How Much is a Postpartum Doula in Australia?

How Much is a Postpartum Doula Cost in Australia. Doula supporting a new mum and her newborn.

Are you expecting a baby? You may have heard of postpartum doulas, but you may not know what they are or how much they cost in Australia because unfortunetly, unlike many other countries abroad, they are not common. Postpartum doulas are non-medical professionals who provide physical, emotional and educational support to new parents and their families during the postpartum period. They can help with breastfeeding, baby care, and overall well-being, as well as providing emotional support for the entire family. Knowing how much a postpartum doula costs in Australia can help you decide if it is the right choice for you and your family.

What is a Postpartum Doula?

A postpartum doula can help new parents by providing support with breastfeeding, helping them to get used to their new roles as parents, and providing emotional support as they adjust to life with a new baby. A doula can help new parents with practical things like how to bathe or change a newborn or with things that are more emotional like getting used to new roles. They can help new parents to form a bond with their baby by spending time with them and helping them to form a relationship. This can make breastfeeding easier and help new parents get used to their new roles as parents. A postpartum doula can also help new parents get connected to their community, support networks, and family. A doula can help with communication issues, find ways to connect with family and help new parents organize support in their community.

What do Postpartum Doulas do?

Some postpartum doulas help new parents through the first three months of parenting and breastfeeding. Some support parents throughout the day the day, and some stay all night long and do everything to give the parents a rest ( besides breastfeeding, but many often provide expressed milk or formula through a bottle). Postpartum doulas are known in Australia for: providing care to your children so you as a parent can rest, helping to bathe your baby, support you in feeding your child the way you desire. But they are so much more then a babysitter who is confident and comfortable with infants. Many of them have sepcalised knowledge in newborn struggles and can offer support in finding suitable answers. Many are equipped in offering a listening ear while you tell your birth story and providing emotional comfort. They should know the best way to help aid in developing a deep connection to your baby, including supporting the father and any siblings in this also. Assisting in the development of your parenting beliefs and helping you clarify your parenting values. Many doulas also know how to help teach siblings how to include themselves and adjust to the new situation. And again, not all, but many Australian doulas are involved in preparing healthy meals for the entire family and doing some light housekeeping.

Now that you know what a postpartum doula is and the wide range of skills they need to have, its important to see them as a professional. Not everyone is suitable to perform such an important role.

What does postpartum doula support cost in Australia?

Some doulas charge for their services based on the hours they work. They are often doulas that are similar to a specialized nanny and do overnight sifts, as there isn’t much ‘behind the scene work’ going on, or maybe because they are new to the industry.  

Others, like those at Melbourne Postpartum Services, find it better to create ‘packages’ for parents so that they truly have a supportive experience, as support offered is usually more then just face-to-face time in the home. Packages might be predetermined or can be personalized. Many doulas have come with other background knowledge and expertise and might include these offerings in their packages – for example a photographer might include not only postpartum doula support but also some professional photography in the comfort of your  own home. Some doulas have done extra training in postpartum massage, lactation consultation, counselling, naturopathy, or more.

Like other professionals, doulas charge for the time they spend working, so the more time the doula spends with you, the higher the cost. Costs will vary based on where the doula delivers her services, how busy the doula is, and other factors (like additional training).

When it comes down to the actual numbers, this can vary greatly. I have seen some postpartum doulas charge as little as $35 an hour, but they often only have qualifications in childcare and are not insured. Some doulas, especially if also offering services akin to consultation and counselling, need to charge more to cover higher costs and qualifications.

 The best way to get an idea of what postpartum doula care costs in Australia, you can visit the website of a local professional or look online for doula reviews.

Postpartum doula qualifications and certification

To be a postpartum doula in Australia a person can simply declare that they are one. This can make it difficult for parents to know if they are truly getting a person who is giving quality advice and support. Unfortunately there is no regulation body in Australia regarding postpartum doulas and there are no government regulated courses either, yet. ( there is an extensive and certified postpartum care and education professional training in the works, stay turned for more info to come soon)

To be a postpartum doula a person must be able to provide physical, emotional, and informational support for new parents. Ideally they would have completed some training with one of the reputable collages in Australia that help equip a person for such an important role. Melbourne Postpartum Services can highly recommend the training provided by Julia Jones and delivered through her ‘newborn mother courses” found here. Lucky for you, the professionals at Melbourne Postpartum Services also have backgrounds in social work and registered nursing.

Benefits of hiring a postpartum doula

A postpartum doula can help new parents get connected to community support and resources. A doula can connect new parents to other parents who have been in their situation, help them to form support networks, and give them a place to go when they need help. A postpartum doula can help new parents with practical things like bathing or how to get used to new roles as parents. A doula can also help with communication issues and find ways to connect with family.  A postpartum doula can also be useful for parents who want help connecting with family members who live far away. Many parents find that hiring a postpartum doula helps to reduce the stress of new parenthood.

How to find a postpartum doula

You can hire a postpartum doula through a local doula directory or by contacting them directly. A doula directory is a website that lists doulas by location, interests, and skill set. It is important to choose a doula through a directory or referral source because of the lack of regulations that govern the practice of professional doula work in Australia. It is also important to hire a doula through a directory or referral source because there are many doulas who are not certified and/or who have poor reviews.

Summary of postpartum doula cost in Australia

Postpartum doula care costs in Australia can vary greatly depending on the doula, the geographical location of the doula, the doula’s experience and education, and the doula’s reputation in the community. The type of care the doula provides, the hours the doula works, the geographical location of the doula, and the doula’s experience and education all affect the cost of postpartum doula care.