If you’ve ever wondered why birth support feels like a patchwork, with a different midwife at every appointment and no one on the same page, this episode is for you. It’s time we talk about why doulas are the missing piece in Australian maternity care and why every mother deserves more than just check-ups and rushed visits.

In this episode, Dr. Renee White unpacks the research, the numbers, and the real stories behind birth and postpartum care in Australia. She shares why doulas are not a luxury, but a vital part of a mother’s village, offering the steady, nurturing support that every family deserves.

If you’re an expecting parent, a birth worker, or just curious about how we can do better for mums, this episode is for you.

You’ll hear about:

• The gaps in Australian maternity care and why they matter
• How doula support helps mums feel safer, calmer, and more confident
• The four key elements every mum needs to thrive
• How the Fill Your Cup Doula Village is leading change across Australia
• A hopeful vision for the future of birth and postpartum care

This episode is a gentle nudge that you’re not meant to do this alone. Every mum deserves to feel seen, supported, and held through the journey of motherhood.

Resources and Links:

📲 Want to chat more about this? Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_

🌐 Want to learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services

🍪If you want to gobble up our famous Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies, look no further!

🔔 Ths episode is proudly supported by PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia.

If you’re pregnant or have a new baby and not feeling like yourself, PANDA offers free counselling and support. You can call 1300 726 306 (Monday to Saturday) or visit panda.org.au for information, resources, and support. You don’t have to wait until things feel really hard. PANDA is here to help you feel strong, supported, and heard.

🎧 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who is preparing for birth or tag @fillyourcup_ with your favourite takeaway. If you haven’t already, subscribe and leave a review. It helps more mums find this space.

Because every mother deserves a village. Let’s build it together. 💛

Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by the Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice.

Nothing contained in this podcast is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

[00:00:27] Dr Renee White: I'm Dr. Renee White, and this is the [00:00:30] Science of Motherhood. Hello and welcome to episode 177 of The Science of Motherhood. I am your host, Dr. Renee White, and this episode is proudly supported by Panda. Now, are you pregnant or have a new bub? Sometimes you might feel sad, worry too much, feel scared or shaky. Find it hard to sleep or stop being able to have a good laugh.

[00:01:31] Dr Renee White: You can call them for any reason. Doesn't matter how big or small it is, and trust me there are a lot of people I speak to who think, oh, you know, that's not for me. I don't, I don't think I have postnatal depression or anxiety, and I just need to, I need to reiterate, as someone who has experienced postnatal anxiety, you don't need to be halfway off the cliff and you know, at the bottom of the [00:02:00] hole in order to reach out to organisations like this. It can just be that feeling and they absolutely would much rather you call, at the beginning of those feelings rather than, you know, six, 12 months down the track when things are feeling really, really dark.

[00:02:40] Dr Renee White: So you can call Panda for free on one three hundred seven two six three zero six. That's 1 307 2 6 3 0 6 from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM till 7:30 PM or you can visit their website, Panda. [00:03:00] PAND a.org. Org au for online checklists, some information and stories from other parents. Okay, let's dive into today's episode.

[00:03:47] Dr Renee White: The statistics are quite alarming. One in three Australian women describe their birth as traumatic, and over 60,000 mothers annually experience perinatal depression or [00:04:00] anxiety. Only 10% receive adequate treatment. So this isn't just a health crisis, it's an economic one too. Looking at the figures, the mental health burden of inadequate maternal support costs Australia's economy over $870 million in the first year alone with lifetime costs exceeding $7 [00:04:30] billion per birth cohort. Now, if we look at that as an individual case of perinatal depression, it carries a lifetime cost of approximately $122,000 when we consider, you know, things like healthcare utilisation, productivity loss, and quality of life impacts.

[00:06:20] Dr Renee White: Now, the physiological impact of birth experiences extends far beyond the delivery room, and we know from the [00:06:30] research that it shows that women who experience birth trauma can have disruptions in hormonal systems that affect bonding, breastfeeding success and their postpartum recovery and the stress response systems activated during difficult births create biological pathways that increase vulnerability to postpartum depression and anxiety. And this is why birth matters [00:07:00] deeply for long-term maternal infant health. So, what is the solution Australia has recognised time and time again? Midwifery continuity of care is the gold standard in maternity services, and for good reason. This model reduces preterm birth by 24% and decreases fetal loss and neonatal death by [00:07:30] 16%.

[00:08:48] Dr Renee White: Even the ability to shorten labor by around 41 minutes. Now, this is not theoretical at all in terms of the impact that [00:09:00] doulas can make, and we have practical evidence of this impact. Now a recent 2025 audit in May of the New York City, citywide doula Initiative showed significantly improved outcomes for black and Hispanic mothers who typically experienced the highest rates of maternal mortality. Now, participants had lower rates of cesarean sections, preterm birth, and low [00:09:30] birth weights compared to citywide averages and most amazing result was no pregnancy associated deaths were reported among participants in stark contrast to the alarming statistics that are currently happening in and around those areas.

[00:11:26] Dr Renee White: And this is precisely when [00:11:30] hormonal fluctuations are most significant and when psychiatric symptoms commonly emerge for mothers. Now, I would argue that the Doula Village model reimagines continuous care by combining birth advocacy with extensive postpartum support. Now, our approach utilised a team of specialised doulas who provide seamless support from pregnancy [00:12:00] through to the fourth trimester, and birth doulas provide this beautiful evidence-based, physical and emotional support during labor, while postpartum doulas deliver in-home care for at least three hours per week now, this creates the consistency that optimises the neurohormonal environment for both mother and baby. So what can birth workers [00:12:30] do today? Well, we create this psychological safety through specific communication techniques.

[00:13:44] Dr Renee White: And that's exactly what we're trying to do here at Fill Your Cup. We are creating change through our doula network model. We have built Australia's first coordinated network of 18 professionally trained doulas working across seven [00:14:00] major cities. We're providing evidence-based support that improves outcomes, and by next year we expand or plan to expand by 20 to 30%. So, I would really invite you to join us on this mission. Whether you are a birth worker or a healthcare provider or a parent to be, we can transform the maternal care system here in Australia by recognising that doulas are not [00:14:30] a luxury, they're the missing piece in our continuity of care puzzle. I'm gonna leave you with those thoughts.

[00:15:01] Dr Renee White: You've just listened to another episode of The Science of Motherhood proudly presented by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village. Head to our website I fill your cup.com to learn more about our birth and postpartum doula offerings where every mother we pledge to be the steady hand that guides you back to yourself. Ensuring you feel nurtured, informed, and empowered so you can fully embrace the joy of motherhood with [00:15:30] confidence. Until next time, bye.