WELLNESS
A doula! What’s a doula?
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Belinda says that when she tells people
she is a doula, the usual response is: "Doula? What's a doula?" Read on to find out what a doula is, and what they do, the purpose behind labour support, and the benefits of labour support to a mother and family.
Breastfeeding support, classes, counselling & local groups.
www.breastfeeding.asn.au
Doula Services & Gourmet Childbirth Classes
Complete preparation for any possible thing that arises in birth! Southern Highlands, NSW
Contact Joelle: 0403 881 797
birthrhythms@mail.com
www.birthrhythms.wordpress.com Pre natal, Labour and
My services cover pre natal, labour and post natal support.
For more info: Sonja 0429 181 278 10 JULY 2011 by Belinda Kelly-Mandalis A
dopting a holistic image of birth, a doula sees the mother as the centre of the birthing experience, with her chosen birthing team
there to support and guide her. A doula supports the labouring woman through assisted positioning and mental relaxation techniques. She is there for the woman and her partner as they prepare to welcome their baby into the world; providing one- on-one care in pregnancy, throughout the entirety of labour (no matter how long), and into early parenting. A doula’s aim is to respect this vision of birth as well as the birth plan set out by the mother and her partner. Studies have shown that women who choose to have a doula present during labour: • tend to have shorter labours with fewer complications and interventions;
• request pain medication less often; • have lower incidence of operative deliveries including caesareans;
• and have more positive opinions of their birthing experiences and greater success in breastfeeding.
Talitha Mitchell
Doula & Civil Celebrant
Post Natal Support I am a Perth trainee Doula enthusiastically ready to support and empower women.
The passage into motherhood is one of the most powerful, rewarding and transformative rites in a woman’s life. I believe that as a woman, our knowledge of birthing is innate. As your doula, I provide unbiased information so you can make informed choices. My focus is to support you in having your needs met on every level, during pregnancy, birth, and post partum.
Northern Rivers NSW, 0433 453 998
www.sacredcelebrations.net.au
SO YOU’RE A MIDWIFE, RIGHT? No, doulas are not midwives. Where midwives as primary care providers are exceptionally qualified to make medical decisions, assess clinical tests and make recommendations, and can ‘catch’ the baby, doulas provide non-clinical care in the form of experience, information, physical, and emotional support. Doulas follow what is called the ‘midwifery model of care’, which means that doulas see birth as a normal part of a woman's life, not a medical event, wherein the mother, partner, and family need emotional and physical support throughout the entire process of pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Doulas don’t catch babies – they catch the mothers!
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A DOULA? A birth doula’s purpose is to help mothers come as close as they can to having the kind of birth they desire, leaving them and their birth partner with the best possible feelings about themselves and their capabilities. They work to educate mothers and their partners about childbirth, to help mediate the stress and discomfort that can be associated with pregnancy and labour, and to provide physical and emotional support throughout the entire childbirth process. The doula offers suggestions on comfort measures, pain relief, positions, movement, breathing and relaxation. They provide constant, nurturing, helpful and objective support as well as first-hand
knowledge and understanding of what you, the labouring mother, are going through. While the outcome of birth can be
unpredictable, the care you receive during your labour never should be. A doula is YOUR assistant. They do not work for the hospital or nurses. They're employed by you, and therefore have your desires, hopes, and best interest in mind. The heart of doula care is the
understanding that continuous emotional support and reassurance during labour and birth improves and enhances maternal satisfaction. Doulas specialise in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks. In addition to the support, doulas are trained in non-pharmacological pain relief. This means anything non-medical such as massage, aromatherapy, visualisation, situation- appropriate application of heat or cold, breathing patterns, body positioning, focal points, and relaxation techniques. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. The doula’s goal is to help the woman have a safe and satisfying childbirth, as defined by each individual woman.
DO DOULAS DO ANYTHING A PARTNER COULDN'T DO? Yes. Doulas play a different role from a woman's partner because they bring with them a wisdom that comes from experience. They have seen and witnessed the normal process of birth and therefore, when things get intense in labour, they are
Let me help you discover the beauty of natural birth Statistically, women who have a doula have 65% less chance
of having medical interventions. Contact Christine in Melbourne: call 0438 690 110 or email
cstavrakis@hotmail.com
Sammi Zajko Central Coast, Newcastle & Northern Sydney
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I believe that women deserve to feel supported, understood and loved during this incredible time in their lives. I support all types of birth and all types of women. Call 0407 766 525.
BEAUTIFUL BIRTHS AND BEYOND
Personalised ante-natal, labour and birth support for women and families. Flexible, affordable and personally tailored packages (including breastfeeding support).
Experienced with high risk pregnancies and births. Melbourne - Bianca Anderson 0423 935 028 •
bianca.beautifulbirths@
gmail.com •
www.findadoula.com.au
These articles now in category-specific ebooks – see p.3 for more
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