Doula Care UK is a private doula service from Bethel Health & Healing Network offering non-clinical emotional support during pregnancy and birth. We provide three levels of support, including a package with up to 8 hours of in-person birth support.
No. Doulas are not clinicians. We work alongside your NHS maternity team and do not provide medical advice.
In-person options are focused on Birmingham, Sandwell and the wider West Midlands. Emotional support sessions may be available online beyond this area.
A doula is a trained support person who offers emotional reassurance, continuity and practical support to you (and your birth partner) during pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period. Doulas focus on how you feel and what you need, and help you feel more confident and supported.
No. A midwife provides clinical care. A doula provides non-clinical emotional support, comfort measures, and helps you feel informed and heard. We support you alongside NHS care, not instead of it.
It means we do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, clinical assessments, or treatment. We don’t take observations, interpret scans, advise medication, or override clinical guidance. Instead, we help you process information, ask questions, and feel calm and supported.
Depending on your package, support can include:
We do not provide:
Yes. If you choose Level 3 (Complete Care), we can support you in-person at home or hospital, depending on location, doula availability, and your agreed plan.
Yes. Doulas can support you emotionally through any planned pathway (induction, caesarean, vaginal birth, VBAC). Your plan should always be led clinically by your maternity team.
We can offer compassionate emotional support within our scope. If you are experiencing loss or bereavement, we will also signpost you to specialist bereavement services where needed.
We offer three levels:
You can find out more about the packages here.
A session is a planned support meeting. The exact length is confirmed in your booking agreement (for example, 45 minutes or 60 minutes). We keep it consistent so you always know what to expect.
Often, yes. Some families start with Level 1 or 2 and upgrade to Level 3 if they later want birth support (subject to doula availability and due date).
If capacity allows, yes. You can usually add extra sessions at an agreed rate.
It means your doula can be physically present during labour/birth for up to 8 hours. The aim is to offer meaningful presence while keeping the service sustainable and fairly priced.
Your plan will confirm this clearly, but typically:
If you want additional time beyond 8 hours, we can sometimes offer:
We can agree a due window and communication expectations. ‘On-call’ terms vary by doula and package, and will be clearly stated in your agreement so you know what you are (and aren’t) paying for
You’re welcome to enquire at any stage. Some families prefer to begin once pregnancy is established; others seek support early due to anxiety or previous loss. Availability and suitability will be discussed sensitively.
It means your paid booking helps fund support for another family through Bethel. You receive private doula support, and part of the value supports a mother who otherwise couldn’t access similar care.
Yes. Doula Care UK is our private service, but Bethel Health & Healing Network also runs a charitable doula service for mums who may be vulnerable or unable to afford private support: Bethel Doula Service – Bethel Health & Healing Network Bethel Health and Healing Network
Because places are limited and referrals are prioritised based on need and eligibility, we can’t guarantee availability – but we do encourage you to reach out so our team can advise on the most appropriate support.
Doula Care UK is a service under Bethel Health & Healing Network. It operates as a social-enterprise model that supports Bethel’s charitable work.
To register as a Doula Care UK bank doula, you will need to meet the following requirements before you can be matched with clients:
Doula Care UK operates three service levels, and you will be matched with clients based on the level you are approved and available to deliver:
All sessions cover topics including nutrition, birth preparation, managing pain relief options, emotional wellbeing, and building confidence for the journey ahead.
We ask all bank doulas to commit to the following service standards once matched with a client:
These standards are in place to give every client the consistent, reliable experience they deserve.
Doula Care UK operates under Bethel Health and Healing Network’s “One Birth, Two Families Supported” model. Every paid booking made through our service contributes to funding free doula support for a mother who could not otherwise afford it. As a bank doula, you are part of something that goes beyond individual client care, your work helps extend vital support to women who need it most. This is the heart of what makes Doula Care UK different.
If you would like to join the Doula Care UK bank, please complete our registration form through Simply Connect. If you have a question before applying, you are welcome to get in touch with our team via the contact page and we will be happy to help.
We welcome qualified and experienced doulas who are passionate about providing compassionate, ethical support to pregnant women and families. To join our bank, you must hold a recognised doula qualification and have relevant experience supporting clients through pregnancy and/or birth. We particularly value doulas who share our commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed, and person-centred care.
Registration is completed through our secure online platform, Simply Connect. You will be able to upload your certificates and qualifications, complete a declaration of experience, and go through our online DBS verification process. Once submitted, our team will review your application and verify your credentials before approving you onto the bank. We aim to make the process as straightforward as possible.
We operate recommended caseload guidelines to protect both you and your clients:
These are guidelines to help you maintain quality and manage your workload sustainably. If you are working across multiple levels, we will work with you to ensure your overall caseload remains manageable.
We understand that life happens. If you are unable to fulfil your commitments for more than seven days, due to illness, a family emergency, or other circumstances, please notify us as soon as possible. We will introduce a backup doula from our bank within 48 hours to ensure the client is not left without support. Our backup cover policy is designed to protect both you and your clients, and we will work with you on a smooth handover.
Bank doulas work with us on a self-employed, freelance basis. You are not employed by Bethel Health and Healing Network or Doula Care UK. You retain flexibility over your availability and the levels you wish to deliver, while working within our quality framework and values. You are responsible for your own tax and National Insurance contributions.
