Is Being a Doula the Right Career for You?
- Kicki Hansard
- May 27
- 7 min read
10 Signs This Role Could Be Your Calling
If you’ve found yourself here, chances are you’ve been wondering whether being a doula could be the right path for you. Maybe you’ve been reading birth stories into the small hours, watching videos about the power of support during labour, or perhaps you’ve experienced something in your own pregnancy that lit a little spark inside.
Whatever brought you here, you’re not alone. Every year, more and more people in the UK ask the question: “Is becoming a doula the right career for me?” And it’s such an important one to explore properly. Because this isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. It’s about showing up for others during one of the most profound, vulnerable, and life-changing moments of their lives.
So, how do you know if this path is meant for you?
Below are ten signs that becoming a doula might be more than just an idea. It might actually be the thing you’ve been searching for all along.
1. You’ve Always Been the One People Turn To
You’re the friend who’s always listening. The one who gets the late-night phone calls when someone’s in tears. The person whom others feel safe around. You don’t need to have all the answers, you just know how to be there. You hold space naturally, without even knowing that’s what you’re doing.
Sound familiar? Then you’ve already got one of the most essential doula qualities: presence.
Being a doula is not about fixing or solving, it’s about holding. Holding emotion, holding silence, holding someone's experience without judgment. If people naturally turn to you in times of need, you might already be halfway there.
2. You’re Fascinated by Pregnancy, Birth, or Babies (or All Three)
Maybe you cried the first time you saw a baby being born on TV. Maybe you’ve been reading about birth physiology for fun, or you found yourself endlessly curious about the way our bodies work during labour. Or perhaps you had your own baby, and the experience stayed with you so deeply that you can’t stop thinking about it.
If you’ve got that fascination with birth, new life, or supporting new mothers, trust it. A deep interest in the process is often the seed of a doula's calling.
And no, you don’t need to be a mother yourself to be a doula. What you do need is curiosity, care, and a desire to learn.
3. You’re Drawn to Meaningful, Soul-Fulfilling Work
Let’s be honest, so many jobs these days leave us feeling empty. Ticking boxes, answering emails, rushing from one thing to the next without ever feeling like what we do really matters.
Doula work is different.
Yes, it’s emotional. Yes, it’s intense. But it’s also deeply human. You see people at their rawest and most real. And in return, you get the kind of soul-level satisfaction that’s hard to describe. You go to bed knowing you were part of something extraordinary.
If you’re looking for a career that aligns with your values, allows you to be of service, and fills your heart (even when it’s hard), doula work might be exactly what you’ve been craving.
4. You’re Good at Sitting with Big Feelings
Birth and early parenthood can bring up all sorts of emotions, joy, fear, grief, excitement, and vulnerability. As a doula, you’ll be holding space for all of it.
If you’re someone who doesn’t flinch when others cry, who isn’t afraid of sitting with discomfort or deep emotion, then you already have one of the most important skills doulas need.
It’s not about saying the right thing. It’s about being the right thing, a calm, steady, compassionate presence.
5. You Like the Idea of Working for Yourself
This might not be the first thing people think about when they consider doula training, but it’s a big one. Most doulas in the UK are self-employed, which means you set your own hours, choose your clients, and build your business in a way that suits your life.
It’s incredibly freeing, but it also means you need to be comfortable with flexibility, with things not always being predictable, and with learning how to market yourself.
If you’ve always wanted to work for yourself, have more autonomy over your time, and build a career that fits around your life (not the other way round), then becoming a doula could tick a lot of boxes.
6. You’re a Quiet Leader
Doulas aren’t the loudest people in the room. But they are leaders. Quiet leaders. Grounded ones.
You guide by example. You support with empathy. You empower others without making it about you.
If you’ve ever helped a friend prepare for a big decision, encouraged someone to trust their instincts, or offered gentle guidance during a tough time, then you already have the makings of a doula. You don’t need a clipboard or a title. You lead with heart.
