Why are doulas becoming so popular in Australia?

Why are doulas becoming increasingly popular in Australia? One reason could be the shift in maternity care, which has become more medicalised within hospital settings.

This isn’t a critique of midwives but rather a reflection on our broken maternity care system and the transition toward obstetric-led care. As birth has moved from homes to hospitals, the role of midwives has evolved, with many now focusing more on clinical tasks such as charting, documenting, and medical observations rather than the traditional role of “being with woman.” In response, many women are turning to doulas to provide the non-medical support and continuity of care they seek.

Women are choosing doulas because they want more.

Midwives and doulas share a common goal: to support women in having a safe, calm, and undisturbed birth. Building trust between these two professions is essential in fostering a team approach, ensuring that both work together to help labouring women achieve an optimal birth experience or feel secure and supported if special circumstances arise.

The saying “it takes a village” rings especially true when guiding a woman through childbirth and beyond.

Now more than ever, it is crucial for doulas and midwives to form strong partnerships, working in synergy to help women feel empowered to birth in their own way—emerging as strong, healthy mothers.

Most doulas are highly trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners before, during, and after childbirth. Their role is valuable across all birth settings, whether a woman is planning a physiological birth, a home birth, a hospital birth, or a planned caesarean.

To ensure they offer the best care, doulas engage in ongoing education, staying up to date with the latest research and evidence-based practices. They also develop skills in techniques such as massage, acupressure, and optimal positioning—equipping them with a diverse set of tools to help mothers manage pain, stay comfortable, and reduce the need for interventions or medication if that aligns with their birth plan.

In many cultures, birthing women are surrounded by experienced women who provide protection, comfort, and confidence—an enduring tradition that doulas continue to uphold today.

Sometimes, simply having another woman present—one who is there solely for the labouring woman — can be incredibly nurturing, boosting a birthing woman’s confidence. Feeling safe and supported by someone she has built a trusting relationship with over weeks or months can make all the difference.

This does not replace the partner’s role in loving, supporting, and protecting the mother; rather, the doula also supports the partner in supporting her.

Historically, it was natural for women to be surrounded by other experienced women during childbirth, often family or close friends, who also contributed to long-term breastfeeding support.

One of the first “formal” doula training organisations began in 1992 with Doulas of North America (DONA), founded by Dr. John Kennell, Dr. Marshall Klaus, Dr. Phyllis Klaus, Penny Simkin, and Annie Kennedy, establishing a global doula movement that continues to grow today, and even though the Doula Training Academy is not affiliated with DONA, we have the utmost respect for the founding members and their contribution to the doula community worldwide.

A growing body of research shows doulas really do make a difference.

The latest research compiled in August 2017 by Evidence Based Birth showed that women who had a doula were 39% less likely to have a caesarean.

A study released in 2012 identified that women who had an independent birth support (specifically a doula, not a midwife or someone from their family or friend network) were:

More likely to have a spontaneous labour.
Less likely to have synthetic oxytocin.
Less likely to ask for an epidural or drugs.
Less likely to be dissatisfied with their birth.
More likely to have shorter labours.
Less likely to have a caesarean.
Less likely to have an instrumental birth (forceps & vacuum).
Less likely to have a baby with low Apgar scores.

The use of a doula has clear benefits for families during childbirth and the postnatal period.

A Cochrane Review analysing various studies undertaken on the benefits of having a doula said: “We conclude that all women should have continuous support during labour. Continuous support from a person who is present solely to provide support, is not a member of the woman’s social network, is experienced in providing labour support, and has at least a modest amount of training, appears to be most beneficial. In comparison with having no companion during labour, support from a chosen family member or friend appears to increase women’s satisfaction with their childbearing experience.”

My name is Vicki Hobbs, and I am the Founder and one of the trainers at the Doula Training Academy. We have both online and in-person doula training opportunities available regularly throughout the year across Australia. To find out more about our training opportunities go to our training website: