A doula is a woman who provides support leading up to, during and beyond, a woman’s time of birth.
The role of a doula is ancient and sacred; where a midwife or obstetrician is trained to provide medical care, a doula is trained in the offerings of support, tools, knowledge and experience to empower you to take charge of your unique experience.
Birth looks so different, from one family to the next and as such, the role of a doula is flexible and ever evolving. Among their many roles, a doula can support the connection and communication between you, the birthing woman, and your chosen care providers. Whether you happen to birth at home, a birth centre, or in a hospital, vaginally or via caesarean section, at full term or prematurely, a doula is trained to provide appropriate, sensitive and individualised support to you and your family.
A doula is not a replacement for a father or birth partner, but rather, complimentary. Birth partners are equally as emotionally invested in in the process of birth as you are yourself. Labour can be turbulent and emotional for your birth partner – it is never easy seeing someone you love in pain. A doula applies her wealth of knowledge and experience in the natural process of birth to provide neutral and practical support to everyone.
“In suggesting the support of a doula, our intent is not to diminish the father’s role but to enhance it, to free him up to stand by the mother. With the doula present, the father is never left as the sole, isolated, responsible person caring for the labouring mother. This vital ingredient – the support of an experienced woman – has been lost in modern obstetrical care.” (Klaus et al., 2012)
At Let’s Talk Birth Townsville, we work to create a birth environment which meets a woman’s instinctual requirements for privacy, warmth and peace during and beyond labour and birth. Our focus is holistic and individually tailored, we would be honoured to serve you and your family!
The group of women who make up the collective of Let’s Talk Birth possess firm values and hold themselves to the highest of standards. We have come together to create a place of knowledge, compassion and shared experience to warmly welcome you into the pregnancy, birth and post-partum journey.
Our Team
Karlee Thompson - Founder of Let’s Talk Birth, Birthworker, Doula, Occupational Therapy Trained, Babywearing Consultant, Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, Completed the spinning babies practitioner workshop & Hazel Keedle’s “Birth after caesarean” workshop.
Brienne Vander Motte - Trained through Childbirth International, completed Hazel Keedle’s “Birth after caesarean” workshop.
Lizzie Carroll - Doula, VBAC Mentor, Birth Activist, Birth Educator, Completed Hazel Keedle’s “Birth after caesarean” Workshop.
Kim Graham - Birthworker, Doula, Prenatal yoga teacher, Vinyasa yoga teacher and Restorative yoga teacher, completed Hazel Keedle’s “Birth after caesarean” workshop.