Plus, let’s be honest: there’s virtually no limit to how much you can spend on baby things, and it can be easy to get carried away!

If you’re on a budget or you just want to be sensible about what you’re buying, start planning well before you hit the shops.��

To cut down on what you need to spend, it’s a good idea to decide on what’s a ‘must-have’, what’s a ‘nice-to-have’, and what you can avoid buying altogether.��

Then do your research before you buy so you can find the best option for your budget. This will save you having to repair or replace products that don’t last the distance, perhaps because they’re unsafe or just not that easy or practical to use.

Here we share our tips for what to leave out and what to really think about. Plus, for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal the nursery products that’ll give you the most bang for your buck.��

Baby products you probably don’t need

There’s no end to the number of baby products on the market. Once you start Googling anything even remotely related to pregnancy or children, expect to be inundated with ads for products you didn’t even know existed.��

But plenty of them are either luxuries or just things designed to separate you from your money. And children are expensive, so think long and hard about any non-essential purchase before you buy.��

And remember: humans were keeping babies alive long before the invention of white-noise machines and heated wipe holders, so yours will probably be okay without them! 

Here are some products you can probably leave off your shopping list.��

1. Heated wipes holder

There’s no denying that babies don’t love cold wipes on their bottoms in the dead of winter – and who can blame them? But once you’ve had some practice, nappy changes are pretty quick and Junior will be okay with a few seconds of contact from a wet wipe.��

2. Nappy disposal system

No-one likes the stench of smelly nappies. But disposable nappies create enough waste as it is – why add more plastic to landfill?

These units tend to be bulky, and the replacement cassettes can cost up to $20 and will only last you about two to three weeks, depending on nappy changes.��

Get yourself a bin with a lid and empty it often – who wants dirty nappies in the house for days on end anyway? Your baby will have to live with the world we’ve created. Don’t add to the pollution.��

3. A standalone change table

There’s no skirting around it: you’re going to be changing a LOT of nappies. But there are lots of ways to do it, and you might find that you end up changing nappies where it happens to be most convenient at the time, rather than trekking into the nursery every time.��

And if your child ends up being especially active, once they’re crawling, a raised change table can become a hazard – it’s a long way to fall if they decide to practise their crawling while you’re reaching for a wipe.��

Honestly, a nappy changing pad on the floor or bed works perfectly well, but if you’ve got a bad back or you’ve had a c-section you might need something that’s raised to make it easier.��

If you do decide you want a change table, make sure it earns the space it takes up: buy one that has plenty of storage such as drawers or shelves so you can keep using it even when your child is out of nappies.��

4. Bassinet

Babies are only tiny for a very short period of time, so it’s likely that they’ll grow out of a bassinet before you know it. Plus you’re going to have to buy a cot at some point anyway – why buy two things?

Concerningly, there is no Australian Standard for bassinets, and many of the ‘trendy’ bassinets you might see on influencers’ Instagram accounts are actually unsafe.��

If you do decide to go ahead with a bassinet, check our bassinet reviews first. We base our test methods on existing standards for similar products such as cots and cot mattresses.��

Bassinets can be great for smaller spaces, and since it’s recommended that your baby sleep in the same room as you for at least six months, a bassinet will fit where a cot won’t.

But if you have room for a cot in your bedroom and you’re trying to keep costs and clutter to a minimum, you can skip buying a bassinet and go for a cot instead.��

Baby items you could wait to buy

You just can’t predict what kind of baby you’ll have – perhaps they’ll be a ‘velcro baby’ and will only nap on you and nurse for hours on end. Or maybe they’re going to be an independent spirit who hates swaddles and can sleep through anything.��

And you also don’t know what your parenting journey will be like. If you have a c-section or birth injury, certain tasks will be more difficult than others. Maybe your dreams of using cloth nappies will be too much work if you’re exhausted or suffering from postnatal depression. Perhaps you’ll find yourself pounding the pavement every day to keep the cabin fever at bay.

Depending on your situation, some products will be absolute lifesavers, while others will just sit on the shelf gathering dust. Rather than buying every single baby product under the sun on the off-chance you’ll use them, hold off until you know what you’ll need.

These are the products that can probably wait.��

1. Portable cot

You might love spontaneous holidays, but travelling with a baby isn’t always easy. Portacots can be expensive and bulky – do you really want one clogging up the spare room if you don’t absolutely need it? 

