Dear all, sometimes the only thing that can help in life is a career change. And when you find something that truly fulfils you, like Mandy Hänsel, it’s like winning the lottery. Mandy was a nursery school teacher and at some point she just couldn’t do it anymore. Today, as a doula for you in Berlin, she accompanies women through the sensitive phases of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. Not in a medical sense like a midwife, but rather as emotional support that strengthens, carries, motivates and catches you when you fall. And how! (Be careful, after reading this you’ll want to become a doula yourself…)
Dear Mandy, you recently started your own business. What job did you have before?
Before that, I worked for many years as a nursery school teacher in various daycare centres, mainly with children under the age of three.
What made you think: That’s it, I’m quitting and starting something completely new?
The working conditions for nursery school teachers became more and more difficult every year, with constant staff shortages, lots of overtime, little appreciation and ever-increasing demands. I was at my limit. On top of that, I had a lot going on in my personal life in 2024. There were several family tragedies, and I couldn’t be there for my children as much as I wanted to alongside my work. I just realised more and more often that I couldn’t do it anymore and couldn’t cope. After a nervous breakdown at work, I decided at the end of 2024 that something had to change. At the same time, I happened to find my wonderful midwife Klaudia Kadau, who looked after me during all three of my pregnancies, on Instagram and saw that she had founded an academy, the Doula+ Academy, and was training doulas. That appealed to me immediately. What concerns and what joys were involved? Definitely a lot of relief at no longer being caught in that hamster wheel. When I handed in my notice, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders and I felt that it was the right decision (even though saying goodbye to my colleagues and the children a few months later was very, very difficult for me).
I was most looking forward to being there more for my children again and being able to organise my own working hours. And, of course, I was really looking forward to supporting pregnant women and their families during this sensitive and exciting phase of their lives and to learning lots of new things during my training. But, of course, there were and still are worries. In general, the topic of self-employment was completely new to me and, of course, I was/am still afraid that I will be rejected and that no one will book me. But I think to myself, if not now, then when? If I don’t try, I’ll never find out if it works :).
You have now become a doula. Do you remember when you first heard the term?
I had heard it here and there, but I didn’t really take notice of it until I met my former midwife, as I mentioned earlier. That’s when I started to look into the term in more detail. The term comes from ancient Greek and means something like „servant of women“.
You say that many people are not even aware of the option of being accompanied by a doula…
Yes! Especially now that I’m trying to make a name for myself as a doula and talking to lots of people about it, I’ve noticed that many people don’t even know what a doula is or that this profession even exists. There is still a lot of educational work to be done.
Why do you think doulas are so important alongside midwives?
First of all, I think it’s very important to say that, as a doula, I have great respect for midwives and that my work cannot replace the important work of a midwife. We doulas never perform medical procedures; we work alongside midwives and focus more on providing emotional support to pregnant women and their families. Prenatal care can and may only be provided by a midwife and/or gynaecologist. We doulas also never attend births alone.
Midwives usually have limited time available and focus more on the medical aspects. The doula can offer emotional support to complement this, empower the woman and take plenty of time to address her concerns and fears. She can provide continuous support throughout the pregnancy, during the birth, in the postnatal period and beyond.
Depending on what the doula offers, she also accompanies the woman to important appointments during pregnancy, creates a strengthening space for the pregnant woman through massages and relaxation exercises, and of course also supports her with knowledge and experience. The doula can also take time for the pregnant woman’s partner or siblings. There are also doulas who prepare delicious meals for the pregnant woman using high-quality, healthy ingredients.
This time of pregnancy and becoming a mother brings so many new things. Your whole life changes, and I think young families, especially mothers, deserve so much more support during this time. Someone who is there for them, without judgement. Someone who encourages them to listen to their gut feeling. Someone who holds them, catches them and shows them that all feelings are okay and can be felt.
No „You just have to get through it“ or „You wanted it this way“. Being a voice for the woman when she doesn’t have the strength to stand up for herself (especially during childbirth). The postpartum period in particular is often underestimated. Advertising and our environment suggest that we, as new mothers, should always be happy because we have had a baby. But this time is so challenging. She should be there to rest, heal, process everything she has experienced and grow into this new role at her own pace. Usually, everyone focuses on the newborn during this time, but where is the mother? A doula can fill these gaps, provide support and simply be there. More and more studies are also showing that continuous support from a doula during pregnancy and childbirth can reduce pain and caesarean section rates and shorten the duration of labour. In addition, the support increases the woman’s emotional well-being. A doula encourages and supports the woman in experiencing her pregnancy and birth in a self-determined way, which has been proven to have a positive effect on the course of the birth and the postpartum period.
I very much hope that midwives and doulas will work more and more hand in hand in the future and that doula support will also be covered and recognised by health insurance companies, so that young mothers and their families can experience and receive better support and care during this sensitive time.
Was there anything during your training that gave you a real „aha“ moment?
The doula training at the Doula+ Academy was one of the most emotional, beautiful and eye-opening experiences of my life. Apart from the in-depth knowledge that was imparted there by various lecturers from a wide range of specialist areas (breastfeeding advice, babywearing advice, silent birth, first aid, the birth process, aromatherapy and much more), I was deeply impressed and influenced by the community of wonderful women there.
For the first time, I really noticed how empowering it can be when women support each other. No competition (as I had often experienced in my life up to that point), no envy. Just being a woman, empowering each other and working together towards a goal, namely to support and accompany other women during pregnancy and beyond. I never imagined how much this would give me, and I am incredibly grateful and proud that I was able to take this path and that I chose to do so. What does your job give you? Have you had any experiences that you will never forget?
I have always enjoyed caring for and supporting other people. It makes me happy to be able to accompany people through this sensitive phase of life through my work. When I think back on my own three pregnancies, I would have liked to have had more support. I often doubted myself and didn’t know that these feelings were completely normal. Becoming and being a mother is so difficult, but it was kept quiet for so long. Through my work as a doula, I want to help women break this cycle of self-doubt and raise awareness that women do not have to go through this alone. When I accompanied my first pregnant woman, it immediately showed me how much continuous support and actively listening to and acknowledging her fears and concerns can help. As she was worried about the upcoming postpartum period, I created a vision board with her. This allowed her to actively engage with and manifest what was important to her for the postpartum period and what would give her strength when she experienced certain situations.
When I came for my next visit, she had placed the vision board so that she could always see it, which made me really happy. It helped her to let go of some of her worries and meant she was well prepared. Accompanying her during her postnatal period after the birth was so wonderful, and it was lovely to watch her and her partner become a little more confident in their new roles each time. We also communicated frequently via WhatsApp when she had questions, so I was also there for her in between visits. Working as a doula simply adds so much value, and that makes me very happy. This February, my doula colleague and I are hosting our first retreat for pregnant women in Berlin-Lichterfelde. This is also a completely new experience, and I am very much looking forward to it. In addition, I will be giving a themed afternoon at the Parent-Child Centre in Berlin-Rüdersdorf, also in February, to introduce families there to the profession of doula. What else would you like to share with all women in this sensitive phase of life surrounding the birth of their child?
Above all, „listen to your gut feeling“. Especially during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, you will receive „well-meaning“ advice from all sides. Do what you think is right and set boundaries. You decide what you want for yourself and your baby and what you don’t want. Regardless of whether it’s about choosing where to give birth or breastfeeding, for example. And get support. You don’t have to do everything on your own.
