I'm Emily and I live in London with my three-year-old daughter, Juno. I've been a doula for just under a year and I feel like I've finally found my "home"! I am a recognised postnatal doula and I'm currently working towards my recognition as a birth doula.

What inspired you to become a doula?
From the moment I discovered that birth doesn't have to be the traumatic, hospital-based event that I'd always seen portrayed in film and on TV, I knew that I wanted to do birthwork. Having my own daughter halfway through my midwifery degree really solidified it for me that support and feeling listened to is such a huge part of the journey to becoming a parent - and it can really make or break it. I had a natural break in my work life post-pandemic and decided now was the time to really focus on doing something that I loved and believed in. It's probably one of the best decisions I've ever made!

What did you do for a living before becoming a doula and if so, how has this helped you when working as a doula?
Before having my daughter, I began a midwifery degree, but I found I was feeling burnt out even by the end of the first year. Midwives are up against so much in the NHS and I just didn't feel that I would ever be able to give the care that I went into midwifery to give. It's given a huge respect for the midwives that I work alongside while supporting my clients, and it's also given me a lot of practical, hands-on experience of birth; the physiology behind it; and the options available to pregnant people making their birth choices.

What has been the highlight of your doula career so far?
Honestly, every client I meet makes me realise how unbelievably lucky I am that they allow me to walk with them on such an important journey.

What have you found the most difficult?
Knowing how difficult maternity care is at the moment, both for the pregnant people using it and the staff working to give the best experience they can under incredibly difficult circumstances. It is clear how little funding goes into NHS maternity care, and it's heart-breaking when I see the toll that has on pregnant people and all the amazing staff that work within it.

Can you share one lesson you have learnt through your work as a doula?
Every pregnancy is different, every birth is different, and every postnatal experience is different. Listening is the most important thing we, as doulas, can do.

What is the one essential item you can't be without in your doula kit?
Teabags! I bring them everywhere with me: whether I'm making tea for my clients, for a midwife at a birth, or for me while I'm giving overnight support, you can't go wrong with a cuppa!

What would be your one piece of advice to a woman who is considering training as a doula?
Doulaing is an incredible privilege and an absolute calling, but it's important to look after yourself too! If this is the path you choose, do it knowing that you'll have an incredible doula cuddle around you, and it's okay to lean on them when things feel tough.

Dear Professor Whitty & Mr. Matthew Hancock,
 
We are writing to express our concern over the continued restrictions and temporary policies in maternity care. Implemented during the initial outbreak of the Covid Pandemic, such restrictions were prudent but now, as lockdown eases and some NHS trusts are beginning to revert these rules, many others are continuing to restrict the rights of healthy pregnant women and birthing people for no apparent medical reason. We believe that the restrictions currently in place due to the Covid outbreak are not necessary, not based on scientific evidence, are disrespecting human rights and are not proportionate to achieve the objective of limiting the spread of the virus.

​We’re in the middle of a pandemic and we’re living a life that feels very strange and restricted compared to what we have been used to. There are a lot of unknowns as well as unanswered questions. How long will this go on for? Could I be at risk? Could someone I love and care about die?

​One of the questions I’m often asked is: why is my doula preparation course so short? Is my four-day workshop, plus a pre and post course module really enough to get someone who has no other formal training ready to begin their career as a doula?

​Dear Meghan,
 
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I hope you’re feeling as well as you’re looking and that you and Harry are enjoying this incredibly special time.

​Being a birth doula is probably one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. To be at a woman's side, supporting her (and her partner) while she births her baby is an extraordinary privilege. However, thanks to the unpredictable nature of childbirth, one of the aspects of the job that needs to be navigated is the on-call period.