‘Birth partner’ scheme helping pregnant women to be extended

The idea, which medics insist is not a way of cutting statutory care for pregnant women, has reportedly proved a success in Hull, where many women have taken advantage of the support.

Because of its popularity in East Yorkshire, midwives and community health workers are now planning to launch the idea in Sheffield, while other health authorities are also interested.

Women who to take part in the training required will gain credits towards study as midwives, nurses and other similar jobs, but will not be paid for their work as so-called Doulas.

Those behind the project said the word Doula was Greek, and meant “a trained and experienced partner who accompanies a woman through pregnancy and the first few weeks of family life”.

Tracey Perkins, 48, who completed her training two years ago, has since helped eight women through their pregnancy and early motherhood, and is now supporting a ninth vulnerable client.

The former school dinner lady and cleaner from Bransholme, Hull, who is a mother of two sons aged 23 and 16, said she would encourage any woman to sign up for the pioneering scheme.

Mrs Perkins, who also cares for her ill husband, said: “I was looking round for something I could do as a volunteer and when I found out about this it just seemed to be perfect.

“I am not an academic, I left school in 1979, but I found that the training was very accessible and straightforward and the work with the women who are referred to us is extremely rewarding.

“Many, but not all, of the women we help are vulnerable or isolated, but for any woman, going through a pregnancy can be a difficult and frightening time and we are there to help them.

“Before I started doing this I was a housewife plodding along, but I have learned so much, and it has given me a purpose. I would challenge anybody not to find it rewarding.”

Volunteer Doulas attend ante-natal classes with their clients and also visit their homes to help them with any anxieties they may have as their due date draws near.

They may even be asked by their clients to attend the birth, and Mrs Perkins said she had been present at the births of five out of the eight women she had helped.

Cat Keech, who took advantage of the Hull programme and now plans to undergo training herself to help other mothers, said: “The support I received was tailored exactly to my needs.

“I planned to have my baby at home with no pain relief and I wanted help sticking to that. I was matched with someone who was a similar age, and had two natural births of her own.

“She was fabulous, she provided lots of encouragement and made me felt on the same level. It wasn’t just about the practicalities she helped me understand the thoughts I would have too.

“It is good to know that even though you have your loved ones with you there is that extra person looking out for you that you can ask questions and get advice from their own experiences.

“Just knowing someone else had done it really spurred me on and it has inspired me to volunteer myself. So come October I’ll be starting my training.”

An open day will be held in Sheffield on Monday, September 5, between 4pm and 6pm at the Moorfoot Building, The Moor, in Sheffield city centre.

The service will be co-ordinated by Sheffield Council, and will be free to mothers who ask for help.

A council spokesman said: “What we need to make this work is volunteers. You might be a mother yourself who can share her experiences or someone who is looking to a career in nursing or midwifery.

“Whatever the case, we would urge anyone interested to get involved to help make a difference for vulnerable women.”