Mandala Life

What is a Doula?

---

The word ‘Doula’ is a greek word meaning ‘woman servant or caregiver’. Today it refers to someone who offers physical, emotional and informational support to a woman and her partner during and after childbirth. A Doula (also known as a birth attendant) believes in mothering the mother’, enabling a woman to have the most satisfying experience that she can from pregnancy and into motherhood.


Pregnancy and birth support package includes:

---

As a doula, I believe that all women deserve a safe and empowering birth experience. I also believe that they need a strong support team during pregnancy, birth and the post natal period. A strong team will provide the confidence and safe haven that women require in order to have a positive birth experience. 

Mandala Life offers packages that can be tailored to your individual needs. Below is a guide to the standard doula package, but this is flexible to cater for what works best for yourself and your partner.

As your doula, I will:

Meet with yourself and your partner to get to know you - and you to know me (no obligation and free of charge).

Meet with you for 2 antenatal visits during your pregnancy to discuss your birth plan, pain management options, active birth positions and any desires, fears, questions you may have, these meetings are in the comfort of your own home.

Be on call 2 weeks either side of your due date and am available for phone/email support throughout your pregnancy whenever required.

Support you at your birth from whenever you require me (home, hospital, birth centre) until your baby is born and you no longer need my assistance.

One post partum hospital visit (depending on your stay)

Meet with you within the first week after the birth for 2 postnatal visits once you and your baby are both settled to debrief about your birthing experience and support you with anything else you may require such as breastfeeding, sleep and settling etc.

Take photos for you at the birth if you desire and provide these to you on a disk
Assist you with baby sleep/settling techniques.

Supply you with access to my library of nutrition, pregnancy and birth books and also CD’S and DVD’S that are available for you to borrow.

Cost: $800

additional visits can be arranged if required at an extra cost

Books, CDs and DVDs


What are the benefits of a Doula?

---

Labour Statistics

• 50% reduction on caesarian rate
  
• 20% shorter labour
  
• 60% reduction in the need for epidurals
  
• 40% reduction in forcep use
  
• 40% reduction in Syntocinon use (induction) 
  
• 30% reduction in analgesia use (narcotics) Benefits for Mothers
  
• Better bonding with baby and partner after birth 
  
• Lower rates of Post Natal Depression
  
• Higher rates of successful breastfeeding 
  
• Greater sense of achievement
  
• Greater sense of support 

Benefits for Fathers

• Less pressure as the sole support person
  
• Ability to have breaks without abandoning partner
  
• Encouragement and guidance in how to support a labouring woman
  
• Emotional support and reassurance
  
• Greater satisfaction for the support you are able to provide your partner 
  
• Greater sense of involvement in being able to absorb the birth experience 

Benefits for Baby

• Less admissions to neonatal/special care nurseries
  
• Higher rates of breastfeeding success 
  
• Higher AGPAR ratings after birth

Excerpt from www.bellytobub.com.au


Satisfied clients

---

Brooke was a wonderful support person from the moment we met her, all the way through to her visits once Charlie was here.I so appreciated her listening and respect for our wishes. It gave me peace of mind to have someone there during the birth, not only as a support person so that my husband could take a breather, but also a clear mind if we needed to make any key decisions during an emotional time, knowing our preferred birth plan. I have no hesitation in recommending having a Doula, and it will be a must have for me for any future little ones!
-Jo and Mark Muir


Having Brooke at the birth of our baby was the most important decision we made. Brooke enhanced the
experience by providing wonderful support, knowledge of natural pain relief, belief in my body and capabilities. Brooke did a fantastic job carrying out my birthing plan to ensure I had the birth that I wanted. She was very calm and professional and she helped me to feel more relaxed. I would recommend Brooke to anyone, she was great and I look forward to using her again!
-Gina Araiji


We found Brooke on the internet while we were looking for a doula to support us during the birth of our second child. From the moment we met her, we felt a connection and felt that she would be an excellent support person. Brooke came to our home twice before the birth and during these visits we got to know each other better and we discussed the sort of birth experience we hoped to have.

Once labour started, Brooke came to the house and stayed with us there until we all went to the hospital. Her calm and supportive presence both at our home and in the hospital was absolutely invaluable throughout the long and somewhat difficult labour. My husband and I both felt that she helped us both to relax and remain strong and positive throughout.

