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Emma Barton Doula, Sydney (2026)

10/01/2023

Book in your birth support.

04/12/2022

We are currently in the middle of the 16 days of activism, an international campaign to raise awareness about, and ultimately bring an end to gender-based violence.

I thought this would be a good time to share my story working with Emily. Emily is from Papua New Guinea. PNG is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman, with the majority of women experiencing r**e or assault in their lifetime and women facing systemic discrimination.

Police rarely pursue investigations against people who commit family violence - even in cases of attempted murder, serious injury, or repeated r**e. There is also a severe lack of services for people requiring assistance after having suffered family violence.

PNG has one of the highest rates of maternal death in the world. Two out of three women are unable to access contraception. Abortion remains illegal, except in cases where the mother's life is at risk.

Emily married young, and her husband was an alcoholic who abused her repeatedly over a number of years. The physical abuse was so bad that Emily’s mother, fearful for her daughter’s life, saved up enough money and put her on a flight to Australia.

Emily was pregnant and sought refuge in a women’s shelter in Sydney. Here, she was linked with the Doula Heart Network, a service that provides pro bono doula support to disadvantaged women. And so we began working together.

As you can imagine, it’s very daunting being alone and pregnant in a foreign country. I educated Emily on the Australian medical system. As her only birth support person, I was with her for more than 24 hours for her labour and birth. Postnatally, I helped her complete the paperwork to register her baby’s birth - that led to a series of Medicare, Centrelink and Immigration related appointments which I drove her and her baby to as she didn’t have a car. I also took her to see a bodywork therapist to assist with the longstanding physical injuries that she had sustained as a result of the horrific domestic violence she had suffered.

This was both the most challenging and rewarding doula job I have undertaken. It’s the job that has taught me the most about what it really is to be a doula.

17/10/2022

I love this quote. So relevant for birth and all the other times when your girlfriends have your back.

11/10/2022

I was recently drawn to a post on social media that was titled “Green flags for people in your life”. The caption stated “We often talk about red flag behaviours to look out for, and this is very important and valuable as it keeps us safe, and protected. But let’s not forget to also look out for the green flags, the ones that validate and reassure us that we have chosen the right people to surround ourselves with.” And as I read through the list of green flag behaviours, I thought “Gosh, this is spot on”.

Green flag people are those who:
✅ have a calming presence
✅ respect your opinion
✅ make you laugh
✅ listen without judgment
✅ are supportive
✅ respect your needs
✅ honour your boundaries
✅ make an effort
✅ make you feel valued

Now, more than ever, I’m really trying to surround myself with people who fill my cup. And I’m striving to be a green flag person to the people in my life, and especially to my doula clients.

Surrounding yourself with your green flag people is worth doing at all stages in life, important during pregnancy and birth, and essential during postpartum and the early parenting years when you’re likely tired, emotional, feeling judged and constantly questioning yourself.

When I meet with my pregnant clients, we talk about what the postpartum period and early parenting will look like. I give you a postpartum care plan to complete, which includes questions such as “Who can you talk to about absolutely anything and not feel judged?”, “Who can you ask to run errands for you?”, and “Who do you feel comfortable asking to help out with the baby so that you can get some rest or alone time?”. It takes a village to raise a child, and this process helps you to build your village early. You might be surprised by how extensive your support network of green flag people is. And if not, then a doula can help to fill this gap x

Green flag theory credit:
Image credit:

08/10/2022

Follow these top tips for birth – they’re all really important in ensuring you achieve the birth you desire x

05/10/2022

* What is a TENS machine?

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and provides drug-free pain relief. This can be used for all sorts of pain but has been found to be especially effective for pain during labour when using a specialised obstetric TENS machine.

A TENS machine sends small, safe pulses of electrical current via leads to electrode pads which are attached to your skin and held in place by a firm gel. The pulses pass through your skin and into your muscles and tissues. This gives you a gentle tingling or buzzing sensation. The intensity of pulses can be increased or lowered based on the pain being experienced.

* How does a TENS machine reduce pain?

The TENS machine works to reduce your experience of pain a number of ways.

• Electrical pulses from a TENS machine prevent pain signals reaching the brain.
• TENS pulses release endorphins, your body’s own natural morphine-like pain killers.
• It helps you feel in control of labour and feel less anxious.
• It offers a distraction from contractions.

* What does TENS feel like?

Women describe the feeling of TENS as a tingling, or buzzing sensation. The obstetric TENS has specialised waves of this sensation that feels similar to a rumbling massage on your lower back. When used correctly the TENS should never been painful.

