Welcome to Serene Births
Perth, Western Australia
Located in Woodvale, we provide private and small group antenatal/birth preparation classes in the northern suburbs of Perth. However, if you live out of the area but really resonate with our philosophy please feel free to contact us and we can discuss your needs.
A little bit about us…
Welcome! My name is Mel Howells and I am the creator of Serene Births and the Practical Birth Preparation Series. This is birth education with a difference!
My journey into the world of pregnancy and birth began in 2008 when I started training to become a Registered Midwife. It was a difficult decision to make but I chose to leave midwifery altogether when I relocated from the UK to Australia in 2012 and for the next 10 years worked in early years education.
However, birth work has always stayed within my heart and in 2022 I took a leap and launched my own business to provide much-needed support and guidance for women and their families during their journeys into parenthood. I strongly feel as though our current maternity care system does not serve women as well as it should. I want to try and bridge this gap by providing high-quality birth education that leaves couples feeling confident and well-informed for the journey ahead.
For more in-depth information about me and my journey, click on Our Story.
For more details on the sessions we offer, and to book in with us click on Book Classes.
For more information on hiring a doula for birth support and other pregnancy and birth topics, click here to be taken to the Serene Births Blog and browse my articles.
Check out the latest posts on the Serene Births Instagram Feed!
A doula is a trained professional who offers continuous emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labour, and shortly after childbirth. Their primary role is to empower and guide women and their partners through the birth process, helping them feel confident and cared for. A doula is also an excellent source of support and knowledge for your birth partner, as well as providing comfort and reassurance that they are not alone as they support you through your journey.
I personally think that the biggest benefit of having a doula as part of your birth support team is consistency and continuity of care from a person you know and trust. This is especially relevant if you have chosen to birth in a hospital. A doula provides different pillars of support throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period. Your doula works solely FOR YOU - they are not bound by hospital guidelines or employed by an organisation and will support you unconditionally, however you choose to birth.
A recent Cochrane review (which you can read by clicking here) of the research evidence demonstrated that women who had a doula present during their labour and birth were:
39% less likely to have a Caesarean section.
15% more likely to go into labour spontaneously.
31% less likely to be unhappy with their birth experience.
Evidence Based Birth have written an excellent article about doulas, including a detailed summary of the Cochrane Review and key information on the role of a doula. Click here to read it.
