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Introduction
A doula is a support person for a woman and her family that helps make the experience of having a baby more positive.
The origin of the word 'doula' is from Ancient Greece, meaning woman's slave. In those times, the woman of the house had a female slave whose job also encompassed attending the births of any children she bore. These days, a doula is a trained non-medical emotional support for a birthing woman who contracts her services.
As a doula, my support is offered in a broad range of ways and as such I tailor my services to suit you and your family.
It's difficult navigating the maternity system and understanding your choices - where to birth, who to have with you, what happens at antenatal visits, how to have a great birth and getting the most out of postnatal care. These are all questions I can help with.
Although my job looks different for every woman, there are significant aspects that I focus my support on:
- pregnancy as a rite of passage
- understanding the birth process
- emotional readiness
- becoming informed
- woman at the centre
- protecting birth space
- advocacy
- debriefing
Most of the support I provide is helping you become prepared. I don't mean sourcing good baby products, although this is somewhat important, but getting to a positive emotional place about the upcoming birth. Part of this is understanding the birth process and believing that it works. As difficult as it is to imagine right now, I can assure you that a well-prepared woman can have an unexpected outcome yet still feel positive about the overall experience. I don't believe in putting focus on HOW a baby is born. Most women would prefer a natural birth, and so too would I, but unfortunately many focus on the discomfort and pain. I'd prefer you went into birth feeling positive, calm and ready, and a major part of my role is helping you get to this point.
Part of feeling prepared is becoming informed about your choices. The decisions you make will largely drive how your experience unfolds. I have access to large amounts of material for you to borrow, and can point you in the direction of current research and evidence that practice should be based on.
At the birth, I work quietly and calmly to protect your privacy and wishes, and to make sure you are heard by the birth team. It is the way you are treated on the day you give birth that will make a large impact on how you remember the overall experience.
After your baby is born, I'll help you understand baby care, settling techniques, breastfeeding and how to bring calmness into your home at times of chaos. A good way to begin your new parenting journey is to debrief the birth. I'll help you talk it out and understand anything you're not sure about.
Overall, my job is to help you feel positive and invincible! It's all about you, and that's why I'm here.
The origin of the word 'doula' is from Ancient Greece, meaning woman's slave. In those times, the woman of the house had a female slave whose job also encompassed attending the births of any children she bore. These days, a doula is a trained non-medical emotional support for a birthing woman who contracts her services.
As a doula, my support is offered in a broad range of ways and as such I tailor my services to suit you and your family.
It's difficult navigating the maternity system and understanding your choices - where to birth, who to have with you, what happens at antenatal visits, how to have a great birth and getting the most out of postnatal care. These are all questions I can help with.
Although my job looks different for every woman, there are significant aspects that I focus my support on:
- pregnancy as a rite of passage
- understanding the birth process
- emotional readiness
- becoming informed
- woman at the centre
- protecting birth space
- advocacy
- debriefing
Most of the support I provide is helping you become prepared. I don't mean sourcing good baby products, although this is somewhat important, but getting to a positive emotional place about the upcoming birth. Part of this is understanding the birth process and believing that it works. As difficult as it is to imagine right now, I can assure you that a well-prepared woman can have an unexpected outcome yet still feel positive about the overall experience. I don't believe in putting focus on HOW a baby is born. Most women would prefer a natural birth, and so too would I, but unfortunately many focus on the discomfort and pain. I'd prefer you went into birth feeling positive, calm and ready, and a major part of my role is helping you get to this point.
Part of feeling prepared is becoming informed about your choices. The decisions you make will largely drive how your experience unfolds. I have access to large amounts of material for you to borrow, and can point you in the direction of current research and evidence that practice should be based on.
At the birth, I work quietly and calmly to protect your privacy and wishes, and to make sure you are heard by the birth team. It is the way you are treated on the day you give birth that will make a large impact on how you remember the overall experience.
After your baby is born, I'll help you understand baby care, settling techniques, breastfeeding and how to bring calmness into your home at times of chaos. A good way to begin your new parenting journey is to debrief the birth. I'll help you talk it out and understand anything you're not sure about.
Overall, my job is to help you feel positive and invincible! It's all about you, and that's why I'm here.
Contact Info
Address:
Canberra City
Canberra
ACT 2600
Australia
Canberra
ACT 2600
Australia
Tel:
Jen Staniforth - 0421 733 848
Website:
http://www.empoweredforbirth.com
Offering
- doula
- birth
- baby
- pregnancy
- Canberra
- postnatal
- birth support
Hours of operation
| From | To | From | To | From | To | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | ||||||
| Tuesday | Open | ||||||
| Wednesday | Open | ||||||
| Thursday | Open | ||||||
| Friday | Open | ||||||
| Saturday | Open | ||||||
| Sunday | Open | ||||||
