- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Natural Birth
mccrazy
member
help deciding between classes, doula, or both
mccrazy
member
I'm planning a natural birth in a hospital setting (hospital is becoming more natural friendly) and I keep going back and forth on whether or not I need to take classes and hire a doula, just take the classes, just hire the doula, or maybe just read a ton and practice with DH at home.
Quick background: FTM with an involved and supportive DH who is unfortunately completely clueless on natural birth. He's also a paranoid about the budget, so he's hesitant for us to pay for one of the options above, much less both. I see the benefits to both the classes and the doula, but I'm personally leaning more towards the classes because I think it would get DH on board, set aside time for us to practice together, and allow us to meet other couples in the area. It's also important to me that he be that key player in my birth experience. I have the Bradley book as well as Ina May's Guide, but I'm not sure reading on our own is enough. And like I said, I like the idea of hiring a doula that will be there for me and advocate for me, but I'm just not sure...
Any suggestions or advice?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: help deciding between classes, doula, or both
we did both, but if I could truly only afford one, I'd get the doula
Gretchen Evie, born 7/8/2012 at 35w5d
I had a natural birth in a hospital setting. I took a class offered at the hospital in the section that does the natural births. It was affordable 60 instead of 320 for Bradley classes..but covered the same stuff in one month instead of three. I am glad we did the classes, we both learned things and it made my husband feel more comfortable. Like you say it was great meeting other couples, I was even able to buy homemade natural diaper rash cream from a local mom. And it forced him to give me massages each week.
I like the idea of a doula, but could not afford one. Turns out I would not have needed one. All of the nurses were great and supported natural births (that's all they do in the section i was in). Since it was a natural birth they have less deliveries to deal with so I got INDIVIDUAL attention. Three nurses, nurse midwife, my ob, and the ob on staff at the hospital checked on me and the hospital peditrician checked on the baby right away due to a concern. The nurses were so calm, sweet and supportive I dont know what the doula would have to do. One nurse even got in the bed with me to coach my breathing. That amount of care was overboard....
i took a tour of the birthing area first and felt really comfortable with the nurses. If it's a supportive hospital and nurses save your money on the doula. I'd only go that route if the hospital does not support natural births.
Thanks for your response also. While our hospital is moving that direction, it's not quite as natural-friendly as yours.
I think it just really depends. I only did the classes (Hypnobirthing) and did not hire a doula. For me that was the right call. The classes and my own reading helped me immensely and I didn't end up needing anyone other than DH. With that being said though, I was fortunate that I was in a hospital that is very pro-natural childbirth. I trusted that I wouldn't be fighting them every step of the way and that was the case, they really just left me alone to do my thing. Had I not been delivering at this hospital I would have probably picked a doula over the classes. But I think both are invaluable.
Do you have a FSA? Your childbirth classes and possibly your doula could be applied through that. Maybe your insurance will cover some of your class? Also you might look into hiring a student doula who needs the experience to become certified, but can not yet charge for her services.
In my local area a good number of the childbirth educators with Birth Resources of Brevard are also trained and certified as doulas. Birth Resources also arranges training of doulas. Doulas who want to be certified by DONA will need to assist at a few births before getting certified. Perhaps a doula who is working on his/her certification could assist for free or a reduced rate.
If you lived in my area I would advise you to attend the class series taught by a childbirth educator who is very much into natural birth. She is also a DONA certified doula. (She is also a certified Lamaze Instructor).
I would also mention to you that Healthy Start in my state will help to pay for childbirth classes through Birth Resources. The downside of Healthy Start is that to use you would need to release some of your health information to them. So if you are not comfortable with that then opt-out of Health Start.
Many doulas are willing to charge you a lower rate if there is real need and you can't afford their regular rate. Most doulas are doulas because they want to help the expecting couple. Making money is secondary to them.
If you can pull it off, I would say both.
Birth is safe as life gets - Harriette Hartigan
We are taking the Bradley classes and retained a doula. We figure it is best to be over prepared to ensure that we get the birth experience we want. Most FTM have a long labor, so for us having a doula is a great thing so that DH can have a break from the coaching role. Also, the classes have prepared DH for a natural birth, but the doula will ensure that we/he remembers all of the important things we learned! For us having both seemed like the best option.
