Hospital birth doulas, do you ever feel like changing your on-call time

[DoomaYula]

to 36-40w, rather than 38-42w? I mean, honestly, the providers here start talking induction at 36w and would "never allow" a woman to go past 41w. So why do I even bother telling clients that I'm on call starting at 38w?

[mamallama]

Hmmm.

I think it's important to present it as the most normal thing in the world to start labor at 42wks. Because it actually IS.

Sometimes I act like I just don't understand. "Why on earth would he want to induce? The MCFI/WHO/whatever recommends xyz unless blah blah blah..."

I have a very clear understanding of the motivation to intervene. I understand the fear and distrust of someone who has never actually witnessed a "normal" birth, I understand CYA medicine, I understand the economics of interventive birth, and I understand that ob/gyns are people with families and children of their own and that they really don't want to attend births on Christmas morning.

[/rant]

I also know that parents need to come to their own understanding of the way the birth machine works, so I present the background information and ask the questions.

I hear your frustration.

[tlcdoula]

Originally Posted by YumaDoula

to 36-40w, rather than 38-42w? I mean, honestly, the providers here start talking induction at 36w and would "never allow" a woman to go past 41w. So why do I even bother telling clients that I'm on call starting at 38w?

Honestly most of my clients are not going at 36-38 weeks, but instead are going past their expected due date and many do go to 41 weeks, but then again I do prepare them ahead of time for the "induction" discussion they might have with their doctor. If they are prepared they are more able to handle it.