In Wollongong and surrounds there are many services working to support women physically, mentally and spiritually, through their prepartum or pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. This blog will cover doulas and birth companions in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Whether you are having your baby in a hospital or having a homebirth, the benefits of a doula are well known. You will find out what doulas do, how they may benefit you, and a directory of local doulas including lactation consultants available in the Wollongong area right now and their contact information
What is a doula?
Elyse is supported by the original doula, her mum.
Doulas were traditionally in the realm of the birthing woman’s aunts, cousins, grandmothers and sisters. The passing down of parenting and birthing knowledge was always carried out in this way, and still is in many cultures around the world. Many women come to the work of birth-keeping and being a doula from a deep desire to continue this tradition of sharing and connection amongst women, and a strong passion for being of service to women throughout birth and postpartum. Many doulas are well informed about the hospital system and strive to incorporate mother-led care into the work of birth and postpartum as this is not often the case in the hospital system. In this way, their work is important in preventative trauma and protecting women’s birth and postpartum space.
Formal definitions include -
‘a person, usually a woman, whose role is to give support, help and advice to a woman who is having a baby’ Oxford Dictionary
‘continuous labour support’ which is well documented to have many benefits Evidence Based Birth
Some birth support people prefer to call themselves birthkeepers or birth companions. A birthkeeper holds space for women in the rites of passage that is birth and postpartum. Through the honouring of these passages women can reclaim the power of their feminine, learn to trust their body, and be in their power to make choices that are right for them. Birth keepers can support and guide this process.
Opting to have a doula or birthkeeper support you in your birth or postnatally is like getting a /personal cheerleader/fierce advocate and a big warm hug all in one! They are generally non-medically trained and have the primary role of supporting you and your family work toward your birth and postpartum goals.
There is no specific job description of a doula or birthkeeper. They have their own unique offerings, which means birthing people of Wollongong can find a good fit for you and your family, depending on the support you are requiring.
Common questions about doulas
Is a doula only for women when they’re giving birth?
No! In fact, doulas specialise in working with people in significant times in their lives. This extends to bereavement doulas, geriatric doulas, and life doulas. Our focus is on on birth and postpartum doulas.
Arahni, supporting Sharon at home as her friend and community birth supporter Photo: Bearhunterphotography
Doulas can be ‘full spectrum’ which means their packages include pregnancy, birth support, and postpartum care. If you’re not seeking birth support but would like support after you birth your baby, there are ‘postpartum’ doulas that focus specifically on this time. Doulas provide continuity of care for women who perhaps can’t access this with a registered midwife. In Wollongong only 10% of women can access the publicly funded Midwifery Group Practice and privately practicing homebirth midwives are currently in high demand with many are booked out. Doulas are often the continuity of care available in a fragmented hospital system. They play an important part and BBI believes everyone deserves a doula reagrdless of cultural heritage , social economic status or gender identity.
What are the benefits of working with a doula?
Doula Trish from Birth Alchemy supports a mam birthing at home Photo: @rachaeltagg
Doulas have no agenda and no motive except to sit with you through the spectrum of emotions, and ensure you feel heard, informed, and in control. It is difficult to quantify the benefits, but being seen and held in the vulnerable moments of birth and postpartum is invaluable. Doulas provide that extra level of support in-between the medical system and your immediate family. They are excellent advocators, supporters, and empower both you and your partner in birth and postpartum.
“Doulas do not speak on behalf or in place of a birthing mother, rather a doula supports their right to make decisions about their body and baby.”
The benefits range hugely depending on the doulas specific offerings. Postpartum doulas can provide (but not limited to) emotional and physical support, massages and belly bindings, cooking and food support, practical tips for baby and mother, breastfeeding support, and birth debriefing. For First Nations peoples, people of colour, Blak and brown women, having a doula who is of the same cultural and linguistic heritage , is able to provide a unique and more nuanced support that is culturally safe and appropriate.
Studies have shown a variety of benefits shown through randomised control trials and literature reviews such as:
Having a doula for your birth has been shown to reduce the risk of non-indicated caesareans (Kozhimannil et al, 2014)
Decrease the use of analgesics during labour due to supportive non-pharmacological interventions (Vonderheid et al, 2011).
Reduce the odds of medical interventions during your labour for low-risk women (Fortier and Godwin, 2015).
Improving breastfeeding rates through providing important information, and emotional and physical support (Acquaye and Spatz 2020)
“I have a supportive partner, why do I need a doula?”
Alyssa from Cherish Birth supporting a mama in hospital
Great question! A doula benefits the whole family. Humans were never designed to do the work of labour and parenting alone, there was always a village surrounding the parents to ensure they were well looked after. These days (especially in the time of Covid-19), families are more isolated. This can leave parents feeling burnt out and depleted. Doulas are excellent village-builders and are one extra pair of hands to help you and your partner navigate this journey.
A birth doula will hold space or support both you and your partner before, during and after your birth experience. It can be reassuring to have somebody on your team that understands your birthing goals, and can advocate for you when you and your partner are deep in the vulnerable work of labour.
Post partum doulas often will meet you before the birth to get an idea of what you want your partpartum to look like. This can look like goal setting, creating a birth plan together, educating you and your partner, creating expectations for postpartum life, and discussing fears, hopes and dreams.
Ideally in your postpartum period you are resting with your baby whilst being kept warm and well nourished. Of course your partner can cook, clean, wash, grocery shop, tidy and support you emotionally – but remember we aren’t designed to take on the whole load ourselves. Through postpartum doulas taking care of some of these tasks, or supporting the family to allocate these tasks to others, both parents can focus on resting and getting to know their new baby.