Wait and see what your new life looks like before you start booking mini-breaks and road trips. And bear in mind that some hotels, Airbnbs and other types of accommodation can supply a portable cot so you won’t need to bring one with you anyway.��

2. Baby monitor

Baby monitors can be incredibly helpful or incredibly annoying, depending on a number of factors.��

If you live in a two-storey house or the nursery is a long way from the kitchen and living room, a baby monitor can be a good way to keep an ear out or an eye on your child.��

But babies can be pretty noisy creatures and some baby monitors will pick up every little sigh, snore and snuffle so you might be on high alert for nothing. And some kids will settle back to sleep on their own quickly.��

Although it’s nice to think you’ll have plenty of downtime when the baby is sleeping, sometimes babies have other ideas.��

If you have a clingy baby, you’ll probably either be stuck under them at nap time, or have them strapped to you in a carrier – in which case a baby monitor won’t be necessary. Or perhaps you’ll be so tired that you’ll just want to nap when they do.

Given that some baby monitors can run into the hundreds of dollars (the most expensive one we’ve tested costs nearly $800!), it’s definitely worth holding off until you know you’ll use one.��

“Another option to consider if you don’t want to splash out hundreds on a monitor is to use a baby monitor app in conjunction with the smartphone or tablet you already own – these can cost as little as a few dollars and are also included in our baby monitor reviews,” says ����Vlog technology expert Denis Gallagher.

“Or you could use a wireless security camera, which essentially does the same job as a baby monitor and might offer you better bang for your buck. We have tested a few lower cost options as baby monitors in our wireless security camera reviews.”

3. Cot

If you’re really short on space and cash, you can hold off on buying a cot before your baby is born. If you decide to use a bassinet while your baby is tiny, you won’t need a cot immediately – in which case you can put off buying one until your little one is big enough.��

Just bear in mind that babies grow quickly, so yours might outgrow the bassinet before you know it.��

4. High chair

Yes, babies grow quickly, but you’ll have four months at least before they start on solids. Save yourself the hassle of having to store a high chair until you actually need it.��

A high chair is one item that you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on. We’ve tested many cheap high chairs that score just as well as models that are much more expensive. Some of the high chairs we’ve tested cost more than $500, which is a huge investment for an item that’s going to be covered in soggy Weetbix and bolognese, and that will only be used for a few short years.��

Be careful buying second-hand

If you’re on a budget, buying second-hand can really help your money go further – and it’s better for the environment to reuse and repurpose than buying brand new.��

But second-hand isn’t always safe. Depending on the age of a product, it may not meet current safety standards, and if it’s been damaged it could injure your little one.��

And there are plenty of dodgy products out there, even if you’re buying brand new – we frequently come across baby products that fail our safety tests.��

What not to buy second-hand

Don’t be tempted to buy a second-hand cot mattress: an old mattress may be a SIDS or breathability risk if it’s too soft.��

And you just don’t know how a mattress has been cared for in its former home – mattresses in damp or humid environments are prone to mould, and second-hand mattresses could be full of dust mites that can irritate a baby’s sensitive skin.��

Buying a second-hand car seat isn’t the best idea either – we suggest you buy new if you can. If you can’t afford a new one, we’ll explain what to look for when buying a used baby car seat or capsule.��

Tips for buying second-hand baby products

But with other baby products, it’s perfectly fine to buy second-hand as long as you do your research and shop carefully. If you’ve found a product that meets your needs and is the right price, there are a couple of steps you should take before you commit to buying:

• Do a Google search of the make and model to see if the product has been recalled for any reason.��
• Check our reviews to make sure it meets safety standards. If it’s a discontinued product, you can still search for it on our site.��
• Take an experienced parent friend with you to inspect the product – they may be able to offer some advice on whether it’s in good condition and if everything looks to be in order.��
• Find out if the product has been in an accident or sustained any damage.��
• If you’re buying a second-hand cot, find out its exact dimensions to make sure you can buy a mattress that fits snugly inside – a poor-fitting mattress can pose a SIDS risk.��
• Make sure that all parts are in working order and don’t have any sharp corners or parts that little fingers might get trapped in. For prams, double-check that the brakes work properly.��
• Ask for the instruction manual if the seller has one. You may also be able to find it online.
• If you’re not sure about a product, then don’t buy it – it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The best value nursery products from our tests

Our in-house experts put hundreds of children and baby products through their paces in our labs each year. They know exactly what makes a product safe or unsafe, and how to tell if a product is worth spending your money on.��

Our detailed reviews include information about each product’s performance, ease of use, durability, safety and features.��

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from prams and strollers, cots and cot mattresses, change tables, fridges and washing machines through to TVs, health insurance and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which cheaper baby and nursery products score highly in our testing and get the safety tick from experts.

