Who is planning to hire a doula?

[kathteach]

If you are, how did you find your doula? Why did you choose to use one? I have heard so many great things about them, but it's hard to justify the expense to myself.

[Mama2RMM]

We are hiring a doula. We did not last time because we assumed that all our wishes and desires would just happen at the birthing center. I felt terribly alone when we were transfered to the hospital and no longer had support of anyone that knew all our desires. A lot of things, in my opinion, became something that my husband and I were too tired to speak up about or fight about. We needed an advocate!

This time with a VBAC and a multiple birth, I have *a lot* of desires that are not going to be "normal" in a hospital. I feel like I need the support of as many people as possible. If we have to pay for that support, then so be it! It's worth it to have a good birth experience.

The doula we hope to hire was the childbirth educator for our birthing center.

[NYCVeg]

We're planning on hiring a birth assistant, rather than a doula. This is something actually required by our birth center, and, in the event of a transfer, the birth assistant stays with you the entire time (the midwife generally does as well, but occassionally, if there are a lot of births at once, it becomes more difficult). We were given a list of recommended birth assistants by our midwives and we'll meet with a couple to find a good fit. You could ask your midwives/doctor for recommendation or ask in the Tribal Area forums. A lot of doulas have sliding scales--and if you're willing to use a student who needs experience, you might even be able to get one for free.

[flowmom]

In our home birth we opted against having a doula in spite of our midwives' recommendation. We live in an small apartment and felt that it would be too crowded with us and two midwives, let alone adding another person to the mix. I felt good about the decision because I didn't really end up wanting anyone other than my dh touching me and I wanted as much privacy with him as possible. The only reason that a doula would have been good for us would be to provide labour support for dh! I had back-to-back contractions and he really didn't get a break at all. It would have been helpful to have someone bringing him food and drinks, etc. as he got low blood sugar while being my labour support person.

This time around we won't be getting a doula either (planning another home birth). We will have a friend to help with ds, and I'm sure she'll offer us support in whatever way she can.

[dshields]

We are definatly using a doula. I contacted one who is also a LLL leader and I'm hoping to hear from her soon. I did actually get a great email response from her and she knows my midwife and a friend who's an l&d nurse at our hospital. She told me that she'd call to schedule a time to meet, but I haven't heard from her . I'll try her again after my appointment next week, I really liked her!

[kathteach]

Thanks for all the replies. I did read on one website (I can't remember which one now) that use of a doula cuts your risk of a c section by 50%. If that's an accurate statistic I'd definitely buy the services of one. What I don't really understand is what they do on their prenatal visits. They're not licensed to do what a midwife or ob could do, so I'm wondering what the benefit of prenatal sessions with a doula are. I should just not be shy and call, but I feel like I don't want to waste their time if I'm not sure.

[flowmom]

Originally Posted by kathteach

I did read on one website (I can't remember which one now) that use of a doula cuts your risk of a c section by 50%.

Yes, I think that is an accurate statistic, but I believe it refers to hospital births. I'd probably hire a doula if I was planning a hospital birth. Going the home birth route cuts your c-section risk substantially right off the bat, so hiring a doula probably wouldn't make as big a difference in that case.

Originally Posted by kathteach

What I don't really understand is what they do on their prenatal visits. They're not licensed to do what a midwife or ob could do, so I'm wondering what the benefit of prenatal sessions with a doula are.

Well, I would really want to get to know anyone who will be attending my birth! Those people may see me naked, screaming, looking terrible, pooping involuntarily, frightened, etc. Birth is a pretty animal process and we animals do animal things best when we are feeling totally safe and not distracted by strangers and wierd vibes.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Yes, we'll be hiring the same doula again. It's actually one that my doctor recommends. They work together all the time, and she gives a discount if you use those doctors. I'll be having another hospital birth.

While DH was my main support (yay, Bradley classes!), she quietly coached him on what might help me. And when it came to pushing, I really needed her.

As far as prenatal visits, we mostly went over what the plan was, what she does, what's normal, what was most important to us, etc.

