Do you feel unsure about the interventions that are being offered to you and don’t know where to find information? Or are you worried that medical professionals will not listen to your preferences and concerns?
Do you think it would help to have someone by your side who has experience with birth and knows a thing or two about coping with pain, supporting the labour process, remaining calm and reminding you of the power within yourself?
Would you like to have continuous support during pregnancy, birth and the first months after – from the same person, someone who takes time to talk to you and get to know you and your family?
If any of this resonates for you, a doula might be just right for you.
Who are the WellMama Doulas?
We are a group of four doulas who trained either with Samara Hawthorn (WellMama Doulas Wales) or Tracy Donegan (GentleBirth). We all have additional qualifications and are in the process of training further. Our areas of expertise include: massage, acupuncture, trauma-informed care, evidence-based birth, hand-in-hand parenting, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, social care and case management, and miscarriage and abortion support.
In addition, we all have children (a total of 11 children between us, the youngest ones are 1 and the eldest are 14 years old), and have a fair share of lived experience.
We also work closely with experienced midwives, who co-host our workshops and support our learning.
What do WellMama Doulas offer?
During pregnancy, your doula can offer: listening skills, emotional support, develop coping techniques for labour and birth, access information about birth and everything related to it, help with preparing for baby’s arrival, breastfeeding support – among many other things.
During birth, your doula will: support you and your birth choices, help you create a safe space in the hospital (or at home), offer non-medical pain relief techniques, help you stay calm, help your partner stay calm and supportive, cheer you on, and remind you how awesome you are and that you got this!
After the birth, your doula will: meet you at home, check on your emotional and physical well-being, talk to you about the birth experience (if you want to), and guide you to other support services for example for breastfeeding, physical recovery from the birth, mental health, baby’s health, and social networks.
We generally work in North Tipperary, Limerick and Co. Clare. To see if we cover your area, give us a call.
How much does it cost?
The full price for the doula birth package, including four antenatal visits, on-call support from 38/39 weeks of the pregnancy until the birth, and two postpartum visits is 900 Euros.
Reduced fees are available based on means, and we also offer free support in some cases (for example for women in Direct Provision centres). Give us a call or send us a message, and we can explore options.
I don’t want a homebirth, can I still have a doula?
Really, anyone, anywhere can have a doula – doulas are not just for women who want homebirths (although we are happy to support those too! J) Your doula will support you and your choices, whatever they are. She will be allowed into the delivery room in addition to your partner if this is arranged beforehand with the hospital.
I’ve had one (or two, or more) kids already, why would I want a doula?
Many women do not experience their first birth(s) as positive, let alone empowering or transformative. Having a doula can be one way of reclaiming birth, and possibly healing previous traumas, by preparing yourself and making informed choices about what is right for you and your family, and feeling supported and heard throughout – whether this is you first or your fourth birth.
Does a doula replace the partner?
Nope (unless you want her to!). Hospitals in Ireland generally accept a birth partner AND a doula at the same time. A doula is there for both of you: to support the mama AND her birth partner in whatever way works for them. This could be: preparing the couple to work together during labour, for example by learning pain relief methods and breathing exercises; helping your birth partner understand the birth process, for example by explaining the sounds you are making and discussing interventions that are offered to you; or by stepping in for a moment and letting you crush your doula’s hand if your partner needs a break J.
Does a doula replace the midwives and doctors?
No. A doula is not a medical professional, and she will not be performing any clinical tasks (such as vaginal examinations or monitoring the baby’s heart). She is trained and experienced in emotional and practical support. In addition to the medical care you receive from midwives and doctors, your doula is your personal support: she is not rushing off to the next room to look after someone else, and she knows you and your birth partner. She is all yours.
Wouldn’t it be weird to have a stranger there for the birth?
Yes, maybe – that depends on how you feel about it. In reality, most of the people attending your birth will be strangers (the midwives, doctors and medical students in the hospital), and different people might come and go while you are in labour – unless you have a home birth. In a hospital setting, your doula might actually be the only familiar face for you other than your partner. Because you get to know her during your pregnancy, she won’t be a stranger by the time you’re ready to give birth.
What do women say about having a doula?
Here are some of the messages we got from women:
“Having a doula to support me before, during, and after the birth of my son was invaluable. The workshops gave me the ability to empathise with women in a similar life stage as myself. I would absolutely recommend this amazing group of doulas to any woman.”