The post How to kit out a nursery for less appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• Costs of having a baby
• How to budget for a baby
• How can I trim my expenses?
• Are you eligible for government benefits?
• Start saving

The cost of the ever-increasing number of ‘necessary’ baby items can seem astronomical – and chances are your income will be dropping, at least for a while. But if you plan well, you can keep your budget in check.

Costs of having a baby

Before you even have your baby there are costs to consider, such as buying maternity clothes and bras, as well as any out-of-pocket healthcare costs you might encounter.��

Then, for the first four years of your baby’s life, you could spend more than $3500 a year on baby purchases, or almost $8000 a year including childcare.

How to keep costs down

• While you’re pregnant, consider using shared care with a GP who bulk bills. Or, if you can afford it, become a private patient in a public hospital. It’s less likely that you’ll have unexpected out-of-pocket costs.��
• Wait and see what you need before splashing out. It’s wise to buy a few essentials and then spend carefully only as the need arises.
• Make sure the products you buy are safe. Our expert independent testing of cots, cot mattresses, portable cots, bassinets, high chairs, change tables, prams and other baby items will help you choose the safest products.
• Consider investing in modern cloth nappies. They have a high upfront cost, but if you use a cold wash and line-dry them, they could work out to be about half the cost of disposables.
• Make a wish list for friends and relatives. Try to think ahead so you’ll know what to suggest when someone asks what to give you for a present.
• Avoid buying expensive things your baby will soon outgrow, such as size 0000 clothes or a pricey bassinet.
• Don’t underestimate the value of easy-care items – ideally, you want to be able to just throw clothes, blankets and so on in the washing machine and perhaps the dryer.
• Think about renting or borrowing some items – for example, many libraries offer toys and children’s books, and some councils and community organisations offer baby car capsules for hire. Not only will you save money, but you’ll help reduce landfill too.
• Shop around. Your phone and the internet are convenient for comparison shopping, as long as you know the brand and model names of the products you’re looking for. Department stores have regular sales, so keep an eye out for them.
• You can save a lot of money on second-hand items such as children’s clothes and toys, which might have had very little wear. There are some products you shouldn’t buy second-hand, such as car restraints, which you can’t be sure haven’t already been in an accident. For other products such as cots, make sure they meet current safety standards – even some brand-new cots don’t meet the safety standards, as we found out when we tested them.

How to budget for a baby

Once you have an idea of the costs of having a baby and what your income will be (include any government entitlements you might be eligible for), you can draw up a budget. And it’s not as hard as you might think to get your finances in order well before you go into labour.

1. Start off by working out where your money goes by keeping a log for a month, writing down each expense and what it’s for.

2. Divide expenses into:

• fixed expenses such as insurance, home loan or rent payments
• other essential costs that vary from month to month, such as petrol, phone bill or grocery expenses, and
• variable expenses, such as takeaways and clothing.

3. Once you know where your money goes, you can look at each cost to see if you could make a saving. If you need help, the Australian government has a simple tool for building your own budget called .

How can I trim my expenses?

Our guide to saving money on essential costs such as telcos, fuel and food and groceries has plenty of great budgeting advice.��

But when it comes to other fixed expenses, there are several key areas ����Vlog experts suggest you focus on.��

Pay off or switch credit cards

Our financial expert Uta Mihm says getting rid of any credit card debt should be a priority when preparing for a baby.

“One of the worst things you can do is to go into parental leave with high credit-card debt,” she says. “You should pay off your credit cards before you start putting money into a savings account.”

You can make big savings by switching to a card with a lower interest rate, but make sure you read the fine print first. And be wary of low introductory rates, adds Uta.

“Always check if there is a percentage balance transfer fee before switching, as this could end up costing you,” she says.

“Only switch to a card offering a 0% interest rate if you are confident you can pay off the total amount within the introductory period, because they usually revert to a high interest rate after that.” 

If you’re worried about your debt you can call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free financial counselling.

Consider making changes to your home loan

Repayment holidays

Many home loans offer you the chance to make lower or no repayments for six or 12 months while you’re on parental leave – ask your lender if you have this option.

Conditions usually apply – you may have to make repayments of at least 50% of your salary, have a job to return to after your parental leave, and have already held your home loan for a minimum period, such as 12 months, and repaid part of it (for example, you may not be able to owe more than 90% of the value of your home).

But although a repayment holiday may sound appealing, Uta warns it may not always be a good idea.

“Interest is still added to the loan during this period, so you should make extra repayments beforehand to cover at least the interest that accrues while your repayments are paused,” she says.

“It makes sense to repay your home loan as quickly as possible, as the quicker you repay it, the less you pay in interest.”

Fixed rates

If you’re pregnant, it may also be a good time to think about fixing the interest rate for all or part of your home loan – a fixed rate gives you security and lets you budget.

On the downside, you may end up paying a higher rate than variable rate borrowers, especially if you lock in rates when they’re at their peak.

Uta also warns that some fixed-rate plans don’t let you make extra repayments on your loan if you do happen to have extra cash.

“A good option is to put part of your home loan on a fixed rate to help you budget, but leave the rest on a variable rate so you can still make extra repayments when you can afford it,” she says.

Switching mortgage providers

You may also want to consider shopping around for a mortgage with a better rate. Check out some of the online comparison sites, do your own research and consider seeing more than one mortgage broker to get a good idea of your options.��

However, the mortgage-broking industry is controversial, so make sure you use a qualified broker who can recommend loans from a large panel of lenders.

Good rates are important, but make sure your mortgage also has the features you want such as no or low account fees, an easy redraw facility with no fees, and an offset account.

Will your rental payments change?

When you’re planning your budget, consider whether your rental payments are likely to change before (or soon after) your baby arrives.��

If you’re thinking about moving into a bigger place in preparation for your baby’s arrival, you may need to factor in higher rental payments or consider moving to a cheaper area.��

That said, , a national charity dedicated to saving the lives of babies during pregnancy, infancy and childhood, advises that your baby should sleep in the same room as an adult caregiver for the first six to 12 months of their life, so you won’t necessarily need a dedicated room for your baby until further down the line.

Also, consider how difficult the property may be to baby-proof – and what you may have to spend. For example, an open staircase, unfenced backyard or low windows with no security screens can all pose safety hazards, and the costs of making them safer can quickly stack up.

Superannuation

Preparing for parenthood is also a great time to do a general health check of your super.��

These simple steps can help you get the best out of your retirement savings.

• Consolidate your funds (if you have more than one)
• Choose a high-performing fund
• Check your insurance is right for you
• Ensure you aren’t paying too much in fees
• Nominate (and update) your beneficiaries.

Beyond these tips, there are some special considerations for soon-to-be parents, especially if you’re taking time out of the workforce to care for your baby.

Ask how parental leave will affect your super

Your super account may become inactive after a certain period with no contributions. This may mean that your bundled insurance is switched off unless you contact your fund to let them know you want it to continue.��

Being out of paid employment may also affect your ability to claim, so it’s a good time to check with your super fund if your cover is still right for you.

Consider making extra contributions

Women currently retire with about half the super of men and much of this is down to women taking time out of the paid workforce to raise children. In fact, some estimates calculate that the average retirement balance cost for a woman having and caring for a child is $50,000.��

Unfortunately, the government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme does not include superannuation contributions, so you may want to consider making your own contributions during your parental leave (if you can).��

There are also a number of tax concessions available to people on low or no income, including the  (LISTO) and super co-contributions from the government.��

If your spouse or partner is still in paid employment, they could potentially  make contributions to your super. Not only will this minimise the retirement balance cost of your parental leave, it may also make them eligible for a tax offset from the government. Check the  for details.

Do you need insurance?

Health insurance

One of the first things you should do when you’re planning a family is review your health insurance. It’s best to do this before you’re even pregnant, as there are waiting times of nine to 12 months before you would be covered for a full-term birth.

