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Does anyone have a feedback about using a doula????

Definiton of a doula:



A Doula differs from a Midwife in that we do not perform clinical or medical tasks. A Midwife has been medically trained to attend a birthing woman, and catch her baby. A Doula is present to continuously provide physical and emotional support for the birthing woman and her partner.

jeepgirl wrote:Does anyone have a feedback about using a doula????

Definiton of a doula:



A Doula differs from a Midwife in that we do not perform clinical or medical tasks. A Midwife has been medically trained to attend a birthing woman, and catch her baby. A Doula is present to continuously provide physical and emotional support for the birthing woman and her partner.

I don't think you will need one...it is such an amazing time for you and your husband...I would think having someone else there (other than the medical staff of course) would ruin the moment.
In my opinion, doula's are people just trying to take financial advantage of a nervous couple. Trust me....just read all you can and follow your own instincts and you will know what to do. You do not need anyone else telling you want to do...being there for support during the pregnancy and labor is the daddy's job!

kitty wrote:

jeepgirl wrote:Does anyone have a feedback about using a doula????

Definiton of a doula:



A Doula differs from a Midwife in that we do not perform clinical or medical tasks. A Midwife has been medically trained to attend a birthing woman, and catch her baby. A Doula is present to continuously provide physical and emotional support for the birthing woman and her partner.

I don't think you will need one...it is such an amazing time for you and your husband...I would think having someone else there (other than the medical staff of course) would ruin the moment.
In my opinion, doula's are people just trying to take financial advantage of a nervous couple. Trust me....just read all you can and follow your own instincts and you will know what to do. You do not need anyone else telling you want to do...being there for support during the pregnancy and labor is the daddy's job!

I agree. Not that I have any kids, but if I were in that situation, I would prefer to be the only person in the room aside from the staff

I have a friend who gave birth on Saturday, and she had a doula. I have not had a chance to talk to her about her experience, but I will ask her how it went and let you know.

I do know that her goal was to do it without pain medication, which was part of the purpose of the doula--to help her do it naturally....but she ended up getting an epidural anyway.

CUparrot wrote:I have a friend who gave birth on Saturday, and she had a doula. I have not had a chance to talk to her about her experience, but I will ask her how it went and let you know.

I do know that her goal was to do it without pain medication, which was part of the purpose of the doula--to help her do it naturally....but she ended up getting an epidural anyway.

That is what the doula's try and "sell" you on. No one can help you have a child naturally...they can talk to you and encourage you to tough it out...but that's what the father's job is. We all have different thresholds of pain and each delivery is different. Have enough faith in yourself and your husband that together, you can have a wonderful experience. I just simply don't agree that you need to pay someone to talk you through it!

kitty wrote:

CUparrot wrote:That is what the doula's try and "sell" you on. No one can help you have a child naturally...they can talk to you and encourage you to tough it out...but that's what the father's job is. We all have different thresholds of pain and each delivery is different. Have enough faith in yourself and your husband that together, you can have a wonderful experience. I just simply don't agree that you need to pay someone to talk you through it!

I agree with you (which is why I didn't have a doula). I am very interested to talk to my friend, though, and find out what the doula did for her and if it helped at all.

My experience with a doula was awesome, but probably different than what you are expecting.

When Tony was born, I was assisted by a midwife who was totally awesome. She was just great. There were 4 at the practice and I trusted any one of them when the time finally came. However, we knew we wanted Victoria to be there when her bro was born, but obviously Matt would be busy helping me. We didn't want anyone else in the room or else every single member of my family (and his) would have to be in there seeing me, um, well, yeah (giving birth is not a very private affair). So, we looked into it a bit, and the hospital offered a doula to assist Victoria while I was having Tony. I cannot tell you absolutely how awesome it was!! The doula was able to talk to Victoria about anything she needed to know about the whole process, so she wouldn't get scared about what was going on. Although childbirth is beautiful, it certainly isn't pretty, and your situation can change on a dime.

I know that's not exactly the scenario you might be thinking of, but I would totally recommend a doula if that's what you feel most comfortable with. That's really what it comes down to.

The practice where I want was HUGE. There were 8 docs and 4 midwives. I started off seeing the docs but didn't feel like I was getting very personal care, so I switched to the midwives. If any emergency had arisen during childbirth, there was always a doctor from the practice at the hospital to handle a c-section etc. Fortunately, everything went perfectly.

You will do GREAT, Nikki, no matter what decision you make--just make sure it's the one that you feel most comfortable with.

Wow! I made my post before reading other's responses, and somewhat agree as well. I think Corey, being the upstanding individual he is, will likely be all the emotional support you need. When I used the Doula (also, it was a free service from the hospital) it was for support for my daughter, and not me.

If natural childbirth is what you're going for, you'll be able to do that because of YOU and not what anyone tells you during the birthing process. You can work and communicate that with your midwife just as easy as you would a doula about your pain management during childbirth. Midwives rock!!


Pssssssssssssssssssst. Epidurals rock too!

First, you're going to be FINE.

I think the concept of doulas is a bit outdated in the age of the internet. And I say this having a friend who is one.

buffettbride wrote:You can work and communicate that with your midwife just as easy as you would a doula about your pain management during childbirth. Midwives rock!!

