Welcome to Sydney’s Norwest Doula Services.
My name is Trisha Cook and I am a certified labour and birth doula, or a birth attendant. I recieved my training through Childbirth International.
Congratulations on your pregnancy and the upcoming birth of your baby. Already you are doing one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby by looking for a doula.
This might be your first baby, or it may be your fifth, as a doula I can assist you with your pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period. Every pregnancy and birth deserves the very best support you can have.
As a Doula it is my objective to help achieve a positive birthing experience for mum, partner and baby.
Norwest Doula Services believe that giving birth is a natural occurance and that we have the ability to birth our babies naturally. However, I also understand that there are times when medical intervention is needed to ensure a healthy mum and bub.
How you birth is your choice, medicated, unmedicated, vaginally, caesarean or VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean). I will support you in whichever location you feel comfortable birthing in including a birth centre, hospital, home or wherever you choose.
I have experience with spontaneous and induced labours, medicated and unmedicated labours, with and without interventions, births supported by Midwives and by Obstetricians, VBAC’S, first babies, mums without partners present, vaginal births and caesarean births. I also have extensive experience with breastfeeding and am very comfortable in helping you to get your little one feeding successfully.
Your birth is exactly that – your birth. This is something you will remember for the rest of your life.
So why not try to make it the most positive and empowering experience you can.
Benefits of having a trained Doula
Doulas make a difference!
The research has shown that having a doula at your birth can make a substantial difference to the outcome. The risk of an emergency ceasarean is reduced, as well as the chances of other interventions happening like episiotomy and assisted delivery.
How a mother interacts with her baby, her satisfaction with her birth and her relationship with her partner are all rated significantly higher with women who have had a doula compared to those who have not!
Mothers who have a doula have a higher success at breastfeeding and a decreased chance of postpartum depression.
The statistics speak for themselves!
- 50% less caesarean sections;
- 40% reduction in the use of forceps;
- 60% less epidurals;
- 40% reduction in the use of synthetic oxytocin for inductions or augmentations;
- 30% reduction in use of pain medication;
- 25% reduction in labour length;
- Increased rates of breastfeeding at 6 weeks post-partum (51% vs 29%);
- Higher self-esteem (74% vs 59%), less anxiety (28% vs 40%) and less depression (10% vs 23%) at 6 weeks post-partum.
We have a secret in our society. It’s not that childbirth is painful. It’s that women are strong.