Do I need a doula?

[CuckooMamma]

With my first birth I went with an OBGYN who specialized in high risk pregnancies and didn't understand the need to have a doula. Now as we're thinking of TTC our second child I'd like to have a VBAC. I already went in for an annual exam with the local midwives who deliver VBACs in the hospital. They won't deliver you in the birth center. I originally thought that the midwife would be like a doula and advocate for my birth plan. Now that I'm beginning to read up on VBACs I see that a doula is often also present. What are your thoughts?

[Kari_mom]

You are right, I think, that your midwife will be an advocate for you. I have used midwives for my three births and they were wonderful. I did chose a doula for my third birth and second VBAC attempt. Using a doula was even suggested to me by one of my midwives. I am glad I had her, she was great! Midwives in hospitals (my only experience) may have other patients in-house that they need to attend. A doula should be attending only to you. Midwives may be less willing to go to bat for you as they need to remain on good working terms with the rest of the hospital staff. If it is a change they can make they probably have already made that change in policy. Doulas will also be concernedabout , but to a lesser degree I think. My midwives only attend active labor at the hospital for hospital births. Your doula will arrive at the place you agree upon, at the time which you agree upon and stay until the time you agree upon. Midwives will be available on and off as they consult with other members of the hospital staff, etc. Again, a doula is available for you and you alone. At my first birth I had never heard of doulas. For my second birth I didn't think I needed one. With my third birth, she was priceless.

It is important, I think, to have very clear expectations of what your midwives will and won't do, as well as what your doula will and won't do. Ditto for your OB backup and hospital.

Goodluck with your decision making process.

[CuckooMamma]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I really hadn't even thought about the fact that the midwives do have to preserve their relationship with the OB and hospital. If I have to have another c-section, then I have to, but I don't want to have one because someone doesn't step on someone else's toes. I also did assume that the midwife stayed with me and now I'm realizing that that isn't necessarily the case. Something that I definitely have to ask about. Also, how did you find your doula?

[RainCityMama]

Hello CuckooMamma!

With my VBAC at home experience, where my midwife was ONLY caring for me I STILL found my doula to be of the utmost help and a real blessing to have there :love She took care of me AND my husband by being there as an extra set of hands so when I needed my husband she would get me water and put cold rags on my forehead and when my husband needed a break (to go to the bathroom or what have you) she was there to hang on to or massage my back or my feet or whatever - I HIGHLY recommend doulas for ANY labor but I think they can be especailly helpful for VBAC's because of the issues we may be dealing with from our previous labor and birth experience.

That said try: www.dona.org to find a doula in your area :thumb

Good luck to you and let us know what you decide!

Edited to add - I would also HIGHLY recommend joining your local ICAN (international ceserean awareness network) at www.ican-online.org and I am sure that the women there can give you suggestions of local doulas that may have special experience with VBAC's or be VBAC mama's themselves!

[CuckooMamma]

Thanks so much for your reply. I think that I am/was a little confused as to what a midwife does. I actually thought that a midwife would be putting cold compresses on my head if dh didn't think of it, etc. Does the midwife just deliver the baby and not really help to baby you?

[RainCityMama]

Well I can't say for ALL Midwives but in my experience there was a good deal of laboring to be done before the midwife even arrived :) When she did get there she did a lot of watching and listening and would give gentle suggestion if I asked for it but the doula was there JUST for me and my comfort where as the midwife was there to make sure labor was going smoothely and the baby was tolerating it well. So yes the midwife's role at my birth was more to asses the situation keep watch on me and the baby and suggest positions or breathing though a contraction when needed whereas my doula was putting compresses on me, getting me drinks, massaging my back telling me 'I could do it' and overall supporting me emotionally.

This was just my own experience some others may be different.

Peace