Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a doula actually do?

The main role of a doula is to “mother the mother”. A doula provides continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, offering physical, emotional and spiritual support. This looks different for every woman but may involve antenatal education, creating a safe space to talk openly about the upcoming birth, sharing tips and techniques for labour support with your chosen birth partner(s), assisting with birth plans/preferences, infant feeding support, postnatal meal services and housekeeping assistance. The philosophy behind Serene Births acknowledges that there is no “one size fits all” approach and focuses on each individual woman’s needs.

It is important to note that a doula does not aim to replace your chosen birth partner but enhances your birth support team by having more people who are devoted to YOU.

If you would like to know more, click here to read my blog on the benefits of hiring a doula.

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Broadly speaking, a midwife takes care of all the clinical aspects of your pregnancy and birth, such as assessing the health and wellbeing of mother and baby, monitoring labour progress and often assisting with the birth of the baby and the placenta. A midwife will also undertake clinical assessments postnatally and can support with the establishment of breastfeeding. Of course there are many more elements to the midwife’s role; this is a very simplified overview.

A doula does NOT perform any clinical assessments and cannot offer any medical advice. A doula is present purely for physical, emotional and spiritual support. The doula’s focus is solely on the needs of the mother, working in partnership with other members of her birth support team to enable a positive birth experience. Your doula works for you and will support you unconditionally, however you choose to birth.

There is some overlap between the two roles, but it is important to highlight the differences as the scope of practice for each are very different.

I have booked with a private midwife; can I also book a doula?

Please check with your chosen midwife prior to booking a doula. Whilst most midwives are happy to work alongside a doula, there are some who are not. It is a good idea for your midwife and doula to meet prior to your birth so that everyone involved in your birth can work collaboratively, with a clear understanding of everyone’s roles and responsibilities.

I am having my baby in hospital; can I have a doula?

All public hospitals in the Perth metro area are usually happy for doulas to be present alongside your birth partner but please mention that you have booked a doula during one of your antenatal appointments so that your healthcare provider can document this in your notes.

If you are booked with a private hospital, please ask if they allow doulas to attend during your labour and birth as each private hospital differs in their policies. Once you have had confirmation, your healthcare provider can then document this in your notes.

Does Serene Births support free-birth clients?

Whilst we wholeheartedly support women’s decision-making rights regarding free-birth, we have made the conscious decision to only provide our birth support services to those who are under the care of a registered maternity care provider. We feel as though with our background in midwifery, situations may present where our actions would fall beyond the scope of practice as a doula. After consulting with our legal team to clarify our duty of care, we have decided that presently we are not able to take on clients who are choosing to free-birth.

What happens if Perth/WA goes into lockdown or COVID-19 restrictions are implemented?

As it currently stands, if you are planning a home birth, doulas are classed as an essential service so your doula will still be able to attend alongside your midwife.

Currently, public and private hospitals are allowing for two support people to be present for labour and birth, although the guidelines for each hospital may differ, and may change at any time. If you are faced with a situation where the hospital will only permit one support person, your doula can either remain close by and take turns with your birth partner if the hospital/birth centre allows, or offer their support virtually via Zoom/FaceTime or over the phone. If your birth partner is not fully vaccinated and this becomes a requirement in the future, you may request for your doula to become your primary support person.

Do you offer payment plans?

I require a deposit at the time of booking, with the remainder of your balance to be paid in full before 36 weeks. However, other options can be discussed in our initial meeting to suit your individual needs.

What is your policy regarding refunds?

There are certain circumstances where a full or partial refund may be issued. These can be discussed during the free consultation.

What training have you undertaken to become a doula?

I have undertaken extensive face-to-face and online training with the Doula Training Academy. I also have a BA (Hons) degree in Midwifery Practice. Please note that I am not a registered midwife, therefore I do NOT perform any clinical assessments as part of my services and I cannot provide medical advice as this is beyond my scope of practice as a doula.

What are my options for maternity care in the Perth metro area?

There are several options available for maternity care across the Perth metro area, which you can either research independently or discuss with your GP or healthcare provider. I’ve provided a brief overview here, or you can access my in-depth blog post on your birthing options in Perth here.

• The Community Midwifery Programme provides free midwifery-led care for low risk women. They have several clinics across the Perth metro area and offer home birth services as well as attendance at either King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) in Subiaco or Kalamunda hospital, and the family birth centre opposite KEMH.

• Bulk-billed antenatal and postnatal care through Perth Pregnancy Centre in Clarkson.

• GP shared-care - Most appointments will be with your GP, with some appointments such as ultrasound scans requiring you to attend the hospital. Check with your regular GP if this is an option that they offer.

• Public hospitals - your options will be dependent upon where you live as you have to be within the catchment area in order to book with a particular hospital. Click here to find out which hospital your GP will refer you to. Birthing at a public hospital can be either midwife-led or under the care of an Obstetrician.

• Private hospitals - if you choose to give birth at a private hospital then your GP will either make recommendations for an Obstetrician or you can do some research and choose a particular Obstetrician to be referred to. There are no geographical restrictions and you can choose to birth at any private hospital. It is worth noting that you are not guaranteed a booking with your chosen Obstetrician, as it depends upon their availability, so it is a good idea to have a few options. The costs for a private hospital birth can be significant, even with private health insurance. It is a good idea to check your policy for inclusions and exclusions.

• Home birth -you can book with the Community Midwifery Programme, which is a free service or through a Privately Practicing Midwife, who will charge a fee for their services. It is worth noting that the Community Midwifery Programme has strict exclusion criteria for home births and this may not be an option for you if you fall into the ‘high risk’ category.

• Privately Practicing Midwives - depending on which midwife you choose to book with, the fees for a private midwife vary but are likely to be around $8000. Some private midwives offer rebates through Medicare for some of their services. Private midwives primarily attend home births although most have admitting rights to KEMH and some have an agreement in place with Fiona Stanley hospital in Murdoch. At the time of writing, this may be affected by Covid-related restrictions and individual practitioners’ vaccination status.

• Free-birth - whilst most women will opt for some form of maternity care, it is an option rather than a requirement. There are many reasons why women may choose to free-birth, and it is becoming a more popular choice in the current health climate.

Ultimately, the choice is YOURS. You need to do what feels right for you.

Can I change Maternity Care Providers during my Pregnancy?

Yes! If for any reason and at any time (even during labour) you are unhappy with the care that you are receiving then you have every right to choose a different maternity care provider. If there are certain aspects of labour and birth that are important to you, I highly recommend speaking to a few different maternity care providers early on in your pregnancy so that you can book in with a healthcare practitioner whose values align with your own or will support you with your decisions.