Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference 2026

We were pleased to present some of the initial thinking from the project at the SLSA Annual Conference at the University of Sussex yesterday. We have found this research fascinating and incredibly generative, and it was lovely to be able to share some of this with other attendees.

(How) Are Birth Doulas Regulated?

Abstract: Birth doulas, and questions about their regulation and accountability, have gained increasing prominence in the media (including social media) recently, and there is also an increased interest in this issue amongst professional maternity stakeholders, policy-makers and the wider public. In this presentation, we draw on empirical data collected through qualitative surveys and semi-structured interviews as part of the project ‘Birth Doulas as Liminal Actors With/In Medical Law’ (BA/Leverhulme and Wellcome) to better understand the existing regulatory context of birth doulas.  

Doulas are often perceived as ‘unregulated’ – and indeed often perceive themselves in this way. However, we argue that they are in fact subject to a wide range of layered forces that in fact act to regulate their behaviour. In doing so, we draw upon socio-legal and STS scholarship about ‘decentred regulation’ (Ashworth 2023; Black 2002) to help open up our understanding of regulation – moving beyond formal regimes to look instead at ‘everyday’ and at times ‘micro’ regulatory forces which act to shape the practice and behaviour of birth doulas. For example, we explore how hospital protocols relating to number of birth partners and the interpersonal relationships with individual midwifery staff can act to shape the way that doulas (are able to) practice their role. 

As well as being important in its own right, this can also provide useful insights which can inform the ongoing conversations around other contested actors in the health/care space, such as Physician Associates and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners.