Do you have a midwife? If so, a doula is probably not necessary, as a midwife will do pretty much anything a doula will do. A midwife is very hands-on and will stay with you for your entire labor/delivery. With an OB, they come and go, having a more stand-offish approach. A nurse will be with you throughout your delivery, but isn't like a doula or a midwife.

I can honestly say that if I were to have another child, I would go with a midwife who was going to be there with me, taking me through the whole process and being very involved.

A doula would be worth whatever the expense is.

Good luck!

I don't have a midwife. I have been seeing the same ob/gyn for about four years and I really wanted to stick with him. I hadn't ever really thought about the whole labor process much to tell you the truth. I want to try to go drug free but I'm not ruling out the epi or anything because you never know what's going to happen in labor. I'm just trying to at least prepare myself for as much as I can. I looked up some prices on the internet and it's not too bad. It's about $400 in the area for all the services. I'm going to ask my husband what he thinks because I want him to be comfortable with the idea as well.

A doula will be on your side as far as any birth plan you have. You may want to start interviewing now to find a compatible person that you'll feel comfortable sharing that much of yourself with. Remember, this person is going to be getting up close and personal with your hoo-ha, so you don't want just anyone!

I totally want a doula! I would have a midwife but I want my Dr to run the show. That is why a doula would be the best bet for me. I haven't started looking into it or anything yet but I plan on it when I get a little farther along.

I too don't want any meds, that is very important to me. However if I have to be induced that may be a different story I heard labor is very painful when it is induced.

Has anyone had a water birth? I have been considering that too.

Well what a very educational post this one has been for me!!

When i saw the name of the post i thought what in the world is a Doula???

Fortunatley i know now!!

I'm still not sure. I've got to talk to my husband and see what he thinks. I just feel like if my mom can give birth to 3 children without any meds as small as she is I should be able to do so as well. She laughed most of the time between her contractions.

A doctor to run the show? If you have the option of visiting a midwife, I think it would be highly educational. A midwife will get ON the birthing ball with you. A midwife will rub your back and your feet through your entire labor. She will tell you what positions to get into to foster faster/better dilation.

Girl, a doctor comes in, checks how far dilated you are, says, "Good job, just a little while longer." Then leaves you with the nurse who comes and goes. When you get close to delivery he'll come back and stand between your legs. Whereas a midwife would be coaching you the whole time, rubbing your leg, reminding you to breathe and possibly even being the one to hold you up. A doctor doesn't do that.

Oh, but he'll be in charge.

No a Dr won't do that but a doula will, which is why I want one.

I know my Dr won't be around which again is why I want a doula, I do however want an OB/GYN to be in charge. SHE is a great Dr, SHE delivered my brother baby and did a great job and so far I really like HER.

As far as no meds go, my mom delivered 3 kids all at home, one of which was face down and 10 lbs (the first one). Plus no meds means less likely to get a c-section, less likely to use suction of forceps, less likely to need induction hormones, and quicker recovery. Although I have never been in the position of labor before so I guess I will just have to wait and see...

I think you should get a doula especially if you are trying to go drug free. I wanted to go drug free and I wasn't able to get a midwife. We thought we couldn't afford a doula but here they have a policy that no woman should go without one so they will charge you on a sliding scale depending on your income. Some will just volunteer as well. We paid our doula 200 instead of 350. I actually didn't call our doula until I started hard labour and that was a huge mistake. I thought I could just do it alone but when it got hard we called her and she was a total lifesaver. She really focused me. The hospital staff did absolutely zero to help, they are really just dependent on drugs to handle pain and did no pain coping techniques whatsoever. They just wanted me strapped to the monitors on the bed the whole time and kept asking me if I was ready for the epidural yet and smirking when I said I was trying to go drug free. One nurse gave me an enema and it brought on the contractions so strong I could hardly cope and the doula was the only one who helped me and massaged me and tried to keep me focused. I am so glad she was there and I think every woman should have someone like that at their birth. Good luck with the birth, I didn't get through mine drug free but I wanted to. I hope you can do it but don't feel bad if you don't. I am trying so hard not to feel bad about having the epi, but it sure felt good at the time, lol. And, in the end I was able to push better because I got some rest and we still ended up with a healthy and alert baby and a vaginal delivery. Take care!