Doulaing in the time of Covid, East Kent, UK

The maternity landscape has taken quite the hit during the pandemic. From restrictions residual from the early, uncertain days unfairly limiting birthers access to companionship and crucial support during appointments, scans and birth, to staffing shortages impacting care and birth setting choices, people giving birth have not had the best of it.

Here in East Kent, we have been comparatively lucky with our local Trust supporting doula attendance at births throughout the pandemic, whether or not the doula is second birthing partner and whether the birth be at home, midwife led unit or the acute labour unit in hospital. I have attended many births over the past couple of years in all settings. Very unfortunately, at the time of writing - late September 2021 - the NHS homebirth service is suspended locally, as it is in many Trusts nationally. This is under continual review and I and other local doulas are in conversation with the Maternity Voices Partnership and the Heads and Director of Midwifery to stay in touch and feedback about that evolving situation. The midwifery led units at both the William Harvey and Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother hospitals, Ashford and Margate respectively, are both now fully open and operational which is a relief to many following periods of their closure.

Doula support remains wherever you require it, including whilst you labour at home before transferring to your chosen birth setting.

In my own practice, I use regular lateral flow tests and take hygiene and PPE steps to mitigate against the risk of Covid contraction and transmission. I aim to be led by you for your comfort level around Covid risk mitigation. For example, if you’d prefer to meet via video call rather than face to face, then that’s what we would do. If you’d prefer me to wear a mask throughout our appointments at your home (in times when masking wearing is not mandated) then that’s what I’ll do. If you’d prefer wholly virtual support, then that’s what we’ll do. We would always discuss backup options to address the unlikely case that I am unable to attend your birth for reasons of sickness or circumstances outside of my control and that remains the case now.

If you’re looking for support or worried about how Covid may impact your plans for birth, please do get in touch