We recently highlighted a worrying trend where inappropriate referrals affecting women, birthing people, and healthcare professionals are putting safety in maternity care at risk.
Now, a related concern is emerging: the rise of punitive, criminalising, and legalistic approaches targeting doulas.
No one feels safe
Women and birthing people are increasingly turning to doulas to fill gaps in maternity care, including the lack of personalised care, continuity, provision of evidence based information, and respect for rights and choice. Doulas can provide essential emotional support, advocate for the rights of women and birthing people, and their presence offers emotional continuity across all types of births. Unlike midwives, doulas do not provide medical care. They are typically paid for their support services, but many offer free or reduced cost support, for those in financial hardship or from marginalised communities.
We are seeing polarising rhetoric that misses this bigger picture while misrepresenting doulas’ involvement as inherently risky, discouraging collaboration with midwives, and ignoring their vital role in safe, supportive care.
As we have said before, referrals, threats, and punitive/legal actions (whether involving social services, police, immigration authorities, or the NMC) undermine trust, endanger safety, and create an environment where no one can feel safe.
We demand a maternity care system where the human rights of all women and birthing people – including safety, dignity, autonomy and equality – are respected and upheld. This must include their right to have the birth partners of their choice present at their births, without fear of harassment, persecution or retribution for either themselves or their support people.