Danielle Roberts is a ICEA Certified Doula and affliated with WOMBS. She is a mother of three and in her spare time she works on her own fashion line which includes maternity and childrenswear. More about Me: Coming soon! |  |
Andrea Kuti is a Birthing From Within Mentor and Doula. She is originally from Hungary and is a mother of three with a passion for gentle childbirth and parenting. More about Me: Coming soon! |  |
Sarah Meder first qualified as a Doula with British Doulas in 2004. She is also a Birthing From Within Mentor and has subsequent training as an ICEA Certified Doula and is affiliated with WOMBS. She has one son and spends a lot of her time on artistic persuits. More about Me: I'm in my 30's, married and with one son of my own. My experience of birth took me from planning a homebirth, to having an induction, having mild contractions over 36 hours, and eventually having a cesarean section on a Friday evening. I basically got to experience a whole variety of ways in which women give birth, all in one go! For some of the labour I was even at home or in a birth pool. My own experience has taught me many things that I might not have otherwise known - not with all the training in the world. Womens bodies are designed to give birth, but sometimes we need help. There is no right or wrong way to give birth, just your way. If you would like to read more about my experience and what I learned my blog post is featured on Health24. |  |
"If a Doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use one"- Dr John KennellWhy have a Doula when the father / your mother or friend will be there? It's
normally the Dad's who don't see the point of having Doula present at
the birth. So we ask them,
would they prefer to drive a Rolls Royce or a 1983 Ford Escort? Having a
Doula present at the birth is like having the Rolls Royce version of a
birth experience! Doula's look after Dad's too, giving you the chance to
regroup and refuel during long labours. Your doula is also able to
explain procedures or medical terms that you may not understand and that
your doctor or other nursing staff may not have the time to explain
indepthly. The studies speak for themselves: Having a Doula present during a birth, in addition to other birth partners has shown:
6 weeks after the birth it was found that mothers were
A doula will be with you for the whole time, unlike various medical staff who need to come and go while they deal with other clients. She also stays after the birth and nurtures the new family so that they can focus completely on bonding in those precious first hours.
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Other great websites you might want to visit:Women Offering Mothers Birth Support is a South African organisation of certified Doulas.Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) in South Africa - information and a discussion forum on having a VBAC. Birthworks - An invaluable resource, with information on hiring of birth pools and stools. Tertia.org - Tertia Albertyn (a fellow capetonian) struggled with infertility. Her book "So Close" is humourus, harrowing and deeply personal look at her experiences while she tried to conceive. Her blog, from which her book was born, is wonderful to follow for her unique and down-to-earth approach to life and motherhood. Doula Mel - Tertia's sister and the organiser of the Bosom Buddies Project which does amazing charity work for women giving birth in SA government hospitals. PNDSA - This is a charity that operates countrywide and provides information, help and an online forum for women with postnatal depression. |
