Care to share your experience on using a doula and who you used? Did you take any childbirth classes? (We took Bradley first time) We are definitely thinking of getting a doula this time around and it has been encouraged by my OB as well (Dr. Bowen). Feel free to email if you'd like - nursegabbard@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Miranda
Re: *mag2point0* or anyone who used a doula...
I used a doula and it was a GREAT experience albeit probably not the normal experience since my doula happened to be my older sister. She is working on getting her DONA certification and needed to attend some births and I obviously was wanting a doula so it worked out perfectly :-) She unfortunately lives in Terre Haute, IN so she is not available to attend any births in this area but I know of a few who other friends/family have used if you want their contact info.
We took Bradley classes and my sister was trained in Bradley also (had 3 Bradley births herself, 1 hospital birth with an OB and 2 homebirths-- one accidental, one planned).
I could write a novel about my doula experience so are there any specific questions you have about using a doula or do you just want a general overview? Let me know and I can answer however :-)
ETA: I think we took Bradley classes from the same person-- Maren?
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
I used Shakira Adams. I'll have to find her contact info and email it to you, but she was awesome. She is a nursing student and I really appreciated her respect/knowledge of the medical field as well as her desire to help me get the birth I wanted, even though I (like PP) had to be induced. I didn't take child birth classes other than the one day generic class at Christ because I was so busy last summer.I did take regular yoga and pilates classes. I felt like yoga helped with labor and pilates helped me push.
She really helped to keep me moving and changing positions. DD was face up causing back labor and she actually turned to the side thanks to all of the movement and different positions.