July 2019 Moms
canuckmomma
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Doulas
canuckmomma
member
Anyone considering our already hired a doula? We had an amazing doula for our first and we are in talks with her again. I think we’ll go ahead with it. I had to convince my husband that it was worth it when I was pregnant with my first and he came out a HUGE doula believer after labour and delivery. We had some complications and she was a Godsend in helping us. Her massing hands and presssure was like heavenly angels during contractions. Plus she was available anytime while I was pregnant for questions or concerns, we met up multiple times before. And after birth she came to my house twice to help with postpartum things and breastfeeding. All around she was a great emotional support. I highly recommend it!
Re: Doulas
One of them came to attend my ECV (where they flip the baby head down into birthing position) even though that's not always part of their contract, and she kept me so calm, and we ended up having her for our labor too! She also came to check on us after, talked to be about my PPD.
I really wish we could do it again, but since another c-sec is likely, and we know what to expect, I don't really feel like I can afford it. I *may* be considering a part-partum doula. As much as I love both our moms, I'd love having someone come around for me, not the baby.
As for the doula cost, out here in the DC area, for a group, it was $1800, which wasn't that much more than going for just a single doula (which I think was around $1200). That was 2016.
Here they run from like $1500-$2000 - which is some real money in our world, but the rest of this baby is free so we're entertaining the idea.
Oooh, good point, @ameliabedelia-2, about checking to see if the hospital allows it. Hadn't thought of that, but will look into it!
Our first doula was a student doula, and she was INCREDIBLE. I was actually the last birth she needed in order to become an official certified doula, so we really lucked up. She was only like $600, and this was in a high cost of living area where doulas usually cost about $1200.
Our new doula is also only $600, but we now live in an extremely low cost of living area. She is certified and was a labor and delivery nurse for 15 years. I'm so excited to have her.
Even though I got an epidural, I think doulas are still incredible to have around. Labor and delivery moves faster if you move as much as possible, drink, pee, and feel comfortable. Our doula was great at reminding me to do all of these things in early labor. Once I got the epidural, she continued to flip me over from side to side with a peanut ball between my legs every couple of hours. My first L&D was a breeze! Labor was only about 8 hours (my water broke first, so this really only equated to about 4 hours of serious contractions), pushing was only about 20 minutes, and I didn't have any tearing or stitches. I'm sure some of this was probably just good luck, but I think part of it was having our doula to keep me calm and focussed.
(Also going to ask this is the "ask a STM" thread in case it's more appropriate there.)
Oh and she massaged me during contractions and showed my husband exactly where to put pressure on my hips... HEAVENLY. Id pay for the massage hands alone.