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July 2017 Moms
theweevee
member
Doulas
theweevee
member
Can we start a doula thread?
1) Are you planning to have a doula?
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking?
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting?
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc)
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.)
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share?
I searched but didn't find this - but if it is already covered let's have a gifparty.
1) Are you planning to have a doula?
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking?
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting?
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc)
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.)
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share?
I searched but didn't find this - but if it is already covered let's have a gifparty.
Re: Doulas
1) Are you planning to have a doula?
Maybe
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking?
I started with a recommendation, but that person and I didn't jive because she said she was only helpful for unmedicated births, and I plan on a medicated birth. Her rationale was that doulas were the epidurals for unmedicated births and once you get an epidural "you just go to sleep and then it's basically over". I was a bit surprised by that, (as that was not what google told me a good doula would say) and am very interested in the experiences of others here.
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting?
Yesterday, but I'll have to start over with someone else if I ultimately want a doula.
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc).
Medicated
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.). Undecided.
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share?
FTM
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking? My friend/neighbor but check out the doulamatch website or see if your city has a birth network if you have trouble finding one
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting? First official meeting will be around 32 weeks and she's coming to a prenatal to meet my midwife. She does 2-3 prenatal visits and 3 postpartum visits
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc) Hoping for unmedicated but I might try nitrous oxide, I also understand that things happen so I may have other interventions if necessary
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.) 3 postpartum visits
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share? I really wish I'd had one last time. If it's free at your hospital or affordable for you, I think it's worth it to have that advocate in the room.
Highly monitored internet and no cell service in the office, so I'm postin' and ghostin' while I'm workin'
1) Are you planning to have a doula?
Yes. It's interesting - women I know who haven't had a doula said they didn't need one, and women I know who had a doula said they were a must. We can afford it, and I figure DH and I can use every bit of support we can get.
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking?
I haven't hired one yet. I met with some doulas in a group practice that my OB recommended, and I really liked them. I also like the fact that they know my doctor and are well respected at the hospital where I'm giving birth. I'm not 100% sold yet because they typically just meet you once you get the the hospital, rather than helping with early laboring at home. I'm not sure how important doula support is in early labor, so any thoughts on that would be helpful.
I've also been looking at doulamatch, but it's a little overwhelming. It's important to me to find someone who supports all types of births (which all doulas should do, but some seem to be strongly anti-medication, intervention, etc).
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting?
I met the women in the group practice about a month ago at a meet and greet. If I decide to hire someone from this group, the first "real" meeting would be sometime after I hire her.
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc)
Planning for an epidural, but hopefully I can wait as long as possible.
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.) Probably just through the birth.
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share?
Nope - looking forward to hearing others' stories.
yes, we already hired her back when I was only about 8 weeks pregnant, partially because at the time I was freaking out about not being able to find a midwife and wanted to make sure I at least had the doula secured
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking?
Friends of ours recommended her specifically after using her for their 2 children. Otherwise I wouldn't begin to know how to start deciding
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting?
We spoke on the phone once before we officially hired her, and then when we were able to meet her briefly for coffee just to make sure our personalities matched I was about 21 weeks. Our actual first appointment will be at about 32/33 weeks
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc)
Not sure yet. I'm leaning towards at least trying non-medicated with the option of getting an epidural if I feel like I can't handle it. My doula suggests trying to get to at least 4cm before deciding whether or not you think you need one so I'm aiming for at least that.
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.)
She's there for the whole labor and delivery, as well as a few hours afterwards to get breastfeeding going and then does follow ups for 6 weeks. Though she's also said that she has patients for life so if there's anything else we're really concerned about later than that we're welcome to call her.
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share?
no experiences so far, but as mentioned above a major factor in deciding to get the doula was my husband. He's got anxiety and tends to get overwhelmed really easily so having someone in the room who can help him figure out what's going on, as well as having someone who can try to keep him calm instead of me needing to do it was a huge factor.
After the meeting, I thought I was an idiot and then I got on Google and realized that this well known figure in pregnancy in my area is just kind of a jerk.
Light tasks could be baking brownies or cutting up fruit for snacks.
None of these seem like anything to need help with to me...
Highly monitored internet and no cell service in the office, so I'm postin' and ghostin' while I'm workin'
Yes
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? If you haven't, how are you looking? We found our Doula at my local yoga studio. The teacher is part of a doula network, and they hosted a meeting after the prenatal class about a month ago.
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting? We had our first meeting two weeks ago. She showed us some techniques to help w early labor. She will be at the house w us in the early stages, and then will be in the car w us so hubby can focus on driving to the hospital.
4) Planned birth type? (Unmedicated, medicated, c-section, etc) I want to hold off on my epidural as long as possible, but I could end up w a c-section w it being twins. She said she would still be there for us either way to support ( @theweevee Keep looking. You will find someone who is willing to help with whatever type of birth you have. I can't believe that your original interview went that way! sorry!) We are really glad bc there is a chance of being stuck in recovery for quite a while, so she said she could help w getting a breast pump and getting the ball rolling regarding BF.
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? (Entire time & postpartum, only until hospital, etc.) Two meetings beforehand, during delivery day, and two postpartum visits (though we can always add more).
6) Any Doula stories or experiences from prior births to share? no experience to share.
Yes! I was wondering about this as a thread too
@theweevee I'm sorry you had this experience. I'm new to this but my sense is that any doula who's worth her salt will want to help you feel empowered and confident no matter what kind of birth experience you want or end up with.
@greenbean-2 Have only spoken to my doula once so far, but agree with @GlitterFish I may not want someone wandering around the house if I'm napping or taking a bath. Thinking right now the most useful part is that she'll know when it's time to go to the hospital and can sort out the taxi. (Here if you arrive too early, they send you home or make you sit in the cafeteria.) That, and the tips ahead of time of what to do when labour starts.
1) Are you planning to have a doula? FTM and 100% yes. We don’t have a support system here, and health care is very disjointed - you see different people every time. We want someone “in the know” who can help us prepare and navigate. A bit like taking a guide up a mountain.
2) If you have hired the person, how did you find them? There is a doula matching charity here with a nice website. It took a while to find someone who wasn’t booked, or charging 3x more than expected.
3) When was your first meeting/when do you plan to have your first meeting? We have ‘shared care’ meaning we’ll meet with two doulas, and the one will be at the birth. Our first proper session is in May.
4) Planned birth type? Going in with intentions of unmedicated. This is where I think the doula will be the most helpful - understanding the different interventions, when they’re necessary, and what our priorities are.
5) How long do you plan to have the doula involved? I guess this will get clearer soon, but the offer is for 3 pre-visits + support from when labour starts + 1 postnatal visit.
https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12700117/doula-experience