Lesley Hilton, Doula, Chapeltown Children and Family Centre, Leeds

I see my role as mothering the mother. I support her emotionally during the pregnancy, attend the birth, and help her practically and emotionally for the first few weeks after the birth while she is establishing breastfeeding and struggling with exhaustion. It means making sure she is eating enough, that she has food in the house, that the washing is done, the other children are fed, as well as offering reassurance and tips on babycare.

Anyone can call themselves a doula, but I have trained and am registered with the Doula UK network (www.doula.org.uk). My clients may be single women or couples where perhaps the woman has either lost her mother, or doesn't have a great relationship with her. I also work with my local Sure Start in Leeds where I sometimes help asylum seekers. It is unusual for Sure Start to employ a doula in this way and I think there are only a couple of others in the UK that do.