Doula (pronounced "doo-lah")—let’s get one thing straight: I’m nobody’s servant! Yeah, the Greek meaning might suggest that, but let’s be real—modern doulas are all about support, not servitude. Maybe that’s why doulas in Greece don’t even call themselves doulas!
Having a birth companion isn’t some new trend—it’s been around since prehistoric times! Archaeological finds, ancient carvings, and even anthropology studies show that birthing people have always had support during labour. Fast forward to the 1980s, and doulas became more widely known when people started pushing back against the rising C-section rates.
So, what does a doula actually do? We’re there to support you—emotionally, physically, and with all the evidence-based info you need. We help pregnant people (and their families!) feel confident and informed while adjusting to this wild new chapter. Whether it’s at home, in the hospital, or even virtually, we offer flexible, practical, and non-judgmental support, always holding space for you to navigate birth and parenthood in your own way.
What is a Doula?
About
Hello, my name is Ânia.
I am a pregnancy, birth, and postnatal doula in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
I was born in one of the most beautiful islands of the Atlantic, Madeira (Portugal). I have travelled a bit around the world, lived in different countries, and learned from other cultures, but I decided to settle in Belfast, which I now call home. I am a mother of 2 amazing children born in 2017 and 2020, they were both born in a Belfast local hospital. I have also worked in a local homeless charity since 2014 at their head office.
I have never had a great dream of having children, maybe because I was too focused at the time on living and absorbing as many life experiences as I could from my travels.
In 2011, I came to NI to support my sister as she had a baby and she was going back to work, this was only to be a temporary thing, but I have been here since then. So, I can say, that my doula journey started there, however at the time I had no clue what a doula was.
In May 2020, I had my second child, and once again was a very positive experience, however, what I was seeing around me was just loads of obstetric violence and people’s rights being denied and a huge lack of family support especially postnatally, so I felt that I had to do something. I can say that at this point I have started looking for information, also a couple of friends of mine had already called me their doula (even at the time I didn’t know much about it). The more I looked into it, the more certain I was that this was the right path.
In 2021 I completed my Birth and Postnatal Doula Preparation Course with Developing Doulas, and this was the best thing that I could have done, has allowed me to meet amazing people and learn so much, and since then every day is a school day.
Training
2024 - Safeguarding Adults and Children for Volunteers - e-learning for Healthcare NHS Health Education England
2024 - Maternal Advocacy & Support OCN Level 3 Endorsed Course - Womens Resource and Development Agency
2024 - Community Campaigners course - Womens Resource and Development Agency
2023 - Breastfeeding Peer-support - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
2022 - 3-Step Rewind training (in conclusion) - Ruth Olayinka
2022 - Extension course for Doulas - Matrona – Liga Humanista
2021 - Paranama Doula Course - Dr Michel Odent and Liliana Lammers
2021 - Birth and Postnatal Doula Preparation Course - Developing Doulas
Workshops/Conferences
2024 - European Doula Network Conference (France) - Stronger Together
2024 - 5th Edition of the Humanization Conference: Evidence-Based labour and Childbirth (Brazil/Portugal) - Doulas para Todas
2024 - Doula UK Conference: Inspire & Inspire 2024
2024 - AIMS Workshop "Focusing on Rights in Pregnancy and Birth" - Emma Ashworth & Nadia Higson
2023 - 4th Edition of the Humanization Conference: Evidence-Based labour and Childbirth (Brazil/Portugal) - Doulas para Todas
2023 - Rebozo - Eliza Padroni
2023 - Sexuality Workshop - for Doulas - Eliza Padroni
2022 - Supporting families through pregnancy loss and the death of a baby - Sands
2022 - International Symposium of Birth Assistance (Brazil)
2022 - Introduction to Fundamentals of Autism - Autism NI
2022 - 3rd Edition of the Humanization Conference: Evidence-Based labour and Childbirth (Brazil) - Doulas para Todas
2021 - Born with rights (Portugal) - Mia Negrão
2021 - Pelvic Health for Professionals - Sílvia Dias
2021 - Consent: Rights in Childbirth Workshop - Emma Ashworth, Verina Henchy and Maddie McMahon
Volunteering
Memberships
2024 - Trustee at Birthise NI
2023 - Service User Representative - Maternity Service Liaison Committee Belfast Trust
2023 - Doula UK Rep at the European Doula Network
2023 - 2024 Breastfeeding peer-support volunteer - Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
2023 - 2024 Parents Walking Group - Birthwise NI
2022 - Doular - Associação Portuguesa de Doulas
2021 - Doula UK
2021 - AIMS UK
