Anyone have a Doula

[Wugster]

I am thinking about getting a doula for my first pregnancy. Has anyone had one with their pregnancy? Does it help?

 

[Athene]

What is a doula?

 

[Redguard]

What is a doula?

It's a form of currency used in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

When some women get pregnant, they get a doula. Kinda like kids and the tooth fairy.

I once knew a woman that got 5 doulas. She was lucky.

 

[Leanna]

What!? Yeah that's not what a doula is....

No I didn't have one, they can help you especially if you are interested in natural childbirth and breastfeeding. I wasn't aiming for a natural childbirth, so I did not get one. I had an epidural. Also I didn't really need the extra cost that a doula represented...

 

[chrislife]

I've never felt a need for anything like that, because I have pretty middle-of-the-road attitudes about childbirth, and have had good doctors with each of my pregnancies. If I were absolutely against medication, or absolutely in favor of it, for example, I'd want to make sure someone was able to express my choices when I'm not at my ... uh, most communicative.

But I haven't felt the need. I'm pro-rooming in, but hospitals are too, these days. I'm against bottle feeding in the nursery, but nowadays they put that on your admission forms (not to mention some hospitals don't even use a nursery anymore!). As for medication, I've told my husband my prefs. No pitocin unless absolutely necessary. If it is necessary for some reason, I want an epidural. Just plan on it. Otherwise I want to shoot for natural delivery.

Since most of my other prefs are pretty much in line with those of the doctor and the hospital, I don't really want an extra person in on the process.

---Christina

 

[Athene]

Does a google search for Doula... oh I see!

They sound like a good idea.

 

[AbidingInHim]

If you've got the money, I would highly reccommend it!!!

Also, if they start giving you pitocin, it will probably be too late for and epidural,
you might ask about that one, I have had 3 and the wourst was the middle one, thaey made me have an epidural because they were concerned I might need to have a c-section (Iwasn't dialating) It was the most miserable thing, I've ever experienced, it took almost 6 months for my back to stop hurting.

 

[chrislife]

With my four so far, one was induced for medical reasons and one was augmented when labor ground almost to a halt (already overdue). Each time, the pain was absolutely unbearable, and I could not have handled going without the epidural. I think every woman reacts differently, though. I did have a sore but for several months after the second epidural, but it was still worth it. The other two I didn't need it, and did just fine. I'm convinced my body just can't handle pitocin.

Anyway, I will steer away from pitocin, but if it becomes absolutely necessary for some reason, I'll tell the doctor "Not until *after* you've contacted the anesthesiologist."

I'm really hoping, though, for natural. Fortunately, my doctor is smart enough to know that that's what's best for me and for baby, so I won't have to fight him on it.

---Christina

 

[EmSchmem]

I had a doula and even though my personal experience wasn't great I would totally recommend one. Mine had just never had children of her own and had a hard time adjusting from the all about Emily attitude to the all about baby attitude when there were problems. I can't complain too much as she was also free. She was in training stil;lgetting certified. If you ahve a midwifery group in the area, they may be able to reccomend someone in your area who is getting certified. Either way they should be able to recommend someone even if not for free.

 

[EmSchmem]

You mean from the epi?

I had an epidural and never felt one stitch of pain after it came out and all, thats odd.

~ ~

I'm with Blue, though I know some have had problems. I also had pitocin (had t, as there was meconium in the amniotic fluid). It was becuase of the pit that I needed the epi! I would have been fine but I had INTENSE contracts (all the highest on the chart after the first hour) for five hours and was vomitting everywhere and couldn't get my breath from that long enough to do any relaxing. There should be plenty of time. I thoguht I'd be really anxious about the epi but I was fine (i.e. greatful). I'd had spinal meningitis as a kid and spent the l;ast month of my pregnancy having nightmares about the epidural after a vidoe in childbirth classes.

 

[RooMama]

I'm thinking about getting a doula for this time around. My first labor was rough. When I got to the hospital I was only at 1 cm and after 7 hours of laboring on my own, I hadn't dilated anymore. They put me on the pitocin at that point and it took another 10 hours to dilate to 5 cm, which is the earliest they let me get the epidural. I didn't have any complication from the epi. I ended up having a c-section after 20 hours of labor.

 

[Christdefinesme]

If you can afford a doula, I'd highly recommend! They are not just absolutely about natural childbirth, all the time, they are mostly there to support you and help you through whatever it is you need to do to get through the labor.
My first was just me and my husband, and, he's great, it's just a lot of pressure to put on him to be my coach AND film the event AND go through the worry about me and baby. It's been nice for him to have 2 other people there during my other labors that I would really listen to during labor and they can help make decisions about everything based on what they know about me. It was great. Highly recommend. You can look into a free one if you can't afford it. I know a couple of people who do doula work because they love it - it's a ministry for them, so they do it for free for people who can't afford it. Me, I just happened to have a friend. Good luck.

 

[dews]

I would suggest a doctor, based on my own experiences. I have almost bled to death a couple of times during delivery. I don't know if a midwife would know what to do in that situation. I guess if there were doctors around, in a hospital setting, it would be ok. I wouldn't have complete confidence in a midwife. I was lucky I didn't deliver at home or I'd be dead. Now I know what to do, so it wouldn't be so scary. My poor husband. The nurses didn't want to tell him what was wrong with me so they scared him after the birth of our daughter.

 

[Redguard]

It's a form of currency used in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

When some women get pregnant, they get a doula. Kinda like kids and the tooth fairy.

I once knew a woman that got 5 doulas. She was lucky.

I think this post deserves a bit more appreciation!! >=o(

 

[dews]

Deliver in a hospital. It is safer. I wasn't intentionally trying to scare anybody. My apologies if you were. Blue is right in that anybody can die in chilbirth, wherever you are and regardless who delivers. What is the difference between a midwife and a doula? I thought they were the same thing.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I am thinking about getting a doula for my first pregnancy. Has anyone had one with their pregnancy? Does it help?

I would rather go with a midwife than a doula and ditch the OB.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Deliver in a hospital. It is safer.

Based on what statistics?

 

[dews]

This opinion was only based on my own personal experiences. I don't have experiences with doulas or midwives. I really don't want to have a debate. I am beginning to regret posting. I just have more confidence in a medically qualified doctor after my own scary experiences- that's all.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

But hospitals cause a lot of problems, and that's why they need medical equipment.

 

[dews]

They cause problems? That's why they need medical equipment? Certainly there is no perfect place or perfect people to deliver babies, I just don't see this as the reason to have/need medical equipment- because they CAUSE problems. If that was the case, I wouldn't go there. I can cause my OWN problems.