Well, I would really want to get to know anyone who will be attending my birth! Those people may see me naked, screaming, looking terrible, pooping involuntarily, frightened, etc. Birth is a pretty animal process and we animals do animal things best when we are feeling totally safe and not distracted by strangers and wierd vibes.

This made me laugh, b/c normally I'm a pretty modest person, but once I hit 7cm or so, I couldn't have cared less who was there. I'm sure this differs a lot, though...

-Erin

[Peppamint]

If I was to have another hospital birth, I would definitely hire a doula. It would totally be worth the money IMO.


#1 was a hospital birth and my mom and dh provided me with a lot of birth support. Actually they were really great, but having someone there who was familiar with the hospital procedures would have been handy because my nurse had a real attitude and wasn't natural birth friendly. A doula would have felt comfortable enough to remind me that I didn't want an episiotomy when the doc said I'd tear anyway... instead I caved. Just some things like that.

#2 was a waterbirth at home. I did have a doula, a family friend who was finishing her certification so there was no charge for her services. She used to be a L&D nurse so it was a cool experience for her to witness a homebirth, and I have to admit I didn't mind the nice backrubs and music she provided!

I don't plan to hire a doula this time because we can only really afford the homebirth but like I said, if I was going to the hospital I'd definitely take a doula even if I had to borrow the money to do so. I think they can be valuable in a homebirth or birthing center setting, but I think they are necessary in many hospital settings!

[KatSG]

Originally Posted by Ksenia

The only reason that a doula would have been good for us would be to provide labour support for dh! I had back-to-back contractions and he really didn't get a break at all. It would have been helpful to have someone bringing him food and drinks, etc. as he got low blood sugar while being my labour support person.

I hadn't thought about this in relation to a doula but this happened to us, too. Dh and I never talked about whether it was okay for him to sleep between contractions like I did, and he felt a lot of stress about it. My mom got low blood sugar and fainted in the middle of the pushing (I was scared she was having a stroke) and then my brother also fainted from the stress of mom fainting! It was a circus for a few minutes there. The nurses did what we told them to--leave us alone--and a doula would have been nice to have around to take care of them.

[BirthFree]

I hope you don't mind a lurker... I thought I'd mention that Bellywomen.net is a place that matches doulas (low cost or free) with Moms looking for a doula - a lot of the doulas there are newly trained but often that means little other than you get a lot of heart in your care and a little green-learning. www.dona.org also has a listing of doulas in your area (as does alace) and both groups have high quality doulas. (Though to be honest, you don't have to go through an organization to be a good or great doula, nor are all that go through those groups top doulas though they did have to get evaluations to be a part of them).

LLL's are great places to find doulas, asking your midwife (or someone who used a midwife) is also a good place. Commonly Bradley Childbirth teachers are either doulas themselves or they know people that are. In my area a good doula is $300 and while that is an expense, I re-live my birth experiences often in my mind and that price just seems so important. I won't ever give birth without a doula again (twice so far and it would have made a world of difference both times, though for different reasons). My husband does a good job but the doula doesn't take his place, but enhances it.

Sorry to lurk - I am just surfing tonight and wishing I could be on a due date board too.

[kathteach]

Thanks for the insight, Birth Free. Again, I really liked everyone's replies.
I've started my search but no email reply yet. Here in Los Angeles a doula is around $1000. Yikes. But I'm willing to do it, just need to save and prioritize.

[Unreal]

Holy COW $1000?
For my last birth, my doula was $150.

I'm not sure about one this time around. We're doing a homebirth and we don't have all that much space.
BUT our doula was such a lifesaver last time around

I think DH thinks he'll be fine this time around as labor support--but he is probably counting on a fast labor like last time (90 minutes from first contraction to baby!)
I don't know how he'd do with a longer labor

[Peppamint]

Good info BirthFree! I'm glad to see that!

Also... if any of you know any moms with hubbies on active duty in the military, have them check into Operation Special Delivery. No mom should have to be alone giving birth when her partner is overseas!