Question about Doula and her perfume - XP PGAL

Re: Question about Doula and her perfume - XP PGAL

• Temp76535187505890

  September 2012

  My husband tells everyone that I yelled at him while I was in labor to not put on any cologne after his shower. He exaggerates but it is true I asked him not to put any on. Smells bother me even when not pregnant so it was no surprise that I didn't want to smell anything strong in labor.
  
  I don't think asking her not to wear perfume is out of line at all. I would make a note to include it with other things you discuss about your upcoming labor. I'd just couch it as "smells are really bothering me during this pregnancy so I think it would be best if all my support partners avoided wearing perfumes/colognes, lotions, etc."

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• wifeofadam member

  September 2012

  I don't think it's out of line to ask her not to wear it.  If she's a professional, she won't be hurt at all.

  During my home visit before my last birth one of my MWs asked me not to burn one of the candles I was burning in my bathroom because it was bothering her allergies and she worried that if it happened during my birth her allergies wouldn't be able to handle it.  My feelings weren't hurt.  I actually threw out the candle after she left because I thought that if it was bothering her it probably bothered other people.  
  

      
  

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• ridesbuttons member

  September 2012

  Lots of businesses have a 'no scent' policy.  Not hard to ask her to use unscented soap and nothing else when she's working with you.

  Lots of pregnant women have a sensitivity to scent and/or a heightened sense of smell when pregnant.  She should know this.

  promised myself I'd retire when I turned gold, and yet here I am

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• Celyn member

  September 2012

  Yikes.  Ask her not to wear it.  Just tell her you're sensitive to smells of any kind.  If she's insulted, she's not a good doula.

  
  NorCalMOMS bio* NorCalBOTB* babywearingBIO
  Harmony Doula
  

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• oliversmommy32912 member

  September 2012

  I'm studying to be a doula and I would sure hope that if my smell was bothering a client they would tell me. I would not be offended at all. I've been there...there was a coworker of mine who wore awful perfume and it would make me really sick every time she got close to me. I finally just told her and she was so embarrassed that I had not told her sooner and stopped wearing it immediately. Just say "Hey, I just wanted to let you know that smells are really bothering me so I would appreciate it if you didn't wear any perfume or use any strongly scented soaps when you're working with me". It's not like you're saying "Look lady. You have really stinky perfume. You can't wear that around me". You would be just sort of making a blanket statement for all scents. KWIM?
  

  

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• shutupanddance07 member

  September 2012

  You're paying her to help you with your birth. If part of that means no perfume, just say it. I have switched deodorants three times this pregnancy because I can't tolerate the smell of myself. It's pretty common to be sensitive, and I'm kind of surprised that she wears any at all while she's working for that reason. If you're really uncomfortable, you can say that you're extremely scent sensitive and ask her to help you select an aromatherapy scent that doesn't bother you, so it can mask other smells. You can use that as a platform to say that any perfume really bothers you, so you don't feel like you're just saying this to her. I'm sure there will be other smells in the room that might also bug you. Selecting an aromatherapy scent that doesn't might be a good idea to handle that problem.

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