Resources
Websites
www.brookmaree.com.au – for beautiful and practical baby slings. A good sling is something you should not be without.
www.maternal-instincts.com.au – a breastfeeding support resource featuring advice, videos and products to help you on your journey.
www.evidencebasedbirth.com – providing courses and newsletters featuring the latest evidence based birth information to empower you in your birthing choices.
www.blissfulherbs.com.au – a wonderful resource for all sorts of teas, tinctures and herbs to help with pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
www.gidgetfoundation.org.au – a not for profit organisation supporting the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents.
www.homebirthsydney.org.au – providing information on birthing at home, including a list of midwives.
www.midwifethinking.com – blogs by a respected and experienced midwife on all things pregnancy and birth related.
www.blissbirth.com.au – you can receive a 10% discount on the hire of a TENS machine by using the code – alisonhansendoula
www.bellybelly.com.au – a great resource for pregnancy, birth, babies and family life in general
Videos
www.thesearemyhours.com – This is a film like no other – raw, powerful and intense. A birthing woman is powerful sight to behold, and this film captures it beautifully.
www.birthbecomesher.com/birth-videos – a stunning collection of birth stories from around the world – each one with the potential to change how you feel about birth forever.
Books
- The First 40 Days (The essential guide to nourishing the new mother) by Hen Ou, Amely Greeven & Marisa Bolger
- Well Adjusted Babies by Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreami
- Birthing from Within by Rhea Dempsey
- The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill
- Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen
Additional Practitioners
Chiropractors
- Dr Lindy Kuburic – Balanced for Life, Castle Hill – www.balancedforlife.com.au
- Dr Theoni Lamaris – www.duralchiro.com.au
- Amber Duff – Integrated Chiropractic, Riverstone – www. integratedchiro.com.au
Acupuncturists
- Natural Solutions TCM at Bella Vista – www.naturalsolutionstcm.com
Yoga classes/teachers
- www.empowering-motherhood.com – great classes for pregnancy and postnatal
Pregnancy Massage
- www.fit4you.net.au/massage – massage and personal training designed for pregnant and postpartum women
Childbirth Classes
- www.calmbirth.com.au – Susan Rebolledo – an empowering birth class that recognises the relationship between the mind and body during birth.
Naturopath
- In Natures Hands – Rachel is a wonderful naturopath
- Bella Vista Natural Therapies – from fertility to conception to postnatal
FAQs
What is a Doula?
A Doula is an experienced professional who provides continuous labor support, both physical and emotional, to the mother and partner.
What a doula is not…?
A Doula is not a medical professional, although doulas usually have a lot of experience with birth. A doula does not give medical advice, but will help you ask the right questions. A doula does not perform medical procedures. A doula does not make any decisions on your behalf, but will help you understand your options. A doula does not communicate your preferences to your birth team, but will help you communicate them.
What are the benefits of a doula?
Labour 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.
What does a Postpartum Doula do?
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.
What if I just want to buy some Postpartum food?
If you are within the Sydney region I can provide home-delivered food that is prepared in small batches and is specially treated 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.
Does a doula replace my partner?
No, quite the contrary. Doulas primarily attend hospital births, and 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.
Are doulas just for hippies?
A Doula is not a medical professional, although doulas usually have a lot of experience with birth. A doula does not give medical advice, but will help you ask the right questions. A doula does not perform medical procedures. A doula does not make any decisions on your behalf, but will help you understand your options. A doula does not communicate your preferences to your birth team, but will help you communicate them.
Are doulas accepted in hospitals?
Doulas have been working in hospitals for many years and doulas have been cultivating positive relationships with staff at the hospital. Hospitals recognize us as health practitioners. Nurses are often very happy to see a doula since this can mean the client is well educated on birth matters and she has extra support in the delivery and postpartum room.
What is your doula style?
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 goals are my birth goals. It is my job to support you 100%.
What if I want an epidural?
That’s great. I support you. Knowing what you want for your birth is the first step to being empowering 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 labor begins. During labor, my goal is help you find your rhythm and use comfort measures in early labor so when you do decide to go to the hospital for pain medication, you will have progressed far enough along and not be sent home. If you choose to use pain medication, I will still 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 to help with optimal positioning.