If you already have private hospital insurance:

• talk to your fund and find out your level of cover for obstetrics. Can you go to a private hospital? Can you go to a public hospital as a private patient?
• review your excess and co-payments, and consider upgrading to a policy without an excess. But keep in mind the 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions that applies if you upgrade to a higher level of cover, even if you stay with the same fund

• ask your fund how soon you need to upgrade to family cover (couple and family cover is usually the same price so it won’t cost you more) to make sure your baby is covered. If you get treatment as a private patient, your private hospital insurance won’t always cover the full cost. You may be charged a ‘gap’ – that is, the difference between the hospital and/or doctor’s bill after you get your Medicare and health-fund benefits.��

How to minimise gap costs:

• Ask your doctor if they have gap cover arrangements with your fund and if you will have to pay any out-of-pocket costs. Get this information in writing
• Ask your doctor if you will be billed by other doctors who may treat you, such as an anaesthetist or surgeon’s assistant, and how you can get an estimate of their fees

• Ask the hospital if it has a current agreement with your fund and if there will be any out-of-pocket costs
• Confirm any information you get from the hospital and doctor with your fund.

What’s covered by the public system?

If you don’t have health insurance (or you do, but you choose to go public) your birth and pregnancy care should be .

Some small out-of-pocket costs, potentially a few hundred dollars, may come up, including:

• shared care with a GP who doesn’t bulk bill

• scans or pathology outside of hospital

• optional DNA/genetic testing

• childbirth classes

• medicines.

Life insurance

Whatever your financial situation, if you’re about to become a parent you should strongly consider taking out life insurance, because it covers your dependents if you die.��

Even if you aren’t earning, your family will probably need extra support without you. For example, your partner may have to give up work to care for your child, or pay for childcare.

As a rule of thumb, the sum insured should cover:

• your credit cards and mortgage
• a lump sum as income for you dependants 
• money for your children’s education 
• expenses such as your funeral
• retirement income for your partner.��

Before you take out life insurance, check if it’s already included in your super. Life insurance with your super account can be cheaper and better value than a separate policy, but it usually has longer wait times for pay-outs. Also, the amount your life is insured for may be lower than the amount your family will need in the event of your death.

Whenever your family situation changes, it’s a good idea to review your life insurance.

Are you eligible for government benefits?

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to parental leave and related entitlements, which can help with the costs of having and raising a baby.

Paid parental leave

(PPL) is a government payment available to the birth mother of a newborn child or the adoptive parent of a child. Other people caring for a child may be eligible if they meet specific criteria. It’s also possible to transfer your payment to a second carer (such as your partner).��

Those who qualify get up to 18 weeks of government-funded PPL at the rate of the national minimum wage ($753.90 a week, before tax).��

Previously you had to take the 18 weeks as a continuous block. But if your baby was born or adopted on or after 1 July 2020, you now have the option to take 12 weeks as a continuous block and use the remaining six weeks at a later time (up until your child turns two).

Like other forms of income support, PPL is classed as taxable income and has bearing on family assistance and social security payments.

To be eligible for PPL, you: 

• must not have earned more than $150,000 in the financial year before your baby is born 
• need to have worked for at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth or adoption of your child. However, in the 2020 Federal budget, the government announced a temporary change to the work test period to help parents who might have missed out on PPL because they lost their job due to COVID-19. That means that parents who gave birth to or adopted a child between March 22, 2020 and March 31, 2021 can still qualify for the payment if they have worked in 10 of the last 20 months. This change also applies to those receiving Dad and partner pay (see below).��
• need to have worked at least 330 hours (just over one day a week) in that 10-month period, with no more than a 12-week gap between any two working days 
• can’t work during the time PPL is paid.

Dad and partner pay

This is a available to new fathers or the partner of a new mother, although there are other circumstances in which you could claim it.��

Those who qualify get two weeks of government-funded leave at the rate of the national minimum wage ($753.90 a week, before tax).

To be eligible for dad and partner pay you must meet the same work requirements as those for PPL.��

Family tax benefit

This is a two-part payment that helps with the cost of raising children. If you’re eligible for the (FTB Part A) you can get up to $189.56 a fortnight for each child aged 0–12 years in your care, depending on your income (different rates apply for older children.) 

You may also be eligible for the FTB Part A supplement. This is a one-off yearly payment for each eligible child of up to $781.10 for the 2020–21 financial year.

If you’re eligible for the you can get up to $161.14 a fortnight, per family when the youngest child is aged 0–5 years, and a yearly supplement of up to $379.60 per family.