If your DH is worried about cost, you could look for a student doula who needs to attend births in order to get more experience/certification. This would help eliminate the cost of the doula but still ensure you have an additional support person there. Also, you could talk to the class instructor to see if you could maybe adjust the price of the class or let you do a payment plan. I know our Bradley instructor is flexible because she wants couples to take the class and have the birth experience they want. For her it is all about educating and preparing parents for birth and not making money! Maybe an instructor in your area will work with you in a similar way. GL!
Thanks. That's what I'm thinking, but again you just never know how the labor's going to go. As I mentioned, I know the hospital I'm delivering at has been working towards becoming more natural friendly but I'm not sure to what extent. I guess I should be open about my fears: If we hire a doula over the classes I'm partly afraid that the doula will take the place of DH even though I know that's silly and that they are there to support both me and him together. And of course I fear if we don't do the classes that DH won't be 100% on board. On the flip side, I fear if we don't hire the doula, there's that chance that DH will be overwhelmed and I won't have anyone else there to support me.
We didn't contribute to a FSA this year because we lost $200 last year that we didn't use in time (had I known I was going to become pg I would've applied it towards a pump). We've considered a student and the Bradley instructor did say she would help us find one. The classes start in a few weeks so I'm anxious to make a decision and put my deposit down.
This describes me too, except we did Brio classes instead of Hypnobirthing. I learned a lot, even with having already read a ton, and my husband really learned how to help me and why we were making the choices we were. I had a hospital birth with a midwife. Definitely check that your hospital is as natural friendly as you think - like look at stats rather than taking their word for it if you haven't already. If your think you may need to stand up against interventions and are not sure if your husband can do that (my husband is very non-confrontational so wouldn't, though it turned out that I was in control enough that I think I could have if needed), then I would really try for a doula. To me, that would be the reason for a doula - to stand up for you, not as much for providing support because classes can teach your husband and you how to do that.
DS, May 2011
On this off-topic: I have my 26.2 sticker on my car and a guy once asked me if that meant my car got 26.2 miles to the gallon. : ) Also, where did you find that badge? I've looked all over the bump and the nest and can't find it.
On the original topic: I had to make the same decision between classes and a doula and chose the doula. BUT the main reason I chose the doula is because DH wasn't completely on board with a NB and I knew I needed someone there who was completely supportive. It sounds like you're leaning more towards the classes, which may be the right choice for you. Obviously, I'm not much help here, lol, but my recommendation is to just talk it over with your DH, talk to some of the doulas and class leaders in your area to get a feel for them, and just decide what's best for you.
We took Bradley classes because, like you, I wanted to get DH involved. I was also planning to birth at a freestanding birth center with midwives, so I did not think a doula was necessary.
I was very glad to have all the info from the classes and it definitely got DH involved. Our teacher also covered a lot of non birth things like BFing and cloth diapering. However, I really really wish I had also hired a doula. I ended up having to transfer to the hospital and the midwife was not able to stay with me. I think if I had had a doula there to support me and DH when we were both exhausted after having been up all night in labor, things might have ended up differently and I might not have had a c/s. This time around I have already hired a doula.
I definitely think the classes are worthwhile, but if you have to pick only one I would go with a doula. All of the info from the classes can be obtained from books or videos. It's more work for you but it can be done.
I had looked all over for them too and found them after a search for "badges" on the nest here: https://sites.google.com/site/hfbadges/home
I had to post the image to my photobucket and link it back to the sig.
Loved my doula.
Love love loved.
And I chose not to take classes. I'd rather have the teacher with me at my birth, rather than spend a dozen Saturdays before hanging out talking about it.
Natural Birth Board FAQs
Cloth Diaper Review Sheet
Thanks! Added it!
I shouldnt admit it..I've seen it on cars and wondered if they were trying to advertise a radio station...then thought wait the number's too low...
And I like to think I'm smart.
With DS1, we hired a doula, but couldn't find a GOOD NB class, so we just took the free/cheap class at the hospital.
With DS2, the BC I delivered at required a NB class to be taken... it had to be given by one of a list of approved doulas. I LOVED that class. Best $250 (?) we could have spent. We were in the position that we couldn't pay for both the class and a doula, and I HAD to have the class. I ended up finding a student doula who was willing to be my doula at no cost to us and she was FREAKING FANTASTIC. I would NEVER tell my first doula this, but doula #2 was FAR more helpful than #1.