Give clients a map with pins of doulas living in their area.

The fact is most parents want local doulas and and most doulas want to work in their local area. The only people using the FAD are parents looking for doulas. To ask them for their postcode and then give them a randomised list of doulas some local, many not in no particular order is confusing, it doesn't create a good first impression of Doula UK and serves no one.

I just don't know why we WOULDN'T give potential clients and fellow doulas (who also use FAD) as much information and choice as possible. By all means give the option of 'random search' alongside 'nearest first', if necessary.

FAD is only of value to members if people use it. People will use it if it gives them what they want quickly and easily. If what people want is a local doula with local knowledge, then FAD as it is, is not delivering.

A little case history: My most recent doula client gave birth on March 15th (she booked me a while ago by typing her postcode in to the old FAD and finding me at the top). I live a 3 minute walk from her house. When she needed me in labour I was there immediately, we went to our local hospital together where I had my own babies and have supported lots of other mums. I knew my way around the unique policies there and I knew the midwives and importantly the midwives knew and trusted me. Post natal I have 'popped in' to see her a few times when breastfeeding wasn't going well and I have been able to signpost her to services in the area that I myself have used. Clients should be given the option to book a local doula.

One of aims of a client is to find a doula that lives close to them. This should avoid wasting time on their initial search.

To me it is obvious that it is ideally better to have a birth doula who lives not to far away and knows the local area - but particularly so for a postnatal doula. I only postnatal doula for women within my London postcode or close by as it means I can be much more flexible about numbers of hours and helping at short notice if needed.

Having a local doula is what many clients want and so it should be easy for them to work out how local their doula is.

As a new doula in London, the first thing I did on joining Doula UK was to search which other doulas lived close to me so I could start forming a support network. This is no longer possible under the new FAD site. Also, clients always ask me where I live when they interview me and they ALWAYS state they would like a doula who lives close by, who could get to them easily and quickly.

I strongly feel that this is necessary. One of the first questions I am always asked by potential clients is about where I live.

I feel it is important that choice is given to potential clients, so they can search for a Doula closer to them if they wish.

My enquiries have dropped since the new search engine. The majority of women who call want to know in the first few minutes where I live in relation to them. Especially in London they want a doula who is local. I think the FAD should reflect this so perspective clients can see where doulas are based.

As people are used to having a similar visual feature when searching for locations on google, and using maps and the GPS, I think it would be a useful and likely invaluable addition to the website.

Quite agree

I have had no enquiries since Nov!

I belive clients should be given the choice to do a local search, especially in London where there are so many doulas. Most clients want a doula who's local to them who knows the local hospitals, the local services and most importantly who can get to them quickly. Many search sites today have maps so it makes sense for DUK to provide this for thier clients to facilitate their search.

I feel very strongly that clients should be able to see clearly the doulas that live locally to them. This is one of the first questions asked and an important factor in their choice. The current system makes DUK look dated and unprofessional and gives a disappointing first impression of our organisation to potential clients.

I think this would be a very helpful feature to include on the Doula UK site. It would allow families to search for doulas by location if they wish, and in my experience this is a hugely significant factor for many families as they make their choice. Thanks.

I find that all of my clients are very interested in knowing exactly where I live in relation to themselves. I am sure that this knowledge plays a key aspect in their choosing a doula.

For me choice is key - As Londoners a lot of new parents have very little idea of what is available in their area, often they work in 'town' or the 'city' and more often than not have just moved before having the baby (!) Having a local doula who can provide information regarding ante natal and post natal resources i.e.: acupuncture, massage, breastfeeding support, cranial osteopathy,bowen, mum and baby yoga groups (to name a few) goes someway to aiding their transition to parenthood, and can help with feelings of isolation and helplessness (which can often lead to PND which is at high rates in our city) This goes someway to providing a 'maternal matrix' - It takes a village to raise a child after all...

I think a client should be able to find a doula locally to her. When the time comes, a labouring woman needs to know her doula is close by. Of course, if she cannot find a local doula she likes, nothing stops her looking further afield.