Doula Care Programme
Our SME fund is open and we are accepting new applications from families that are in need of perinatal support but cannot afford it.
Doula support can improve birth and perinatal outcomes.
Doulas provide continuous support for the whole family through pregnancy, birth and in the early days of parenthood.
Please read below about the Support ME Doula Programme. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Our Doulas
Our Doulas are trained by the Support ME Doula Practitioner Training programme.
This level of training and accreditation for Doulas is unique in the UK as all of our Doulas are mentored by our experienced staff and other doulas.
Not sure how a Doula can help? Evidence shows that those who have a doula have:
- Reduced risk of Caesarean birth
- Reduced risk of instrumental birth
- Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth
- Reduced rate of induction of labour
- Shorter labour
- Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience.
- Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding.
- Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding & breastfeeding at 6 weeks.
- Lower risk of postnatal depression.
- Improve equity and provide culturally responsive care.
We are also in the process of gaining Doula UK and FEDANT accreditation. That way you know you are receiving the best support from us!
Why we decided to train doulas
Research and personal stories reveal worrying disparities across the maternal health spectrum, typically affecting Minority Ethnic women and those on lower incomes and those whose English isn’t their first language.
We started our first cohort by training Polish-speaking Doulas due to the large population in Nottinghamshire. They will support families during different stages of pregnancy and the postnatal journey in their own language, as well as help close the current gap in maternity care many Polish people experience.
Doulas are specialists who offer non-medical pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal support, with the current demand increasing. With doula support, many women can forgo epidurals, avoid cesareans and have less stressful births.
Research also shows the positive effects of doula care are greater for socially disadvantaged and low-income women, for first births, those giving birth alone, or those who have language/cultural barriers.
Addressing these maternal issues, Support ME has launched a comprehensive Doula Training and Supervision Programme.
What we can offer?
Support ME is currently funding Polish-speaking Doulas to provide support for parents expecting their baby.
Eligible families will be supported by 2 Support ME Doulas and will receive:
- 1 x antenatal visit at your home
- On call period between 38 – 42 weeks
- 1 x postnatal visit at your home
If you just had a baby and need postnatal support, please specify it in your application. We can offer you up to 15 hours of free postnatal support at your home.
How you can apply for FREE Doula Support
➡️ First, you will need to fill out the form.
➡️ We will then contact you as soon as possible, please be aware that it can take up to 7 days to process your application.
➡️ If you will qualify for free doula support, our Doula Programme Coordinator will contact you with more information (usually a phone call).
➡️ After the initial conversation, our administrator will review your application and if you are successful, they will allocate a doula team who will be in touch with you to schedule the first interview. During this meeting, you will meet your team and will be able to ask any questions you have and decide if you would like to go ahead with our offer.
➡️ You will be sent an agreement to sign, which will be between you, Support ME, and the doulas that will support you.
How you can help
We rely heavily on volunteers and donations to keep our organisation and this programme going. If you’d like to get involved in volunteering towards this programme, please complete the form below.
Train as a Support ME Doula
Would you like to train as a doula and support your community through the perinatal period? We’re looking for bilingual people to train with us in our next cohort to join the team, where a few fully and partial-funded places are available.
