Why hire a doula? What does a doula do?
There are many studies to show that continuation of care is so important when you are in labour. For many women this can mean that the only person present through the whole of their birth experience is their partner. Quite often the partner does not have the correct skills and information to support their partner in labour.
Whether you have an OB or a midwife they are very likely not to be present until later on in your labour. Different countries have different approaches to midwifery and to antenatal and postnatal care.
Both during pregnancy and after the baby has arrived, a doula is invaluable for continuity of care ensuring a smooth experience. Having a doula means that you can have support through those early days of learning to breastfeed and getting used to having a new born baby at home. They can help you get some well deserved sleep while looking after your little one, even helping around the house and getting you back on track.
The supportive power of shiatsu
Shiatsu is a gentle hands-on therapy - a combination of pressure on specific points of the body and holding and stretching techniques, which smooth the flow of ‘chi’ or energy around the body, offering both mental and physical benefits.
As a fully trained shiatsu practitioner with many years experience, I can enhance your pregnancy and post-birth experience with the magic of this therapy.
During birth, when applied properly, shiatsu more than halves the intensity of your contractions. The earlier you start in labour the more effective it is.
Shiatsu is incredibly effective in preparing you for labour and postnatally, it can help with breastmilk production, relaxation and physical recovery.
Birth Doula
A birth doula gives continuity of care through ante-natal meetings, creating a birth plan and helping you and your family to prepare for the birth. During labour a birth doula is with you during the early stages and can provide hands-on support to ease delivery.
Postnatal Doula
A postnatal doula can help you with breast feeding and soothing techniques. They can help you get some well deserved sleep while looking after your little one. Not to mention help with household chores and getting you back on track.
Testimonials
“My husband and I attended one of Justine’s ‘acupressure for labour’ classes and found the session informative and relaxing. We managed to time our class pretty perfectly as I was 35.5 weeks pregnant at the time and went into labour exactly 4 weeks later.
I was far enough along for there to be no risk in trying some of the naturally inducing acupressure points, both in the class and subsequently at home and we had enough time to practise what we had learnt a bit and not run the risk of forgetting everything when the big moment came!!
When the day arrived (naturally and a few days early...who knows perhaps some of those pressure points worked?!) I managed the first few hours by myself rocking over my exercise ball and with the use of hot water bottles for added comfort, but as the contractions increased in both frequency and intensity it was then that I called on my husband to apply what we had learnt, and it really helped!
Of course it still is hard work and painful (it’s not called labour for nothing!) but I got to 6cm dilated by the time we got to the hospital, 10 hours after labour had started, with just my poor husband for support. I did need to have pethidine for a few hours to help me rest a bit during the labour but the last 4 hours of the labour I relied entirely on the acupressure points and my poor husband (again, barely allowed to leave my side) to get through it and we made it!
With Justine’s advice I found the labour hard work, tiring (it was 20 hours) but manageable and not as bad as I had feared.
I have recommended this to friends and will certainly be calling on the same knowledge when it comes to baby number 2...and yes hopefully there will be a baby number 2! It is all totally worth any pain when you hold your baby for the first time.”
“Not only did I attend one of Justine’s Shiatsu for pregnancy and labour massage courses, Justine became my doula.
. I must admit that I wasn’t too sure about having a doula until I met Justine. I was worried that having another person at the birth would feel weird and would somehow step on my husband’s toes but I am so glad that I had Justine at my son’s birth.
I met with Justine before my baby was born, where she gave me a much needed pre-natal Shiatsu massage and she also met my midwife at a home visit, then she was on call for when I went into labour. Justine didn’t mind me texting at 4am to say my waters had broken and she arrived a few hours later as my contractions were becoming a bit more regular.
From the moment she walked through my door to when my baby was born, I cannot say enough how wonderful a doula she is, and how amazing the Shiatsu was at helping to manage contractions. I found that that having Shiatsu while I was in a contraction helped me to focus my mind whilst distracting me from the contraction itself. Justine was on hand for every single contraction and kept pressing points on my sacrum and giving me massages to help me cope.
While my husband ran around getting things ready for me to go to the birthing centre, she stayed by my side and helped create a relaxing and calming atmosphere by burning essential oils, playing relaxing birth music, giving me massages and making me laugh through and between contractions.
Between Justine, my husband and my midwives, I felt I had a really strong team to get me through labour. I managed to have a successful VBAC with no medication and I honestly have no idea how I would have gotten through it without having Justine there.”
“We are delighted to have successfully used acupressure with the birth of our baby.
After my water broke contractions failed to establish. To help labour move along I used the pressure point in the hand to get the contractions going. About 2.5 hours later I was in the second stage of labour.
During the end of the first stage we started pressure on the sacral points, to take the edge off the contractions.
During the second stage I needed continuous pressure on the sacral points (I told my poor husband to come back here and do not let go for anything :)). Then my labour progressed very fast and we had a baby in about 2.5 hours!
I would recommend everyone to use acupressure as alternative to establishing labour and pain management. Hiring a person specialising in acupressure could certainly be a wonderful support during the incredible journey of pregnancy and birth.”
Services
Shiatsu Techniques for Labour includes:
90-minute session for mothers and birth partners
Easy-to-use techniques to support labour
Includes follow-up notes
Recommended from 36 weeks
Birth Doula Complete Package includes:
Two ante-natal visits including ante-natal Shiatsu
Support during labour and birth
One post-natal visit including post-natal Shiatsu and introduction to Hypopressive (pelvic floor)
Postnatal Doula daytime hours plus overnights can include:
Breastfeeding Support
Pelvic floor health advice
Light housework
Sleep support