• Home
• Why A Doula?
• Services
• Resources
• FAQ
• About Me
• Contact
• Login
• Blog

 

 

Continuous support by a doula from early labour onwards can result in up to:

50% reduction in caesarean rates

25% shorter labour length

60% reduction in epidural requests

40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin/syntocinin) use

30% reduction in analgesia use

40% reduction in forceps delivery

 

Source: Kennell, Klaus and Kennell (1993)

 

Why A Doula?

A doula is a person who is trained in supporting women through pregnancy and birthing. She provides physical and emotional comfort, reassurance and encouragement, guides you in natural pain management techniques (for example massage, active birth postures, and relaxation/breathing tools and acupressure), and can make suggestions for helping labour to progress. Doulas know what to expect from labouring women and can be an invaluable support to fathers who have never seen a real birth. A doula will usually also work with you after the birth, helping you adjust to life with your new baby. A doula isn't a medical professional - she doesn't catch babies, or perform clinical tasks such as fetal monitoring. This allows her to focus completely on the physical and emotional wellbeing of you and your partner. Doula care compliments any primary care option you choose - public or private hospital, birth centre, home, midwifery led or obstetrician care.

More women than ever are choosing a doula to support them and their partners throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. Why is this?

Ideally, when choosing to birth in hospital you would receive continuous, one-on-one care throughout labour from your midwife and/or obstetrician. Your partner would be given feedback and suggestions to help him support you, and both of you would receive much needed, consistent reassurance that you are labouring well and that what is happening is a normal part of the process. In reality, in both private and public hospitals, each midwife will have more than one labouring mother in her care and will need to always be moving between them. You might also see a number of shift change overs during your labour. This means that it isn't usually possible for them to provide you with the optimal, one-on-one continuous labour support that is so vital to a calm and satisfying birth.

Your choice to use a doula guarantees you continuity of care from someone you know and trust, and whose focus is on you and your partner alone. A doula will be with you during pregnancy, from the onset of labour through to a couple of hours after your baby is born, as well as during the early days with your newborn.

I will work with you and your partner throughout pregnancy to help you to prepare for the birth, and help your partner to learn the skills he'll need to support you effectively and play an active role in the birth of his baby. I'll also be with you during labour, giving reassurance, gentle encouragement and suggestions to help you to achieve the optimal birth for you.