A Seat at the Table: What It Means to Become a Doula in Residence

There are moments in a career that feel quietly profound. Not simply because they mark a new chapter, but because they reflect something larger shifting within the world around you. Becoming a Doula in Residence feels exactly like that.

For many years, doulas have worked gently alongside maternity care systems, offering emotional support, continuity, advocacy, education, and calm presence through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We have witnessed the immense value of this work firsthand, even when it has not always been fully understood or formally recognised within clinical settings.

To now step into a role where doula care is not only welcomed but intentionally woven into a professional care team feels deeply meaningful.

This opportunity feels personal, of course, but it also feels symbolic of a wider movement toward more compassionate, collaborative maternity care. A recognition that emotional wellbeing, informed choices, continuity of support, and truly person centred care matter profoundly in the birth experience.

It feels like progress.

What excites me most is the privilege of working alongside such an exceptionally skilled and thoughtful team. There is something incredibly powerful about professionals from different disciplines coming together with a shared commitment to supporting women and families with respect, excellence, and humanity. I feel honoured to contribute my own experience and perspective within that environment.

I am equally excited about reaching families who may never previously have encountered doula support or understood what a doula truly offers. There are still many misconceptions surrounding doulas, yet at its heart, this work is beautifully simple. It is about ensuring people feel seen, heard, informed, and supported during one of the most transformative experiences of their lives.

To be able to offer that support within a setting that genuinely values the role of doulas feels incredibly special.

I feel deeply grateful for the trust being placed in me, inspired by the team I will be working beside, and hopeful for what this represents for the future of doula care more broadly. If this role signals anything, I hope it is this: that there is growing space within maternity care for warmth, collaboration, and the kind of support that nurtures not only safe births, but supported families too.