Alison, first time Mum, Limerick
“Su (my doula) really helped me to connect with the process and stay grounded during my preparation for birth. During my labour her calm headedness and acute intuition made it very smooth and special for me and my family. I can’t imagine a person who is better suited to supporting a birthing women. It completely changed my birthing experience and would absolutely recommend her to anyone.”
Suzy, second time Mum, Ennistymon
“Just knowing my doula was in the room with me at the hospital made me feel safer and happier and free to let go and give birth. I will never forget her kindness, care and support. Every woman should have a doula, especially for birth!”
Michelle, fourth time Mum, Tipperary
Is there actually any research evidence for any of this?
There is. Women who have a doula – that is, someone they feel safe with and who is there to support them throughout labour and birth – are significantly more likely to have a “natural” birth (that is, spontaneous vaginal birth), their labour tends to be shorter, fewer of them will need pain medication, fewer will have c-sections, their babies will be less likely in need of intervention after birth, and women with doulas are more likely to feel satisfied with their birth experience (here is the link to the research: https://www.cochrane.org/CD003766/PREG_continuous-support-women-during-childbirth). You can also have a look at these info websites: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ and http://aimsireland.ie/no-epidural-pain-management-alternatives-and-tips/
THE WELLMAMA DOULA TEAM
This is the WellMama Doula Ireland team: Su, Michelle, Tasha, and Aisling, and midwife Sandra, who co-facilitates workshops and answers medical questions.
Su (Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary)
I didn’t find becoming a mother easy. I found the journey (which started about 5 1/2 years ago when I got pregnant with my daughter Willow), so far: exhausting, exhilarating, intense, frustrating, and full of surprises, challenges and unexpected turns. I have two kids now, and they both are the most amazing, beautiful and forgiving teachers I have ever had.
I trained as a doula because I believe that becoming a mama is a BIG DEAL. It’s a huge transformation. And because of that, it matters how we feel about it, every step of the way. If we feel supported and heard and well-informed and respected, giving birth can be an incredibly empowering experience. It can remind us of the power within ourselves, and can heal some of the pain that we may have experienced whenever that power was taken away from us.
As a doula, I walk with women during these transitions, I listen with an open mind and an open heart, and I hold space for a woman to find and speak and live her truth, and to birth in the way that is right for her. I support women in all their reproductive choices and experiences, including miscarriages and abortions. As a feminist activist, I feel very deeply that we need to create communities where we can heal each other, where we can be kind to each other, and where we can develop the tools to create a different world in the shell of the old.
Before training as a doula with Samara, I was (and still am) an anthropologist and a journalist. I have worked with marginalised communities in Germany, the North of Ireland, South Africa and Ecuador. I currently work as a researcher at the University of Limerick, exploring women’s experiences of mental health in pregnancy, birth and the first year after birth. I believe that one way of claiming our power is to understand the medical treatments we are being offered, how they match what our hearts (and bellies) are telling us, and to make informed decisions about what is right for us.
Training and experience: birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales); trauma-informed care (IICP College Dublin); miscarriage and abortion support (with Samantha Zipporah); group facilitation; fitness trainer; 12 years of experience in health research and academic teaching (currently employed at the University of Limerick); and mother to Willow (4) and Sól (1).
Contact Su: 0899864283 or susann.huschke@gmail.com
Aisling (Cloughjordan, Tipperary)
My name is Aisling and I am mama to 3 incredible small people aged 4, 3 and 1. My journey into motherhood has been a wholly transformative and empowering experience but not without its struggles. I have personal experience of infertility, IVF, high risk pregnancy, C=section birth and VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean). It is these experiences, a realisation of the immense power and strength of women (and what can be achieved when we support each other) and the wonder of childbirth that has drawn me to train as a Doula.
In a wider context, I am interested in the aspects of pregnancy childbirth and parenthood that are human rights and justice based. I also have a particular interest in breastfeeding support and at present I am training to become a breastfeeding counsellor. I believe that it is every woman's right to be fully informed with evidence based factual information regarding all aspects of ante-natal, labour and birth and post-natal care.
Women have the right to an empowered and supported birth in whatever shape that takes for her. We all have our individual desires, hopes and expectations about the birth of our babies. For me, the role of a Doula is to honour that and to support women to explore and navigate her own personal story at this exciting time of huge transformation.
