What does a Doula do?
The benefits of having a Doula …
A doula offers:
Professional birth support to you, your
partner and your family.
Physical, emotional and informational support
during pregnancy, labour and beyond, along with the
comfort of experienced continuity of care.
This is usually done via:
• a number of visits to your home during your pregnancy
• assistance in birth planning and preparation
• accompanying you to hospital / specialist /caregiver
visits, if you wish
• working through your fears
• providing information, resources and emotional
support throughout your pregnancy.
Your doula will be on call 24/7 for approx 2 weeks
before and after your due date or as agreed.
The role of the doula during labour and birth is to
enhance the experience for you and your partner. The
doula will be there from the time you call for as long as
you need her.
Postnatal visits to help your new family to bond
with your new baby, help with general baby care,
feeding options or just to be those extra hands.
It is important to clarify exactly what each
doula offers and choose the one that
suits you and your partner best.
www.doulasofsa.com.au
What a Doula isn’t…
In over 15 years of worldwide research women supported by
a doula during labour have been shown to have:1
• 50% reduction of caesarean rate
• 25% shorter labour
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery
“During labour, my doula was a great
support - without her I wouldn’t have
coped without drugs.” Melanie
The support of a doula can also:
• Have a positive effect on breastfeeding.2
• Enhance the wellbeing of mothers and babies, reduce the
need for medical assistance, mothers feel better about
themselves, more positive about the labour and bond more
easily with their babies.3
• Improves mother’s self-esteem, lowers anxiety and
reduces depression at 6 weeks postpartum.4
“A very special thank you… you
made such a difference at the birth
for us both. Encouraging me when it
all seemed too hard and helping me
achieve the birth that has given our
little girl the best start in life.
Thanks for sharing this special time
with us.” Jill
www.doulasofsa.com.au
Doulas are not medically trained, they are not
midwives nor student midwives. They cannot
perform clinical tasks such as taking blood-pressure,
palpation and listening to the foetal heart rate, give
medical diagnosis/advice or second opinions.
The doula’s non-medical support leaves your
midwife/doctor more available to care for you and
your baby.
Do I still need childbirth
education classes?
We recommend that you still attend childbirth
education classes. It may be useful for you to attend
classes given by your hospital so that you are aware
of the policies and procedures typically used there,
which you can then discuss with your doula as to
whether they are appropriate to your birthing
experience. Also sharing a class with other expectant
couples may add to your journey to parenthood and
friendships may be made.
Where a Doula works …
Anywhere! A doula works in birth centres, private
and public hospitals and at home-births, always in
conjunction with midwives/ doctors – never as the
sole care giver.
Doulas work privately with you and are not
employed by your midwife / doctor or by the
hospital. As a courtesy to your midwife / doctor it is
advised that you inform them of your choice to include
a doula in your birth team.
Doulas provide balanced information so
you can make your own decisions.
 How do Doulas and Partners
work together?
Doulas work as part of the birth team. Her
knowledge and experience can help partners, family
and/or friends participate comfortably at the birth.
The Doula can give other support people reassurance,
support ideas and a rest. Her role is to "be there for
you" and help you have the best possible birthing
experience, and she does this by working with whoever
else is there - and by supporting them also.
A Doula can never replace the love and care that
family and friends provide during the birth experience.
No one else can fill this special role.
“Our doula attended our birth during the
final stages and offered fantastic support,
especially to my husband. He was extremely
grateful to have someone else there to help
him and me get through the final couple of
hours of labour.” Tammy and Jason
Pricing
Prices vary depending on the services offered, the
doula’s experience and what other skills your doula
offers. Your doula may be professionally trained in
areas such as yoga, remedial massage, acupuncture,
naturopathy, homeopathy, and more.
The services of trainee doulas are negotiable, they
charge a nominal fee to cover their costs.
www.doulasofsa.com.au
Doulas of South Australia
~our philosophies~
To educate the community about the
value of a woman-centred approach
to birth, which encourages an
individual’s right to choose.
To provide continuity of care without Professional
judgement, through emotional, physical
and informational support to pregnant Birth Support
and birthing women.
To encourage women and families to
actively seek information to assist their a Doula’s passion is
decision making during pregnancy, to support women
birth and parenting. and their families
Co-support of Doulas. to create their
own memorable and
unique journey
through pregnancy,
labour and parenthood
References
1. Klaus MH. Mothering the Mother: How a Doula can help you have a
shorter, easier and healthier birth. Perseus Books, 1993.
2. Langer A, et al. Effect of Psychosocial Support During Labour and
“My personal experience of birth far
Childbirth on Breastfeeding Medical Interventions and Mothers'
Wellbeing in a Mexican Public Hospital: A Randomized Clinical surpassed the positive accounts I had read
Trial. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1998;105(10):1056- of in the birthing literature and my
63 partner and I will always be grateful to
3. Klaus MH, et al. The Doula Book. Perseus Books, 2002. our doula for the knowledge and grace
4. http://www.bellybelly.com.au
she brought to the birth of our baby.”
Karen
www.doulasofsa.com.au