A 2025 witch hunt & how Collaborative working at YPM is trying to break the modern mold.
In the headlines and behind the scenes, doulas are being squeezed, hunted & labelled as a dangerous choice for birthing women. The latest conversations – between professional bodies like DoulaUK & the NMC, have seen an overstepping of regulatory power & impactful suggestions around defining roles & ‘how’ doulas should behave in the presence of a midwife. At the very least this conversation has been extremely distressing & more importantly is an impactful change in direction, yet again limiting choice & the birthing persons human rights. As a midwife, I want to make something clear: doulas are not a threat. They are our allies. And when doulas and midwives work together, women receive the continuity, compassion, and confidence they truly deserve. In my very recent experience Doula’s & Midwives working together in the educational and birth space is making a huge difference to both the physical & psychosocial outcomes of women & their families.
Doulas Bring What the System Can’t
The NHS is stretched beyond recognition. Midwives are pulled in multiple directions. That leaves many women craving support that goes beyond the clinical, the mundane & routine. Women are seeking a connection, one that historically existed, but has been eroded by the medicalisation of an otherwise normal life event. Doulas step into that space with presence, nurture, advocacy, and practical care that cannot be overstated. A doula’s ability to simply be with woman is ancient, powerful, and sorely needed. If we move to regulate we lose yet another autonomous right from our birthing population & will push further fear into female health forum.
Midwives and Doulas Are Not Interchangeable
Here’s where the narrative gets messy. Some people think doulas are “wannabe midwives” or midwives are “just clinical” and cold. Both are wrong. Midwives carry the responsibility for clinical safety and evidence-based care. Doulas carry the responsibility for protecting emotional safety and upholding the woman’s voice. Doula’s are time rich educators, sitting with women as they navigate often difficult decisions. Whilst midwives safety net with clinical oversight for the women in our care. These are not competing roles – they are complementary forces. & when combined become a force to reconned with, in a way that I believe should be developed, nurtured & respected for what they can do together.
Collaboration is the Future of Birth
When I walk into a birth space alongside a doula, I don’t feel undermined. I feel supported. The woman at the centre of it all benefits from a team who see her as more than a patient. That’s what maternity care should look like: layered, holistic, and woman-led. Not competitive, fear filled or misunderstood, we have enough of that in our maternity care without adding fuel to the fire & pitting us against each other like unworthy opponents.
The YPM Collab Collective– a new way of working!
We are paving the way for something different, compelling & trusted. Nurtured from a place of respect for our diversity. We train together, sharing knowledge, explaining decision making, looking beyond the care and into the interwoven world or working together to put women front & centre. Teaching, learning, unlearning & exploring. Currently round the boardroom table sits 45 years of Midwifery experience & a decade of Doula knowledge. We want this to grow, to model how a beautiful working relationships that put the power of female lead decision making, improves outcomes for all.
So To the Women Reading This
If you’re considering hiring both a doula, know this: you’re not “doubling up unnecessarily.” You’re designing a circle of care. You’re investing in a safety net where clinical expertise and emotional advocacy hold you equally. Where you have someone ins your corner, helping you navigate every twist & turn.
& Know This:
Birth was never meant to be experienced in isolation or bureaucracy. It was meant to be held. If you want to explore what a midwife-doula partnership could look like in your pregnancy, we’d love to talk with you.
