Great suggestions, FionaS!

Can't wait to see what Doulas Australia come up with - that's good news, Kelly.

Continuity of care is a major factor associated with good outcomes and satisfaction for women in other countries. That's rarely on offer in Australia with our current system. It seems to me that most midwives would also prefer to have a continuity of care style of care which makes their job more fulfilling too.

Until maternity reform makes this possible, doulas are filling in this gap in maternity services - providing relationship-based continuity of care.

I can see how the need for doulas does carry an implication that the current system is not serving women's needs that well. (Well, it's not).

But concern that we might offend the current system should not inhibit us from doing what we're really here for - serving the needs of birthing women & providing support for knowledgeable & (therefore) empowered birthing.

Even if we had an ideal maternity service here, that was truly woman centered, with proper choices and continuity of care, I think doulas will always be part of the birthing scene. Women supporting women in birth has been around as long as time itself, whether we're Godsibs, midwives, doulas, we're With Woman and that is an art that never stops teaching you wisdom. No matter how birth is institutionalized, dehumanized or technologized, the spirit will always be yearning for the love, patience, respect, encouragement and imparting of confidence that is the work of true With Woman birth companions.

I don't think that Doulas are a 'threat' to the territory of either Midwives or Obstetricians anymore than teacher's aids or reading specialists are a threat to teachers, of Chiropractors & Naturopaths are a threat to GPs. (Unfortunately some do think that way, more's the pity. I've had experience of that sort of defensiveness too).

Ultimately, it's consumer's choice.