I was just wondering who here has used a
doula and what you guys thought about it.
Was it worth the money you spent? Would
you do it again? About how much did it
cost you to do so? I'm trying to decide if
I want to do this so any help would be
appreciated.
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Ingi
Supporter
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8433 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
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Re: Who Has Used a Doula? Posted: 09-14-07 08:47am
monkeygirl22
wrote:
I was just wondering who
here has used a doula and what you guys
thought about it. Was it worth the money
you spent? Would you do it again? About
how much did it cost you to do so? I'm
trying to decide if I want to do this so
any help would be
appreciated.
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!
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monkeygirl22
Supporter
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 2399 Location: ,
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Posted: 09-14-07 08:50am
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.
|
Ingi
Supporter
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8433 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
Thanks: 121
Thanked:156
Posted: 09-14-07 08:55am
monkeygirl22
wrote:
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!
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mrsJ
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 81 Location: ,
Posted: 09-14-07 19:47pm
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.
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pixma
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 1015 Location: NSW Australia
Posted: 09-14-07 20:49pm
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!!
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monkeygirl22
Supporter
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 2399 Location: ,
Thanks: 9
Thanked:1
Posted: 09-14-07 21:45pm
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.
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Ingi
Supporter
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8433 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
Thanks: 121
Thanked:156
Posted: 09-14-07 21:46pm
mrsJ
wrote:
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.
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.
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mrsJ
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 81 Location: ,
Posted: 09-15-07 08:59am
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...
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kaerbear
Most Diplomatic Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: ,
Posted: 09-16-07 04:12am
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!
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