Wanting to go natural...

TTCfirstbaby

Are classes enough or should I pay for a doula to be there?

imsoskarude

Doulas are nice to have because some of them are trained in prenatal massage, which is nice for pain relief while in labor. I found touch to be very soothing during the birth of my first daughter, I did not take any classes though.

ncbelle

I really think it depends on your personality.  I didn't have a doula - but I'm very introverted and don't like being fussed over (just let me labor in the corner and help me if I need it - LOL!).  I also felt confident in my DH's ability to advocate for me and to understand what was going on in the event we needed to make decisions.  But doulas are great and I know many friends who loved loved loved their doula!

I actually didn't take a class either (although I think it's a good idea!) but I read a TON.  I think you should still do reading even taking a class because (depending on the class) you may not get as full a picture of birth as you could.

adoxyinherear

I found our doula to be invaluable!

mjr12

RusalkaSings:

I found our doula to be invaluable!

This.  So much so that she was literally the FIRST person we told about our second pregnancy.  I wanted to make sure she would attend our second birth. 

wannabigfam

I think it depends on your personality.  I'm a very private person and I would not feel comfortable having another person, esp. another woman, there at our birth.  This is going to sound cocky, but there's nothing a doula can do that I can't do myself - nothing they understand about birth I can't learn on my own, and nothing they would tell me to do that I couldn't learn from a class or reading things.  I think I would get annoyed if someone was trying to tell me how to relax, etc.  (and yes, I'm a second time mom who had a vaginal intervention free natural birth w/ our first).  I am not afraid to speak up against authority and I also don't panic under pressure, but I can see how a doula would be helpful if 1) you don't like conflict and would be afraid to speak up for the type of birth you want in the moment, 2) you panic and forget what you want under pressure, 3) you don't have support from a significant other on the day of the birth, 4) your significant other isn't willing to speak up or doesn't understand the importance of natural birth enough to advocate for you if for some reason you can't advocate for yourself.  Most importantly, I can't imagine having anyone in the room other than myself & my husband (yes, I know a midwife will be there and a nurse or two, but I'm talking about non-medical people).

Just my two-cents!  If I were you, I'd do the natural birth class & see how you feel.  Imagine the worst case scenario at the hospital and then picture who is there with you helping you get through that bad situation - is a doula present in your imagination? 

ridesbuttons

I didn't have a doula nor did I feel like I would have managed better with one after the fact.  Having said that, I have one friend who had her 3 kids at home with a midwife.  She has nothing but good things to report about the doula for her first delivery (not sure if she used one for subsequent births) and how relaxed and safe she felt with the doula present.