Project Update
As the project continues apace, we wanted to take a moment and reflect on the research so far and on our next steps.
Our Research So Far
In September we launched two surveys, one for birth doulas and one for healthcare professionals involved in childbirth. These aim of these surveys was to gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives which exist regarding the birth doula role and the regulation thereof. We are also looking to understand the potential inter-professional dynamics between birth doulas and healthcare professionals, and the way(s) that birth doulas may come into contact and / or tension within existing regulatory approaches and medico-legal frameworks.
We had to close the surveys earlier than anticipated because of the high number of responses – which was a brilliant problem to have! It was heartening to see that our research was resonating with so many people and the need for a space for these conversations. The surveys also helped us to identify some gaps in our current networks and approach to recruitment, with certain healthcare professions and geographic locations being underrepresented. This is something we will seek to address as we build forward from this pilot project. We cannot thank those who have participated in, shared and supported the research enough.
The Next Steps
We are now in the process of organising focus groups with (1) birth doulas (2) healthcare professionals and (3) those who have used or seriously considered using a doula – those interested in participating can leave their details in this form (deadline: 23rd Feb 2026). We are excited for the opportunity to build from the survey responses, to hear reflections on some of the themes from the surveys and interviews, and to broaden the conversation to include women and birthing people.
We are also continuing to interview a range of stakeholders to gather a more organisational perspective. We are still conducting interviews, so if your organisation represents doulas or healthcare professionals involved in birth, please do feel free to reach out for more information. Alongside this, we are continuing to analyse the rich data from our surveys, and are energised by the insights these generate, the conversations they have prompted and the new questions they have illuminated.
We are also looking forward to presenting some of our initial findings – ‘(How) Are Birth Doulas Regulated? – at the Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference in March. Questions about the regulation of doulas sit at the heart of the media and policy attention on birth doulas, and we are grateful for the opportunity to tease out some of the nuance involved in this complex question.
A Final Reflection
As anyone who has been involved in seeking academic research funding will know, the path to from initial idea to getting a project of the ground is rarely a straight one, and it rarely without hurdles. We first started talking about this project on birth doulas almost three and a half years ago, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and of Bev’s own experience of speaking with a doula during pregnancy, which prompted her to reflect on where they sit within (or challenge) medico-legal norms.
The landscape within which birth doulas practice is not a static one, and the conversations and contestations around maternity care have continued to evolve during this time. We are incredibly grateful for those who have taken the time to share their experiences of this with us and are conscious of the need to ensure our research and our questions are sensitive to, and contextualised by, this shifting reality.