Celebrity mums rave over them, but the word "doula" means little to many people in the UK. EMMA JOSEPH finds out more...

GIVING birth and coping with a new baby is tough for any mum. But when your husband is in the Merchant Navy and is called away the day you come home from hospital, you can really do with a bit of help.

Gabby Page was determined she would not have to cope alone after the birth of her third child, four-week-old Sophie.

She said: "I had traumatic times after the birth of my two boys because my husband was called away when my first son was ten days old and with my second son it was the day we came home from the hospital.

"I'd heard many years ago about doulas and just filed it away in my brain. When I was pregnant with Sophie I went on the Internet and put in 'doula' to see what came up and it came up with the details for British Doulas."

Doula is a Greek word meaning slave or servant and stems from ancient Greece where the doula was the top-notch home help privileged to help the lady of the house give birth.

Today's doulas offer help and support to new mums before, during or after the birth, carrying out errands from changing the CD in the delivery room to picking up other children from school, cooking dinner for the family or just popping in for a chat.

Gabby and her husband, Tim, from Elderberry Close, Clanfield, had their doula - Kerry Lodge - for the birth and for a couple of visits at home following the birth.

"I think a lot of it is because it helps with the mental side," said Gabby, a 32-year-old full-time mum.

"Knowing somebody was going to be there to help us took the pressure off my husband because he didn't feel like he had to do everything during the labour.

"At the birth Kerry was massaging my back and being encouraging, she ran errands just did little things that, to me, made all the difference.

"It was as near to being enjoyable as giving birth could be. Afterwards it was lovely because she came and did the ironing and cooked us dinner and helped bath the boys.

"It was nice because it gave my husband a chance to bond with the baby."

Kerry Lodge, decided to become a doula after giving birth to her second child, Olivia, now two.

The 28-year-old, who lives with her husband Nick, Olivia, and their son, Harrison, three, in Waterlooville, did a four-day training course with British Doulas, run by midwives, where she learned about everything from breastfeeding to bathing a baby to counselling to dealing with difficult family members.

She said: "I took it up more as a hobby, but I've been so busy because there's not many of us around here," she said.

"We're not medically trained and the only criteria is they like us to be a mother and to have been there and done that.

"We're there to offer support - you're there for the labour and for support afterwards. We just go in for a few hours a day and help them with breastfeeding and things like that.

"A doula is there primarily to look after the mum. If that involves looking after the baby, then that's fair enough, but it can involve cooking the mum something to eat and making sure she's eating properly."

DOULA FACTS:

What is a doula?

A doula is a person, usually another woman, who supports a woman during birth or post-birth. She can be any age and currently British Doulas has doulas in their early 20s up to those in their 60s.

What is the difference between a doula and

a maternity nurse?

Maternity nurses are baby-centred while doulas are mother and family-centred. A doula will help with housework and encourage the mother to care for herself as well as the baby.

What training do doulas get?

All doulas from British Doulas undergo a special four-day training course taught by registered midwifery trainers and health visitors.

Who can become a doula?

Prospective doulas are ideally mature women who may have had children themselves. They should understand the issues families face after the birth of a new baby.

What hours do doulas work?

Doulas can work full-time or part-time, depending on the mother's needs. Some mothers find that they only need help for a couple of weeks others want them for months.

How much do doulas cost?

Doulas working in the UK typically earn around £10 an hour. They do not work fewer than four hours a day and generally charge between £200 and £350 for a birth.

British Doulas is running training courses in London for would-be doulas on November 22 and 23 and November 29 and 30, call 0870 757 5353. For more information on doulas, call 020 744 6053 or 020 72592626 or visit the website at www.britishdoulas.co.uk.