Local Doula Directory
Mother Instinct: Tahlia
Offering virtual and physical pregnancy-postpartum support. From being that sister that you have always needed, connecting you to village and holding you within your power to walk through motherhood the way you have always dreamed. From nourishing mumma, rubbing your feet to cleaning your house and nannying your kiddies, Tahlia’s services offer everything motherhood for your family, pregnancy, birth and beyond. Contact via Instagram.
Instagram: @motherinstinct_
Peaceful Birth Partnership
The Peaceful Birth Partnership is a small group of women offering pregnancy and birth support as well as birth education to women, free of cost or by donation for those who can afford it. Their approach to supporting families is trauma-informed and sensitive to the cultural and faith backgrounds of the women they serve.
Email peacefulbirthpartnership@gmail.com or message Becca 0416799019 for more information.
Cherish Birth, Alyssa
Alyssa is passionate about mums and their partners being educated, informed, supported and loved throughout the journey of pregnancy, labour, birth & parenting. A full spectrum doula offering support prenatally, in the birth space and in postpartum.
Instagram: @cherish_birth
Birth Alchemy
Trish is a Shamanic Birthkeeper. Offerings include Wild Pregnancy and Birth support, homebirth and freebirth. She upholds your personal sovereignty and centres you as full authority of your birth experience. Mother and Maiden circles and Family bonding rituals.
Instagram: @trish_birthalchemy
Venus Rising Doula services
Kate is a full-service doula who also offers placenta encapsulation. Kate has a passion for helping birthing women and their partners navigate and interpret the hospital system and inform them of their choices and rights.
Instagram: @venusrisingdoula
Cocoon by Naomi
Naomi is a postpartum doula who offers continuity of care from pregnancy onwards, with planning sessions, meal train organisation and weekly visits for the first 6 weeks which include post-partum specific meals and snacks for the weeks, massage, breastfeeding support and whatever you need to get the nourishment you need and the nurturing you deserve.
Instagram: @cocoonbynaomi
Briony Goodsell
Briony has a range of prenatal, in-birth and postpartum offerings. She offers sacred homebirth and freebirth support, pregnancy support (both online and in person), Aryuvedic postpartum support and ceremony, mama blessings, pregnancy and postpartum massage/womb healing treatments.
Instagram: @brionygoodsell
Birthmama maternity
Lisa is a Doula, Birth Educator and Student Midwife. Offering pre-natal, birth and post-natal support to birthing families during one of life’s greatest transitions. With bespoke packages to suit all needs and budgets, I am constantly evolving to meet the current environment we are faced with. My soul's purpose is to ensure you feel empowered and supported to journey through your birth and step into parenthood feeling confident and happy.
Instagram @birthmamamaternity
Nourish our Mothers
Renee is a certified Birth and Postpartum doula with her main focus as postpartum right now as she has a young son. In addition to her postpartum doula services, she also offers Fourth trimester freezer meal packages for expectant parents. Renee services Wollongong and surrounding areas up to Engadine.
Birth Collective Illawarra
Lulu and Sharon create a safe, joyful space for learning and sharing for women and people who are pregnant. Their pregnancy circles occur weekly where a guest practitioner or parent sometimes joins to add to the magic. Culturally safe and encouraging of all nationalities, cultural and linguistic heritages they are experienced at cross-cultural communication. A place for conception, pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Offering pregnancy circles, mothers/parents groups, workshops and events. Tickets are found on the Embodied Birth website
Instagram: @birthcollectiveillawarra
Heart & Held Co - Tori King
Holding space for women traversing the portal of matrescence. Tori offers full spectrum birth work (preconception, pregnancy, birth & postpartum) for women birthing at home (homebirth or freebirth). Alongside birth work she offers holistic beauty therapy treatments. Think blissful facials & head massages. She also offer goddess gift boxes, beautiful gifts for every season of womanhood.
Instagram: @tori.heartandheldco
Breastfeeding essence
With 12 years of lactation consultant experience, Julie travels from Helensburgh to Kiama and up to Campbelltown. Her main aim is to help mums maintain their milk supply and have that special bond with their babies.
Wollongong lactation consultants
Wollongong Lactation Consultants is run by two local midwives and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, Emma Gedge and Helen Donovan. They do home visits across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, providing breastfeeding support and advice to families, on a wide range of issues. Emma also works alongside Louise David at Woonona Medical Practice with a clinic every Thursday, specialising in tongue tie assessment and release.
Haley Findlay
Haley is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), midwife & mother offering holistic & heart centred breastfeeding support across the span of motherhood. Her approach is evidence and attachment based while acknowledging that every breastfeeding journey is unique. She provides a safe space for you to be heard and supported in a place of compassion and non-judgement. You can work with Haley at Mama Base in Wollongong on Wednesdays. She also offers home-visits and virtual consultations.
IG: @haley.finlay.ibclc
We have tried to include all current birth keepers and doulas in this article and we apologise if we have missed you out. If you are a birth worker in the Illawarra please reach out and let us know at @betterbirthsillawarra@gmail.com and we will update this and add you! If you appreciate your service being shared by Better Births Illawarra to our community consider buying us a coffee and donate to us :-)
Written by BBI volunteer and all round wonderful human being Elyse Oldroyd from Postpartum With Elyse doula services (@postpartumwithelyse).