Looking For a Qualified Doula

[BellyBelly]

If you are looking for a doula please post your details here. Also please check out our Doula / Birth Attendant Locator which is a comprehensive listing of doulas in Australia.

Please no posting of links - if you wish to respond to a request for a doula please post in this forum or you may email the person directly.

[bronners]

Hi Kelly,
I am looking for a Doula in the Latrobe Valley region of Gippsland. Would you happen to know of any one in this area? West and South Gippsland would probably be close enough also. I am not pregnant yet, but am in the planning stages of my second child and would love doula support.

Thanks for your help
Bronwen

[BellyBelly]

Bronwen, not off the top of my head but if you email me your location, email etc I can forward it to some midwifery/doula lists I am on for extra help. info@bellybelly.com.au.

[DoulaRelle]

Bronners, I am more than happy to have a chat with you about the possibility of supporting you as a Doula if you want to PM me with more details if you haven't already found someone.

[Astrid]

Hi - looking for a doula in the ....area. I am going through CMP at the base hospital and hoping for a VBAC. The midwives there are great and very supportive, but I would still like someone else with me, as I still have memories of DH snoring during labour

[Julie Doula]

I'm based in eastern Melbourne and willing to travel. You can find my details on the Bellybelly directory or email me at autumnrainoz@bigpond.com

[Clare Bear]

Hello,

I am a student doula, finished the theory and just about completed my 3 births. Not sure if I am posting in the right area but I am hoping to meet up with a Doula who I can not only use as a mentor but also who I can have as back up. I really want to throw my all into this and have had stax of enquiries which is why I feel like I need to find someone to back me up occasionally. Also the training was a bit isolative and it would be good to have a more experienced person that i could look to as a bit of a mentor.

Cheers
Clare

[leesha]

I have a friend who is a doula in the geelong area! If you are interested email me at leisha12@hotmail.com!

[Clare Bear]

Hi Leesha,

Thank you for responding but I think Geelong will be a little to far away from me to really be of any benefit with regard to backing each other up. That being said it would be great to have a chat with her and get more ideas etc so I will email you and get more details.

Cheers
Clare

[Julie Doula]

Hi Clare,

I wonder if I might be of service to you with regards to mutual back up? I am in Warburton - east of Lilydale. If you'd like to chat about possibilities, my ph. no. is 0432 105 162, or feel free to visit my blog.

[dragonfly1976]

I am nearly 29 weeks and am hoping I haven't left my run too late to find a doula for the beginning of February (due date is 5 Feb). If any qualified doulas are available at that time and work in Carlton, Victoria, please contact me. I will be delivering at Frances Perry House and Nicola Bryan-Yuen is my OB.

Thanks!

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I was initially going to go for a trainee doula but I'm starting to think I should go for a qualified since I had a traumatic birth experience last time. Any doulas around Fremantle, WA? Willing to travel?

[greig4]

Hi, Are you still looking? I'm in Willagee.
Nat

Originally Posted by Neenee Jellybeanie

I was initially going to go for a trainee doula but I'm starting to think I should go for a qualified since I had a traumatic birth experience last time. Any doulas around Fremantle, WA? Willing to travel?

[traceyvon]

Hi,

I am looking for a doula who had lots of experience in both natural, uncomplicated births, and medicalised births, due to my previous traumatic birth. I live in the Hawkesbury area in NSW and will be delivering at Westmead Private. Please PM me if you are interested or know someone who may be able to help me.

Thanks,
Tracey

[joey123]

Hi. I am not pregnant yet, just starting early on my research. I have now had 2 CS and I really want to have a natural birth next time round. I am breastfeeding, so don't expect to be pregnant too soon, but we are not using any contraception, so it will just happen when it happens.

My first CS was when I was 19 and went into premature labour at 28 weeks with twins. The second one was 3 months ago. You can read my birth story here Baby Lily Born 5 June. No VBAC :( maybe next time but basically, baby's head was transverse and I didn't progress past 9cm. I really think that this should have been a natural birth had I had the right support. I am still coming to terms with this.

Please contact me if you have had experience with VBA2C. Thanks.

[Julie Doula]

Hi joey123,

Slightly OT, but here is a recent study about VBA2C that shows a 71% success rate for VBA2C, a low rate of uterine rupture, and that in terms of haemorrhage, hysterectomy, that VBA2C is safer, and that in terms of safety to the baby it is just as safe and not more dnagerous than repeat c/s (RCS).

