Doulas and homebirth

[slseiswirth]

I was wondering if you will be having a doula at your homebirth? We used a doula for our last birth (a hospital birth) and loved her. We haven't had a homebirth before and cannot decide if we will need her at our homebirth. She is my chiropractor as well so part of me likes the idea of her being able to adjust me during and after labor again as well as being there in case there are positioning issues with the baby. When I approached her about doing it she was very surprised and her response was that we didn't need her and could definitely do it on our own. Granted my last birth was a hospital VBAC so it was a much more stressful situation than the homebirth we are planning this time. I just feel so comforted by her and her presence and knowledge though.

My husband is totally for having here there. My last labor was very long so it was very necessary to have another person. The midwife will be there too though so maybe having someone in the doula role is not as important? I just don't know to be honest. The other side of it is that I really don't want anyone else as a doula if she can't be here. I don't know her backup and I don't want to to take the time to get to know her back up. She only is taking on one other birth the month I am due so I doubt the chances of needing a backup are slim. Anyway, any advice you have or the thought process you went through in deciding whether or not to use a doula at your homebirth would be greatly appreciated. 

[la mamita]

For my first birth (at home), my partner was not around, so I had my sister serve as my 'birthing partner'. It turns out I had a pretty short labor (probably 6 hours of active labor) and I didn't need any support--I let her sleep through most of it and just needed someone to hold my hand when I was pushing. My midwife did want me to have someone else there for me because my partner wasn't around, in case of any emergency or just to solely give support as their role is more along the lines of making sure everything is going safely, not fetching water or rubbing my back or more of the 'support' stuff.

This birth, same midwife and at home, my partner should be around (pending approval of a visa...) and even if he's not, I have no plans to hire a doula. I am an introverted person who doesn't find comfort in touchy-feely stuff; when I am sick or in pain, I like to be left alone, so I'm not sure a doula could do much for me and I don't think I would feel comfortable having a relative stranger in my private space. I will have another support person if he is not able to be there, probably my close friend. I will send my kid to the grandparents' house during the birth.

If I was birthing in the hospital, I think I would want a doula, so that one person could be doing any 'support' stuff while the other could be arguing with the nurses. But I would probably try to hire someone I already knew...

[slseiswirth]

If we do go with the doula she would be my chiropractor who I have been seeing for three years now. She was at the last birth, so she is definitely not a stranger at all. 

[motherhendoula]

GET THE DOULA

I recently had my third child - my second HB ..i am a postpartum doula and know plenty of labor doulas - i could have chosen 20 different women....lol    With my first HB - my midwife and her assistant arrived very early in labor and were very 'hands on'  with me...i didnt really need a doula.  I assumed this midwife would be the same way - but they werent.  Also - this labor was FAR more intense and painful than either of my other labors.  Lesson learned - you dont know what labor holds for you - you cant go wrong by hiring a doula.  But if you find yourself in the midst of a hard labor, or a long labor - and you havent planned for it - the birth will be that much more difficult.

I really regret not having a labor doula. - (how cool is it that your chiro is ALSO your doula???)

[3xMama]

I'm skipping on the doula but I will have the mw and two birth assistants. I just don't see a need for a doula when I've already got three trained people who are there to support me and do whatever I want them to do to help me through the labor, kwim? Plus I'll have DH and he's the one I really want during labor.

If I were not to have those people available, I would seriously consider having a doula. So I guess my question to you is how many ppl will be around to assist your labor? Do you feel that that is adequate? And if you want her there, by all means, go for it! Its your birth, do whatever is going to make you comfortable and have a positive birth expirence!

[lovebeingamomma]

I've had two hospital births without one, then I became a doula.  This time I'm having a homebirth and getting a doula!  You never know what kind of labor you're going to get. 

[MegBoz]

No for me, but that's because with my 1st, also a hospital birth, I wanted the doula:

-mostly as "body guard" - even though I had MWs & a good NCB-friendly hospital, I was still paranoid about hospital birth in the USA anyway with all the horror stories you read.

-help for deciding when to go to the hospital almost last minute (she came to my house to help with laboring)

-Since we had never "been there/done that" I figured her expertise & reassurance would be valuable

-Since the nurses would all be strangers to me, and therefore I wouldn't 'trust' them having just met them in labor, she'd be one more familiar person I trusted (source of good info)

-Nurses & MWs may have other patients in labor, so they'll be popping in & out of my room, whereas I'll have continuous support with a doula.

None of this applies to my HB. None of it at all. My MW brings an asst (an apprentice), but that asst has been at every one of my prenatal apts, so I know her as well as I know the MW. Obviously there will be these 2 ladies focused ONLY on me. Each prenatal is a whole hour long, so I'm really getting to know & trust them. & I'm pretty sure they aren't gonna push pitocin to speed things up or offer an epidural ;) They are also more than happy to do comfort measures such as counter-pressure, etc. They are not "stand back & only monitor for medical problems" style MWs.

