I am a birth and postpartum doula who offers physiological and emotional support to families during pregnancy, birth and the special time adjusting to life as a new family.
During this sacred and challenging time in your life, when all aspects of your world change, the opportunity arises for enormous positive change. As a doula, I can provide continual emotional and physical support, evidence based information, comfort, encouragement, reassurance, respect and all other non-clinical aspects of care. This will enable you to feel more confident, contented and joyful while embracing your valuable new roles as a woman, partner, parent, mother and more!
The care provided is adapted to suit each families’ unique circumstances and wishes and can range from the most basic doula care to deluxe packages including birth photography.
I have undertaken doula training with Childbirth International and am a member of Doula Network Australia. I have completed the Possums & Co Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) program for providers and educators, have a current Blue Card and am triple Covid vaccinated.
Contact me to arrange a time for a free no-obligation meeting. I look forward to hearing about how I can best support you to ensure that your pregnancy, birthing and parenting is a peaceful, positive, enriching and empowering time in your life.
What is a Doula?
The word “doula” comes from the Greek word meaning “woman’s servant”. A doula provides emotional, physical and educational support to a mother and her family throughout pregnancy, labour and after birth. Most doulas have professional training, but this is not required to use the title. Unlike midwives and other medical health professionals, doulas do not provide medical assistance to mother or baby.
Why hire a Birth Doula?
The maternity care you receive can have lasting effects on your health and well-being and that of your baby and family. Throughout the ages, labouring women have been comforted and reassured by other women during the intense physical and emotional experience of birthing.
Traditionally, other women in a village provided comfort to new mothers. Nowadays, modern societies often lack these close-knit communities. Fortunately however, a doula is able to fill that role and give you and your partner the abundant support required to create a birthing and parenting experience that is as smooth and enjoyable as possible for you and your family.
Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life.
The benefits of having a doula provide support during labour have been revealed in a review of 23 trials from 16 countries, involving more than 15,000 women in a wide range of settings and circumstances.
“Women who received continuous labour support were more likely to give birth ‘spontaneously’, i.e. give birth with neither caesarean nor vacuum nor forceps. In addition, women were less likely to use pain medications, were more likely to be satisfied, and had slightly shorter labours. Their babies were less likely to have low five-minute Apgar scores. No adverse effects were identified. We conclude that all women should have continuous support during labour. Continuous support from a person who is present solely to provide support, is not a member of the woman’s social network, is experienced in providing labour support, and has at least a modest amount of training, appears to be most beneficial.” (Hodnett et al. 2013)
Reference: Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5.
Mama Cara’s Packages
Mama Cara is currently offering four birth doula support packages and one birth preparation package (see below for details).
Postpartum support packages, Baby Care (nanny) packages and Birth photography packages as well as pregnancy, newborn and family lifestyle shoots are also available.
Please read through the list of available care options to support you during pregnancy, birth and new motherhood/fatherhood/parenthood. All support can be tailored to suit your needs and will be discussed in your free initial appointment. If you would like me to provide a service that I haven’t listed, please ask!
I can also recommend other local doulas for you to meet with. I highly recommend meeting a few different doulas to find whom will make you feel most comfortable and is best suited to your individual needs. You can also visit the Doula directory online to easily find Doula Network Australia Inc members near you.
Payment can be made in cash, via bank transfer, paypal or credit card. Payment plans can be arranged after an initial deposit to secure your booking.
Ultimate Birth Package
$5500
Deluxe Birth Package
$3150
MAMA CARA’S DELUXE BIRTH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
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one initial no-obligation visit of up to 1 hour
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two antenatal (pregnancy) visits of up to 2.5 hours each with inclusions from my list of available options listed below
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on call 24/7 from your 38th week of pregnancy
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unlimited support via email/text/phone
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continuous support during labour, birthing and initial settling in time (usually one to two hours after birth)
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three postpartum (after birth) in-home support visits of up to 3 hours each with inclusions from my list of available options listed below
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professionally edited high resolution print-ready photos or birth film (number of images/length of film is dependent on how much continual support is required. Your physical and emotional needs during labour and birth will be my priority)
Support Birth Package
$2250
MAMA CARA’S SUPPORT BIRTH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
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one initial no-obligation visit of up to 1 hour
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two antenatal (pregnancy) visits of up to 1.5 hours each with inclusions from my list of available options listed below
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on call 24/7 from your 38th week of pregnancy
-
unlimited support via email/text/phone
-
continuous support during labour, birthing and initial settling in time (usually one to two hours after birth)
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two postpartum (after birth) in-home support visits of up to 3 hours each with inclusions from my list of available options listed below
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birth photography ($400) or birth film ($500) can be added on
Essential Birth Package
$1900
MAMA CARA’S ESSENTIAL BIRTH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
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one initial no-obligation visit of up to 1 hour
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one antenatal (pregnancy) visit of up to 1.5 hours with inclusions from my list of available options listed below
-
on call 24/7 from your 38th week of pregnancy
-
unlimited support via email/text/phone
-
continuous support during labour, birthing and initial settling in time (usually one to two hours after birth)
-
one postpartum (after birth) in-home support visits of up to 1.5 hours with inclusions from my list of available options listed below
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additional home visits can be added on at an additional cost
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birth photography ($400) or birth film ($500) can be added on
Birth Preparation Package
$500
After birth, there is a sacred window of time. A time for complete rejuvenation of a woman’s physical, mental and spiritual health, a time for deep, extended bonding with her newborn. The first 42 days after birth set the stage for her next 42 years.
Mama Cara’s Package Inclusions
♥ During pregnancy Mama Cara can:
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discuss and help prepare your birth plan/preferences
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provide holistic support specific to your needs
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supply balanced evidence-based information on all labour and birth choices/options
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provide birth education including the physiology of labour and birth, relaxation techniques, movement/stretches etc
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provide postpartum education – everything you need to know about post birth mother and baby care
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practical and emotional support in preparing for birth and your new baby
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debrief previous birthing experiences
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teach you (and your partner) gentle stretches and body balancing techniques developed by Spinning Babies and Optimal Maternal Positioning to add comfort and promote optimum foetal positioning to best support both you and baby
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create pregnancy announcements*
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create personal affirmations or meditations to use during labour
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take pregnancy and family photos*
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accompany you on medical visits
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provide books and other reading information for you to borrow
*additional cost applies
♥ During labour & Birth Mama Cara can:
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provide continual physical and emotional support (primarily to the birthing mother, but also to partners & children) throughout labour, birth and the initial settling in period
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provide massage, comfort measures and encourage optimal maternal positioning
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suggest ways to boost hormones, such as oxytocin, to encourage a quicker birth, easier breastfeeding and long-term bonding and love
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work collaboratively and harmoniously with other care providers
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facilitate communication between mother, partner, other family members and care providers
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hold a positive calm space during time in hospital or at home
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support during decision-making processes
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ensure you and your partner are active participants in the birth process
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provide use of my Elle Tens+ unit (by Babycare TENS)*
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take respectful, non-intrusive photos*
*additional cost applies
~any of the above services can be provided at home &/or in hospital~
♥ After birth Mama Cara can:
Whether you are planning a pregnancy,
just about to give birth
or are becoming a parent for the tenth time,
I aspire to provide the support that’s right for you.
