Our Birth Stats 2025 - How Our Doulas Make a Difference, by Becky Talbot

When we are newly pregnant (whether for the first time or the third), it’s completely

natural to start thinking about where we will give birth to our baby and what sort of birth

we will have. We will speculate with friends and family, read books, watch videos and

follow the social media pages of those who have birthed before us.

Most families Cambridgeshire want a lovely straightforward birth in the birth centre,

some want a homebirth and some would like to birth in the obstetric unit or

plan a caesarean birth.

Reflection plays a big part in the Collective, it’s probably the most important reason

that we chose to work together.

We found that the families we work with have significantly lower rates of intervention, fewer emergency caesareans, inductions of labour, preterm birth (or low birthweight), and that labours are on the whole short, so drugs to speed up labour or epidural are rarely needed. The families working with us are much more likely to bring their babies into the world the way they want to.

Reflection is also important because the opportunity to explore with a group what went well, or what was tricky, means we can constantly learn from one another.

Regularly meeting up allows for continuous improvement, focusing on key skills like

Biomechanics, Hypnobirthing, Breastfeeding support, debriefing skills and many other valuable tools to our toolkit. We can process the intense, emotional nature of birth work, acknowledging both the joy and the exhaustion of supporting families.

I have reflected on my own birth statistics for years, but this year we looked at the

collective as a whole; the six of us that supported 76 births last year alongside the

rest of our amazing postnatal Doulas who make such a huge difference in those

early weeks and months of parenting.

These are the 2025 birth stats from The Cambridge doula collective.

Planned birth centre births

How our doulas make a difference

39.5% of our births were in the midwife led birth centre, the national average is

around 5-10%.

If you’re planning to birth your baby at the birth centre, hiring one of our doulas will make this much more likely. Right from the very first meeting, your Doula will give you the tools, information and resources to plan the best birth for you.

We can only do this by getting to know you and your specific needs. This is because birth isn’t just a physical process (although we are well known to provide all manner of physical comfort measures) it’s an emotional one too. You need to feel safe and your partner needs to feel safe. We ensure emotional safety by spending time with you, making plans with you, and helping you put things in place so that you can just focus on Birth.

We might join you for appointments with your consultant or midwife to make sure you get the very best care. Unless things get going very quickly we are nearly always with you at home in early labour, making sure that you have a calm space and a gentle journey to your birth centre room. On arrival at the birth centre we can ensure that your midwife knows how you want to be cared for. While she’s meeting your midwifery needs, we focus on your comfort with back rubs, a warm pool and making sure you all have food, drink and a chosen soundtrack.  We’re here throughout your labour and birth for any bumps in the road, providing support and encouragement along the way, heading home once you’re tucked up in bed with your baby.

Planned home birth

How our doulas make a difference

25% of our births last year were at home, the National average is around 2%

“If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.” Kennell, Kennal and Klaus

When it comes to homebirth your doula can help you get all of the evidence based

information together that you need to make a fully informed choice.

She will be available right from the time of booking to answer all of your questions

or find the person who can. We accompany you to medical appointments if needed and

help you gather together any equipment that you might like (many people choose

a birthpool). We can help you navigate conversations with your family. My favourite thing with Homebirth is preparing the older children.

On the day (or night usually,) we will be right there with you, making sure that your

environment is just how you need it. We will make sure all of your (and your family’s)

needs are met, often for hours before your midwife arrives. We will then make sure

that your midwives have a comfortable space to work in and that they have all

the information they need to be able to give you the very best care. We do this alongside providing you with comfort measures and practical support. 

If there are any changes of plan and you decide to move to the maternity unit, your

doula will be right there with you, helping you and your family navigate the

situation every step of the way. Either way, we’ll be with you until you’re tucked up in bed with your baby!

Obstetric unit births

How our doulas make a difference.

15.8% of our clients birthed in the obstetric unity. The national average is around

35-44%

The obstetric unit can be the best place for women and birthing people who have complex needs. Your doula can help you get the very best information about your specific circumstances.

Throughout your pregnancy we can help you gather and navigate information and

support you emotionally during meetings with your team. Our priority is making sure a 

balance is found between meeting medical needs and your emotional and

practical needs.

We are experts in advocating for you and spend many months helping you prepare

for birth, getting to truly understand what you find useful and supportive.

On the day we will be right there with you, giving you the support and

comfort measures you need, making sure you are cared for.

Less than 2% of our clients chose induction of labour in 2025, the national average is 33-35% 

Occasionally plans change and families choose the obstetric unit late in the day. Perhaps you might choose an induction of labour or decide to get an epidural. We can help you smoothly navigate this change because we have already built a relationship, easing you gently into unexpected changes so your experience of birth is as close as possible to how you originally

planned.

And of course, we only head home once you’re all tucked up in bed with your baby!

Planned caesarean birth

How our doulas make a difference 

9.2% of our clients chose caesarean birth. The national average is 20%

Making a choice to have a caesarean birth can be for many different reasons. It may be because of complex medical needs, or mental health relating to previous trauma. It may be simply because you believe it is the best birth for you.

Your doula will spend many months getting to know you and supporting you to

prepare for caesarean birth and the early days of parenting. We can explore any difficult feelings that arise and signpost you to any other specialist services if this is useful.

She will provide information and support, advocating for you alongside your medical team, often attending appointments. This will help you to navigate all of the options in a safe and supported space.

On the day your doula will be by your side, making sure things are calm and helping you both before and after your surgery, she can make sure that everyone caring for you knows what you need and will only head off home once you’re tucked up with your baby.

Unplanned caesarean birth

How our doulas make a difference.

10.5% of our clients had an unplanned caesarean section the national average was 25.1% in 2025.

As you can see from our statistics, hiring a Cambridge doula collective doula reduced the chance of needing an emergency caesarean birth by more than half in 2025. 

The World Health Organization maintains that, while essential for safety, cesarean section rates should ideally be 10–15%. However they are rising globally, from 21% of births in 2021 projected to reach 29% by 2030. As of 2025, the WHO emphasises the need to reduce unnecessary surgeries that do not improve maternal/neonatal outcomes while ensuring access for those in need. Unnecessary C section carries risks to the mother and baby, including short- and long-term health complications and can impact future pregnancies.

On a practical level, if during your labour a caesarean birth becomes necessary, we are right there alongside you. We help you and your birth partner to navigate the process, liaising with your care team and making sure you get the swift, supportive care that you need. We can hold space for intense emotions and of course stay with you until you’re tucked up in bed with your baby.

I am incredibly proud of the work that we do and gathering our own statistics has been really affirming. The Cambridge Doula Collective makes such a difference to local families.