Doula

About doulas

A doula is a person whose role is to ‘mother the mother’.

A doula does this by supporting a woman and her family with information and practical and emotional care during pregnancy and birth. Doulas sometimes continue caring for women and their babies in the first weeks after the birth.

A doula can work in any setting where you have your baby. You arrange and pay for a doula yourself, if you want to have one.

Doulas aren’t trained in clinical care, so you’ll still need your obstetrician, if you have one, and/or a midwife at the birth, including homebirth. It’s a good idea to let your obstetrician or midwife know if you have a doula involved in your care.

What a doula does

During pregnancy, a doula might:

give you information about pregnancy and birth
support you as you plan for the birth
talk about previous births and other life experiences that might impact on the birth.

During labour and birth, a doula might:

suggest positions, movements and changes that help ease pain during labour
guide your breathing and help you relax
give you massage, water, hot packs, aromatherapy and other things to comfort you and create the environment you want
help remove distractions
reassure and encourage you, and talk you through emotions during labour
speak on your behalf about your pregnancy care and birth preferences to the midwives and doctors caring for you, if necessary.

After the birth, a doula might visit you to provide practical and emotional support. Some women hire a doula just for after the birth, to provide practical and emotional support.

You can talk with the doula about exactly how you would like her to be involved in your pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.

Many women say that their birth experiences were more positive when they had a doula. Women say they needed less pain relief and fewer birth interventions.

Choosing a doula

Before choosing a doula, it’s a good idea to find out about a doula’s experience and training. There are no specific qualifications for working as a doula, but many doulas do training in professional birth support, and some are qualified in other therapies like massage and yoga.

Depending on your birth setting and type of pregnancy care, you might see a doula at the hospital, in the community or at home.

To choose a doula, visit:

Find a Doula
Australian Doula College, or call the College on 02 9698 4160 or 1300 139 157 or email admin@australiandoulacollege.com.au
Australian Doulas if you’re in Western Australia.