To Doula or Not to Doula: Reflections on Birth Work in Singapore
At the start of this year, I found myself asking a question I hadn’t seriously considered since I began this work in 2018:
Should I continue on the doula path?
Over the years, I’ve witnessed several shifts—both in my own practice and in the broader birthing culture in Singapore. Some of these changes have been encouraging. Others have been harder to sit with. Together, they led me to pause and reflect on what it truly means to work as a doula in Singapore today.
Before I go further, it’s important to first understand what it actually takes to practise as a doula here.
What It Means to Practise as a Doula in Singapore
Unlike many birth professionals, doulas do not have an inherent right to practise in hospitals in Singapore. Our presence is often treated as a privilege rather than a recognised professional role.
In practical terms, this means access can be fragile. A single perceived misstep—sometimes even a misunderstanding—can result in a doula being barred from a hospital entirely.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not exercise direct oversight over doulas. Instead, governance is largely left to individual hospitals. While this decentralised approach allows institutions autonomy, it also creates a precarious situation for birth workers.
In practice, this can mean that a single complaint from a nurse or doctor may be enough for a doula’s ability to support clients in that hospital to disappear overnight.
For many of us providing birth support in Singapore, that reality sits quietly in the background of every birth we attend.
The Structural Gap in Doula Work
Doctors are protected by medical councils.Nurses are represented by professional boards or federations that provide standards, due process, and mechanisms for mediation.
Doulas, however, lack a comparable organisational structure. Whilst there exists a registered society for doulas in Singapore and informal community groups led by doulas, there is currently no formal body recognised by authorities that safeguards our livelihoods, establishes clear professional accountability, or fairly arbitrates disputes between doulas and healthcare providers. When disagreements arise, there are few structured pathways for resolution.
This absence does not just affect doulas—it can also create uncertainty for families and hospital teams who may not fully understand the role of a doula in childbirth.
Why Doula Representation Is Complicated in Singapore
Creating such structures is easier said than done. Singapore has a relatively small number of practising doulas. Many are foreign expatriates who may only work here temporarily. Because of this, the urgency for formal representation can sometimes appear less pressing.
At the same time, doulas are often expected to comply with several protocols typically applied to healthcare professionals. Hospitals may require us to maintain up-to-date vaccinations and follow certain institutional policies in order to accompany our clients.
Despite these expectations, doulas do not enjoy the protected status afforded to many other allied professionals. To be clear, I do not believe doulas should be classified as healthcare workers. Our role is distinct. We do not provide medical care, nor do we replace clinical expertise.
But we are also not entirely separate from the healthcare ecosystem.
In many ways, doulas function similarly to adjunct support professionals—like medical social workers—who provide services that support and complement the healthcare system without replacing it.
Is Hiring a Doula in Singapore Seen as a Luxury?
Another barrier lies in perception. In Singapore, having a doula is often framed as a luxury—an optional add-on rather than a legitimate form of birth support.
There is undeniably a cost involved. But this is not so different from hiring a confinement nanny, which is widely accepted as a normal part of postpartum care rather than an indulgence.
Yet doula support continues to be positioned differently.
When doula care is viewed purely through the lens of luxury, it obscures the value we bring—not only to families navigating birth, but also to the maternity care system itself.
Continuous emotional support, evidence-based information, and advocacy during labour are not frivolous services. These forms of support can significantly shape how parents experience birth. For many families seeking a more informed and supported birth experience in Singapore, having a doula can make a meaningful difference.
Back to this Question: To Doula or Not to Doula?
So yes—at the beginning of this year, I found myself sitting with a difficult question.
To doula or not to doula?
It wasn’t a question born solely from burnout. It came from observing the realities of practising within a system where the role remains poorly understood, structurally unsupported, and occasionally precarious. And yet, despite these tensions, I continue to believe deeply in the work.
Birth is one of the most vulnerable and transformative moments in a person’s life. Having someone present whose sole role is to support, listen, and hold space still feels deeply meaningful.
Perhaps the real question is not simply whether to continue being a doula—but how this work can evolve in Singapore in a way that is sustainable, respected, and better integrated into the broader maternity landscape.
The fact remains: families seeking this support are not disappearing. If anything, they are asking the right questions about their care.
And maybe that is where the real conversation begins. I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email here.