Brooke's prenatal visits were an essential part of our birth preparation and Brooke herself was a very important part of our "birth team"! I look back on our son's birth with pride and happiness and have wonderful memories of it, largely due to the support and assistance we received from Brooke. She is a natural doula and a warm and caring person. I highly recommend her to you!!!
Kate Frost Riskalla Oct 2009


We unreservedly recommend Brooke, she provided a familiar, comforting and stabilising reassurance to us at the time of the birth of our son Ben. She also had an impressive breadth of knowledge about what we needed to think about before, during and after the birth.

Brooke provided highly professional support prenatal and a consultative approach to our wishes on the type of birth we wanted, caring support during the birth with just the right balance of enthusiasm, warmth, encouragement and celebration at the birth (drug-free and using a birthing stool at RPA Birth Centre) and great post-natal care to wrap up a fabulous natural birthing process for us.

And such a nice person as well. The massage, encouragement and support she offered during the birth sharing the support person role with the prospective Dad and Ben’s excited and participating sisters was priceless.
Elizabeth & Ian Robertson January 2010

Gift Vouchers


What is Infant Massage?

---

Western civilisation has only recently discovered the gentle art of baby massage, something that other cultures have been practicing for thousands of years. In India, mothers learn the techniques from their own mothers or mothers–in-law and pass this knowledge on to their own daughters. Sometimes massage begins on the first day of life, but usually it starts when the baby is five days old, once the umbilical cord stump has fallen off, and continues through childhood. Massage is also a great way to connect with your teenage children when communication can be difficult, it helps to develop trust and allows children the opportunity to express their feelings.

Massaging your new baby is a great way to get to know them and to create a loving, trusting bond between yourself and your child. It is a great way to get dad involved in caring for his newborn. Fathers do not get the skin-to-skin contact that mothers and babies have through breastfeeding, so this is a great way for them to establish a strong bond with their child.

Baby massage techniques are simple and easy to do; the techniques are empowering and improve the parent-infant attachment process. There is a growing body of research that supports the therapeutic benefits. It is never too late to begin massage whether your baby is a newborn or several years old, massage can bring immediate and lasting results. Expectant parents who take infant massage instruction in advance are ready to begin this wonderful loving touch right from the start.

"Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant; food as necessary as minerals, vitamins, and proteins" ~ Frederick Leboyer

What are the benefits?

• Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles
  
• Increased blood and lymphatic circulation
  
• Reduces anxiety and improves alertness
  
• Strengthens the immune system
  
• Reduces stress hormone levels in children and their parents
  
• Can enhance emotions and improve mood by increasing dopamine levels
  
• Improves sleep
  
• Increases weight gain in low birth weight infants
  
• Relief of discomforts such as teething, colic, wind, constipation
  
• Reduces crying
  
• Enhances attachment and bonding
  
• Enhances body awareness
  
• Helps encourage midline orientation assisting with coordination and balance
  
• Increases vagal activity – effecting the digestive system, respiratory system and circulatory systems.
  
• Improves flexibility and strength
  
• Helps tone muscles and aid growth
  
• Increases oxygen and nutrient flow to the cells
  
• Improves sensory awareness
  
• Is fun and relaxing for parents
  
• Enables parents to be more receptive to their baby
  
• Teaches infant that touch is a form of expression

Private and group classes available in your own home upon request
please email info@mandalalife.com.au
or call Brooke on 0405 382 629 for further details


Brooke Martin

---

Brooke Martin - studied at the Australian Doula College and is passionate about supporting birthing women and their partners. Brooke incorporates yoga and meditation into her daily life and enjoys sharing her knowledge and practical experience with her clients.

Qualified Doula, trained at The Australian Doula College in Marrickville. www.australiandoulacollege.com.au Brooke is also a member of The Australian Doula College.

Qualified Yoga instructor trained at Samadhi Yoga, Newtown, Brooke specialises in Pre & Post Natal yoga classes.

Qualified Infant Massage Instructor, trained at the Infant Massage Information Services. www.infantmassage-imis.com.au Brooke is also a member of IMIS