Who is going to help 'mother' you when your baby is born?

Postnatal Doulas work along side women and their families, offering uncomplicated emotional and practical support after the birth of the baby.

Having a Doula in a person's home during the important and critical postnatal period, taking into account the family's specific situation enables those families to get a good head start as they establish the all important role of parenting. By supporting the mother and family the Doula enables the new mother to recover from her pregnancy and birth and to bond with her new baby.

Doulas may assist the family with breastfeeding information and support, or an alternative infant feeding method, encourage and develop the mother''s and family's skills with the new baby and assist with running the household (light house cleaning duties, meal preparation, washing). Doulas act as a resource centre and work alongside LMC's, Midwives, Lactation Consultants, Childbirth Educators, Doctors and other support groups.

Doulas help empower parents by giving them the knowledge that non-judgemental support and a helping hand, is available when needed. Doulas are not medical professionals therefore it is not within their Scope of Practice to perform clinical or medical care on the mother or baby for example vaginal examinations or taking a baby’s temperature.

hb doulas will have an impact on the health of Hawkes Bay as this service will aim to increase the breastfeeding rates in Hawkes Bay and to decrease the rates of postnatal depression, therefore leading to a healthier, happier community.

As parenting doesn't always come easily, employing a Doula will help HB families through this transition period.

A doulas basic role is to provide encouragement, emotional and practical support, education, wisdom and assistance according to the family’s needs and wishes. A doula is there to free up the mother to do nothing but be with her baby and to allow the parents more time to relax and bond with their new child.

A doula may provide help with any or all of the following services; emotional and moral support, breastfeeding or alternative infant feeding support, baby basics (bathing, settling), sibling care, fielding visitors and phone calls, light house cleaning duties, meal preparation and washing. Doulas also act as a resource centre and work alongside other health professional and support groups.

Research has shown that women who have the support of a postnatal doula are less likely to suffer from postnatal depression. Doulas provide the type of insight and advice that only another woman can provide.

Absolutely not. The doula is there to work alongside; LMC's, Midwives, Lactation Consultants, Childbirth Educators, Doctors and support groups. Your doula will support you in implementing the plan you and your LMC have decided upon.

This is an individual choice that would be negotiated between you and hb doulas. Some families may use a doula for the initial few days after birth, while others may utilise their support for 6 - 8 weeks. The minimum number of hours a doula would spend in your home at any one time is four hours as this maximises the amount of support a Doula can offer.

Women working for hb doulas are trained using the CAPPA (Childbirth Post Partum Professional Association) certification programme. This programme has been offered in the United States since 1998.

No. Our doulas have personal experience with childbirth/childcare, we are not medically trained.

At this stage, the doula service is a private service, with no government subsidy provided. hb doulas currently charge $20.00* per hour. 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.

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