birthcentral.com.au - Childbirth Services and Support

What is a Doula

Doula is a Greek word meaning "woman's servant."

She believes in the process of birth and the impact it has on parenting
She is a great listener
She is respectful
She doesn't impose her own thoughts and beliefs
She trusts the woman's instincts
She acknowledges the power of birth
She believes the father is the most important team member if that is what the woman wants
She recognises birth as a non medical event, unless the woman asks for assistance for her or her baby
She understands that the fewer people interrupting the woman and the process, the quicker the birth
She knows that dim lighting always makes a difference
She offers continuous support to the woman and her birth team

Overall, she believes it is a woman's rite of passage to birth to birth her baby where, with whom, and how she wishes

The doula is knowledgeable in comfort measures such as relaxation breathing, massage and positioning, managing pain using water, hot packs and aromas, and the importance of conscious parenting.

Doulas specialise in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or foetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice.

A Doula's skills support you in giving your baby and body time to meet the needs of labour, and not to look back or forward, but meet each contraction as it comes.

Many studies in the USA have been conducted and report that a Doula is now an important part of the Birth Support Team, employed by hospitals. This is not yet the situation in Sydney, but more and more women look for extra support their partners just can’t always give them. That support leaves your midwife more available to care medically for you and your baby. This service fills an important gap for the women and their caregivers. It had been developed to respond to the ever increasing requests from women to have more support before, at, and after the birth of their children.

Around Australia, there are a variety of situations in which people choose to give birth: for example the home (with private midwives), a birth centre, a labour ward, or a private hospital. A doula can support you anywhere you choose to have your baby.

Benefits of having a trained Doula

50% reduction in the caesarean rate
25% shorter labour
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery

Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have
a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).

It is our belief that your relationship with the baby and the father and a positive birth experience where you make the decision on the choices offered to you, are all fundamental to the way you parent your child, and enjoy the process. The doula's goal is to "hold the space" for the woman to have a safe and satisfying childbirth, as defined by each individual woman

Preparing for the birth

It is normal to meet with your Doula at least twice before the birth. When it is time to have your baby you will contact her whenever you feel you would like her with you. During this time your Doula will get to know you and your partner. She can offer suggestions, and support you in establishing a birth plan. Your doula will clearly get to understand your needs.

When you go into Labour

When you get your first signs of labour it is important to call your Doula as a pre notification.

Once you feel you need some support to meet the challenge, then you call.

Your doula can clarify what is happening for you so you can continue to labour with your partner, or she will come and support you both!

Your doula will labour with you at home, move to hospital if that is where you are giving birth, and remain with you until you have fed your baby for the first time, or until you don't need her any more!

There are times that she will be able to check in on you, then leave you and your birth team, once you feel safe and are progressing in early labour, and she will return again when you next need her.

What about after the baby is born?

You can organise a Doula to:

Visit at home to help with babies and or the family for the first few weeks
Support with breastfeeding
Sleep overnight to allow for some rest!
Massage you or your baby
Support you in your parenting decisions, and meet challenges you may be facing

Do I still need childbirth education classes?

Absolutely! It is really important that both you and your support people gain as much knowledge about the birth process as possible. Sharing in a class with other pregnant people adds dramatically to your experience, and helps you better prepare for an extraordinary day! We offer classes that truly make a difference!