Choose a Doula with She Births®

When you choose a Doula with She Births® you receive evidence based support across pregnancy, birth and parenthood with our unique philosophy & methods

Doula Service

She Births® Doula Service

Women supporting women during birth is the most ancient mode of care and has existed since the beginning of time. 

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2017) explains in detail how continuity of care from a doula is one of the most effective supports in the birthing room.

A trained labour assistant employed directly by a family provides information, care and support across pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum and this improves birth outcomes while increasing maternal satisfaction.

Over my years of working with families within the systems of birth I find the protocols and fear based culture we live in has only intensified and made it harder for families to achieve a more natural and positive birth experience.

For 20 years I have supported families through their birthing experience as a doula – this is where I discovered the most about childbirth, transformation and pain relief. 

Childbirth can be scary and it will definitely be one of the most intense life events we go through. The birth room is the coalface where I created She Births® but also where I developed the Doula Service offerings we now mentor our team with.

I am extremely happy to be able to offer our bespoke Doula Service infused with the unique She Births® philosophy and methodology for pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

You can rest assured when hiring a doula with us you are making a great investment in your family’s happiness. 

Our Doulas provide you and your partner with the best evidence-based support across this powerful and transformative time.

Nadine xxx

Why I love being a Doula

Published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2017) the continuous support of a Doula is proven to result in:

Increased spontaneous vaginal birth

Decreased epidural & c-section rates

Shortened labour time

Increased positive feelings about childbirth

A doula with a difference

Nadine Richardson, She Births® founder is one of the longest standing doulas in the eastern suburbs of Sydney and with over half of our families asking her to recommend or send her little black book of doulas, she decided to curate a team of the best in the business all trained and experienced in the She Births® methodology.

Our doulas are experienced, intelligent, insightful, creative and nurturing. All these qualities are essential for a really great birth experience and birth outcomes. Our doulas have been trained in the She Births® method and practical tools and have worked alongside Nadine.

They value the importance of evidence-based and high quality antenatal education. After completing your education with us a doula is able to hold space. She provides a container for discourse that will allow you to dive deeper into any fears or limiting beliefs and can facilitate ritual to nurture and support you on the inner transformational journey.

You can also learn a little more from the video below, taken from our Full Online Course.

Continuity of care

Our Doula Service is only for families who have completed the full She Births® course either online or face to face.

This allows for continuity in language, principles and tools. Our packages are uniquely created for body, mind and soul and you can tailor them for your needs and your budget.

What is a Doula? Why do you need one!
Difference between Doulas and Midwives - PODCAST
Birth Story: How Dads and Doulas work as a team

The Role Of A Doula - As told by a She Births® family

Tell us about yourself and let us find your Doula

Tell us a bit about you

Fill out the form below and let us know about your pregnancy and what type of birth experience you are hoping to have. We will come back to organise a personalised phone catch-up.

Explore your needs and wishes

During your 30-min chat with our Coordinator Amélie Patrux (who is a doula herself), you will understand how a doula can support your unique and individual needs, and birth preferences. Our service is based upon what Nadine has been providing to families for many years and what thousands of mums have told us they really want and need.

Let us find your Doula

Searching for a doula on Google isn't easy. So many different profiles out there ! Where to start?! Some might be great with marketing and have an efficient website but your best match might be a doula who only works by word-of-mouth ! We have a team of over 40 doulas with a wide range of profiles and skills. We will hold your hand across the 'meet and greet stage' so you can choose the best doula for your family.

The first phone chat with Amélie the She Births® Doula Coordinator was the most helpful part in making Rob and I feel like we were listened to and in helping us articulate what our needs were for our upcoming birth. We felt completely supported and heard as to what we wanted. It informed us of what options were available to match any budget and what the step by step process would be. The booking service was efficient and effective in finding someone in line with what we were after.

