Doula by Skype?

[autumnfairy76]

I was soo hoping to have a doula present with my last birth and with this one. Unfortunately, French law states that doulas are not allowed to come to a laboring woman's home without a midwife or doctor present, and are not welcome in hospitals either as there is a 1 guest rule in the birthing rooms. (therefore I choose DH to be there) So, although doulas ARE available here, unless you are homebirthing with a midwife, they can only see you pre and post partum.
So, I have a dear friend in the states who is also a midwife and doula who has agreed to be on call for my birth and assist us and provide support by video Skype while I labor at home, before going to the hospital.... thank goodness for technology!

I was wondering if anyone else had ever done anything similar and how it worked out for them??

[chellebee]

I have done phone doulaing for a friend long-distance. It was an interesting experience! It is hard on the doula end of things because you don't get to FEEL what is going on in the room or with mom since you are removed, so you are relying more on information. Maybe it would be better with skype with the video aspect. I was still able to help this coulple immensely. Labor wasn't picking up and they were on a clock. It was apparent to me that baby had positioning issues and I was able to offer suggestions that did resolve the problem and got things on track. It was definitely better than nothing!

[porcelina]

OMG, THANK YOU for this post!!!!!! I have a good friend who is a fabulous midwife, formerly doula, who is currently living elsewhere in the States. I have been lamenting that we don't live in the same city. I am going to contact her today about whether she could do this with skype. Like PP said, I'm sure it's not the same, but wow, it could be a big help!!!!!

[BlackSheepPDX]

No actual experience, just a thought that the flakiness of connections (dropping/losing timing) could be really annoying, and that one of the suggestions for labor is to cover all clocks, and a computer is a big ol' clock. So, yes, I think it could totally work, you just have to have room to decide whether the technology is going to be a pain/distraction/frustration....and make sure someone ELSE is dealing with it!

[chellebee]

Originally Posted by BlackSheepPDX

....and make sure someone ELSE is dealing with it!

Oh totally. In the situation we had, I was on and off the phone with the dad. Once mom really hit active labor, I wasn't talking to her at all--just coaching through the dad, which is how a lot of doulaing ends up being anyway if you have an active dad.

[autumnfairy76]

Yes, definitely a good idea to let DH deal with the tech part of it.
I didn't really think about the Skype connection issues. We could always switch to normal phone if that happens though.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by autumnfairy76

Unfortunately, French law states that doulas are not allowed to come to a laboring woman's home without a midwife or doctor present,

Just have to say, I find this a teensy bit infuriating! How dare they dictate who I can have in my own home supporting me?! The nerve!

How would they even prosecute that? Say she was your friend & visiting you in your home & labor kicks in, you have to immediately kick her out? Gee, that would be a bummer for those ladies with prodromal labor - they couldn't see that friend for days. And of course, there's really no way anyone would know.

So the local doulas actually obey this law? Lots of birth professionals around here, such as midwives, practice plenty of "civil disobedience." (CPMs, direct-entry MWs, are illegal in the state of Maryland & several practice anyway.)

[autumnfairy76]

I'm really not sure how they would prosecute that. Yes, it irks me too!! I feel bad that doulas are not allowed to do their job here. When I spoke to a doula about it, she said they were inclined to follow the law because they are working hard to change it and don't want to give themselves a bad reputation.
Homebirth midwives have a hard time here as well, as they are not able to insure themselves and therefore must work under trust. Fortunately, the French are much less inclined to sue their doctors or midwives and I do know a few moms who were able to have a homebirth here.