Birth Support Doulas offer continuous care during labour from women who understand and are experienced in childbirth.

Doulas nurture women, both physically and emotionally during their labour and birth and offer help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage and positioning. It is a Doula's goal to help women have a safe and satisfying childbirth experience, as defined by each individual woman and to keep the mother's outlook balanced and positive.

Today, the fathers' participation in antenatal classes or their presence at antenatal visits and in the delivery suite is a familiar occurrence. Yet, sometimes we forget that the expectations of this role as a "labour coach" may be difficult to fulfill.

At times the father may not understand the woman's instinctive behavior during childbirth and may react anxiously to what the Doula knows to be the normal process of birth. They may witness the mother in pain and understandably become distressed.

With a Doula present at the birth, fathers can share in the birth at a level they feel most comfortable with. The Doula's skills and knowledge can help them feel more relaxed. If the father wants to provide physical comfort such as back massage, change of positions or help the mother to stay focused during contractions, the Doula can provide that guidance and make suggestions for what may work best.

Doulas can help fathers experience this special time with confidence by giving emotional and physical support, being reassuring, showing them how to be more effective in their role and feel more involved, and allowing them to concentrate all their energies on the mother. Doulas can also free this support person to participate in ways in which they are most comfortable with without compromising the labouring woman's needs.

When a Doula is present at a birth it is shown to help shorten labour, help reduce the need for pain medication and epidurals, and lower the chances of caesarean sections. Women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have more breast-feeding success and bond well with their baby.

Absolutely not. Birth Doulas have non-medical skills. They do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. The Doula is there to work alongside; LMC's, to support you in implementing the plan you and your LMC have decided upon.

Studies have shown that babies born with Doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postnatal period.

A Doula does not make decisions for her clients or intervene in their medical care. A Doula provides informational and emotional support, while respecting the family's decisions.

No, a Doula is supportive to both the mother and father or partner, and plays a crucial role in helping them become involved in the birth to the extent he feels comfortable.

The birth doula service is a private service, with no government subsidy provided. hb doulas currently charges $300* for up to the first 5 hours of attending a birth. $20* per hour after that, with a cap at $400* for the whole birth.

hb doulas hope to work alongside you in the quest to give families of Hawkes Bay the best head start in their amazing parenting journey.

* prices are subject to change, this hourly rate includes travelling costs to/from your home if you are within a 15km radius of Hastings. If you are further afield, an appropriate charge for travel can be arranged.