Gloucestershire Home Birth Update: Find Trusted Local Doulas and Birth Support
What’s happening with home births in Gloucestershire?
There’s been a lot of worry and confusion recently around home births in Gloucestershire, with the NHS midwifery team announcing a temporary pause to home birth services. For many families, that news has been disheartening — especially for those who’d been planning a calm, home-based birth surrounded by familiarity and comfort.
The good news is that Gloucestershire still has midwife-led units, including Stroud Maternity Hospital and the Gloucester Birth Unit, where families can experience more natural, low-intervention births supported by experienced midwives. And alongside that, there are so many incredible doulas and birth workers in our local community who can help you feel informed, grounded, and held during this time — wherever your birth takes place
What doulas and birth workers can offer
Whilst a home birth might not be possible right now through NHS services, a doula — or, if you prefer clinical care at home, a private midwife — can help you hold on to that same feeling, wherever your birth takes place.
A doula offers emotional, physical, and practical support alongside your NHS care. They’re not there to replace a midwife, but to walk alongside you — getting to know you and your family, understanding your wishes, and offering truly personalised support that goes far beyond what’s possible in a busy healthcare setting.
If you’d still like to birth at home with midwifery care, there are a small number of independent (private) midwives working across Gloucestershire. They provide fully qualified, regulated clinical care — including antenatal appointments, birth attendance, and postnatal visits — and many families choose this route for the continuity and individualised approach it offers.
Whether you’re giving birth in a hospital, a midwife-led unit, or choosing to birth at home (with or without NHS midwives present), a doula can:
Help you prepare — spending time understanding your hopes, preferences, and how to make your birth environment feel calm and safe.
Advocate for you — offering gentle guidance and support during conversations with your care team so your wishes are respected.
Hold space during labour — providing comfort, reassurance, and a steady presence that helps you stay grounded and connected to your body.
Support you afterwards — through postpartum visits, emotional check-ins, and feeding support as you settle into life with your baby.
While there’s a cost involved in hiring a doula or private midwife, many families find it to be one of the most meaningful investments they make. Having someone by your side who truly knows you — who understands what makes you feel safe and supported — can make all the difference, helping you feel calm and confident wherever your birth takes place.
Gloucestershire Doulas and Birth Workers: Local Support for Pregnancy, Birth & Postnatal Care
Below is a list of Gloucestershire doulas, birth workers and private midwives offering pregnancy, birth and postnatal support.
Cheltenham Doula - Personalized doula care across Gloucestershire
The Mumma Mentor - Doula-led antenatal and postnatal support
Wise Wild Women - Daia - Nature-centred doula and postpartum support
Maternology Ltd (Cheltenham) — Private midwifery care
The Moon & Lotus Birth Prep - Birth preparation and mindset coaching
Mother of Pearl Doula - Calm, nurturing doula support
Natalie May Doula - Warm, grounded doula delivering personalised birth and postnatal care
Independent Midwives UK (IMUK) - Directory of independent/private midwives
Elle Massy BAM - Body- and movement-based birth preparation
Gillian Antenatal - Dedicated antenatal educator providing classes and one-to-one support to prepare you emotionally and physically for birth.
Additional Resources & Further Reading
If you’re feeling unsure about your options right now, or just want to understand more about what’s happening with home births in Gloucestershire, these links are a great place to start. They include updates, birth-rights information, and supportive community spaces that can help you feel more informed and empowered.
Stroud Homebirth Hub — A brilliant local community space for those interested in physiological or home-like birth. They share events, discussions, and resources for families across Gloucestershire.
Birthrights UK — Advocates for respectful, human-rights-based maternity care. Their Home Birth Restrictions and Choice of Place of Birth guides are especially helpful right now.
AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services) — Offers practical, evidence-based information about your rights in pregnancy and birth. Their guide to your rights is a brilliant resource.
NCT — Is Home Birth Right for Me? — An overview of what home birth involves, including benefits, considerations, and how to plan one safely.
Independent Midwives UK (IMUK) — A directory of qualified private midwives and detailed FAQs on how independent midwifery works, what to expect, and cost considerations
However your birth unfolds, please remember you still have choice, support, and community around you. The right people can help you create a birth that feels calm, safe, and deeply yours — wherever it happens. And together, we’ll keep that spirit of home birth alive in every setting.
If you know of any other Gloucestershire doulas, private midwives, or birth support services that should be included here, please get in touch so I can keep this resource growing