Training and experience: DONA trained doula (with Tracy Donegan); Peer to peer breastfeeding group facilitator; urrently undertaking breastfeeding counsellor training (Cuidiú Ireland); 15 years social care experience including supporting pregnant and post partum women experiencing homelessness; and mother to Ben (4), Aoibhinn (3) and Ayla (1).
Contact Aisling: 086-4007140
Michelle (Thurles, Tipperary)
My name is Michelle and I believe every women and her baby has a basic human right to feel safe, supported and cared for during pregnancy, labour and birth. I have four sons and each of their births have been my life's most defining, empowering and spiritual moments. Pregnancy and birth for me as I experienced them, were times of immense and wonder-full learning about myself and my baby. The kind of joy and gratitude I felt after each baby's birth was so profound it's hard to describe with words. While all my babies were born in hospital, it probably wasn't the ideal for me. In hindsight and knowing what I've learned through each of my births, a doula would have given me the exact personalised care that I now realise I needed and wanted. My undying belief and hope, is that every pregnant, labouring and birthing woman would receive personalised care during her pregnancy, labour, birth and afterwards. This involves her caregivers being consistently the same team and getting to know her so that a bond of trust and confidence is formed. This bond has a remarkable effect on the birthing experience for everyone involved, especially the birthing mother.
Birth is a natural event. I believe a woman can labour and birth feeling relaxed, calm, confident, content and unafraid, while being completely emotionally and physically supported by someone who will stay by her side and accompany her through labour and birth. This is what a Doula does. One definition of the Greek word 'doula' is a woman who helps another woman. A doula knows and understands the way of accompanying a woman during labour and birth, so that the mother-to-be feels consistently cared for, feels listened to and heard, knows her wishes are respected and that she is being intuitively and lovingly minded while she becomes a mother. In our work, we have deep respect for the uniqueness of every birthing experience. We don't control or make decisions. We are like a best friend who knows this process of labour and birthing very well and we want to accompany and encourage every mother to know she is completely competent and perfectly designed to birth in comfort and integrity. A positive birth is a most empowering and terrific experience. Every woman deserves this. Because, for me, a well woman is a well mama. And a well mama is the best basis for a well family.
Training and experience: birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales); secondary school teacher; and mother of four kids.
Contact Michelle: 086-3907472 or michelleryan05@gmail.com
Natasha (Cloughjordan, Tipperary)
My name is Natasha Sinclair, complimentary therapist, acupuncturist and mum of two.
I've spent the past 20 years working as a healer, adding to my portfolio intermittently. My love for alternative medicine is growing as my experience has proven time and time again that anything is possible with the right guidance and support. I disovered I have a keen interest in child birth over the years as a practicing acupuncturist, after spending a lot of time with clients in need: fertility issues, breech babies, inducing labor. But for me the light really came on after my second birth... this was the life changing moment that opened my eyes to what it truly is to be a woman in all her glory, my experience was so profound that it has become my new life journey to support woman through this incredible time - to have the honor of witnessing new life, and to encourage, support and guide mum to the birth that she desires.
Training and experience: birth doula (with Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama Doula Wales); acupuncturist and complimentary therapist; mental health peer support trained, hand in hand parenting; and mother to Tyler (14) and Aobha (9).
Contact Natasha: 0876490571 or sinclair.natasha@gmail.com
Sandra (Newport, Co. Tipperary)
For me, one of life’s true wonders is the ability of the female body to grow, birth and nourish new human life. I have worked as a midwife for the last 10 years and continue to be awed by the strength of birthing women. I have recently completed the Wellmama Doula training under Samara Hawthorn, founder of Wellmama Doula Wales. I undertook this training as I felt that midwifery care can tend to focus on the physical aspects of pregnancy and birth with emotional support taking second place on the list of priorities for good care. As birth becomes increasingly medicalised, I believe it is important for women to explore how they can have a healthy, safe pregnancy and birth while also having a positive, life-affirming transformational experience. Training as a doula has provided me with skills to support women on their personal journey to and through motherhood, helping each of them to find their strengths but also to identify areas where they require more support. It is an honour to work with birthing women and I look forward to sharing your journey through pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Training and experience: registered midwife; hypnobirthing trainer; PhD in midwifery; Montessori teacher; and mother of four kids, and grandmother to one.
Email: healy.sandra1@gmail.com
