Birth doula FAQs
What does a birth doula do?
When it comes to birth, women have always supported women.
In the old days, when all births took place at home, women would come together to guide and care for a woman during pregnancy and support her physically and emotionally during labour and the postnatal period. All women understood the importance of this rite of passage and were familiar with the rhythms of labour and birth.
A modern birth doula is a return to this tradition, but in a professional capacity. I get to know you during pregnancy, helping you build your birth plan, learn ways to manage pain in labour, and connect with resources so you feel confident making decisions that are right for you.
During labour I:
help create an environment where you feel emotionally safe and supported so that labour can unfold as normally as possible
suggest positions to progress labour, applying hands-on comfort measures including massage and counter pressure to help you manage pain
support your partner so that they can support you to the best of their ability
advocate for you in the birth room. My role is to help you navigate the maternity system and make informed decisions, and to uphold what’s important to you during birth.
What are the benefits of hiring a birth doula?
The day you give birth is a day you’ll never forget. You deserve a deeply satisfying and richly rewarding experience. Surrounding yourself with support is essential.
A birth doula is someone who gets to know you and your partner during pregnancy, who knows your preferences for birth and stays with you throughout every contraction until your baby is in your arms, providing emotional and physical support.
According to a Cochrane review, women who receive continuous labour support from a trained professional are:
less likely to give birth via caesarean
more likely to give birth without vacuum or forceps
less likely to use pain medications
more likely to be more satisfied with their births
have shorter labours.
What’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?
Birth doulas are not medical providers. I do not perform any medical or clinical care. I cannot make medical decisions for you and will not speak to medical staff regarding matters where health care decisions are to be made. My role is to support you in discussions with care providers, making sure you fully understand your options and have the opportunity to voice your concerns and to ask questions before making a decision.
When should I book in?
The earlier the better, but it’s never too late.
I like to meet with you up to four times during pregnancy to work on your birth preferences, skills to manage labour pain, planning for postpartum and to help reduce any fears you may have around birth.
Does your birth doula service include birth education?
Our time together includes lots of deep discussion about your options and making sure you understand how different choices may affect labour. I also provide you with evidence-based resources throughout our time together.
Nevertheless, our sessions are not a substitute for formal birth education, and if this is your first birth, I encourage you to attend an independent birth class before our sessions together in the third trimester.
brain.body.birth workshop faqs
Who is the workshop for?
Our workshop is for women and partners planning an informed, active birth in the system, whether that’s in hospital or through a midwifery group practice such as Belmont.
We recommend attending the workshop towards the end of your second trimester/early third trimester, as your mind naturally begins turning to birth at this time. It also gives you plenty of time to prepare and practice comfort measures and techniques which you will learn in our workshop, in preparation for birth.
What’s the difference between Brain.Body.Birth and other birth classes?
Brain.Body.Birth is a holistic, practical workshop integrating evidence-based education with yoga and breathwork. We think this is a pretty unique and potent combination when preparing for birth.
We value honest talk about the challenges of birth and the realities of birthing in the system. We’re not just educators – we’re out in the real world supporting women and partners as a birth doula (Carmen) and prenatal yoga teacher (Marion) and we want you to benefit from our insights and experience.
I plan on doing a hospital antenatal class. What’s the benefit of doing Brain.Body.Birth instead of or in addition to the hospital class?
Hospital antenatal classes are often large and don’t cater to individual requirements or allow you to easily ask questions. They’re often focused on the logistics of giving birth in that particular hospital and have a very medical approach to labour and birth, drawing on outdated medical evidence.
Our workshops incorporate the latest medical evidence on birth practices and medical interventions. On top of that, we’re committed to preparing your body for birth, not just your brain – after all, you can’t think your way through labour!
We integrate yoga and breathwork throughout our time together. We also focus on comfort measures and ways of coping with intensity, so you walk away with a range of tools to use in labour.
My mum/sister/friend will be supporting me during birth. Can I bring them along?
Absolutely! Your workshop ticket covers yourself and one support person, whether that is a partner or a mum/sister/friend. That’s up to you.
I’m pretty sure I want an epidural during labour. Is this workshop suitable for me or is it just for women planning unmedicated birth?
This workshop is for anyone planning to birth in hospital or through a midwifery group practice such as Belmont. We are committed to helping you understand the birthing process, how to support it, and the impact medical interventions can have on the flow of labour. Beyond that, we fervently believe women are best placed to decide what’s right for them. Your body, your baby, your birth, your choice.
I’m planning a homebirth through Belmont Midwifery Group Practice. Is the content relevant to me?
Yes indeed. Belmont Midwifery Group Practice is still part of the hospital system, and as such, all information in our workshop is relevant, especially to prepare you for unforeseen scenarios such as hospital transfer during or after labour, or being ‘risked out’ of the program during pregnancy and unexpectedly planning to birth in hospital.
That aside – Belmont homebirthers can benefit from learning about labour hormones and how to support them, plus all the practical good stuff like comfort measures for labour, plus yoga and breathwork to prepare the body.
We’re all about upskilling your partner as well – teaching them how to be the best support person they can be.