Doula Devotion Professional Labor Assistant

As your Doula I will visit you and your partner at home for the number of visits we organise. The home antenatal visits prepare the way for the best labour and birth for you as an individual. During these visits we will get to know each other and I will bring any information I have that you request. This may include such things as leaflets, books and DVDs that I have collected for my personal Doula library.

I make an effort to include a wide variety of information that gives an unbiased view of issues concerning childbirth. Of course I have my own ideas about the best childbirth but these are personal  and are not necessarily the best for anyone else. I firmly believe that my job is to serve YOU and that only YOU can know the best birth options for yourself.

The information I bring is meant for you to deepen your personal knowledge and begin your own exploration so that you can better judge your needs. As your knowledge grows you will be able develop your birth plan and will be able to instruct me about the type of birth you would like. I will then be able to offer suggestions about comfortable positions and strategies to assist your physical and emotional comfort. We will be able to practice these in your home with your partner to more fully prepare for the birth process.

When you go into labour I will meet you at the hospital and stay with you throughout the birth process to support you in the way you planned. If you want me to support you in labour at home you must phone the hospital when you go into labour to get their permission to stay at home for the early labour period. This is because the hospital is responsible for your clinical care and only they can advise you. On rare occasions, when a woman progresses very quickly in labour, I may not actually get to the hospital before the baby arrives. Women who have had Doula support before birth usually have much faster labours because they are well prepared and calm so if I don't get to the labour before the birth please understand that it was not meant to be. After your baby's birth I will leave you when you feel you no longer  need me. I will visit you again in your own home to talk about your labour experiences and to do any further support work you request of me.

My overall aim is to help you to achieve the best birth experience for you, whether you choose a natural or medically assisted birth or an elective caesarian section.