- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Austin Babies
Would you use a brand new doula for free?
My acupuncture office is helping one of the staff members build their doula practice. They just sent out an email saying that she's offering 5 free doula packages to clients of the practice. She's been through all of the training and I guess just wants to do this so she can get experience and feedback and maybe some word of mouth exposure.
Would you do this? I'd been kicking around the idea of having a doula just because I figure it's nice to have one more person there concentrating on me and the baby. Price was something I was concerned about. She is offering two prenatal visits with the parents, then on-call labor support (via phone or email unlimited throughout the pregnancy, then 16 hours of labor when we are ready to call her up to the hospital), 2 hours of postpartum care in the hospital, 2 post partum meetings.
I am not committed to a med-free birth, and I am not sure that a vaginal delivery is an option for me as I have a fused spine. We are going to have to see how the baby sits as it gets bigger and how my fusion affects how everything sets up down there. But, she did say that she was "happy to work with any birth scenario".
Thoughts? Advice? Any questions you would ask her? Also, has anyone ever used a doula through AAOBGYN or Seeker?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Would you use a brand new doula for free?
YES!!! This is how I was able to have a doula with DS! And it was awesome! It would have still been awesome and totally worth it if we had to pay, but it was even more awesome since we didn't!
I ended up getting an epidural at the very end (I was 9cm after I got the epi!). My doula was extrememly supportive and we had discussed this in our meetings before hand too. I would just make sure you both agree on what happens when you request an epi. For example if you say you want one when you're in labor do you want your doula to try and talk you out of it at first? Do you want her to make more suggestions for pain management and / or get an internal check to see how far a long you are? Or would you just want her to just get the nurse and start the IV so you can get your epi asap!
I have no experience with AAOBGYN, I'm with RWG... but I would tell your DR asap and explain the situation. i.e. make sure they know you're getting to doula for extra support for YOU not because you don't trust your Dr. I think that's the only hesitation I experienced with my OB was that she was concerned about the reasons why I wanted a doula (especially since I didn't have one at my first birth with her, she wanted to make sure there wasn't something I thought went wrong that I needed a doula there for).
I would.
:-)
This, but to answer your question, yes I would - provided she was affiliated with DONA International.
Oh, really? He told you no? I wonder why. Did he give a reason?
Go for it!
Why? Wouldn't having a doula be like having your husband, or even your mother, there? I mean, the doula would be an invited guest of yours, right? What if you say she's just your friend? It's not like your asking this person to assist the doctor or deliver your baby. Interesting...
That's what I was wondering.
I would absolutely try her. Just be open with her and let her know your thoughts and see what she says.