MaryAnn and Robert KELLY, first pregnancy

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL

I knew I wanted the support of a doula for the birth of our first baby, but didn't know where or how to start looking. Amélie, the She Births® Doula Coordinator, was wonderful - she took time to get to know me, my background, and my hopes for the pregnancy and birth. We talked about the type of support I was hoping for during my labour, and any concerns or fears I had. Amelie's experience shon through - she spoke with many doulas before introducing me to someone. The fit felt perfect! I didn't feel the need to speak with anyone else. Our doula, Jo, has been a huge help already during our pregnancy and I feel reassured by her many years of experience. I know she will be an invaluable source of emotional and physical support, and a strong advocate for us, during the labour and birth. She also gently encourages and draws out my own inner strength and resources, and I've seen my husband's confidence increase too. I'm grateful for Amelie's help and her ability to understand us in order to find a wonderful match. Thank you!

Emma and Scott HOUSTON, first pregnancy

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL

The doula service through She Births® made selecting a doula a really enjoyable experience. Having an experienced yet impartial person to discuss our hopes and needs in a doula was extremely beneficial, and prompted us to think of questions/elements we hadn’t thought of ourselves. It was really reassuring to know that each doula would be across the She Births® course, so our main focus was ensuring we connected with them. That we could meet them and chat prior to booking in was so helpful! Overall the service was very efficient & smooth and we felt very supported by the She Births® team in our birth journey.

Sami BLOOM and Mike DEBES, first pregnancy with baby Avery

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL

Amélie, was my first point of contact, she explained the process of finding the right doula to support my personal birthing journey. I immediately knew I was in good hands. I was put in touch with 3 potential doulas to see which one was right for me, Amélie included as she was also an experienced She Births® Doula. I had video interviews with each of them in turn and in the end I felt Amélie’s approach was the right fit for us. I would highly recommend the She Births® Doula Service to mums who want that strong support through the biggest moment of their lives.

Justina GILL and Philip KEAN, first pregnancy with baby Isabel

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL

When we decided we wanted to pursue a She Births® Doula, Amélie the Doula Coordinator, was there to help us navigate the decision. She helped us to work out what was important to us in a doula and what services we required. Amelie set up a meeting for us and broke down the pricing structure. She was incredibly helpful.

Habib and Alison BRIAN, second pregnancy with baby Eliza

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL

We knew we wanted a doula but struggled with how to find the right one. We spent some time on google researching. In the end, a mutual friend put me in touch with Amélie from She Births® and she took the time to chat about my birth preferences, the type of couple we are and what we'd be looking for in a Doula. That week she set up appointments, and it was at the first interview with the first Doula that we knew she was perfect for us. We are so happy we chose to get expert guidance from She Births and so delighted with our Doula.

Naomi JUDGE and Ben, first pregnancy

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL

Amélie, the She Births® Doula Coordinator, was most professional in helping us determine the most suitable doula for the birth of our baby boy. She took the time to explain what our options were and educated us about the different styles and personalities of doulas, so she could put forward the most suitable recommendations for us. The process was smooth and prompt, and Amélie was delightful.

Annabel and Mark KING, first pregnancy with baby Winston

COORDINATION SUPPORT TESTIMONIAL
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Read more testimonials

Watch Nadine Richardson discuss Doula Support

Read more testimonials

Me and my partner are both from the UK and with Covid unfortunately this meant none of our family would be able to fly over to help support us through the pregnancy, labour or post-birth. A friend recommended the She Births® course, which was fantastic and shortly after this we decided to hire a doula through the She Births® Doula Service. She was such a huge support. She helped us feel prepared, relaxed and excited for the birth. Always on hand for any questions and giving us lots of confidence in ourselves. A few weeks before the due date we, unfortunately, went into another lockdown, which meant our doula would not be able to join us at the hospital. We made a game plan and when my labour started she was the first person I called, she came over to our home and laboured with us - she was so gentle and encouraging, keeping us calm and relaxed and knowing when was the right time to head to the hospital, she took us to the hospital and was on the phone to Sam on and off throughout the labour. Our midwife was also amazing and I felt in very good care. We arrived at the hospital at 1:30 and our little Romy was born by 5:30. It was a very calm and intimate birth (natural delivery with no pain relief or interventions) I'm really grateful to our doula for helping set us up in the right mindset before getting to the hospital, labour is just as much a psychological journey as it is a physical one and anything you can do to approach it with calm and confidence is going to be a huge help

