What is a birth support doula/birth attendant?

A doula/birth attendant provides supportive care to pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women and their families. They offer information with which the woman can make choices about her options in pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. She will tend to the woman's emotional preparation for birth and motherhood and during labour, provides comfort measures to keep her and her partner feeling relaxed, confident and informed. A birth doula also respects the needs of the newborn, helps to facilitate breastfeeding and bonding and can help the parents process their birth and breastfeeding experience

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

A midwife is the expert in the clinical care of the woman during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. A midwife will monitor health, assess clinical tests, make recommendations and referrals. The midwife is responsible for the health of the mother and baby and follows hospital policy. Depending on whether you have a caseload midwife, an obstetrician or the midwife on shift when you go to the birthing unit, the midwife present may not be the one you saw on your prenatal visits or even when you first entered the hospital. A doula is there from start to finish and will see you from pregnancy to when your baby is around 6 weeks. The crucial difference between midwives and doulas is that a doula is hired by the woman. Her role is to provide the non-clinical care. Because the doula is not clinically responsible, she is free to tend to the woman's need for information, emotional support, and physical comfort, as well as provide support for the woman's partner and family. Doula and midwifery care are complementary.

What if I need an induction, vacuum extraction or cesearean? I don’t want to be made to feel like a failure.

Birth is unpredictable and sometimes mums or babies need some extra help along the way. Caesareans can be life-saving procedures and are necessary in some cases. Educated decisions to receive an epidural, syntocinon, and other interventions can be a huge help in having a healthy mum and a healthy baby; for example in a very long labour when mum may really need a break in order for labour to progress. A woman shouldn't feel pressured to please anyone in childbirth, including her doula. We believe that each woman will make the best decisions for herself and her baby and we will support her in whatever those decisions may be.

And if I decide to have an epidural, will I not need a doula?

Women who have epidurals can greatly benefit from having a doula there to assist them. Women don't just disappear when it is administered, so they should continue to be given emotional and physical support through the entirety of labour. We can offer many of the same physical and emotional supports after the epidural is administered. A doula's support is not just through labour, but begins in pregnancy and lasts through early parenting--something all women can benefit from, regardless of their decisions for pain relief.

I’d love to have a doula but my partner feel like he will be excluded from the birth. What is his role if I have a doula at the birth?

Our goal is to enhance the partner’s experience of the birth. Historically men were excluded from the birth process and left to wait outside the birth room for the announcement of whether it was a girl or boy. As a result most men have few supportive birth stories passed to them by their fathers and little insight into how to be with their woman during this intense time. A doula is experienced in birth and understands the birth process and the emotions around it, the current hospital protocols and the practicalities of the birthing suite. A doula will discuss ways to support, such a massage techniques, words of encouragement, active birth techniques and so on. These can be done by the partner and the doula if the partner needs a break. The birth process can be quite intense and an experienced doula will remain calm which is reassuring and calming to all in the room. A doula is also a walking childbirth education class – in the heat of the moment you may have forgotten all you learned in classes but a doula is there to answer your questions. Massaging, handholding and being present is tiring and a doula will be there to remind the partner to take a break, eat, keep hydrated or grab some fresh air – partners need to look after themselves too!

Often a couple will want to have private time together; so we will leave the couple to it and will go for a walk, grab a snack or drink and remain contactable by mobile.  Our goal is for the woman’s memory of her partner in the birth room to be stronger than the memories of us – it is THEIR birth to remember forever and we aim to do this by allowing partners to take on a more meaningful and connected role

I want to stay at home as long as possible, will you support me at home?

Yes. We will support you at home if you feel you need us there and a doula is a helpful extra pair of hands when you make the transition from home to hospital. If you are happy to begin at home we are able to offer helpful tips and insights over the phone. We are also able to hang out with your children if you are wanting them to be with you.

How much does a doula cost?

Please click here for our support packages and also note that we offer gift certificates so friends and family can gift you part or all of our services.

Are doula services covered by private health insurance or medicare?

Even though Doulas are known to ease the stress on our overburdened health system by reducing the need for medical interventions there is no rebate for doulas under private health insurance or Medicare. However, please note that massage and naturopathy (part of the support packages) may be claimed depending on your private health insurance.