information that helps their client to make the best choices; the doula refrains from giving advice 
  3. The commitment to continuity and person-centred care and support is essential
  4. Ongoing reflective as well as skill-building training opportunities reflect The BirthBliss Doula Academy’s whole-person approach 
  5. Deepening emotional maturity is just as important as subject education and skills training​

The BirthBliss Doula Academy Code of Conduct and Practice

​The doula will in general:
  • Let the client choose their doula - doula work is person-centred care
  • Be guided by the client’s wants and needs - their emphasis is on listening not action
  • Be honest to the best of their ability and make choices with integrity
  • Suggest another colleague (if possible) if they cannot connect emotionally with their client
  • Meet their client at least once or twice before labour, if at all possible
  • Provide their client with the best service they are capable of
  • Be answerable solely to their client, as long as they abides by this code
  • At all times be open and clear about any involvement they may have in complementary therapies or products 

The doula during the birth will:
  • Stay throughout labour, birth and bonding
  • Respect and maximise the intimacy between the couple - helping the partner to be at their best
  • Be mentally and emotionally alert to the client’s needs at all times
  • Provide them with ongoing emotional support
  • Do their utmost to create and maintain an environment that is conducive to a physiological birth
  • Suggest a way forward when a natural or imposed break in the client’s concentration occurs
  • Respect the midwife as the responsible professional
  • Remind their client’s partner that they are the spokesperson if negotiations are needed
  • Do their best to help shield the client from distractions in their environment
  • Gracefully accept inevitable situations and concentrate on their client’s wellbeing
  • Do their best to help create the best bonding environment conditions around the time of and immediately after birth
  • Accompany the baby and bring them back to their client if mother (parent) and baby get separated and they are satisfied that the client is emotionally supported by another party

The doula during the postnatal period will:
  • Support her client in establishing a good feeding relationship
  • Have a good knowledge base of breast and bottle feeding
  • Meet with the new mother (parent) at least once or twice to discuss the emotional issues that have arisen from the birth
  • Help her client understand their medical notes, if the doula has acquired the necessary skills or otherwise encourage their client to make an appointment with their midwife
  • Be alert to their client’s general condition, will signpost to other medical help if appropriate and give information on complementary health issues and products
  • Be alert to the baby’s general condition and provide their client with information on baby development and health care issues - they must always tell their client to seek their health visitors /doctors advice on issues they are discussion

​The doula will not:
  • Give conditional support
  • Make themselves unavailable to their client without full discussion and organising alternative support
  • Impose themselves on their client
  • Place themselves between their client and the client’s partner
  • Make decisions for their client
  • Use any forceful technique
  • Argue with the midwife, the partner or their client
  • Perform external or internal examinations
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