The Federal government’s 2020 budget included two bonus payments of $250 for families getting family tax benefit part A and B. These families will receive the payments in December 2020 and March 2021.

Newborn payments 

You may be eligible for the if you qualify for the family tax benefit part A (FTB Part A) and aren’t getting PPL for the same child.

Those who qualify for the upfront payment get a lump sum of $570 per child; those who qualify for the supplement may get up to $1709.89 (paid over 13 weeks) for their first child.

Payments for single parents

There is no specific single parent payment in Australia, but single parents do get special consideration when receiving some parenting or family payments.��

If you have a partner and children under six, or are a single parent of children under eight, you may be eligible for a fortnightly if you’re the primary carer and earn less than a certain amount.��

Single parents can get a maximum fortnightly parenting payment of $793.10, plus an extra $250 fortnightly coronavirus supplement. Paid parental leave is classed as income, so it will affect your rate of payment if you’re receiving a parenting payment at the same time.

The family tax benefit part B also gives extra assistance to single parents.

Start saving

Direct your savings into a fund for baby costs that you can draw on for all your extra expenses. You can use your regular savings account or start a new savings account just for baby-related expenses.��

Most banks will let you open a separate savings account free of charge. You can usually customise the account name, calling it something like “Baby Fund” to keep things clear.��

If you have a mortgage, you’re better off keeping any extra cash in an offset account to reduce the interest on your loan. Otherwise, use a high-interest online savings account.��

You could even practise living on the reduced income you’ll be getting once the baby is born, and put the rest of your household income into your savings.

The post The cost of having a baby – and how to budget for it appeared first on ����Vlog.

A birth doula is somebody who provides non-medical support during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. (There are also other types of doulas, including bereavement doulas and end-of-life doulas.)

The term hit the news recently with the rumour that the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was using a doula.

But what does a doula do exactly, and do you need one?

What is a doula?

What does a doula do, exactly? While services vary, birth doulas generally provide the following:

Antenatal support

Usually the doula will meet with the pregnant woman a number of times before her due date to provide information on labour and birth, help formulate a birth plan and discuss feelings surrounding the birth. These meetings also serve the purpose of establishing trust and rapport prior to labour.��

Physical support

During labour, a doula may help the woman into new positions, perform massage, coach breathing techniques and sometimes offer other complementary therapies like reflexology and aromatherapy.��

Emotional support

According to the founder of the Australian Doula College, Renee Adair, the most important role of a doula is that of an emotional support person.��

“Doulas provide a continuous presence throughout the labour, using encouragement and reassurance to help women feel safe and empowered,” she says.��

Medical liaison

Doulas may also act as a liaison for their client when interacting with medical staff by communicating the woman’s birthing preferences and translating medical terminology.

Postnatal support

Postnatal assistance can include providing information on newborn care and breastfeeding, offering emotional support and performing practical tasks like cooking and cleaning.��

Adair describes this role as “offering a soft landing place for the transition to home during the challenging first few days and weeks.”

How much does a doula cost?

Depending on experience and level of service provided, costs usually range from $800 to $2000, with student doulas available for much lower rates. The cost usually includes one or more visits during pregnancy and after birth as well as attendance at birth.��

Is a doula covered by private health insurance?

No, doulas are not covered by Medicare or private health insurance.

Do you need a doula?

Although they’re not essential, a doula can be a useful support person during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, especially if you require extra emotional or practical support.��

Here are some of the benefits of using a doula.

Improved birth outcomes

that both continuity of care (seeing the same caregiver throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period), and the presence of a dedicated support person throughout labour improve birth outcomes for both mother and baby.

A found that women with continuous support (such as a doula) throughout labour may have a shorter labour and may be less likely to have:

• medical pain relief 
• caesarean birth
• instrumental delivery (e.g. forceps)
• a baby with a low five‐minute Apgar score (a measure of a baby’s health directly after birth).

More positive birth experiences

have identified doula care as assisting women to have positive birth experiences. There’s also evidence that doulas provide valuable support to husbands/partners.

Case study: A positive birth story

After having a caesarean with her first pregnancy, Shandel was referred to a local doula by her doctor for her second birth. Shandel met with her doula several times to discuss her birth plan, attend birthing classes and receive pregnancy massage. When she went into labour her doula met her at the hospital.��

“She was there the whole time, massaging me, offering the TENS machine, making sure the room was peaceful and calm,” she says.��

“She was my voice in the birthing room. I didn’t have to think about anything because she was advocating for me, making sure everything was the way I wanted it to be.” 

