"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." John H. Kennell, MD

A Childbirth Doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. They understand the physiology of a mother's body and the emotional needs of a woman in labour. With a doula assisting during this important time, you will have a much more positive experience, the labour will most likely be shorter with fewer complications, and the babies are healthier – breastfeeding, sleeping and bonding more easily.

What do Birth and Baby Care services include?

During your pregnancy, we offer:
- unlimited contact via email, sms and/or phone
- prenatal consultations (minimum 3) to discuss your preferences and options to help you achieve the kind of birth that you want, and help you draw up your birth plan
- educational information, resources
- prenatal HypnoBirthing course packages
We recommend taking this package for the best results during this important time.

During the birth, we will:
- be on call for you beginning three (3) weeks before the estimated due date up until labor begins
- provide early labour support in your home, then travel to hospital or birth centre with you, providing constant physical, emotional and informational support right up to and after the birth of your baby
- help the partner to feel calmer and more informed, giving them ideas to continue support from beginning to end
- stay one to two hours after your baby is born to ensure the mother feels settled and well, and help with the initial breastfeeding
- we can also take photographs or video upon request.

After the birth, we will:
- visit you, usually at least 2 to 3 times, after your baby’s birth
- we will assist in providing information and supplying emotional support by telephone on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and newborn care after the birth
- we usually also provide a written birth story.

What is a Doula's role?

The role involves supporting and assisting the parents as they enter this new phase of life. Our support is different for each couple, as every pregnancy and labour is unique. It may take the shape of improving communications between the hospital staff and the laboring couple. It may be to provide an independent and expert view on the options that the laboring couple has to choose from at key stages during labor. It may also be to assist you in your preparations, preparing an individually tailored birth preferences plan, staying with you during labor and being an emotional and physical support and helping you make informed choices.

There are different opinions surrounding pregnancy and birth choices, but there is only one that really matters and that is YOURS. Whatever you want your birth to be – drug-free or medicated, vaginal or c-section, at home, hospital or birth centre – we will respect your choices, inform your decisions and help you achieve the birth that you want to have. We work as a team with doctors and midwives in Canberra and Queanbeyan to empower your birth experience.

The Origins

Throughout millennia, women have generally had other women at their labour and birth to provide support. It is only in very recent times in modern Western settings that parents are left alone to labour, often in a small, confined hospital room, where the midwives check on their progress via monitors connected to a central screen, and the Dr comes at the last minute to ‘deliver’ the baby. Labouring mothers enter a state of ‘labourland’ and desire an experienced, non-judgmental, nurturing, empathetic woman by her side. Such birth support companions are employed by the parents, not the hospital, and advocates the parent’s choices and wishes.

The term actually comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves". A doula is not a midwife and does not perform any clinical or medical tasks.

Why would I choose to hire one?

The birth of your child is one of the most important days of your life. Everything that happens prenatally and at the labour and birth can have profound effects on the baby, all the way into their adulthood. Think about how much planning, communication and money is put toward an event such as a wedding. Yet, when you ask most mothers, it is the birth of their children that they remember vividly into old age, and it is their birth stories that women share over and over amongst themselves. Why not ensure that you have a positive story to tell?

The benefits to you

Professional support during childbirth has a number of benefits, including a reduction of the need for medical intervention such as forceps, vacuum or caesarean, a tendency for shorter, easier, more comfortable labours, and a reduction of negative feelings about the childbirth experience.

The stats:

50% reduction in cesarean rate
25% shorter labor
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in synthetic oxytocin (pitocin) use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery

excerpted from 'Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help you Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth', by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus (1993)

What about my partner?

Having professional, experienced and trained support lifts the sole responsibility of the labour off the shoulders of the partner, relieving them and allowing them to enjoy and embrace the whole birth process. Sometimes a partner may feel they are ‘too close’ to the labouring mother to remember information or to remain calm if critical decisions need to be made. A doula can help the partner to feel calm and informed, giving them ideas to continue support from beginning to end.

Some partners may feel nervous about sharing the birth with another person, or worry they will be made redundant in the birthing room if there is another ‘birthing coach’. At no time will we "take over" or deliberately exclude the partner. We are there to provide support to both of you at all times. Sometimes a partner likes to stay by the mother’s side during the whole of labor, while others prefer to take a break. This is your birth experience and it is important that you feel free to decide on what you want at the time.

But I have an obstetrician and/or a midwife

A doctor or midwife in a hospital is usually unavailable to provide a continuous presence throughout the labour, due to the health care system which places many limitations on our health carers. In the hospital, it can be difficult for a midwife to really get to know a woman prior to her birth. Often the midwives are working in a team so you do not know who will be on duty when you go into labour. This makes it difficult to communicate your particular needs and desires for the type of birth you want. During the birth, it is usually impractical or impossible for a midwife to remain with a woman for her entire labour because of the staff numbers, hospital policies and other requirements needed of a midwife on duty. If a woman has a longer labour, she will see a change in shifts of midwives.

Even in a homebirth, having a person dedicated solely to supporting the labouring mother is incredibly helpful, providing a valuable member of the birthing team. A midwife provides the medical care, while a doula provides comfort measures and personalised continuity of support. The support may come in different forms, utilising non-medical support techniques, providing reassurance and perspective, making suggestions to help labor progress, helping with hypnosis techniques, relaxation, massage, positioning, and other techniques for comfort. A doula takes pride in, and strives to work well with the medical team present at your birth.

What is DONA International?

DONA (Doulas of North America) is the oldest, largest and most respected doula association in the world, setting the bar for doula education and professional development. It is a non-profit organization, which started in North America promoting continuing education for doulas. Growing internationally, it is now an amazing community with a shared passion for families that reaches around the world, providing a strong communication link among doulas and between doulas, families and the medical birthing community.

For more information, please visit the DONA website, and view their postition paper.

At Birth and Baby care, we adhere to DONA’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. 

Please contact Amy on 0449 880 222 for any enquiries regarding doula services, or email amy@birth-and-baby-care.com.

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