Postnatal Ward Doula Support
Calm, experienced support during your first hours with your baby
The time immediately after birth can be joyful, emotional and exhausting. On a busy postnatal ward, you may be recovering from birth, learning to feed and care for your baby, and trying to take in a great deal of new information.
My postnatal ward doula service offers reassuring, practical and unhurried support alongside the care provided by your maternity team—so you don’t have to manage those first hours alone.
Why postnatal ward support can make a difference
Your midwives are there to provide essential clinical care, but on a busy postnatal ward they may be caring for several families at once. They may not always be able to offer the continuous, one-to-one practical and emotional support you need.
I work alongside your maternity team, offering a calm and familiar presence, practical help and unhurried reassurance during these important first hours together.
How I can support you
Every mother and baby will need something slightly different. My support will be guided by what feels most helpful to you at the time.
Practical support
• Helping you get comfortable and reach what you need, particularly after a caesarean birth
• Supporting you with nappy changing, dressing, cuddling and settling your baby
• Making sure you are able to eat, drink and rest
• Staying close by while you rest and your baby sleeps safely in the cot beside you
• Helping you prepare for discharge and your first hours at home
Feeding and emotional support
• Calm, practical support with early breast, bottle or combination feeding
• Helping you recognise your baby’s feeding cues and follow the guidance given by your maternity team
• Encouraging you to ask for a midwife whenever clinical advice or assessment is needed
• Listening as you begin to process your birth experience
• Reassuring you and your partner as you get to know your baby and grow in confidence
Who might benefit from postnatal ward support?
You do not need to be experiencing a crisis to ask for additional support. Sometimes simply having a calm, experienced person beside you can make those first hours feel much more manageable.
This service may be particularly helpful if:
• You are recovering from a planned or emergency caesarean birth
• You have experienced a long, difficult or traumatic birth
• This is your first baby and you would appreciate some extra reassurance
• Feeding has been difficult or you feel unsure about getting started
• Your partner needs to return home, care for older children or get some rest
• Your baby needs additional observations or neonatal care
• You do not have family or friends nearby who can support you
How short-notice ward visits work
Babies rarely arrive according to a timetable, so postnatal ward visits are offered on a short-notice basis and are subject to my availability.
You are welcome to let me know during pregnancy that you may be interested in this support. Once your baby has been born and you know which ward you are on, you or your partner can contact me to explain what support you need.
If I am available, we will agree a suitable daytime or early-evening visit within the hospital’s permitted visiting hours. Postnatal ward support is not available overnight. Your booking will be confirmed once the arrangements have been agreed and payment has been made.
Hospital visiting arrangements
Every hospital has its own rules about visiting hours, partners and additional companions. In some hospitals I may be able to attend alongside your partner; in others, your partner may need to leave or swap with me for the duration of the visit.
Before a booking is confirmed, you or your partner will need to check directly with the postnatal ward that a postnatal doula may attend at the proposed time. Hospital policies can change, and all visits remain subject to the ward’s permission.
Alongside your maternity team
My role is to provide practical, emotional and informational support. I work respectfully alongside the midwives, doctors and infant-feeding team caring for you and your baby.
I do not provide medical care, carry out clinical checks, diagnose problems or replace specialist feeding support. If either you or your baby needs clinical advice or assessment, I will always encourage you to contact a member of the hospital team.
Postnatal ward support pricing
£180 for a three-hour visit
Additional time may be available at £60 per hour, subject to my availability and the hospital’s visiting arrangements.
This price reflects the flexible, short-notice nature of the service. Visits are available during the daytime or early evening only; overnight ward support is not offered.
Any additional travel or hospital parking costs will be discussed with you before the booking is confirmed. Your visit is secured once the arrangements have been agreed and payment has been received.
Need support on the ward?
If your baby has already arrived, contact me by phone or WhatsApp to ask whether I am available for a daytime or early-evening visit.
If you are planning ahead, you are also very welcome to contact me during pregnancy to discuss how postnatal ward support could work for you.