While this practical assistance was helpful, Shandel found the doula’s emotional support the most valuable.��

“She took away the fear, made me feel nurtured and gave me the confidence to birth the way I wanted to,” she says.��

Shandel credits this support with allowing her to avoid medical pain relief and says she couldn’t recommend a doula highly enough.��

“The medical system focuses on the baby, but I think you should use a doula for you – to empower you, to take care of you as a mum and to give you the confidence to birth the way you want to,” she says.

Are there any risks?

There are very few safety risks associated with doula care during a hospital birth. According to obstetrician Dr Judith Gardiner, as long as your doula respects the limitations of their role, there shouldn’t be any risks at all, even during a complicated birth.��

“A doula’s support may actually be more important during a high-risk pregnancy and delivery, [than during a low risk birth],” she says.

Hannah Dahlen, professor of midwifery at the University of Western Sydney, says the main risk is the doula overstepping the boundaries of their role by trying to perform clinical tasks or give medical advice, especially in a home birth setting.��

“It’s very important that women understand doulas are not midwives and they have no medical training,” she says. “If you’re having a home birth, a trained midwife should always be present.”

Case study: A disappointing doula

While a doula is unlikely to do much harm there’s always a risk that they may not be particularly helpful.��

Rheannon hired a doula to support her to have a natural second birth after having an emergency caesarean for her first.��

Cost was a consideration, so she contacted a well-known company and chose one of their less experienced but more affordable doulas. During their antenatal sessions, Rheannon began to feel she knew more than her doula did about natural birth after a caesarean.��

“I found it a bit disappointing – I thought it was going to be an awe-inspiring relationship, but it just wasn’t.”  

During her labour, Rheannon says her doula did nothing to make the birthing room calm and comfortable and offered little practical or emotional assistance.��

“All she did was put oils on my ankles and try a little acupressure,” she says.��

Without the encouragement she needed, Rheannon says she “just gave up” and got an epidural and eventually a caesarean, which she now believes wasn’t necessary.��

“I had nobody there saying ‘you don’t have to do this’, encouraging me to keep going.” 

Her doula didn’t go with her into the operating theatre and she left before the baby was born.��

Although she says she felt “ripped off”, Rheannon still thinks using a doula could be worthwhile.��

“I’d suggest to interview her first and find someone you connect with.”

How to find a doula

Anyone can legally call themselves a doula because the profession isn’t regulated, so finding a doula through a reputable organisation is your safest bet.��

The Australian Doula College offers a personalised matching service, while SheBirths and Doula Network Australia provide doula directories. You can also ask your doctor or midwife if they have any recommendations.

Once you have a doula in mind, set up an interview to find out:

• how many births they’ve attended
• what skills they have (e.g. massage, acupressure)
• what services they offer 
• if they can show you testimonials from past clients
• what qualifications they have (the highest doula qualification is a certificate IV in Doula Support Services)
• how well you get along with them.

Are doulas welcome in hospitals?

According to Dahlen, doulas are usually very welcome in public hospitals and most midwives and doctors appreciate the extra assistance they provide. However, she notes that doulas are less welcomed by obstetricians in private hospitals.��

Obstetrician Dr Gardiner disagrees, saying that she’s never worked in a hospital where doulas weren’t welcomed.��

“If a woman’s wish is to have a doula present I don’t think any hospital would discourage that,” she says.��

A profession on the rise?

While there are no published statistics on the number of practicing doulas or women engaging doulas in Australia, Adair and Dahlen estimate that both are on the rise.��

Adair believes the current medical system doesn’t provide the continuity of care or emotional support birthing mothers want and need.��

“Doulas are filling a gap where the medical profession falls short,” she says.��

Dahlen, too, points to the “broken maternity system” as the reason for the upward trend in doula care, noting that despite clear evidence of its benefits, only eight percent of women in the public system currently have access to continuity of midwifery care.�� 

Her research suggests the fragmented nature of the current medical system is preventing midwives from providing woman-centred care, and doulas are now providing many of the non-medical services traditionally performed by a midwife.

Gardiner believes doulas are becoming trendy and they aren’t a necessity.��

“As long as you pick the right model of care and have a supportive family member or partner to help you, you might not need the extra support of a doula,” she says.

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