Q: What is a birth attendant or doula?

A:A birth attendant or doula offers continuity of relationship-based care throughout pregnancy, birth and the early postpartum period. Rather than dropping in and out of your journey, your doula walks alongside you, providing steady support as you prepare for one of life’s most transformative rites of passage.

In the lead-up to birth, you’ll explore your beliefs, influences and expectations together. This includes unpacking personal, cultural and socio-economic stories you’ve absorbed about birth; making sense of your care provider appointments; and creating intentions for both birth and postpartum that feel aligned, realistic and deeply your own. A doula helps you build trust in your body, your intuition and your baby as you move toward labour.

During labour and birth, a doula offers a calm, grounded and normalising presence. They provide emotional support, practical comfort measures, advocacy when needed and continuous reassurance for both you and your partner. This support continues into the immediate postpartum period as you settle into early parenthood.

Appointments take place in the comfort of your home or online, creating space for connection, reflection and preparation tailored uniquely to you.

Q: Is a doula a midwife?

A: No. A doula is not a medical professional and does not perform any clinical tasks. Midwives provide medical care, monitoring and clinical decision-making throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

Doulas complement this care by offering emotional support, practical comfort measures, non-medical information and continuous presence. Together, doulas and midwives can form a beautiful, collaborative support team for birthing families.

Q: What is a postpartum doula?

A: A postpartum doula is a non-clinical support person who walks alongside you as you transition into early parenthood. Their role is to nurture you so that you can nurture your baby. This may include hands-on practical support such as cooking nourishing meals, light household tasks, holding or wearing your baby so you can rest, or spending time with older children.

They also provide emotional support as you move through sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, breastfeeding or feeding challenges, and the many tender adjustments that come with newborn life. Some postpartum doulas offer gentle bodywork, grounding practices or space to reflect on and process your birth experience.

All postpartum doula sessions take place in your home, creating a calm, familiar environment where you can rest, recover and feel genuinely held.

Q: What does a postpartum doula actually do?

A postpartum doula at Radiant Birth supports you through the early weeks and months after birth, offering care that is practical, emotional and nurturing. Our intention is simple: to help you feel grounded, rested and resourced while you adjust to life with a newborn.

This may include:

• Preparing or providing nourishing meals or snacks

• Light household support that eases your mental load

• Caring for your baby while you rest, shower or eat

• Supporting siblings and family rhythms

• Support with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding skills

• Gentle bodywork or grounding practices

• Space to process your birth experience

• Conversations that normalise the emotional and hormonal shifts of postpartum

Postpartum care usually takes place in your home, allowing you to recover in a familiar, calm and held environment.

Q: Does continuous support actually make a difference?

Continuous support in labour has been widely researched, and the findings are consistently positive. Women who receive continuous care from a birth attendant or doula are:

More likely to give birth spontaneously (without caesarean, vacuum or forceps).

• Less likely to use pain medications or require a caesarean birth.

• More satisfied with their birth experience, with a greater sense of agency and support.

• Likely to experience a shorter labour overall.

• Less likely to experience postpartum depression, and more likely to report positive feelings about their birth.

Continuous support is powerful. Having a birth attendant means you are never alone in labour. You are consistently held, encouraged, and supported—emotionally, physically, and informationally—which can meaningfully shift both your experience of birth and your wellbeing afterward.

Q: When is it best to engage with a doula?

A: It’s ideal to connect with a doula as early as you can. In Naarm, there are only a small number of birth and postpartum doulas offering true one-to-one, relationship-based care, which means spaces book out quickly. Because this work is deeply personal and requires full presence, each doula supports only a limited number of families at a time. Reaching out early ensures you have the time to build a trusting relationship, prepare together, and secure a place within your doula’s calendar for both birth and postpartum support.

Q: How does a Radiant Birth doula support my partner?

We support the whole family. Partners often want to help but may feel unsure where to start. Your doula offers guidance on comfort measures, emotional support, suggestions in the moment and space for them to rest or step back without leaving you unsupported.

Partners frequently tell us they felt more confident, calmer and more connected because of our presence.

Q: Does a doula replace my partner?

Never. Your partner remains your primary emotional anchor. A Radiant Birth doula enhances, not replaces, their role by supporting them to feel capable, informed and steady.

Q: Do you work with all models of care?

Yes. Radiant Birth doulas support families across all pathways:

• Public hospital

• Private obstetric care

• Private midwifery care

• Midwifery group practice or Continuity of Care Program in a Public Hospital

• Shared care

• Planned homebirth

Your model of care may shape your options, but it does not change the level of presence and support we offer you.

Q: Can you support me in preparing for a VBAC?

Absolutely. VBAC preparation is one of our strengths because we a squarely focused on you and what you want and need in your birth experience. We explore your previous birth with sensitivity, help you understand current evidence, prepare for meaningful conversations with your care providers, and support you to build a birth map that aligns with your values and feels achievable.

Q: I’ve had a previous traumatic birth. How will you support me?

Radiant Birth takes a gentle and trauma-aware approach, each of our doulas has different levels of experience and training in supporting people with birth and complex trauma. When you read our doula decks, you will see who talks about this in their bios.

We move at your pace, creating a supportive space to explore your past experiences and clarify what safety means for you. We help you prepare emotionally and practically for your next birth, rebuild trust in your body, and establish communication strategies for engaging with the maternity system.

We do not replace therapy, but we do provide grounding, presence and thoughtful referral pathways if needed.

Q: Do you support planned caesarean births?

Yes. Birth takes many forms, and all deserve care. We prepare you for a family-centred caesarean, explore ways to create a meaningful experience, and plan for postpartum rest, feeding and recovery. On the day, your doula offers emotional steadiness and supports your partner so you can both stay connected to the experience; this is either in person or virtually depending on the care provider processes and policies.

Doulas are not always able to be in theatre for the birth of your baby, as a second person is able to be present in this space often by exception only, this is increased when a caesarean is planned but not guaranteed. A doula’s support weaves through your entire experience, and so their support is invaluable even when they can’t be there for the entire birth experience.

Q: What happens if my labour is long or changes unexpectedly?

A Radiant Birth doula stays with you. Birth unfolds in its own rhythm, and continuous support helps you adapt with clarity and calm. We help you explore your options and support your decision-making as your circumstances shift, always centring your values and autonomy.

We may take breaks and rest as needed, and we also have back up doulas in place to support us should we require it; these arrangements are made in discussion with you in the lead up and during your birth.

Q: Will you advocate for me?

We support your voice. We do not speak for you in a medical context, but we help you pause, breathe, clarify your intentions and communicate clearly with your care providers. Advocacy in this sense is about making space, being aware of your wants and needs on a deep level, helping you remain centred, informed and connected to your choices.

Q: What if I go into labour earlier or later than expected?

Your doula is on-call during your agreed window, day and night. If your labour begins outside that timeframe, we will talk through next steps with transparency, care and clear communication. If needed, a trusted backup doula will be arranged if your primary doula is not available outside your on-call window.

Q: What happens if my doula is at another birth?

Radiant Birth doulas work within their own capacity and take on a number of clients that they can facilitate within their own personal and work circumstances. The inherent way in which doulas work means that we tend to work with less families at once because the work is one on one and personalised, limiting how many families we work with enables us to minimise the chances of overlap during on-call windows. But, birth will always birth, and we will always do our utmost to ensure you have support.

If two births occur at the same time, your doula will communicate with you as discussed and arrange for a backup doula who shares our values and approach to be with you while they cannot.

Q: Do you give medical advice?

No. We offer evidence-based information, emotional and physical support. Clinical questions are best referred to your care providers. We work alongside—not instead of—your midwives or doctors.

Q: Do I need to prepare anything before our sessions?

Usually not, your doula will chat to you about this before and after your visits. Radiant Birth sessions are designed to meet you exactly where you are. You are welcome to bring questions, emotions or uncertainties, or simply arrive as you are and allow us to guide you through a calm and reflective preparation process.

Q: How is a postpartum doula different from a midwife or maternal health nurse?

A postpartum doula is not a clinical professional unless they also hold relevant certifications. We do not perform medical checks or give clinical advice. Your midwife and maternal child health nurse oversee your medical recovery and your baby’s health.

A Radiant Birth postpartum doula supports you in the spaces between those appointments. We fill the gap that the system often leaves: continuous emotional care, hands-on help, nervous system support, nourishment, stability and someone who sees the whole picture of your day-to-day life.

Q: When should we book postpartum support?

Ideally, during pregnancy. Postpartum spaces with Radiant Birth are limited so that each family receives deep, individualised care. Booking early allows us to weave your postpartum intentions into your pregnancy preparation and ensure we can support you fully during those early weeks at home.

If you’re already postpartum and seeking support now, reach out. If we can accommodate you, we will.

Q: What does postpartum care look like day-to-day?

Every visit looks different because every family’s needs change. Some sessions are more practical, focused on meals, tidying, rest support and baby care. Others are deeply emotional, tender and reflective. Many blend both.

What remains consistent is our approach: attuned, gentle, non-judgemental support that adapts moment-by-moment to you, your baby and your household.

Q: Do you help with feeding support?

Yes. Radiant Birth postpartum doulas offer non-clinical support with breastfeeding, pumping and bottle-feeding. We help with positioning, comfort, attachment basics, normalising newborn feeding patterns and troubleshooting common challenges early on.

If you require specialised help, we can refer you to trusted lactation consultants and work alongside them to support your feeding journey.

Q: Will you hold my baby so I can rest?

With pleasure. One of the most supportive things we can offer is the chance for you to sleep, shower, breathe, eat or simply have a quiet moment. We can care for your baby, wear your baby, or support you with settling while you take the time you need.

Q: Do you help with older children?

Yes. Sibling support is part of our postpartum care. We can engage older children while you rest or feed, help with transitions, or simply create calm within the home so everyone finds their new rhythm.

Q: Can my partner be involved in postpartum sessions?

Absolutely. Postpartum affects the whole family, and partners often benefit from reassurance, education and space to debrief their own birth experience. Your doula can support both of you as you navigate sleep, feeding, communication, recovery and the emotional shifts of early parenthood.

Q: Is postpartum support only for the first six weeks?

Not at Radiant Birth. While the early weeks are the most intense, postpartum unfolds across months and even years. Hormonal shifts, sleep changes, feeding transitions, emotional processing and identity changes rarely resolve in six weeks.

We offer care beyond the traditional window so you can be supported through the ongoing seasons of your postpartum journey.

Q:Do you provide overnight support?

This depends on the doula. Some Radiant Birth doulas offer evening or overnight care for rest support, feeding guidance and sleep recovery. If overnight support is important to you, let us know and we can share availability.

Q: What if I'm struggling emotionally?

Postpartum can feel raw, overwhelming and disorienting. Radiant Birth doulas are trained to recognise emotional shifts and provide grounded, non-clinical support. We listen deeply, normalise what you’re experiencing, and help you find steadiness.

When specialised mental health support is needed, we offer trusted referral pathways so you are fully held.

Q: What if birth didn’t go as I hoped?

Many parents find that their birth story sits close to the surface in postpartum. A postpartum doula offers a gentle, contained space to talk through your experience when you feel ready. We help you integrate the story, not rush past it.

If you’d like formal birth reflection, we will be offering these in an online format specifically or we can guide you towards appropriate trauma-informed care.

Q: Do you bring food?

Often, yes. This is outlined in your package and agreement with your doula. Nourishment is central to postpartum recovery. We can prepare meals in your kitchen, bring ingredients, or help you create a simple postpartum pantry system that supports energy, healing and stable blood sugar.

If you have dietary needs or cultural postpartum traditions, we honour those fully.

Q: Can you teach me newborn skills?

Yes. We can guide you in newborn care basics such as swaddling, wearing, settling, nappies, bathing, normal sleep patterns, infant communication cues and co-regulation. Our approach is responsive, gentle and consistent with current evidence.

Q: How many hours do families usually book?

It varies widely. Some families book a handful of hours; others book multi-week packages or sessions across the fourth trimester. The best plan is one that allows you consistent, unrushed support that matches your needs, support situation, energy and household rhythm.

We can help you decide what feels right during your initial consultation or planning session.