The Death Doula/Death Midwife in Contemporary Ireland

Death doulas (DD) or death midwives are described as companions/advocates for the dying. While based on the birth doula role, the DD role is not as well articulated, with a great deal of variation in the literature. A lack of consistency exists in terms of the education and training DDs receive and whether it should be a registered title within the health and social care landscape. While the DD is becoming better known globally, it is a relatively new phenomenon in Ireland. There is scant academic material published around the modern concept of the doula and their work. This lack of definition and oversight may create challenges, competition and confusion as they care for people alongside health and death industry professionals. This exploratory research seeks a better understanding of contemporary Irish death doulas, from the lived experiences of those who undertake the role. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6-10 DDs in Ireland, along with those who use the term “death midwife” focusing on how they see themselves and their work. The findings will link to the limited international literature on the modern death doula, their motivations for engaging with the work, and their experiences of caring for the dying and comforting the grieving in contemporary Ireland.