* When should I use a TENS machine?

You can use TENS from the very beginning of your labour. You could start using it when you’re getting regular contractions or backache. TENS is most likely to be effective in early labour, and is most effectively used during later stages of labour when applied early.

* What are the advantages of a TENS machine?

• You can keep moving around while using it.
• You can use it for as long or as little as you like.
• There are no lasting side-effects.
• It's safe for you and your baby.
• You don't need an anaesthetist, doctor or midwife to use it.
• It can be used for a homebirth.
• It's portable and non-invasive.
• You control it.
• It's easy to use.

* TENS machines can be hired inexpensively for the period surrounding your due date. Get in touch with me to learn more and obtain your TENS machine hire discount code!

Bliss Birth

15/09/2022

These images were taken at a homebirth that I attended.

It was really important to the birthing mum that her toddler was present and included throughout the birth. At the time the little girl was only 2 years old, but she was so incredibly calm, gentle and interested throughout the whole process. It was such a joy for me to support her participation in this very intimate birth.

It’s been one year since this incredible day, and to mark the occasion I wanted to share these words with you by .doula (translated from French):

“Many people think that childbirth is something taboo, that needs to be hidden from children. That this is something too intimate and traumatic, something exclusively adult. Whereas these taboos, in fact, are just in our adult heads! Kids don’t have the same perception of things as we do. For children, there is, in general, nothing to worry about giving birth, but rather something to be curious about!”

📷: Shared with permission from the birthing woman. Captured by

01/08/2022

HOW TO CHOOSE A DOULA

When you’re interviewing prospective doulas, you’ll likely have lots of questions for them such as “how many births have you attended?”, “what doula training have you completed?”, “how much do you charge?”, “what other services/modalities do you provide?”.

But when choosing a doula, THIS is what you need to know:

❤️ Choose the doula you feel most comfortable with ❤️

I know this from personal experience.

Whitney was my doula for the birth of my second child in Brisbane in 2018. When I interviewed her, she seemed so relatable and genuine – I felt she understood me and I could trust her. When I think back to the day of my daughter’s birth, I can’t imagine it without Whitney being there, supporting and encouraging me. I’m so grateful to have had her there by my side. We became great friends and have stayed in contact ever since, even though I now live in Sydney.

📷: Whitney (left) and myself catching up when I recently visited Brisbane 😊

29/07/2022

A frequently asked question from clients at the beginning of our working relationship is “When should I call you when I’m in labour?”

Thinking of this in terms of timing is futile because every woman and every labour is different. The best thing you can do is listen and respond to what your body is doing.

It’s definitely a good idea to contact me early on when you think labour might be starting. So let me know if you are experiencing period like cramps, backache, diarrhoea, you’ve lost your mucus plug or your waters have broken. If it’s the middle of the night you don’t necessarily need to call, but please DO send me a text message.

Early labour may last for some time and my advice to my clients is always to get on with life – keep busy, keep distracted. Basically, ignore it until you can’t. If you feel like you need some ideas on what to do, get in touch and I can offer you some suggestions. As your labour continues, I like to periodically check in with you or your birth partner to see how things are progressing.

When you can no longer ignore the sensations and you or your birth partner feel like you need extra support, then you should call me and I’ll meet you at your home – even if it is the middle of the night. Here, I will support you in active labour, using pain relief and relaxation techniques. When labour intensifies we will make our way to the hospital (if you are having a hospital birth).

IMPORTANTLY: Please don‘t delay contacting me because you feel that you might be disturbing me. YOU are the most important person in this situation. It’s literally my job to be on call and available to you as your labour.

Of course, we cover all of this and much more during our prenatal visits so that you are really well prepared when the time comes.

📷:

26/07/2022

I’m a huge fan of yoga – it’s so great for our physical and mental health.

Yoga is particularly worthwhile during pregnancy, when you are emotionally vulnerable and when safe exercise options are limited.

Benefits of practising yoga prenatally include:

• Improve mood
• Improve sleep
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Increase strength, flexibility, and endurance of muscles for childbirth
• Decrease lower back pain, nausea, headaches and shortness of breath
• Practise techniques and positions for labour
• Dedicate time for self-care
• Meet other pregnant women
• Prepare for the stress of being a new parent

21/07/2022

A story on birth trauma will be on the 7.30 Report ABC tonight

Emma Barton Doula

10/01/2023

04/12/2022

17/10/2022

11/10/2022

08/10/2022

05/10/2022

15/09/2022

01/08/2022

29/07/2022

26/07/2022

21/07/2022

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