As I said, the doula fills in a gap, one that will never be filled, midwives will always work in shifts in Australia.

* Your partner is not experienced in birth
* The midwives aren't known to you nor are they continuous

Your mother is often the worst person to have in there. She may have had a bad birth experience, she is sympathetic and suggest drugs or don't know how to support a woman as they are not experienced in birth support.