A Doula:
- Gives you and your partner support and assistance during your pregnancy, labour and with your newborn
- Is a person who is totally independent, and unconnected to your family and friends, but bridges the gap between medical professionals and those close to you
- Offers you and your partner unbiased information to prepare you for birth and parenting
- Will not give or receive any medical advice, nor will a Doula replace the midwives, doctors or any other health professional associated with your pregnancy birth and newborn
The benefits of having a Doula attend your birth include:
- Continuity of care during your labour during midwives shift changes.
- Invaluable support for your partner
- Effective pain management techniques such as Calm Birth, breathing and positioning
- Keeping you and your partner informed and educated as to the birthing process and it's effects on you physically
- A much better chance of a positive outcome for both Mother and Baby
Michelle Galilee is a trained, registered Childbirth Attendant, who is passionate about helping you to achieve the birth that you have always wanted. Allison Weatherall is a Karitane trained Mothercraft Nurse, who is also training to become a Doula. Sydney Bubs are a small team of dedicated Doulas who aim to ensure that you stay INFORMED, be EMPOWERED, feel SAFE and ENJOY your birth experience. We will enhance your birth experience by reducing your fear, and bringing you back to your body's natural birthing instincts. A Sydney Bubs Doula will help you to compile your Birth Plan, and will then help to ensure that your choices are carried out.
We also offer the support of qualified and experienced Chinese Medicine practitioners, who have experience in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We have found that these therapies are so beneficial in pregnancy, labour, birth and after the birth. These practitioners are also Doulas.
We often help women through VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean), breech birth, multiple birth, sole parent birth, birth after pregnancy loss and other traumatic and difficult situations. We know that with a Sydney Bubs doula you will have the best chance at a positive outcome.
Evidence for Doula support
The World Health Organisation agrees that trained and experienced labour assistants who meet a woman's emotional and physical needs in labour can improve maternal and infant outcomes. Studies* have shown that the presence of a doula during labour reduces:
The overall caesarean rate by 45%
The length of labour by 25%
Syntocin use by 50%
Pain medication by 31%
Need for forcep deliveries by 34%
Requests for epidurals by 10 - 60%
* Marshall H. Klaus, MD, John H. Kennell, MD and Phyllis H. Klaus, CSW, MFT: "The Doula Book: How a Trained Labour Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth", Chapter 5: Obstetric Benefits of Doula Support pp73 - 98. Data in this book has been collected from sixteen published randomised, controlled studies which examined the labours of over 5000 women in Canada, Finland, France, Botswana, Greece, Guatamala, South Africa and USA.
What if I have a caesarean?
If you require a caesarean section, your Doula will still play an important role. Your Doula will help to support you by preparing you mentally and emotionally for the surgery, and may even support you during the caesarean if you choose, depending upon hospital policy. Women who have experienced caesarean often recall that the most difficult time was being separated from her baby and her partner. It can be hard to be scared, and alone on an operating table, completely helpless from your babies first moments. A Doulas support during this time can be an invaluable experience.
Please feel free to phone us on 02 9326 3381 for more information.
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Sydney Bubs is a unique service for new parents and parents to be in the Sydney area. We support you throughout your parenting experience, right from the start by helping you to prepare for pregnancy, labour, birth and most importantly, being a parent. We believe in continuity of care, so you will be familiar with the same Doula, Postnatal Carer or Mothercraft Nurse from pregnancy and birth to your first days at home with your new baby.
A Birth Doula can help you to have a beautiful labour and birth, and help to reduce your pain and fear. Whether this is your first baby, or your tenth! A Doula can be an invaluable, and personal support to you and your partner during your pregnancy, labour and birth. A Doula can help you to relax, to achieve a VBAC, to give you back some trust in your body's ability to birth, and most importantly will advocate for your choices and wishes.
Leaving hospital with your newborn can be a joyous, but difficult time. Discharge from the safety net of the maternity ward often coincides with your milk coming in, and the dreaded baby blues which often occurs on days 3-5. With no buzzer to press for support, you may find yourself overwhelmed. A Postnatal Carer can offer 6-8 hours of support at any time of the day or night, for as many days or weeks as you need.
Our Mothercraft services offer in home, personalised assistance to help you to get to know your little one, and give you the skills and confidence to care for your baby. We specialise in providing effective settling techniques and relaxation tips for your baby to help you and your baby to get some well deserved sleep. We do NOT use controlled crying techniques. Our trained Mothercraft Nurses use baby friendly techniques which are highly regarded safe and effective, no cry solutions.
Having a baby in Sydney can be expensive. We offer a payment plan for most services, and we accept a range of payment methods.
Our services include: