Doula "Your memories of labour will stay with you for the rest of your life - it makes sense to maximise your chances of having a positive birth experience!" If you are reading this page you either are a) Pregnant and wanting to know if and how I may be able to assist you in the birth of your child or b) Curious to know what a Doula is because you have never heard of this term. More information on Doulas may be found at the Australian Doula College website found on our Links page. Jacinda is a Doula, a trained birth support person who provides continuity of care throughout a woman's pregnancy, labour/birth and postnatally. A Doula stays with the labouring woman for the entire labour (or from whenever the labouring woman feels she needs her Doula) and provides physical comfort as well as emotional support. A Doula does NOT replace the partner but helps support him to support the woman. She is a familiar face in an unfamiliar situation and an unfamiliar environment. Most importantly a Doula will be the birthing woman's advocate - by helping communicate the woman's needs and wishes to the hospital staff a Doula makes sure the woman has the best possible birth she is capable of. "A doula's role is to offer as many options available to the pregnant/labouring woman as possible...... Then she feels empowered to make choices, And then we honour those choices without judgement!"
What are the benefits of having a Doula at your birth? *More information on Doulas can be found on the FAQ's page.*
Jacinda's story I am passionate about pregnancy, labour and birth and making sure a woman feels supported and cared for for the entire journey. I came to be a Doula because my labour experience was hideous. I was naive and ill prepared. I thought that by having my husband that was all I would need - I had a misconception that a midwife would also be there offering suggestions and staying in the room with us for the entire labour (boy was I wrong!). My husband was there for every contraction but there was no-one there for him. To see me in that much physical pain was very overwhelming and considering he forgot to eat and drink for many, many hours as well, it really is no wonder we both came out of that labour feeling very shell shocked. We did however get a very beautiful little girl and we are looking at doing it all over again in the near future - but this time I'll definitely have a Doula!
I support: Hospital births (private or public), Homebirths, Birth Centre births Vaginal deliveries, Caesareans, VBAC's Siblings at birth, Water Births, Lotus Births I will support you in however and wherever you wish to labour and birth. My job is to provide you with enough information that you can make informed decisions throughout your pregnancy and your labour, and support those decisions, whatever they may be, without judgement. My aim is to prepare you and your partner for your labour, provide support (whatever support that may be required) during the labour, and visit you postnatally to offer assistance and support wherever I can. My Doula service entitles you to: *Please note that my Doula package is for pregnancy and labour support only. If you do not want Acupuncture during your pregnancy or labour you do not have to - I will support you in however you wish. 3 or 4 sessions (around 2 hours each) during your pregnancy. We discuss your and your partner's beliefs and views on birth and how you wish and where you wish to labour and birth. These are the sessions that we get to know each other and build a trusting relationship, so I don't feel like a stranger on the big day. I will help you to prepare a birth plan if that is what you want, answer any questions that crop up and help prepare you for labour by practising possible positions for labour, breathing techniques, relaxation techniques etc. I can provide you with information on any aspect of pregnancy and birth that you may have questions on. Some clients find it very reassuring they can ask the "little" questions that they wouldn't want to ask their obstetrician, midwife or doctor about. I aim to stock my library with as many relevant pregnancy and birth texts as possible which you may have access to. I aim also to keep an up-to-date reference list of reputable websites and contact details of associations and health professionals that would be beneficial to you and your partner. I can also prepare your partner with basic acupressure knowledge to help in pre-labour and the early stages of labour if this is what you would like. During labour: I am on call 2 weeks before and after your due date. You can rely on me to be at your labour whenever you feel you need me. For some women that may be at the onset, and for others not until quite a bit later. I stay with you until baby has had his/her first feed and you have had a shower and feel comfortable for me to leave. As an Acupuncturist I can also assist your labour by using acupuncture or acupressure. if this what you want. I have access to homeopathic remedies specific to labour as well as TENS and aromatherapy oils. 2 sessions (around 2 hours each) postnatally. I visit you at your home - we debrief your labour and birth and I offer assistance with whatever you may need. Please contact Jacinda for more information. |
