Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Doula?
A Doula means ‘to mother the mother’ – A Doula is trained and experienced to support women and couples in pregnancy and childbirth. A Doula has training in the physiology of birth but is not medically trained, and will not provide medical care. A Doula provides one-on-one care, up to date pregnancy and childbirth information, physical support and emotional support. A Doula seeks to understand and work with you on your own birthing needs, and will provide continuous and individual labour care.
What is your 'Doula' philosophy?
I am often asked about my personal birth philosophy. I believe that the way parents’ decide to birth should be the way that they intend for life to unfold - with love. I believe that all mothers have the ability to birth with calm and joy. Birthing is a very simple and natural process that, when entered into without fear and with good support, can be a most beautiful and satisfying experience for both parents and babies.
I believe that the way that babies are born into the family is important. Be curious about birth.... Imagine, if you were to be born again, what would make you feel loved, welcomed, nurtured and safe? As a Doula my intention is to hold a safe, informed, gentle and honest space for you to prepare and explore, to be more curious, to learn to listen to your body, and to allow your own process to gently unfold.
Do you support women aiming for VBAC? And do you support women through all birth choices including C-Sections?
Yes! I am experienced working with women preparing for a VBAC. We use de-briefing skills, reframing beliefs and fear release, body/mind preparation and birth planning. Women's choices are respected. During the first appointment we will talk about your needs and values, what is important to you, and whether I am the best person to support you during this time. As a Doula I know that your birth process is largely 'unknown', and much flexibility is required on the part of the Doula support to be present alongside you as you make your own choices during this time.
Doulas and Dads/Partners - how does this work?
Dads/Partners and Doulas are part of the same birth team and work together toward the same goals! Doulas do not replace the role of Dads/Partners in Birth. Dads/Partners provide one of the key things that other people just can't provide in the same way - intimacy and deep love, crucial to a labouring women (Oxytocin, the hormone of love, is absolutely crucial in labour!). Doulas however complement the birth team providing professional care and understanding and a working knowledge of birth. Doulas assist families to plan for birth, including how the birth team can work together. Doulas often provide a calming, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive presence for the Dads/Partners during labour.
Why would I need a Doula as well as a midwife?
A Doula is present to a woman for the whole of birth - the importance of this cannot be understated. A Doula is skilled in the art of nurturing, intimate labour support. A Doula is known to the couple through pregnancy and beyond.
Doulas and Midwives have different roles in labour, and this is important! The Doula is often with the couple for the majority of labour - from home to hospital. It is one-on-one nurturing and supportive care. A Doula 'holds the space' at all times. This means that the Doula is the one that no matter what is happening and no matter where a woman births, will aim to provide a calm, safe and gentle space for the mother and baby. In this presence of calm and reassurance, a woman can birth without fear, with love and with clarity. It is an empowering mental and physical space to birth in!
A Midwife is an essential part of the birth team. The role of today's midwives vary, however it is more common that midwives (whether birth centre or hospital) are predominantly focused on working within different policies toward providing women with clinical (safe) outcomes.
This is important, however its only one part of the picture of birth; the other part is the management of labour - the labouring - safely, with love, with understanding and inner resources, and with minimal intervention as possible to ensure that mum and her body and baby are safe, respected, loved and empowered at this time.
One-on-one care means something different to a Doula and a midwife. While it is rare that a midwife is able to be constantly present to the woman and the whole birth process, Doulas normally are! Doulas tailor care to the individual mum/couple's specific needs and wants. Doulas aim to provide actual one-to-one care throughout the whole labour (as required) from home to hospital. Given this, experience has shown that Doulas and midwives support and complement each other, while working toward outcomes desired by the birthing couple.
Pam England expresses the role of the Doula beautifully...
“Whatever its form, genuine support comes from a positive-intention to "hold the space for the mother" in the belief that she is, moment-by-moment discovering how to birth. As a doula, I am witness to the unspeakable power of birth, maidens turning into mothers, and various dances of madness in the face of unchecked fears. I am all too aware, when a doula is prideful or too busy doing and knowing in birth, she forfeits being touched by the great mystery of birth. And, if no one in the labour room is in touch with that great mystery, and no one is "holding the space" by being truly present, there is the greatest risk of all -- that the mother, even though she gives birth to the child, might not realize she is also being born -- as a mother -- during her rite of passage. ‘"Holding" the labouring mother in a safe, secure, heart-space is the best gift a doula can give”. Pam England
A Doula means ‘to mother the mother’ – A Doula is trained and experienced to support women and couples in pregnancy and childbirth. A Doula has training in the physiology of birth but is not medically trained, and will not provide medical care. A Doula provides one-on-one care, up to date pregnancy and childbirth information, physical support and emotional support. A Doula seeks to understand and work with you on your own birthing needs, and will provide continuous and individual labour care.
