Why Every Birthing Person Deserves Knowledgeable Support: Lessons from Edinburgh’s Maternity Review
Keywords: doula in Edinburgh, antenatal education, birth trauma, birth preparation, NHS Lothian maternity, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh doula support
A recent BBC report has again drawn attention to serious issues within Edinburgh’s maternity services, describing a “culture of mistrust” and ongoing safety concerns at the Royal Infirmary. The review by Healthcare Improvement Scotland found that staffing shortages, communication failures, and delays in care had directly affected women and birthing people, sadly leaving many feeling unsafe or dismissed. For those of us supporting families in Edinburgh, these findings are not new. They echo a pattern that has been quietly unfolding for years, where overstretched systems and inconsistent communication shape how people experience one of the most significant moments of their lives.
The Power of Knowledgeable Support
Evidence continues to show that informed, continuous support during pregnancy and birth contributes to better outcomes. A 2017 Cochrane review found that those supported by doulas were less likely to need interventions such as caesarean sections or instrumental deliveries and more likely to describe their experience positively. Through my Birth Soothing Sessions, I see how even small shifts in knowledge and self-assurance can change the tone of an entire experience. When families understand what to expect, how to communicate with care providers, and what their rights are, they approach birth with much more steadiness and clarity rather than fear. This kind of preparation is not just helpful, I believe it is protective in a system where support and continuity are too often uncertain.
Birth Setting and Systemic Barriers
The BBC report highlights how the environment of care, both physical and cultural, can profoundly affect outcomes. Delays in induction, inconsistent monitoring, and overwhelmed staff were among the concerns raised. While home and birth-centre settings tend to offer more continuity and midwifery autonomy, they remain accessible to a small proportion of families. Officially, this is attributed to staffing levels or postcode boundaries. In reality, many of the families I support encounter what feels like an embedded culture of control and coercion. I regularly hear of consultants discouraging physiological or low-intervention birth plans by saying things like, “There usually isn’t much space in the birth centre,” or “You can’t use the pool because you may need a section.” These narratives often appear to pre-empt risk rather than discuss it openly, leaving parents feeling as though choice is being managed rather than supported.
Understanding the language of policy, protocol, and preference is a key part of my work. I help families navigate complex systems and make decisions that align with both safety and autonomy.
Midwives, Obstetricians, and the Reality of Care
Midwives and obstetricians remain at the heart of maternity care. Both bring essential expertise and deep commitment to their roles. Yet the BBC report reflects what many already know: these professionals are working under extreme pressure. Through my trauma-support work, I often hear how this strain impacts families, not because individual practitioners lack compassion, but because the system leaves little time for listening. Appointments are rushed, messages get lost, and decisions can feel abrupt. My role is not to replace this care, but to help parents prepare for it and to understand what they might encounter, how to ask questions, and how to remain centred when things move quickly.
Balancing Preferences and Safety
Every pregnancy and birth is unique. The goal is not to pursue one “ideal” version of birth, but to ensure that individual preferences are respected alongside clinical safety. Some families I work with are planning hospital births or caesareans, others are exploring birth centres or home birth options. What unites them is the desire to feel informed, respected, and calm. Building emotional readiness, realistic expectations, and confidence in decision-making forms the foundation of my approach.
Moving Forward: Reclaiming Confidence in Birth
The current challenges within Edinburgh’s maternity system highlight the importance of informed preparation and compassionate support. Change at the institutional level will take time—but families can act now to protect their experiences.
By investing in education, emotional grounding, and trauma-informed preparation, it’s possible to approach birth with both realism and reassurance.
Birth is not only a clinical process—it’s a deeply human experience that deserves space, understanding, and dignity.
If you’re preparing for birth in Edinburgh and want to feel calm, informed, and supported, explore my prenatal and postnatal sessions at www.birthsafe.co.uk. Each session is designed to help you feel clear, confident, and connected to your choices.
