WhAT IS a Doula?

THE SHORT VERSION: A DOULA IS A PROFESSIONAL BIRTH PARTNER; PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR BIRTHING PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING PREGNANCY, BIRTH & THE POSTNATAL PERIOD. SOME OF YOU MAY BE WONDERING… ISN’T THAT WHAT A MIDWIFE DOES?

NOPE! A DOULA IS NOT A MIDWIFE NOR REPLACEMENT FOR ONE. A DOULA IS COMPLETLEY DIFFERENT TO A MIDWIFE. DOULAS ARE ENTIRELY NON-MEDICAL. A DOULA BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE HEALTH SERVICE AND THEIR CLIENT AND HELPS THEM TO FEEL FULLY INFORMED AND ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES IN BIRTH. DOULAS PROVIDE A CONTINUITY OF CARE THAT IS SADLY LACKING IN MODERN MIDWIFERY: LESS THAN 10% OF BIRTHERS HAVE THE SAME MIDWIFE FOR THEIR ANTENATAL, BIRTH & POSTNATAL CARE.

YOUR BODY. YOUR BABY. YOUR CHOICE. YOUR DOULA'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HOLD SPACE FOR YOU AND ENSURE THAT YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. A DOULA’S WORK SHOULD ALWAYS BE EVIDENCE BASED & NON-JUDGMENTAL. MODERN & ROUTINE MIDWIFERY CARE IS OFTEN NOT EVIDENCE BASED & OFTEN JUDGEMENTAL.

DOULAS HOLD SPACE; NOT BABIES. WE ARE THE PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE BIRTHING PERSON & THEIR EXPERIENCE. WHAT THEY NEED WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE.