About Us
Marné Koorts
Hi there! My name is Marné Koorts and I am a certified birth doula with WOMBS. As a mother of two amazing kids and a wife to a wonderful husband, I have a deep appreciation for the incredible journey of motherhood. I grew up in Pretoria and we moved to Cape Town in 2014 as a newlywed couple. Our family grew with the birth of our son in 2018 and our daughter in 2021. Motherhood has surely been an incredible, humbling, exciting, and fun adventure.
I discovered my passion for supporting mothers during pregnancy and birth after my own experiences as a new mother. I believe that every mother deserves the right to access informational, emotional, and physical support during this vulnerable time. It is my mission to be a source of comfort and guidance for the mothers I work with.
In my free time, I enjoy nature walks, campfires, beach runs, and making beautiful things. I am a people-oriented person, who loves to serve those around me and get to know each person’s story.
As a doula, I am passionate about supporting and empowering women during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.
I understand that becoming a mother is one of the most exciting, yet overwhelming experiences a woman can have, and I am here to offer my support and guidance every step of the way. Whether it’s answering questions, providing comfort measures, or simply being a listening ear, I am here to ensure that each woman feels empowered and confident in her choices.
I have received extensive training in childbirth education, labor support and postpartum care and have had the privilege of supporting many families in bringing their little ones into the world. I am also knowledgeable about various birth options, including hospital birth, home birth and birth center birth, and I am happy to help you navigate your options to find what works best for you and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions.
A birth doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to a woman and her partner during the childbirth process
A birth doula can assist in several ways throughout the childbirth process. Here are a few examples:
Emotional support: Doulas can provide continuous emotional support throughout labor and delivery, helping to ease anxiety and provide comfort to the birthing person and their partner.
Physical support: Doulas can suggest different positions, comfort measures, and breathing techniques to help manage pain and discomfort during labor.
Informational support: Doulas can provide information about various aspects of childbirth, including medical procedures, pain management options, and potential complications, helping expectant parents make informed decisions.
Overall, the goal of a birth doula is to provide personalized support that meets the unique needs of the birthing person and their partner, promoting a positive and empowering childbirth experience.
A doula is a non-medical support individual who focuses on caring for you emotionally and physically, and helps you to feel informed and empowered. While they often have similar approaches, a midwife differs from a doula in a very large way. A midwife is a *medical* professional, meaning that the primary focus of their care is on the health and safety of you and your baby. Both doulas and midwives work with you prenatally, support you throughout the birth and follow up with you postpartum. Specifically at a birth, doulas are often found doing hip squeezes, refilling your water bottle, providing guidance and reassurance (to you and your partner), and repeating affirmations that empower you. At a birth, midwives may be found doing similar things to a doula, but their top priorities include: ensuring that you and baby’s vital signs are stable, assessing you and your baby, completing cervical exams when needed, administering medication if necessary, and catching the baby you are birthing.
Doulas support any and all birth, from midwife-supported home births to birth center births to unmedicated hospital births to scheduled cesarean births.
The earlier the better really. Typically, the beginning of your third trimester is a good time to have your doula secured by. We often recommend that you start your search in your second trimester, talk to and interview a couple of doulas, and really determine who is the best fit for you. You deserve someone you feel an easy connection with and someone who you feel fits your personality and needs.
*If you consider yourself a planner or someone who experiences anxiety more often, hiring a doula earlier in your pregnancy might be more beneficial. This allows you to really form that trusting relationship and feel unconditionally supported as you navigate the emotional and mental ups and downs.
One question that we frequently receive is, “Will my partner be left out?” This is a legitimate concern, as many people assume that a doula will replace the partner’s role. However, our role as doulas is to support both you and your partner. We firmly believe that our presence enhances the support system and strengthens the bond between you and your partner. Your partner knows you better than anyone else, and even if they are uncertain how to support you during labor and birth, they understand your fears, preferences, and desires. We work with your partner by providing encouragement, offering guidance and suggestions when necessary, reminding them to take breaks and stay hydrated, and more. Even if your partner has witnessed birth before, they still deserve support and the reassurance that they are also being supported.
Yes, a doula can be very useful even if you have a cesarean birth. Although the doula’s role may be slightly different during a cesarean birth, they can still provide emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing person and their partner. Some of the ways in which a doula can support a person during a cesarean birth include:
Providing emotional support: A doula can help alleviate anxiety, provide reassurance, and offer a listening ear during the birth.
Explaining the procedure: A doula can provide information about the cesarean birth process, what to expect, and answer any questions the birthing person or their partner may have.
Supporting the partner: A doula can support the partner in providing comfort measures to the birthing person and in understanding what is happening during the birth.
Facilitating skin-to-skin contact: A doula can assist with initiating skin-to-skin contact between the birthing person and their baby, even during a cesarean birth.
Overall, a doula can help the birthing person and their partner feel more prepared, informed, and empowered during a cesarean birth, making it a more positive and memorable experience.
Finding the right doula is an important decision, and it’s essential to choose someone you feel comfortable with and who can support your unique needs and preferences. Here are some steps to help you find the right doula for you:
Research: Start by researching local doulas in your area. You can search online, ask for recommendations from friends or family members, or check with local birth centers or hospitals.
Check their certification: Make sure the doula you are considering is certified by a reputable doula organization. Certification ensures that the doula has received appropriate training and adheres to ethical standards.
Schedule a meeting: Arrange a meeting with the doula to get to know them better. Ask questions about their philosophy, experience, and approach to supporting clients.
Ask for references: Ask for references from previous clients to hear about their experiences working with the doula.
Trust your instincts: Finally, trust your instincts and choose the doula that you feel most comfortable with and who you believe can best support your needs and preferences during your birth experience.
Remember, the right doula for you is someone who can provide personalized support and be a trusted ally during one of the most significant experiences of your life.