Main results
VBAC-2 success rate was 71.1%, uterine rupture rate 1.36%, hysterectomy rate 0.55%, blood transfusion 2.01%, neonatal unit admission rate 7.78% and perinatal asphyxial injury/death 0.09%. VBAC-2 versus VBAC-1 success rates were 4064/5666 (71.1%) versus 38 814/50 685 (76.5%) (P < 0.001); associated uterine rupture rate 1.59% versus 0.72% (P < 0.001) and hysterectomy rates were 0.56% versus 0.19% (P = 0.001) respectively. Comparing VBAC-2 versus RCS, the hysterectomy rates were 0.40% versus 0.63% (P = 0.63), transfusion 1.68% versus 1.67% (P = 0.86) and febrile morbidity 6.03% versus 6.39%, respectively (P = 0.27). Maternal morbidity of VBAC-2 was comparable to RCS. Neonatal morbidity data were too limited to draw valid conclusions, however, no significant differences were indicated in VBAC-2, VBAC-1 and RCS groups in NNU admission rates and asphyxial injury/neonatal death rates (Mantel–Haenszel).

Conclusions
Women requesting for a trial of vaginal delivery after two caesarean sections should be counselled appropriately considering available data of success rate 71.1%, uterine rupture rate 1.36% and of a comparative maternal morbidity with repeat CS option

Vaginal birth after two caesarean sections VBAC2x2014a systematic review with metaanalysis of success rate and adverse outcomes of VBAC2 versus VBAC1 and repeat third caesarean sections - - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

What about a different model of care, midwifery instead of obstetric? Homebirths have a 90% VBAC success rate. Alternatively you could hire an independent midwife to support you and home and then in hospital after you transfer.

The risk of uterine rupture in VBAC labours is generally considered to be under 1%. So, 1.36% for VBAmultipleC is a bit higher. But, to keep that in perspective, your risk of other rare obstetric complications is much higher:

'A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth', which is a well-respected summary of evidence-based practice, says that the rate of reported uterine rupture has ranged from 0.09% to 0.8% for women with a single baby, head-down, who planned a vaginal birth after one previous lower-segment caesarean. The authors comment:

"To put these rates into perspective, the probability of requiring an emergency cesarean section for acute other conditions (fetal distress, cord prolapse, or antepartum hemorrhage) in any woman giving birth, is approximately 2.7%, or up to 30 times as high as the risk of uterine rupture with a planned vaginal birth after cesarean"

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/vbacur.htm

At this above link, which is the UK homebirth site, you can also read stories of women who actually did experience a dehiscence or rupture, "stories that need to be told".

Check out this montage about VBAmultipleC from ICAN

Just have to share this special montage too about a USA mum who had a vaginal birth at home after 3 c/s, to the music 'Voice of Truth' by Casting Crowns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1uEJdKvGM8

Teresa, the mother in this montage, wrote this to me in an email:

“I think the most important thing for a first time mother to know is:
No one can do this but you.
You are the ONLY one who can do this.
And you CAN do it.
The strength is there, inside of you.
You have everything you need to birth your baby.
And while it will be the hardest work you have ever done, there will be nothing else that will ever come close to being as rewarding when it’s all over.
The work is worth the reward.

That’s what I wish someone had said to me.
I wish someone had just continued to reiterate to me that
I *CAN* do this, there’s no doubt about it …
I was designed to birth my babies.
I don’t need a doctor to save me, or drugs to numb me, or a scalpel to cut me open.
I can birth my baby.
And so can all women.

Instead, the message I got from my care-providers was:
“We are the experts on birth. You are just the mother. We know a lot more about this and about what your baby needs than you do. Just leave it all up to us and don’t question our decisions.”

Sigh.

The worst part it – I bought it.

Understanding this and finding my truth, my strength and my confidence is how, after having three caesarians, I birthed my fourth baby vaginally, normally, at home.”

Don't give up joey123. Wishing you all the love and strength and hope you need to follow your heart and your dream.

[bindi13]

Hi,

I am on the Gold Coast and looking for a doula. I am due on 20 Jan 2010, so not long to go now!!! This will be my first birth.

If you are interested I would love to hear from you.

alburnhair@hotmail.com

[Dedicated Doula Gillian]

Hi there...
Needing everyone's help!
I'm trying to get the message out to moms in and around Traralgon that I'm available for doula care. I'm also willing to back-up other doulas! And mentor other student doulas.

I'm also running an Active Birth Workshop here in Traralgon for preg' moms at the end of Oct (30-1Nov) for those who are interested in having an active birth.

I qualified as an (Advanced) Doula 2004 with the Doula Training School of South Africa and did The Village Doula workshops through FFABSA in 2007. I then went on to teach and mentor doulas through FFABSA. I also qualified as a Massage Therapist in 2002 and have done CranioSacral therapy.

I moved to Traralgon just over a year ago and left behind a wonderful practice in South Africa. I now want to try build up a practice here so if anyone is able to help I'd appreciated it.
I've contacted LRH but have not have any calls. I've basically worked 95% of the time with Independant Midwives so if any midwives are willing to give me a chance... I'd be willing to attend a birth or two for free to see if maybe we'd work well together.

You welcome to contact me on bengil21@gmail.com if you are a mom in this area and would like Doula care or a midwife who is willing to help me "get the ball rolling".

Many thanks
Gill