What is a Doula?
The word Doula is a Greek term, and refers to a woman who personally serves as slave to another woman. The professional Doula is the ultimate birth companion for birthing women and their partners. The Doula is extremely successful in providing for the best birth outcomes possible. Part of their success story lies not only in women’s increased feelings of satisfaction during the birth of their babies but also in the reduction in the need for pain relief and interventions. Doulas focus on the experience of birth for the mother, her partner and the new baby. Their aim is to enhance the birth process and they are equipped with knowledge and strategies that pave the way for the best birth experience possible.

The value of a positive birth experience
It is recognised that the women who report negative experiences during the birth event, and their babies, are at increased risk of ill health in both the short and long term. Despite the fact that interventions during labour are known to lead to negative feelings, the use of interventions in childbirth continues to increase dramatically.It has long been known that reducing fear by supporting the birthing event in as natural manner as possible reduces the need for interventions and enhances the outcomes. It therefore stands to reason that supporting the birth event in a way that reduces fear can only assist the woman in achieving a positive birth experience.

 

My role as your Doula
As your Doula I will develop a relationship with you and your partner during pregnancy. I will help you to conceptualise your ideal birth and to develop your birth plan. During labour I will support you emotionally and physically, as well as help you to maintain the correct birthing environment that you need to enhance the process of labour. My overall aim is to serve your needs in order to achieve the best possible birth experience for you. I will focus exclusively on your beliefs about birth and will not impose my own ideal of childbirth on you.

What's included in a Doula Package?
My standard package includes an initial meeting for us to get to know each other and determine if we "click". After this we will meet three more times to formulate your birth plan and work through relaxation techniques, positioning and other labour tools. I am then on-call for two weeks prior to your estimated date of birth until your bub is born. I am available to you as often as you need by phone or email during this time . I will stay with you after the birth to help with breastfeeding and cleaning up. I will then meet with you a couple of times over the first week by which time you will be feeling a lot more settled.

I encourage participation in birth preparation workshops as I feel that you will benefit greatly from interacting with other expectant parents by sharing and exploring the wonders of childbirth and parenting together. Attendance at workshop sessions also gives me a great opportunity to get to know dads and they me. This can only mean a better rapport in the birthing environment. Choosing to package doula support with the workshop sessions will mean that we meet one-on-one only once after the two workshop sessions tp formulate your individual birth plan. The postnatal arrangements and on-call time remain the same as the stand alone doula package. Please note - in 2010 I am only offering these workshops as a one-on-one 5 hour session in couple's homes.

No two pregnancies, births or babies are the same so I am happy to tailor an individual package to suit your needs.