Maryanne is a qualified classical homoeopath and trained doula with a particular interest in treatment from pre-conception, pregnancy, birth and beyond.
SERVICES
About Maryanne Donnelly Mitchell, Homoeopath
Since 2002 I have been a Professional Member of the Australian Homoeopathic Association and registered with the Australian Register of Homoeopaths.
My homoeopathic practice caters for all walks of life from pre-conception onwards. Special interest is in the area of emotional trauma, pre-conception, pregnancy, birth and general family health.
Discover what Homoeopathy can do for you!
Make an enquiry, book an appointment.
Print this web page and bring it with you for a 10% discount on your first appointment.
Already a patient? Refer a friend and you'll both receive 10% discount from your next consultation.
For a more detailed explanation of the benefits of homoeopathy please check the Australian Homoeopathic Association website on www.homeopathyoz.org
************************************************************************************* DOULA - Professional Birth Support
As a Doula I bring my experiences of helping women with Homoeopathy and Bach Flower Remedies throughout their pregnancies, during labour, birth, postnatal period and beyond. Also, the positive experiences of the births of my three children (now adults) and the births (both hospital and at home) that I have attended.
I enjoy striving to help others also achieve the best possible outcome, as they perceive this to be, for their labour and birthing.
The birth is a personal journey for the baby, mother and her partner -
I aim to be of assistance in an unobtrusive way to help you with this journey.
If you would like to explore the advantages of using homoeopathy during your pregnancy or labour, I recommend that you book an appointment as early in your pregnancy as possible.
If on the other hand you do not wish to follow that path, I am happy to oblige and establish the Doula role on purely traditional terms.
The initial meeting to discuss being your Doula is free of charge.*
We will have a chat, a cup of tea in my office ... this will allow you to get a feel as to whether I am the person you are looking for to share this journey with.
(*This does not include a homoeopathic consultation. If you are already a patient of mine and book my service as a Doula, you will receive a 10% discount from your consultation fees during your pregnancy.)
When your decision is made, we will have at least one, preferably two, one hour consultations with one being at your house, to establish a framework from which to work towards your goal.
You will be able to contact me via phone and email with any concerns you may have, I will be there for you whenever you need me.
After your baby is born I will stay several hours to help where needed, I will visit you once a week for two weeks post birth, following with a debrief session 6 weeks after the birth.
I will also organize a 'back-up' Doula to cover the possibility that I may not be able to attend your birthing due to an unforseen circumstance. I will arrange a meeting with all parties to ensure that you are comfortable with this Doula.
Contact me for further details of costs involved.
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Why have Birth Support?and What is a Doula (Doo-la)?
Why have birth support during labor when my partner will be there? This question is often asked and the simple answer is ‘continuity of care, mothering the mother (and her partner)’.
The emotional and physical support provided during labor by a Doula (Labor Support Specialist) creates a safe environment of nurturing and caring wherein the mother feels confident and assured , the Doula is supporting the mothers ability to deal with her labor and achieve the best possible outcome as the mother perceives it. If this nurturing, safe environment is achieved, the implications and effects are long lasting and have profound consequences on the physical and mental health of mother, baby and other family members. “The quality of emotional care received by the mother during labor, birth and immediately afterwards is one vital factor that can strengthen or weaken the emotional ties between mother and child.”1. (DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper, Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics” p.85).
The word Doula comes from Greek δοῦλα, and refers to a woman of service. Women performing professional labor support often choose to call themselves labor companions or birthworkers.” (2. Wikipedia). A Doula gives her entire attention to the non-clinical, emotional and physical wellbeing of the birthing woman (and her partner). During birth a woman undergoes a transformation, a conduit for new life to emerge. This is such a powerful journey, one of honesty, strong emotions, openness, love and hard work. This is a precious time that requires the utmost integrity, strength, trust, love and belief in the ability to birth – and the knowledge of what to do to help the process. It is the midwifes role to ensure the physical safety of mother and baby and it is the Doula’s role to mother the mother, to be her continuity of care, re-assuring, coaching, soothing, “to help the woman have a safe and satisfying childbirth as she defines it.” 3. (op cit). If the woman has had a satisfying experience, her ability to bond with her baby and cope with any post partum difficulties is significantly increased. Studies began “ in the late 1970’s by Drs. John Kennell and Marshall Klaus …ways to enhance maternal- infant bonding …they found that introducing a doula in the labor room not only improved the bond between mother and infant, but also seemed to decrease the incidence of complications.” 4. (ibid). Improved outcomes also include the physical aspect of possible shorter labors, less interventions and requests for pain medication and fewer cesareans.
Since then there have been numerous scientific controls evaluating the effect of doula supported labor compared with no doula support in randomized control tests. The outcomes have been consistently in favour of doula support during labor. “Analysis of (these) scientific trials of labor support led the …scientific group The Cochrane Collaboration’s Pregnancy and Childbirth Group in Oxford, England to state: Given the clear benefits and no known risks associated with the intrapartum support, every effort should be made to ensure that all labouring women receive support, not only from those close to them but also from specially trained caregivers. This support should include continuous presence, the provision of hands-on comfort and encouragement.” (5. ibid).
Fear and stress are factors which inhibit our ability to be healthy. If these two emotions “are lessened when a doula is present, this alone may be responsible for the improved outcomes. Furthermore, women may be better prepared to take on the mothering role when their own needs for nurturing are met during the vulnerable period of labor.”6. (Simkin,P., Whalley,J. Keppler,A. Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn The Complete Guide.2001. Meadowbrook Press.NY. p177).
Each birth is unique and will require different strategies to assist the birthing couple. It is the Doula’s responsibility to be sensitive to the often changing needs of her client, to respond to the woman, to provide comfort measures, information, to be her advocate, to offer reassurance, physical support with position changes, massage, ritual and rhythm, to be aware of the six ways to progress in labor, to be familiar with her Birth Plan and the Maternity Hospital (if birthing in a hospital). After the birth the Doula remains to assist with establishing breast feeding, but in an unobtrusive way as this is a special bonding time for both new parents and their baby. If attending at a Homebirth, the Doula helps clean up the birth area and generally be of assistance. The Doula does not have any medical /clinical responsibility during the birth.
In essence a Doula is “a person providing unobtrusive, compassionate and experienced support during labor”. (7.Klaus,M.,KennellJ.,& Klaus,P.The Doula Book, 2nd Ed. Lifelong Books. De Capo Press. USA. 2002. p.12). This reduces the mothers stress response, increases her levels of oxytocin and natural opiates (endorphins) which in turn allows the mothers body to function to optimum level during the process of birth and flood her with feelings of strength and love.
Bibliography:
DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper, Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. Labor Support Specialist Training Program 2004 Edition.
Klaus,M.,KennellJ.,& Klaus,P.The Doula Book, 2nd Ed. Lifelong Books. De Capo Press. USA. 2002.
Simkin,P., Whalley,J. Keppler,A. Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn The Complete Guide. 2001. Meadowbrook Press.NY.
Wikipedia: Doula – (World Wide Web.)
QUALIFICATION DETAILS
- Advanced Diploma Homoeopathy: DHom(UK)
- Practitioner Diploma Homoeopathy : PDHom (UK)
- Certified Doula (Doulas Of North America) : CD(DONA).
- Professional Member of the Australian Homoeopathic Association : AHA.
- Registered with the Australian Register of Homoeopaths : AROH.
Doulas, Homoeopaths, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Womens Health
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