What is your 'Doula' philosophy?
I am often asked about my personal birth philosophy. I believe that the way parents’ decide to birth should be the way that they intend for life to unfold - with love. I believe that all mothers have the ability to birth with calm and joy. Birthing is a very simple and natural process that, when entered into without fear and with good support, can be a most beautiful and satisfying experience for both parents and babies.
I believe that the way that babies are born into the family is important. Be curious about birth.... Imagine, if you were to be born again, what would make you feel loved, welcomed, nurtured and safe? As a Doula my intention is to hold a safe, informed, gentle and honest space for you to prepare and explore, to be more curious, to learn to listen to your body, and to allow your own process to gently unfold.
Do you support women aiming for VBAC? And do you support women through all birth choices including C-Sections?
Yes! I am experienced working with women preparing for a VBAC. We use de-briefing skills, reframing beliefs and fear release, body/mind preparation and birth planning. Women's choices are respected. During the first appointment we will talk about your needs and values, what is important to you, and whether I am the best person to support you during this time. As a Doula I know that your birth process is largely 'unknown', and much flexibility is required on the part of the Doula support to be present alongside you as you make your own choices during this time.
Doulas and Dads/Partners - how does this work?
Dads/Partners and Doulas are part of the same birth team and work together toward the same goals! Doulas do not replace the role of Dads/Partners in Birth. Dads/Partners provide one of the key things that other people just can't provide in the same way - intimacy and deep love, crucial to a labouring women (Oxytocin, the hormone of love, is absolutely crucial in labour!). Doulas however complement the birth team providing professional care and understanding and a working knowledge of birth. Doulas assist families to plan for birth, including how the birth team can work together. Doulas often provide a calming, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive presence for the Dads/Partners during labour.
Why would I need a Doula as well as a midwife?
A Doula is present to a woman for the whole of birth - the importance of this cannot be understated. A Doula is skilled in the art of nurturing, intimate labour support. A Doula is known to the couple through pregnancy and beyond.
Doulas and Midwives have different roles in labour, and this is important! The Doula is often with the couple for the majority of labour - from home to hospital. It is one-on-one nurturing and supportive care. A Doula 'holds the space' at all times. This means that the Doula is the one that no matter what is happening and no matter where a woman births, will aim to provide a calm, safe and gentle space for the mother and baby. In this presence of calm and reassurance, a woman can birth without fear, with love and with clarity. It is an empowering mental and physical space to birth in!
A Midwife is an essential part of the birth team. The role of today's midwives vary, however it is more common that midwives (whether birth centre or hospital) are predominantly focused on working within different policies toward providing women with clinical (safe) outcomes.
This is important, however its only one part of the picture of birth; the other part is the management of labour - the labouring - safely, with love, with understanding and inner resources, and with minimal intervention as possible to ensure that mum and her body and baby are safe, respected, loved and empowered at this time.
One-on-one care means something different to a Doula and a midwife. While it is rare that a midwife is able to be constantly present to the woman and the whole birth process, Doulas normally are! Doulas tailor care to the individual mum/couple's specific needs and wants. Doulas aim to provide actual one-to-one care throughout the whole labour (as required) from home to hospital. Given this, experience has shown that Doulas and midwives support and complement each other, while working toward outcomes desired by the birthing couple.
Pam England expresses the role of the Doula beautifully...
“Whatever its form, genuine support comes from a positive-intention to "hold the space for the mother" in the belief that she is, moment-by-moment discovering how to birth. As a doula, I am witness to the unspeakable power of birth, maidens turning into mothers, and various dances of madness in the face of unchecked fears. I am all too aware, when a doula is prideful or too busy doing and knowing in birth, she forfeits being touched by the great mystery of birth. And, if no one in the labour room is in touch with that great mystery, and no one is "holding the space" by being truly present, there is the greatest risk of all -- that the mother, even though she gives birth to the child, might not realize she is also being born -- as a mother -- during her rite of passage. ‘"Holding" the labouring mother in a safe, secure, heart-space is the best gift a doula can give”. Pam England