Frequently Asked Questions

A doula is an experienced, highly trained professional who provides support for pregnant, birthing and postpartum women and their partners.

A doula is not a medical professional, although doulas usually have a lot of experience with pregnancy, birth and postpartum mums and babies. A doula does not give medical advice but will help you ask the right questions. A doula does not perform medical procedures, or make decisions on your behalf, but will help you understand your options. A doula does not communicate your preference to your medical team but will help you communicate them.

Birth doulas are statistically proven to improve outcomes:
31% decrease in the use of Pitocin*
28% decrease in the risk of C-section*
12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth*
9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience*

*More info here.

A postpartum doula supports you, your partner and your extended family in settling into life with baby. As your postpartum doula I will help you with understanding how to settle and soothe baby, assist with establishing breastfeeding, watch baby while you have a nap or a walk, as well as helping with light household chores that will allow you to get much needed rest. I will also prepare meals especially designed to help you recover your strength and energy and stimulate milk production. Whatever you need to help you through, your postpartum doula will be there.

If you are within the Sydney region I can provide home-delivered food that is prepared in small batches and is specially created to provide you with all the nutrients you need post-birth. If you are outside Sydney, you can also order teas and healing bath soaks via mail order.

No, quite the contrary. Doulas provide birth preparation, delivery support and postpartum support for both mums and their partners. They work with all types of mums and families. Doulas have different styles and different strengths. It’s important to interview several doulas until you find one that is a good fit for you.

Absolutely not! Doulas are for anyone who wants a positive birth and postpartum experience. Doulas are highly respected professionals who work just as well with doctors, midwives and nurses in hospitals and birth centres as they do in home births.

Prior to Covid 19 Doulas were well accepted in hospitals. Since the introduction of social distancing and the need to reduce the number of people visiting hospitals there have been some changes. It is best to check with your hospital what their policy is. If your hospital is not open to having a doula at your birth I can supply you with a letter requesting permission to attend and outlining why it is important to you. But even if your hospital will not allow a doula at your birth, you can still benefit from Birth Preparation and Postpartum Doula services.

I consider myself nurturing and hands on for physical support. For information and emotional support, I am a doula with a calm, confident and no-nonsense style of communication. I am knowledgeable and easy going. Your birth and parenting goals are my goals. It is my job to support you 100%.

That’s great. I support you. Knowing what you want for your birth is the first step to being empowered in your choices.

While an epidural will relieve intense sensations, it will not calm your mind. My goal as a doula is help you feel educated, prepared and confident before labour begins. During labour, my goal is help you find your rhythm and use comfort measures in early labour so when you do decide to go to the hospital you will have progressed far enough along and not be sent home. If you choose to use pain medication, I will stay with you and continue to provide emotional and informational support. Modern epidurals are gradual and you can control how much medication you receive. You may still feel sensations and you will still need physical support for comfort and help with optimal positioning.

If you have booked me for Delivery Support, I will always make sure that I am not going to be away at the time you are due to give birth, but in the rare event that I am sick, or there is an emergency, I have two back-up doulas who I work closely with, so you won’t at any time be left on your own. We meet up regularly to discuss all things pregnancy and birth and I have complete confidence that you would be taken care of should the need arise.