The Italian Doula

06/04/2026

Having gone through a miscarriage and D&C without any leave from.work, I know the difference miscarriage leave can have for women!

BBC News - 'Two weeks will make such a difference': UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave

Northern Ireland becomes first part of UK to bring in legal entitlement for parents affected by miscarriage at any stage of a pregnancy to have paid leave.

09/01/2026

The rate of cesarean birth is on the rise in Northern Ireland, possibly faster than anywhere else in the UK...in some parts of the country 50% or even more babies are born by cesarean...we need to question why that is and what this means for babies and women...

‘Increasing cesarean delivery rates are the cumulative result of multiple drivers, such as structural imbalances, commodification of care, and institutional accountability gaps, and not just due to clinical processes. The interplay of profit, litigation fears, and social narratives drives unnecessary cesarean deliveries, whereas rights violations and systemic mistrust disproportionately affect vulnerable women and girls’.

This question is rarely asked in public in the UK, with no discussion on halting or reducing soaring rates.

Paper published in the American of Obstetrics and Gynaecology- link in stories.

05/12/2025

Some great information to have if planning a VBAC/VBA2C

22/11/2025

Yes this....obstetric violence is a choice!

06/10/2025

During Week we're inviting you to place a butterfly on our remembrance walls - a special way to honour and remember babies and children gone too soon.

🦋 Garden of remembrance, Bush House, Antrim Area Hospital
Wed 8 Oct, 1pm-2.30pm and 6pm–7.30pm.

🦋 Causeway Hospital, outside the main entrance
Thurs 9 Oct, 11am-1pm and 6pm-7.30pm.

If you have experienced a loss in pregnancy, or the death of a baby or child, please come along to place a butterfly on the wall as a symbol of love and remembrance.

25/08/2025

✨ Doula Training in NI 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣✨

Join us for our FREE Online Info Session about our next doula training in 2026 and discover how you can begin your journey to support women and families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. 🌿

📅 Date: Thursday 23rd October
🕒 Time: 8.30pm
📍 Where: Online (Zoom)

What you’ll learn:
💚What doula training with Doulas NI looks like
💚How doulas support families in Northern Ireland and beyond
💚 Pathways to becoming a certified doula
💚 Q&A with experienced doulas

💻 Perfect for anyone curious about training or simply wanting to know more about this role of a doula.

DM us or Register now via the link below 👇
https://forms.gle/VSrd4jWJnxP77q629

We can't wait to see you.

Tara, Anne & Sara

29/03/2025

Just in case someone likes to see it in numbers...the evidence of the benefit of doula support can be found out there and this is only one piece

Quantifying the association between doula care and maternal and neonatal outcomes https://ow.ly/JyRk50Vqj4J