Abstract

This book provides a guide for midwives and doulas who want to establish a maternity-related business offering services such as pregnancy complementary therapies, antenatal classes, lactation support or full doula care. The book is designed to help potential entrepreneurs explore whether this is the right decision for them and provides guidance on the legal, financial and business aspects of setting up in private practice, specifically tailored to maternity care. Advice is given on marketing and pricing and there is debate around the professional and ethical issues for midwives and doulas, including avoiding conflicts of interest and maintaining professional integrity. Case studies of midwives and doulas who have taken the step to set up in private practice are included, and there are various activities to help the reader with their personal plans for their business.
Denise Tiran FRCM MSc RM PGCEA is a midwife, lecturer, complementary practitioner and an international authority on maternity complementary medicine. She is Educational Director of Expectancy, which provides academic and professional courses on complementary therapies for midwives, both in the UK and overseas. Denise has recently been honoured with a prestigious Fellowship from the Royal College of Midwives. She currently lives in southeast London.