Charlotte, Sam & baby Romy (first child, August 2021)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALRecommended She Births® Doula
We were so lucky to find our doula through you guys and then to have permissions for her to attend the birth during Covid. It made a huge difference. Our baby was born very quickly, with labor starting at 2:20 and his birth at 5:05. Despite the speed, everything felt in control and calm. Our doula had a load of advice Pre-birth that I believe contributed to a comfortable labour (without back pain this time). Our son was born naturally and without interventions. The hospital staff were completely supportive of our hands-off approach and allowed for physiological third stage, delayed cord clamping and extended skin-to-skin. This experience was completely different to our first birth. Our doula was always professional, provided advice for antenatal, birth and post natal, connected us with chiropractic professionals, helped us negotiate Covid rules and calmly supported us throughout the intensity of labour. Thanks again for your support. I hope others will be as lucky during the harsh Covid rules !

Claire, Cameron & baby Lewyn Watts (second child, July 2021)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALRecommended She Births® Doula

We met with our Doula three times prior to my due date to prepare for the birth. She spent the time understanding how we wanted to be supported as well as arming us with knowledge to help us feel confident and prepared for what was to come. I eventually had to be induced due to being passed 42 weeks and during that time our Doula was such a huge support to myself and to my husband. In the end my labour didn’t progress and I ended up having to have a C-Section, an outcome I had not prepared for. She gave us a crash course on what to expect and told us of all the questions. Because of her great advice we ended up having a beautiful C-section experience. Our Doula helped me unpack this with a birth debrief which allowed me to work through my thoughts around my c-section and come to peace with this providing not only emotional support but helped me understand why certain decisions were made from a medical perspective. Her tireless support throughout the experience was incredible and she coached me through one of the most challenging moments of my life.

Justina Gill, Philip Kean & baby Isabel (first child, May 2020)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALRecommended She Births® Doula

From the moment we spoke to our Doula, we felt incredibly supported. She became both a source of inspiration to us and an educator and confidant. She never pushed anything on us, but really listened to what we wanted and reminded us of it through our journey. She was always on call, always free for advice or lending a resource, and helped guide us and practice She Births® methods. During birth, she kept reminding us of our wishes, and was a strong yet soft presence in the room. We feel very lucky with the experience we had and we know she was a huge part of it.

Sami Bloom, Mike Debes & baby Avery (first child, August 2020)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALRecommended She Births® Doula

Our Doula supported us during the late pregnancy and birth of our baby boy. Given Covid, we had to work around some difficult restrictions. My husband and I first met with her via zoom and her advice was helpful in shaping our birth plan. She played a very important and valuable role as I went into labour for which we will always be very thankful. Post birth, her checking in via text and phone call was very helpful and comforting.

King Family & baby Winston (first child, June 2020)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALRecommended She Births® Doula

We have had the same Doula for the births of our two children. The support for both of us as a couple, in such a sensitive time, has been invaluable and as the mother, something I wouldn’t want to go without. There is a softness you’d expect to having a doula support you as a woman giving birth, but there is also a toughness that comes out while you are vulnerable and cannot speak up for yourself. I felt incredibly protected by our Doula in both births and feel the outcomes were very positive in large part to her being there. No matter the journey your birthing day takes, if you’ve done the She Births® course and have a doula, you could not be better prepared for a safe, sacred and beautiful time.

Chris & Nicole Nelius, two pregnancies with She Births®

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALRecommended She Births® Doula

From my waters breaking to Beau being born was a total of 7 hours. The whole team was so busy that whole time. Everyone had a role, no one had a free moment and it worked so well. It contributed to a great outcome. In business, everyone has a role to play to get the best outcome for the company. Birth is not easy, so why would we not do it this way too? With the right team, it really is possible to have the best result you hope for. Support in the room is everything too. There is no way I would have had the outcome that I had if I didn't have a support team. You need people to advocate for you when you can't. We did a lot of work with Nadine about birth and about postpartum too, which was key.

Deborah Symond O'Neil, Ned O'Neil & baby Beau (first child, February 2020)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALDoula : Nadine Richardson

Once we met our Doula Nadine, we knew she had to be the one for us! We both felt 100% comfortable and confident and knew that she had to be there for the birth of our baby. She came to stay in Newcastle to be nearby if I went into labour. We went for walks, she came to my house and delivered me suggested vitamins and treatments. Nadine was my sounding board and provided a lot of advice and emotional support. She attended a hospital visit with me, which involved discussions with the head of the obstetrics department at our hospital and helped me to make some hard decisions re scanning and inductions. Nadine also came to the house and spent time with me doing natural inductions (acupressure), massage, visualisations (meditation) and spent a lot of time talking through all of my feelings and fears. She was there for my husband and I every step of the way, including the birth that was past 42 weeks! I don't think words will express what she was to us (my husband and I) during the lead up to and for our birth. She went over and above what her role is and we are so eternally grateful for her support!

Alison Brian with baby Eliza (second child, June 2020)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALDoula : Nadine Richardson

I am so glad that we were able to have our Doula Nadine assist us in the journey. My fear of not being able to provide Alison adequate support during labour and birth was alleviated when I knew she would be there to assist us. Her confidence and beautiful aura and of course the years of experience and knowledge she had helped to reassure my faith in myself as a competent support person. COVID-19 forced hospitals to change rules and policies rapidly and we were anxious as to how we could achieve the birthing experience we were aiming for. Fortunately with the hospitals management’s understanding, Nadine was there during labour in hospital to assist us. Her presence not only assured Alison that things were going normally, but she was also able to remind me how to appropriately provide support for Alison. I am very grateful to Nadine for the care and support she provided through the different stages of pregnancy.

Habib Mallik, Alison's partner & baby Eliza (June 2020)

SHE BIRTHS® DOULA TESTIMONIALDoula : Nadine Richardson
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FAQS

All our doulas have been selected by Nadine and trained in the She Births® method or worked alongside Nadine. This allows for continuity in language, principles and tools and you will be on the same page during your antenatal visits and during your birth whether you’re talking ‘Coffee Plunger Breath’ or utilising the B.R.A.N.D acronym. 

Our She Births® Doula Packages are only for people who have completed a She Births® course either online (full course) or face to face. Again, this allows for continuity in language, principles and tools between the clients and the doula. Our doulas enjoy working with She Births® families as education is the most important tool to have an empowering and beautiful birth.

The earlier the better! Good doulas are booked early and fast! At She Births® we recommend you select your doula around 18 weeks. If you are doing a fetal morphology scan around that time it might be good to confirm your doula once you have the results as that can sometimes throw a few different birth ideas into the mix with placenta position etc.

However, please get in touch with Amelie our Doula Coordinator as early as possible (13 -18 weeks) to do all the admin steps and select your package because our team get booked up very early, and especially if your Estimated Due Date falls on busy holiday times! 

According to a 2017 Cochrane Database Systematic Review, continuous support in labor may improve a number of outcomes for both mother and baby:

  • increased spontaneous vaginal birth
  • shorter duration of labour
  • decreased caesarean birth
  • decreased instrumental vaginal birth
  • decreased use of regional analgesia and any analgesia
  • decreased low five‐minute Apgar score and
  • reduced negative feelings about childbirth experience

Continuous support from a person who is present solely to provide support, is not a member of the woman’s own network, is experienced in providing labor support, has at least a modest amount of training  appears beneficial. No adverse outcomes have been identified.

View the full Cochrane review

Engaging with a doula is a very ancient mode of care during the birthing rite of passage yet the contemporary role of “doula” first emerged from the grassroots natural birth movement in the United States in the 1960s. The word originates from the Greek meaning ‘woman’s servant’ and the term doula was first used in a 1969 anthropological study conducted by Dana Raphael, a protégée of Margaret Mead. 

Of course you can! Complete the above form that will get sent straight to Amelie, our Doula Coordinator. She will send you more info and will organise a phone call with you to discuss everything in detail.