30/05/2024
Hi, I’m Larissa. I am currently studying through the Australian Doula College to become a certified birth and postpartum doula. I am coming towards the end of my training and am seeking women who would like a student doula, so I can complete my birth/postpartum experiences.
What is a doula?
In Greek, ‘doula’ translates to ‘women’s slave’.
In today’s world a doula is a guardian of birth; a nurturing presence who provides continuous support to expectant mothers and their families during the transformative journey of childbirth. A doula is a non-medical support person. She stands alongside women and their families while they make informed and empowered choices throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods. She is an emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical support. A doula empowers mothers to trust in their own inner strength and wisdom. Her compassion and non-judgemental advocacy help to create a safe and loving space in which the miracle of birth can unfold.
A bit of my story…
I grew up on a farm in Bordertown in the South East. I am the second eldest of 6 children. I studied Early Childhood Education and have worked as a preschool teacher and early years coordinator across the Far West and in Aboriginal communities for the past 10 years.
I am currently living in Streaky Bay. I am mum to Ruby and 2 angel babies. I am raising my toddler and growing a flower garden at home. Many of you in this area may know me for my flowers, but what many of you probably don’t know is that my biggest passion is birth and postpartum - it’s the fire in my belly!
For as long as I can remember, I have felt drawn to pregnant and postpartum women. My journey towards becoming a doula began when I was in Yalata. I began to become very curious about the impact of birth on women and their babies – witnessing many mothers leave their home and families to give birth in unfamiliar places surrounded by unfamiliar people. I took a terms study leave to delve into the ‘support systems’ that were in place for these mothers. Since then, I have been wanting to deeply support and empower women on their journey through matrescence. My heart, soul and mind are fiercely passionate about embracing, supporting and empowering all women through womanhood – fertility, conception, loss, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, mothering and parenting.
My beliefs…
I believe that pregnancy and birth are a rite of passage… one that is natural and normal, not a medical event (even when birth happens in hospital).
I believe that it matters immensely how a woman births her baby(s), and how her baby comes into the world.
As a doula, I want to help educate and inform women and their families of their choices and to empower them to trust in their own and innate wisdom to birth, and their babies innate wisdom to be born.
I want to help women and their babies to come out of birth feeling whole… feeling safe, seen, heard, held, connected, confident, empowered, enlightened and healed.
What does a student doula package include?
There are 2 packages:
• The Birth Package (3 antenatal visits, birth support, 2 postpartum visits)
• The Postpartum Package (24 hours of in-house support in the first 6 weeks after birth (6x4hr visits)
• Or, both!!!
The Birth Package:
Support pre-birth (3 antenatal visits). This could look like:
• Helping to create birth preferences/plan (providing non-judgemental information, discussing consent)
• Preparing for birth (nutrition, exercise, positions/movement, visualisation, meditation etc)
• Talking about labour/birth process (stages, labour positions, informed consent, breathing etc)
• Discuss pain management techniques (water, aromatherapy, acupressure etc)
• Preparing for baby/baby’s needs (feeding, sleep etc)
• Planning for postpartum (bonding, rest, boundaries, visitors, duties, meals etc)
Continuous Support During Labour:
• Being available for the whole labour
• Helping create a safe place for birth
• Supporting partner to meet labouring woman needs
• Helping mother with positioning, relaxation, breathing, acupressure, massage etc
• Present to support golden hour / help if need be
Support post-birth (2 postpartum visits). This could look like:
• Birth debrief
• Child-parent bonding (reading baby’s cues)
• Sleep/settling techniques
• Breastfeeding support/resources
• Caring for other children
• Meal preparation/nutrition advice
• Light home duties
• Support – referrals, providing resources (sleep, feeding, depression etc)
Student Doula Requirements/Notes:
• Obligation free meet and greet interview
• Need to be birthing at Ceduna Hospital / private midwife at home near Streaky Bay/Ceduna area.
• Preferably seeking women due in the months of July/August/September/October.
• I will be on call for labour from 38 weeks
• An investment of $495.00 needs to be paid directly to the Australian Doula College. This fee covers administration, insurance, the 24/7 on-call helpline and a portion goes to the Doula Heart Network to provide support to the vulnerable.
Please contact me via messenger if you would like further information or would like to meet up for a free meet and greet interview.
You can find me on social media (definitely a work in progress!) at:
Instagram: .larissa
page: The Nurtured Mum
I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmly, Larissa x
