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January 2019 Moms
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Male Doulas

merostomatamerostomata member
in January 2019 Moms
This is possibly random, but several posters brought up on UO that this board has been slow, so I'm just going for it and sharing a general interest article I found interesting.

Male Doulas Want To Assist In Childbirth, But Would You Hire A Man?

https://www.romper.com/p/male-doulas-want-to-assist-in-childbirth-but-would-you-hire-a-man-9571100

What do you guys think? Would you hire a male doula? (I know some people aren't interested in hiring a female doula, either!)

Personally I think it's great that some men out there feel the calling and are becoming doulas, and it seems like they've overcome a lot to get taken seriously and get the proper training. Not sure if I'd personally hire a male doula- I'd probably prefer a woman/female-identifying person, but I'm glad they're out there and it sounds like some people prefer a male presence. The one guy they highlight in the article specializes in birth within LGBTQ families, so that's cool. It sounds like he's filling a real unmet need with his specialty and is getting good business.

We actually have 2 doulas in the family and 3 friends, all women. We'll probably go with the local family member doula/cousin but haven't approached her yet, or even told her the news! Hopefully she'll not charge us much, or at all lol


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Re: Male Doulas

  • libertymomrnlibertymomrn member
    For most things, I wouldn’t care man or woman. I’m fact, I typically prefer male massage therapists. For this, I’m not sure. I mean, I guess if it was his passion enough to actually become a doula, he’d probably be pretty good. But when a I was picking a midwife, I wanted one who had actually experienced a medication-free childbirth herself. I figured someone like that would be the most likely to help me have the kind of births I wanted. Experiencing something yourself teaches you way more than reading, studying, and even watching others or through it. So for me, it’s not that I would not want a male, it’s that I want someone who’s been through unmediated childbirth themselves.
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  • MrsPyrowizMrsPyrowiz member
    Personally no.  But I also don't use Male doctors ever and our doula with our second (didnt have one with our first) one of the biggest reasons we chose her over 2 other candidates was that we got along with her the best and she had had two unmedicated births.  I felt her expertise AND experience were valid.  That being said, I'm a doula and I think it's cool that there are men wanting to to get in to it.
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  • alexandraseattlealexandraseattle member
    What an interesting article! We are beginning our search for a doula next week. I was originally wanting a woman who had birthed a child and was ok with me wanting drugs. I thought the personal experience would be especially helpful in the breastfeeding arena. I’m interested to know what other criteria people look for in a doula! 
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  • merostomatamerostomata member
    alexandraseattle said:
    What an interesting article! We are beginning our search for a doula next week. I was originally wanting a woman who had birthed a child and was ok with me wanting drugs. I thought the personal experience would be especially helpful in the breastfeeding arena. I’m interested to know what other criteria people look for in a doula! 
    You brought up a great point that a doula can really help a FTM with breastfeeding as well- I had kind of forgot about that. Other postpartum care too! The person we are going with (fingers crossed she is available and can do it) does have a couple kids who she BF. She's a great mom and super fun. If I lived in the same town though as another doula in the family- I might ask her though instead. This other doula has never had kids, but wants to soon, but she just has the most sympathetic energy and I am always so comfortable around her, and she's been so open yet surprisingly knowledgable about pregnancy. Not that I have any experience or anything as an FTM picking a doula, but I think just making sure you 'click' with the person and are very comfortable with them is super important too, just like with a doctor. 

    That's kind of the only reason I tend to go with female healthcare providers, and would be hesitant to have a male doula- it's a comfort thing. Not that a male couldn't be that person, I just haven't been that comfortable around any yet.
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