Women Offering Mothers Birth Support was founded in 2001 and has been training Doulas as well as providing a governing body to represent Professional Doulas in South Africa. In addition to this we are also a registered Non-Profit Organisation with many of our members giving their time and energy to volunteer their services to those who would not normally have access to doulas. Our members support their local government hospitals, not only by volunteering to support women in labour but also raising funds or doing collections for whatever is needed by the maternity and labour wards in those hospitals.
Doulas have become recognised as an integral part of the birth team, providing compassionate care and support to mothers, their partners and their new babies. In the private sector, Discovery Health, Momentum and Fedhealth medical aids have recognized the value of WOMBS doulas and are now paying towards coverage for private births. This is notable progress for Doulas, who have strived for many years for recognition in their field.
Research indicates that mothers who had a Doula present, reported their birth as less difficult and
painful than mothers who did not have a Doula present. Here are some further statistics highlighting
the potential benefits of having a Doula (Hodnet et al, 2012):
● 28% less likely to have a caesarean.
● 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labour.
● 9% less likely to use any pain medication.
● 34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.
Independent studies such as this one, done throughout the world, including a study undertaken by
Prof Justus Hofmeyer in South Africa, proved convincingly of the benefit of doula care. All Doulas
trained through WOMBS must write an exam to complete the course, assessed by a South African
Qualifications Authority (SAQA) assessor moderated at WITS University, an aspect that has resulted in good Medical Aids coverage of trained WOMBS doulas.