7. You’ve Had a Personal Experience That Changed You
For many doulas, their journey began with a personal experience, perhaps the birth of their own child, a miscarriage, a traumatic labour, or a powerful moment of care that stayed with them forever.
These experiences don’t disqualify you, they deepen your compassion. They give you insight, understanding, and a sense of why this work matters so much.
You don’t have to share your story with clients. But having lived through something significant often becomes the very reason you’re drawn to support others.
8. You Crave Connection (Not Just Conversation)
You’re not about surface-level chat. You want real talk. Real emotion. Real connection.
As a doula, you’ll form deep, trusting relationships with your clients. You’ll be invited into intimate, life-changing moments. If you’ve ever felt like you were meant to connect with others in a meaningful way, doula work might be your space.
It’s not about being best friends with your clients, but it is about showing up with authenticity, respect, and genuine care.
9. You’re Ready for a Change
Sometimes the clearest sign is this: you just know it’s time.
Time to leave the job that drains you. Time to do something that makes you feel alive. Time to stop ignoring the whisper that says, “There’s something more for you.”
Becoming a doula in the UK isn’t about having the perfect CV. It’s about following the nudge. The calling. The sense that you want to do work that matters, not just to others, but to you.
10. You Want to Make a Difference, Even in Small Moments
Doula work isn’t glamorous. You won’t be winning awards or walking red carpets. But you will be changing lives, one moment at a time.
Holding a mother’s hand as she breathes through a contraction. Reassuring a partner who’s terrified they’re doing it all wrong. Sitting in silence while someone shares their birth story for the first time. Making a cup of tea for a new mum who hasn’t eaten all day.
These moments might seem small, but they’re everything.
If you want to make a difference, not through grand gestures, but through presence, kindness, and trust, then this is your work.
What’s Next? Exploring Doula Training in the UK
If you’ve read this far and something in you is saying yes, even a quiet, nervous yes, then you’re already on the path.
At The BirthBliss Academy, we offer doula training in the UK for people just like you. People who are curious. Compassionate. Courageous. People who want to support others and grow something meaningful for themselves.
Our doula courses are more than just information, they’re transformational. You’ll not only learn how to support others, you’ll learn how to trust yourself. You’ll find your way of being a doula. And you’ll join a community of like-minded women who will walk beside you.
Whether you’re drawn to birth support, postnatal work, or both, our training helps you start strong and continue with support. Because becoming a doula is just the beginning.
You’re not meant to do it all alone.
FAQs: Becoming a Doula in the UK
Do I need a medical background? Not at all. Doulas are not medical professionals, we’re support people. You don’t need to be a nurse or a midwife. You just need a willingness to learn and a desire to serve.
Can I train to be a doula if I have children? Absolutely. Many doulas train while parenting. In fact, having children can bring a whole new layer of insight to the work. And if you don’t have children, that’s fine too. Many incredible doulas don’t.
Is doula work a viable career? Yes, it can be. Like any self-employed role, it takes time to build. But with clear packages, good support, and confidence in your value, it is absolutely possible to earn a meaningful income as a doula in the UK.
How do I get started? Start by choosing a doula training course that speaks to you. Look for one that includes real-life insight, post-training support, and a strong community. And then, take the leap. You’ll never regret it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering whether being a doula is the right career for you, trust your gut. You don’t need to know everything yet. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to listen to that quiet voice inside you that says, this might be it.
Doula work is raw, real, and radiant. It asks a lot, but it gives so much in return. If your heart is saying yes, follow it. You might just find the work you were born to do.
Ready to Explore This More?
If you're feeling that little nudge, or even a big full-body yes, why not come along to one of our free taster sessions and see if doula life really is for you?
It’s a relaxed, no-pressure space where you can ask questions, meet me (Kicki), and get a real sense of what the training is like. Whether you're brand new to the idea of becoming a doula or you’ve been thinking about it for a while, you're very welcome.
And if you’d like to learn more about the structure, content, and values behind our training, you can download the full BirthBliss Academy Course Pack here:
We'd love to have you join us and help you discover whether this beautiful work is part of your future.