Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about doulas, postpartum support, and building your birth team.
About Doulas
What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother before, during, and shortly after childbirth. Unlike midwives or doctors, doulas do not perform clinical tasks — they focus on comfort, advocacy, and helping you feel supported throughout your birth experience.
What does a doula do during labour?
During labour, a doula provides hands-on comfort measures like massage, breathing techniques, and position changes. They offer emotional reassurance, help you communicate with medical staff, and support your birth partner so they can be more present. Research shows that having a doula reduces the likelihood of C-sections, shortens labour, and increases satisfaction with the birth experience.
How much does a doula cost?
Doula fees vary by location and experience. In Australia, birth doulas typically charge between $1,000 and $3,500 for a birth package that includes prenatal visits, on-call labour support, and a postpartum follow-up. Postpartum doulas usually charge $40–$80 per hour. Some doulas offer sliding-scale pricing or payment plans.
Do I need a doula if I already have a midwife?
Yes — doulas and midwives serve different roles. A midwife handles the medical aspects of your birth (monitoring baby, managing complications, delivering the baby). A doula provides continuous emotional and physical support throughout labour. Midwives often care for multiple patients at once, while your doula stays with you the entire time. Many families hire both.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A midwife is a licensed medical professional who provides prenatal care, attends births, and handles clinical decisions. A doula is a non-medical support person who focuses on comfort, emotional support, and advocacy. Midwives can prescribe medications and perform examinations; doulas cannot. They complement each other — the midwife handles the medical side while the doula ensures you feel supported.
How do I find a doula near me?
You can use Doula Destination's free matching tool to find doulas in your area. Answer a few questions about your birth vision, budget, and location, and we'll match you with doulas who fit your needs. You can also browse our directory of birth professionals and contact them directly.
Postpartum Support
What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula provides support to families during the weeks and months after birth. They help with newborn care, breastfeeding support, emotional adjustment, light household tasks, sibling transitions, and recovery. Postpartum doulas typically visit your home for a few hours at a time, during the day or overnight.
How much does a postpartum doula cost?
Postpartum doulas in Australia typically charge $40–$80 per hour. Night doulas (overnight support) may charge a flat nightly rate of $250–$500. Many offer package deals for ongoing weekly support. Some health insurance plans or flexible spending accounts may cover postpartum doula services.
When should I hire a postpartum doula?
Ideally, start looking during your third trimester (around 30–34 weeks) so you can interview candidates and secure availability. Postpartum doulas can start as early as the day you come home from hospital. Most families use postpartum doula support for 2–12 weeks after birth, depending on their needs and budget.
Can a postpartum doula help with postpartum depression?
While postpartum doulas are not therapists, they are trained to recognise signs of postpartum depression and anxiety. They provide emotional support, help you establish routines, ensure you're eating and resting, and can refer you to perinatal mental health professionals if needed. Having consistent postpartum support has been shown to reduce the risk of PPD.
What is the difference between a postpartum doula and a night nanny?
A night nanny (newborn care specialist) focuses primarily on overnight infant care — feeding, settling, and sleep training — so parents can rest. A postpartum doula provides broader support including emotional care, breastfeeding help, recovery guidance, and family adjustment support, during the day or at night. Some professionals offer both services.
Other Birth Professionals
What does a lactation consultant do?
A lactation consultant (IBCLC) is a certified specialist who helps with breastfeeding challenges such as latching difficulties, low milk supply, tongue-tie assessment, pumping plans, and returning to work while breastfeeding. They provide one-on-one support, often through home visits, and create personalised feeding plans.
What is a pelvic floor physiotherapist?
A pelvic floor physiotherapist is a specialist physio who helps with pregnancy-related and postpartum pelvic health issues including incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, diastasis recti (abdominal separation), pain during intercourse, and returning to exercise safely after birth. They provide exercises, manual therapy, and education.
What is a perinatal therapist?
A perinatal therapist is a licensed mental health professional who specialises in the emotional challenges of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. They treat postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma, pregnancy loss grief, and adjustment difficulties. Many offer telehealth appointments for convenience.
What is a childbirth educator?
A childbirth educator teaches expecting parents about the birth process, pain management options, medical procedures, newborn care, and postpartum recovery. Classes may follow specific methods like Lamaze or HypnoBirthing, or take an evidence-based approach. They're available as group workshops, private sessions, or online courses.
Using Doula Destination
Is Doula Destination free for parents?
Yes. Searching for and getting matched with doulas and birth professionals on Doula Destination is completely free for parents. There's no signup required — just answer a few questions and we'll show you your top matches.
How does the doula matching work?
Our matching algorithm considers your location, budget, birth philosophy (natural, hospital, home birth, etc.), and specific support needs. We score each doula against your preferences and show you the best matches ranked by compatibility. You can then view their profiles and request a discovery call.
How do I join Doula Destination as a provider?
If you're a doula, midwife, lactation consultant, or other birth professional, you can register on Doula Destination to receive matched leads from expecting parents in your area. We offer a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. Create your profile, set your availability, and start receiving qualified leads.
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