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Meet at least twice before the birth
Continual phone/e-mail contact
On call 24/7 for two weeks before until the birth (unless otherwise agreed)
Attend you in your home in labour if you wish
Transfer with you to hospital* and remain with you until at least one hour after the birth.
One visit postpartum (usually at home)

Each woman and each pregnancy is different! Doulas are very respectful of this and so will work together with you to individually tailor your care to your own specific requirements.

As a minimum you can expect your doula to:

By providing continuous support through pregnancy, birth and beyond, doulas positively impact the childbearing experience for women and their families and reaffirm women's ability to give birth. Doula care is tailored to the individual needs of a mother, which is determined through pregnancy as the doula and mother/couple build a relationship. Doulas are highly supportive of the midwifery model of care and together with the midwives can form an effective team for the mother. Doulas unlike midwives do not perform clinical or medical tasks, diagnose medical conditions or give medical advice. Because a doula is employed directly by you she is an independent source of support and is there solely for your benefit.

During pregnancy you will have developed a relationship with your doula. She will come over to your house during the early stages of labour if you wish, remain with you during labour and birth, and usually for at least an hour afterwards to help establish breastfeeding as required.
A debriefing visit will also be arranged at the mother's convenience after the birth.
Some doulas also undertake postpartum doula work and can provide great support and assistance as the new parents begin their journey into parenthood.

What about the Father?

Dads are some of doulas biggest fans! Many women feel a strong need to have their partners present because of the strong emotional bond they share. Sometimes however, fathers may feel anxious or stressed by the responsibility they feel towards their loved one as they advance through labour. By having a doula present Dads become more confident by the information and reassurance provided, less overwhelmed and more effective in their ability to support their partners.

The word "Doula" (Greek in origin) was traditionally used to signify a woman servant or caregiver who attended women during birth and the post partum period. Nowadays the word doula is used to describe someone who attends women during labour and after the birth, but the emphasis now is as much on assisting the empowerment of women through the birthing process as it is in providing practical and physical and emotional support

Doula Categories: There are two categories of doulas: