What is a doula?
Thinking about using a doulas? Local midwife and doula, Colleen
Pedersen shares some insights about her profession.
Colleen says that the births
of her own four children
were incredibly inspiring
experiences. She regards them
as highlights in her life and she
has a strong desire to help other
women experience childbirth
in the same way.
What is a doula, and why would a pregnant
woman require the services of a doula?
Doula is a greek word meaning in the service
of women. Childbirth is a powerful force to
be respected and a caring heart enables the
mother to feel safe enough to yield to the
forces of labour and allow her baby to be born.
How does the relationship with a doula work
throughout the pregnancy, what can a woman
expect from her doula? Birth is an important
emotional journey and continuous support
during labour and birth greatly influences,
not only the child’s birth but also the woman’s
ability to embrace herself as a mother. A doula
builds a relationship with the couple before the
birth, is with them throughout the labour and
birth and will visit them at home to see that
lactation is well established.
“A caring heart enables the
mother to feel safe enough to
yield to the forces of labour”
Who requires a doula, is it just for woman
wanting home births or for hospital births as
well? Having a good birth experience is about
knowing your options, making good choices
and being well prepared whether your birth is
at home or in a hospital .
20
Tell us a bit about the home birth movement
and what the benefits are? There is a
worldwide movement to normalise childbirth.
To change it from a fearful, medical event
with possibly many interventions, focussing
on what could go wrong, to a normal, sacred,
family event. For some the only way they can
achieve this is by having a home birth.
What is involved in a home birth? For a safe
home birth we need a qualified , experienced
midwife and a doula or a second midwife to
attend the mother as well as a Doctor who will
monitor the pregnancy to see if a home birth
is a good option for the particular pregnancy,
and who would tend to the mom if she needs
to be transfered to the hospital.
What are some common questions you get
asked as a doula? I am often asked “Why do I
need a doula, can’t the dad just support me”?
Some men would rather not be there at all.
Some want to be very involved. Most need
assistance in knowing what to do and want to
know that they did a good job in supporting
their wife. A doulas role is to help the dad
to support his wife and not to take his place.
My hope is that whatever the outcome of a
couples birth, it will remain with them as a
positive memory in which they felt supported.
The Child Wellness Centre is a multidisciplinary child therapy centre focusing on
childhood assessments and therapeutic interventions developed and implemented by a
multidisciplinary team of health professionals. Our multi-faceted team approach enables
us to treat your child with a holistic perspective which we have found to be very beneficial.
Tamarin Jakins
Mariaan Mavro
Solandi Nel
is a Counselling Psychologist who
specialises in children and adolescents,
and is also the Director of the Child
Wellness Centre. Tamarin’s dedication
to helping children, enhancing their
well-being and optimising their
potential, has been her driving force as
a psychologist for 10 years. Tamarin’s
areas of specialisation include:
is a Stellenbosch trained Clinical
Psychologist. She uses an eclectic
therapeutic
approach
to
treat
adolescents and their families, as well
as adult individuals interested in ego
development and the management of
a diverse field of mental health issues.
Mariaan has more than a decade’s
worth of experience treating:
is a Registered Dietician with a
specialised interest in paediatric
nutrition and breastfeeding, as well as
promoting optimal nutrition in children
diagnosed with AD/HD and Autism.
Solandi will be offering the following
dietary services at the Child Wellness
Centre:
• Play therapy
• Adolescents
• Assessments
• Adults
• Normal infant and childhood
• Parent Guidance/Counselling
• Health psychology e.g. IBS and
Tamarin works with an extensive
range of emotional and behavioural
difficulties, such as;
• Infertility and loss
chronic pain, eating disorders
• Life coaching
• Personality and gender issues
• Anxiety and Phobias
• Breastfeeding management
nutrition
• Diabetic education
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Children with special needs
(e.g. Eating Disorders, Autism
Spectrum, AD/HD, chronic
conditions, etc.)
• Aggressiveness
• Feeding difficulties
• ADHD / ADD
• Autism
Tracy Galloway
• Learning Difficulties
is a qualified Foundation Phase and
Remedial Teacher. Tracy provides
remedial therapy for Grade R and
Grade 1 children, offering support in:
• Loss and Grief
• Confidence and Self-esteem Issues
• Divorce
• Conduct Disorder & Oppositional
• School-Readiness, Literacy, &
Numeracy
Defiant Disorder
No.7 / 1st Avenue / Walmer / Port Elizabeth
+27 41 581 1486 / [email protected]
Pr. No. 0361682
21