OurDoula FAQs
Why hire a doula?
Conscious Mothers virtual and in-person perinatal doula services offer a skilled and personal touch to maternal support for expectant mothers. Our mentoring programme offers professional skills, expertise and wisdom related to maternal health and well-being, helping you remain focused on your goals for this pregnancy to parenting experience.
What does a CM doula do?
This unique pregnancy-to-mothering relationship allows mothers to grow, nurture and evolve, so you feel confident every step of this journey.
Our mentoring provides foresight and contributes to not making decisions in hindsight (under emotional duress) for your pending birth and postpartum journey in real-time. You work towards actionable personal goals based on what is happening in this pregnancy, your lifestyle and your surrounding environment, addressing thoughts, feelings and beliefs to support your informed choices and help protect your long-term physical and mental health.
Why? The latest Mbrrace-UK 2021 report highlights that "a proportion of birthing mothers are experiencing post-birth morbidities and mortality rates due to causes associated with their pregnancy". Our mothers benefit from letting knowledge and their understanding of any limitations in this pregnancy be their guide.
How will hiring a (C M) pregnancy mentor or doula benefit my pregnancy-parenting experience?
Our pregnancy mentors/doulas are skilled in keeping women/families focused on their mindset, their bodies and what they would like to achieve in this pregnancy to parenting experience and helping to reduce adverse outcomes.
Our results have proven that expectant mothers can birth healthy term babies (>37 weeks gestation) irrespective of 'risk factors' and offered reassurance to women and their family units as they move towards their pending birth stories.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
The current statistics report that 96% of the birthing population in the UK give birth with the support of a Midwife by their side unless born before arrival or free-birthing.
Midwives are clinically trained service providers with a BSc Hons Degree in Midwifery and would have delivered a minimum of 40 babies to qualify.
They provide the biological, pharmaceutical and technological understanding and advancements to support the care and well-being of its birthing community and assist in diagnosing and treating biological health problems.
The term midwife means to be 'with women'. A practitioner's role is to provide continuity of care during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period (after birth and up to 14-28 days), assessing and delivering medical interventions if a decline in physical health is observed.
The term doula (pronounced do-ula) is considered a 'female servant'. Many professional doulas today would describe themselves as 'birth companions' or 'birth keepers'.
Doulas provide emotional and physical support to expectant mothers and birthing partners before and after birth. Services and experiences vary, which is one thing doulas and midwives have in common.
Most doulas provide 1 to 1 care at the time of birth and routinely visit the families on at least two occasions and hire them before birth. Conscious Mothers services are an exception to this rule, providing regular connection calls throughout pregnancy and up to six months after birth.
Conscious Mothers help expectant mothers navigate their maternal and emotional needs at a point when feelings of vulnerability can creep in, and a rational/ skilled perspective is required. We also provide support post-birth, guidance for all things new, sleepless nights, and nourishing and nurturing across the psychological healing process.
When should I hire a doula?
There is no right or wrong time. Consider this when booking our services. We've supported mothers in their first pregnancy, second and third—expectant mothers in their early gestational period and mothers in late trimesters.
I recommend mothers reach out earlier rather than later, as anxiety, stress, and challenges across pregnancy can be reduced with early insight and understanding.
We're with you all the way.
Disclaimer: We're not a substitute for clinical monitoring or professional advice during this period (conception- up to 6 months post-birth) but an additional pair of eyes and ears supporting your well-being.