Birth is awesome!

[choirfiend]

I attended my first birth as a doula last night, and it was amazing! The parents worked so well together, and despite just a bit of hospital policy getting in the way, it was uncomplicated and the mama had the natural birth she wanted! And the local hospital here has recently banned a doula, so I was a little worried about my own reception there, but it was positive. Thank God for a beautiful, safe, and happy birth and a wonderful new baby girl!

 

[MariaRegina]

Praise the Lord. I am so happy that the hospital cooperated with you in the end.

 

[Dorothea]

Glory to God! Sounds wonderful! I suppose if there are complications or emergencies, then the hospital/dr. would be called in?

 

[choirfiend]

We were at a hospital, with a doctor. Doulas are non-medical labor support. We are trained in how to support a birthing woman emotionally and physically, as well as their partners or family with them. We offer information, suggestions, comfort measures, and encouragement. We help the parents advocate for themselves with staff. Women who use a doula for their birth have 25% shorter labors, 50% fewer Csections, ~60% fewer need of epidural, and greater satisfaction with birth, better success with breastfeeding, and more confidence in caring for their newborn.

But I'm not an OB, Family Practicioner, or Midwife. I'm trained in what is normal in birth and how to support a woman when things are not ideal. I will be with a woman giving birth at home, birth center, or hospital. I will be with a woman planning a natural birth, medicated birth, or cesaerean birth. But I am not a replacement for a medical care provider, whether doctor or Midwife.

Spread the word about Doulas! They're awesome!!

 

[Ann_of_Love]

I have already decided that I will MOST DEFINITELY have a doula at my birth (I'm not pregnant, but it's not bad to plan ahead, right?) Even if something goes wrong and I can't have an easy (uh...so far as things go,) birth, she'll be there to support me and my (future) husband.

I have also considered becoming a doula, but I think I might want to try the giving birth thing first.

 

[ArmyMatt]

glory to God!

 

[Monica child of God 1]

That's great!

M.

 

[Dorothea]

We were at a hospital, with a doctor. Doulas are non-medical labor support. We are trained in how to support a birthing woman emotionally and physically, as well as their partners or family with them. We offer information, suggestions, comfort measures, and encouragement. We help the parents advocate for themselves with staff. Women who use a doula for their birth have 25% shorter labors, 50% fewer Csections, ~60% fewer need of epidural, and greater satisfaction with birth, better success with breastfeeding, and more confidence in caring for their newborn.

But I'm not an OB, Family Practicioner, or Midwife. I'm trained in what is normal in birth and how to support a woman when things are not ideal. I will be with a woman giving birth at home, birth center, or hospital. I will be with a woman planning a natural birth, medicated birth, or cesaerean birth. But I am not a replacement for a medical care provider, whether doctor or Midwife.

Spread the word about Doulas! They're awesome!!

That's awesome!

 

[choirfiend]

I have already decided that I will MOST DEFINITELY have a doula at my birth (I'm not pregnant, but it's not bad to plan ahead, right?) Even if something goes wrong and I can't have an easy (uh...so far as things go,) birth, she'll be there to support me and my (future) husband.

I have also considered becoming a doula, but I think I might want to try the giving birth thing first.

You dont have to have given birth first to be a doula. I know a great one who has not found someone to marry yet, but does a great job. You can wait, but if its something you feel passionately about, there's nothing wrong with going ahead with training, or doing it! Of course, when you have kids, you need to have childcare lined up since you are on call all the time, so it gets more complicated. I chose a certifying program that has no time limits because I didn't know how long it might take me to get certifying clients.

I havent heard of someone who had a doula who regretted it, and everyone I have heard of who had one will never go in without continuous labor support again!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I was in the room with my wife with all three children, both my first two by regular vaginal birth, my youngest boy by C-section. All three were momentous, joyful, awesome, life-changing events....I'm so glad I was there....

 

[choirfiend]

Yup, my first birth we did bradley method, which emphasizes the role of the father or labor coach. So a doula doesn't replace a dad, but does take the pressure of him. He gets to just be with his wife and enjoy instead of being in charge of making things happen.

 

[Joseph Hazen]

Yeah we have a team of midwives for "The Kid" (the most public-friendly thing I call him ) and one is trained as a doula as well. We're trying for a natural homebirth and it's looking good so far ( ) but if we have to transport she'll act as a doula at the hospital. We'll be starting Bradley classes in November too.

 

[choirfiend]

Yay fun! We did Bradley for our first. We did Hypnobabies for our second, and I found that to be incredible, like freak-in-fan-tas-tic, but everyone needs to do what works for them! I highly recommend water; if you can rent a birth pool to have as an option to labor OR birth in, it's very nice. The Aquadural.