Plus my first birth was under 6 hours, so odds are good this 2nd one will be shorter yet. Of course, if labor ends up long, I'm not opposed to picking up the phone & seeing if my doula is available last-minute. They need to be ready at very short notice anyway. I suppose I'd pay a premium, but that would be fine. So I don't feel like there is 'No turning back" - I can call her up if I end up wanting her.

I just don't see the need, personally. And I ended up doing a lot of my labor alone, which I really preferred anyway. But that's just me.

If YOU feel comforted by her presence AND she has the added benefit of being a chiro - I say go for it! You'll also have one more set of hands to take photos, which is another nice benefit.

[vtamanda]

Ask you midwife what her thoughts are.  I was considering a DOula, but I talked to my midwife and she really didn't feel like it was needed.  She brings herslef an apprentice and an assistant out to the birth.  My concern was with me, DD, her support person and DH, that is a TON of people in my house.  That was my main hesitation in getting the doula.  My MW agreed, and felt like they had enough support and one of them would be out early, so is overkill in our situation.  Now if my doula was my chiro, I might want think differently!

[weliveintheforest]

I think it could really depend on your midwives.  It sounds like your doula would be really useful, and it would be good to have her there.  Some midwives really fill a doula role, and some don't.  

[mylilmonkeys]

It sounds like both you and your husband want your doula to be there.  That's reason enough to hire her.  Her chiro skills could definitely be useful, and I have heard wonderful things about early adjustments of newborns, as well.  

[wrafiner]

I agree with previous posts.....It really sounds like you both want her there, so just ask her to be there.  I am sure you won't ever regret having her there whereas you may later regret her not being there????  I say the more support the better.  I am due in 5 weeks with number 2.  My first was born at home with just my husband and midwife and my midwife is very hands off.  This time around we are having my mom as my "doula" because even my husband needed a break last time. Its just nice to have extra support. Hope that helps!

[SilverLace]

Maybe you just want to ask her to be available if you need her?

I don't think doulas and home birth are always a good match- their roles are very different and sometimes they struggle to find their place when you don't need a lot or help or need to be protected.

If it were me I'd get a pp doula for when my DH goes back to work :)

[homebirthing]

As a doula of ten years, an apprenticing midwife, and a primary midwife under supervision...I have walked all three roads.

Midwives are not doula's. While some of them are very hands on and emotionally and physically supportive, many are not. I mean, they are supportive and lovely and wonderful to have around...but they are there to sit quietly in the background and try to be non intrusive. They are there to listen to the baby, make sure the birth is good, watch for bleeding, postpartum exams...that type of thing. They are there for your health and wellbeing.

An apprentice is there to learn how to be a midwife. While she may sit and be able to do things like emtional and physical support, they most likely won't be doing that the whole time. They are there to talk with the midwife, and watch and learn and to be quietly in a woman's space.

A doula has none of those concerns. She often comes hours before a midwife is needed. An example would be if you were having a hospital birth and you wanted to "stay at home as long as possible" she would come and be with you at your home. That is the same, except when you would normally leave, that is when the midwife is called to come over. She has seperate prenatals with you. She is there to be 100% dedicated to your comfort, both emotionally and physically, with no thought about heartrate, blood pressure, ect...

I love doula's, and I had them at all of my homebirths!!

Now, if you don't want a doula because you don't want one, that is completely different!

[MidwifeErika]

I agree with everything homebirthing had to say! As a midwife, I LOVE working with doulas at homebirths. It is a load off me to know that the woman's emotional needs are being met between her partner and her labor support person. If you want that doula there because you love having her around, hire her! You won't regret it if she makes you feel warm and fuzzy and loved while you are having your baby.

[OpenToLife_Doula]

I am a doula.  I just gave birth for the third time.  It was my second home birth.  I am SO glad I had my doula there.  The first home birth, the midwives were more hands-off in terms of nurturing and I think they held the belief that people birthing at home don't need a birth doula.  I couldn't disagree more.  I had a different midwife for my third birth.  They were the most ATTENTIVE, respectful, nurturing, lovely, encouraging midwives and I am STILL glad I had my doula there supporting me on so many levels and telling me "yes!" when "no" came out of my mouth...  If I were having more children, I would definitely hire another doula.  As Ina May Gaskin says, "There is nothing like birthing in the presence of sympathetic women" or something to that effect. 

[Chavelamomela]

I had a homebirth recently and I had my MW, her assistant, and the doula all as active participants in the birth.  The doula arrived a few hours earlier than the MW's, so her role was more in helping me through the contractions, while the MW was supervising, monitoring, just checking that things were able to stay "normal."  Once the baby was born, 3 pairs of hands were vital to help me with the after-birth, clean up the baby (meconium all over!), clean up the tub & birth mess, and settle us into bed. I thought all 3 of them were essential to making my birth the amazing and supportive experience it was.

(My DH was also there, but his ability to help was limited by disability)

[moderngal]

I had a doula at my 1st homebirth & am definitely having her again for this one. Doulas are amazing- and they bring something totally different to the table than midwives do!! After my last birth, I wouldn't want to birth without one!! :)