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birth, monitoring, measuring and questions can do more than just kill the mood they can inhibit the progress of labour and give you stage fright'. Interruptions can trigger your fight/flight mechanism, causing you to tense up, which may make labour more painful and protracted.

If a birthing woman hears talk of how many centimetres dilated she is, what the foetal heart is, what her blood pressure is, how many hours she's been there, what station the foetal descent is at, etc, such constant stimulation of her cerebral brain can make it hard to relax and sink into the deeper, instinctual part of her being.

You need a "Baby-Friendly Environment" one that is conducive to conceiving AND birthing babies. Then you can maximize the release of your natural oxytocin, relaxin and endorphins, and minimize the release of stress hormones, so you can relax and your body can work beautifully. Your doula will talk with you about your preferences for such things as soft lighting, warmth, peace, privacy, mood music, gentle words, warm water, massage and touch, a sense of safety, and respect.

And then there's "the Art of Birth". During pregnancy, birth and mothering, the mind-body connection is clearly evident. In our culture, fear, risks and problems tend to surround the business of birthing. Our thoughts produce fear, which triggers the fight/flight response and makes it harder to relax and move into the dreamy, intuitive place of deep relaxation. Fear is a natural part of life fear helps us make smart decisions when we are driving. So the goal is not to eradicate fear, but to confront it, be real about it and then manage it. As you gain skills, grow in confidence of your strength and abilities to give birth, and practice deep relaxation, fear gets put into perspective as a tool - but not an overwhelming thing. I work with my clients to explore beliefs, feelings and memories of birth. Through relaxation, breath work, meditation, breathing, visualization and affirmations, you are able to get in touch with your inner strength and get your inner dialogue working for you, not against you.

During labour, it is all about you. Doula literally means, servant', and she is employed by you (not the health care system) to be in your corner and serve your best interests. After listening to you during the pre-natal visits, she understands your requirements and preferences, and supports your choices. She is simply there for you, from the time you call her to come until when you are cuddled up

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