A doula provides you and your partner / family with emotional, practical and physical support during pregnancy, labour and birth and the postpartum period. They are there to help you to advocate for yourself and help you access evidence-based information, allowing you to focus on having the birth and postpartum experience you desire.

It’s never too early! It’s a good idea to start making enquiries once you decide you would like to have a doula. It’s important to find a doula that feels like the right fit for you and your partner/family. It allows you to have support throughout your pregnancy, so you have help navigating the maternity care system.

A doula can offer support for all types of births – home or hospital births, VBACs and caesarean births. I can support you in planning your birth preferences during an antenatal session.

In 2017, Bohren et al. published an updated Cochrane review on the use of continuous
support for women during childbirth. People who received continuous support were more
likely to have spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication,
epidurals, negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and
Caesareans. In addition, their labours were shorter by about 40 minutes and their babies were
less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth. There is a smaller amount of evidence that doula
support in labour can lower postpartum depression in mothers. There is no evidence for
negative consequences to continuous labour support. (Source: Rebecca Dekker, Evidence
Based Birth, Updated May 4 th 2019).

• Small in-person classes – lots of time to ask questions
• Evidence based information rather than being told about hospital policies
• Informed decision making is at the heart of every class
• Interactive classes that cater for all learning styles and family types
• Content covered over 2 afternoons
• Every class is focused on the needs of that group – you set the agenda based on your needs

• Benefits such as:

  • Relaxation of skeletal muscles
  • Increase blood and lymphatic circulation
  • Reduces anxiety and improves alertness
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Reduces stress hormone levels in parent and child
  • Improves sleep
  • …..and many more
    You also have the opportunity to meet other parents and support each other.