Did you/will you hire a doula?

sparkman-to-be · October 2008

I got a couple of very positive responses from the freebirthing post on the local board regarding using a doula. I know how lots of ppl hate BOTB posts over there so I figured I'd post it over here...

Can you tell me about your experience with your doula?

DH & I are discussing it but have yet to make a decision...

melrrr · October 2008

I am still considering it, but we haven't discussed it extensively. We did go to a doula forum at the BIRTH fair a few weekends ago.

I like the idea because we don't have family here in town, and I still haven't decided how soon I am going to let my parents come. Even if I do give them the OK to make the drive from new orleans at a reasonable hour after I go into labor (I originally told them they could come a week after the baby is born), my mom's not going to be there the whole time and I don't want her in the room when I am delivering.

rayskit10 · October 2008

i regret not having one last time. i was going to and then not and then yes... in the end we said no and i still regret it.

we will get one this time. like melrrr, i don't have any family here and even if my mom is here, she doesn't drive. a postpartum doula will run errands for you and generally do whatever you need her to so that you can stay with your newborn and be rested. doesn't that sound like a little slice of heaven?

KelleyA · October 2008

I am definitely considering it for my next kiddo (whenever that is). Talk to ucalum93, I will likely use her doula when I have another.

horn_jm@hotmail.com · October 2008

I think I might next time, but things worked out fine for us without. I had a Bradley birth - where the husband is supposed to do everything for you - but I think it might have helped both of us to have had someone else there helping and advocating for me, too. If she is still doing it, I might hire our Bradley instructor to be our doula.

nanann · October 2008

It would sound like you might be planning a med-free birth. If that's the case, then Yes, I think having a doula is a good idea. They become a good patient advocate from what I hear.

I personally went in with Elena expecting to get an epidural if I couldn't handle the pain. I, not surprisingly, couldn't handle the pain, got my epidural, and had my baby. Whole labor was only 7 hours - 5 hours in the hospital. With the plan of an epidural and getting the epidural, I don't really know what a doula could have done besides what the nurse that was in the room did. (Elena was born at Women's and the nurse stayed in the whole time).

With my 2nd, Julia, I think any doula would have missed the delivery! Labor was 2 hours from 1st contraction to birth, and only 30 minutes at the hospital. that one was med-free, and if it had been a long med-free birth, a doula would have totally and completely helped because I was a mess.

ucalum93 · October 2008

I did and it was the best thing I did where my pregnancy and delivery were concerned. Patti Heimlich came recomended by my OB so I knew they worked together often. I too don't have family here and even if I did, I wouldn't want my mom in with me. Patti was great. Her services can be purchased in packages or ala carte. She did the private childbirth class, a labor preparation massage (it got my early labor going), attendance at the birth where you get massaged the whole time and a 2 hour post partum massage in your own bed "to put everything back together again". She wasn't kidding...my hips are now smaller than before I got pregnant!!!

When my OB wanted to induce, I called Patti to run it by her to get her opinion. She assured me that it was the best thing to do in order to avoid a potential awful l&d complete with magnesium sulfate and all the nausea and vomiting that would entail. Once the induction was underway, my water ended up breaking on it;s own at 3cm and I asked for an epidural b/c I knew the pitocin induced contractions would be beyond what nature intended. Patti had already counseled me not to be a hero when it came to pain relief and that an epidural may in fact help me to progress and to rest. She was right. I dilated very easily and even took two naps. She massaged me the whole time and it was great for my husband as a first time Dad to have some help. Six hours after they started the pit I was ready to push and did so for 1hr 45 min. Baby was sunny side up and was not descending past a +1. My OB said she would let me continue to try for a vaginal delivery but that it would be a difficult one complete with major episiotomy and forceps. That's all I needed to hear. I told her to do a c section as I didn't want to put baby, nor myself through that!

So even though I didn't get the natural birth I was hoping for, Patti was invaluable. She has a tremendous amount of knowledge about the process as well as how different physicians do things, what to avoid, what to ask for and what to expect. You will also learn things that the medical profession either doesn't tell you or just doesn't know. She is also a good sounding board to run things by and helped ease my mind about everything. She is also a very talented massage therapist who teaches doulas from around the country who come to Houston to participate in workshops she holds. I even got a free pregnancy massage when they needed volunteers for these women to work on.

Please let me know if you'd like anymore info. Here's her website:

www.doula-training.com

To get going, click on the contact us tab and shoot her an email to set up a consultation.

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Did you/will you hire a doula?

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