British Doulas is a long-established doula agency. The agency's director, Jean Birtles, who also owns its sister company Top Notch Nannies (www.topnotchnannies.com), started the service because she believed that thousands of women in Britain every year could benefit from loving help and support before, during and after the birth of their child.

Originally, the business was called Top Notch Doulas but in 2002 Jean decided to rename it because the service had grown and expanded and had taken on a life of its own. She decided on the name 'British Doulas' because over the years that she has been growing and developing the concept she realised that there are significant differences between what doulas in Britain can do and what they are called to do in other countries - particularly the USA.

"It's important to make a distinction between British doulas and those in other countries, because each country has a different medical system and different social provisions," she explains. "Things that a doula can do in the USA, for example, may not even be legal for a doula in Britain."

British Doulas is run on the same strict standards as Top Notch Nannies. We believe in honesty, a high standard of care both from the doulas and from the consultants in the office, a high level of training and experience and great aftercare. All our doulas are trained, interviewed and checked by us. We do not accept all applicants and we will remove doulas from our books if their conduct is not in accord with the company's standards and principles.

To find out more about employing a British Doula, or about training to move into this rewarding field, please contact Jean or Claire Jones on 0207 244 6053.

Claire has worked in maternity recruitment for more than five years after qualifying as a midwife at Newcastle-upon-Tyne University in 1998. She has also worked as a maternity nurse and nanny in London and enjoys a good debate about the merits of routine. Give her a call if you have any questions about doulas.