So I can I start a service where I provide support for people you want Tattoo's but are too scared of the pain and need help coping?

jeepgirl wrote:Does anyone have a feedback about using a doula????

Definiton of a doula:



A Doula differs from a Midwife in that we do not perform clinical or medical tasks. A Midwife has been medically trained to attend a birthing woman, and catch her baby. A Doula is present to continuously provide physical and emotional support for the birthing woman and her partner.

I'd say don't do it. There is nothing better than the experience of just you and your spouse along with the doctor, without someone else adding their thoughts. Gem had Clove with an epidural and I think I did pretty good with the support that day. Didn't have much time to think with Lake - from start of contractions until the time he was out was 51 minutes - no way a doula would have made it there anyway. Hell, no doctor even made it - just a first year intern in his second week there

buffettbride wrote:So, we looked into it a bit, and the hospital offered a doula to assist Victoria while I was having Tony. I cannot tell you absolutely how awesome it was!! The doula was able to talk to Victoria about anything she needed to know about the whole process, so she wouldn't get scared about what was going on. Although childbirth is beautiful, it certainly isn't pretty, and your situation can change on a dime.

That's what my wife's best friend was for - she was with Clove and answered all questions. But if that wasn't available, your situation sounds pretty good.

In my situation a doula would have been in the way. I took the classes... was ready to go "au natural"... and then my keet did an about face and turned sunny side up. All plans were out the window and I was thrilled to have a medical doc, a nurse and my keet's dad in there with me to tell me it was ok to...... and I mean this with all due respect..... ASK FOR DRUGS! Not mind altering ones... just a shot in the cervex and you are good to go! Kinda like novacane.... You still feel the pressure...just no pain! Worked for me 21 years ago on 9/7/84!

ToplessRideFL wrote:In my situation a doula would have been in the way. I took the classes... was ready to go "au natural"... and then my keet did an about face and turned sunny side up. All plans were out the window and I was thrilled to have a medical doc, a nurse and my keet's dad in there with me to tell me it was ok to...... and I mean this with all due respect..... ASK FOR DRUGS! Not mind altering ones... just a shot in the cervex and you are good to go! Kinda like novacane.... You still feel the pressure...just no pain! Worked for me 21 years ago on 9/7/84!

all I got out of this post was "mind altering drugs"

Trust me - once you actually go into labor the last thing you want is to carrry on a conversation with someone explaining to you what's going on. OUT!!!!!!! YOU WANT THAT KID OUT.


as far as the drugs - well I had the same problem as ToplessRide. But to heck with that cervical shot - I WANTED ALL THE DRUGS THE HOSPITAL HAD. I'll have to check with keet's dad but I'm pretty sure I threatened him with death too

Everyone's childbirth experience is different but IMHO it should happen at a hospital and not a home. Doc had the NICU on standby during my son's birth - no complications at all during pregnancy but minor ones during childbirth - turned out we didn't need the NICU team but it was nice to have them there and ready.

ph4ever wrote: I'll have to check with keet's dad but I'm pretty sure I threatened him with death too

Me too... after I threw up on him!

ParrotheadGator wrote:

buffettbride wrote:You can work and communicate that with your midwife just as easy as you would a doula about your pain management during childbirth. Midwives rock!!

So I can I start a service where I provide support for people you want Tattoo's but are too scared of the pain and need help coping?

Ummm. I'm not sure where you're going with this, but, um...sure???

Maybe my point didn't come across the right way, but what I was meaning to say is that the midwife can do everything a doula can and more.

And Nik, you also have a nurse that's with you most of the way that provides some of that extra support as well. Between a nurse and a midwife and Corey, I think you'd be set.

7lords wrote:

buffettbride wrote:So, we looked into it a bit, and the hospital offered a doula to assist Victoria while I was having Tony. I cannot tell you absolutely how awesome it was!! The doula was able to talk to Victoria about anything she needed to know about the whole process, so she wouldn't get scared about what was going on. Although childbirth is beautiful, it certainly isn't pretty, and your situation can change on a dime.

That's what my wife's best friend was for - she was with Clove and answered all questions. But if that wasn't available, your situation sounds pretty good.

It really worked awesome. I was very glad I knew someone would be there for Victoria. My best friend hasn't really experienced lots of childbirth and after talking to the doula I felt that would be the best fit for Victoria, especially since she tends to have a lot of questions my friend might not have been able to answer.

Also, I think that watching her brother be born was the best birth control I ever could have provided for her!!

buffettbride wrote:

ParrotheadGator wrote:

buffettbride wrote:You can work and communicate that with your midwife just as easy as you would a doula about your pain management during childbirth. Midwives rock!!

So I can I start a service where I provide support for people you want Tattoo's but are too scared of the pain and need help coping?

Ummm. I'm not sure where you're going with this, but, um...sure???

Maybe my point didn't come across the right way, but what I was meaning to say is that the midwife can do everything a doula can and more.

And Nik, you also have a nurse that's with you most of the way that provides some of that extra support as well. Between a nurse and a midwife and Corey, I think you'd be set.

but don't forget the drugs


oh and BTW - a tat is NOTHING near giving birth painwise

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

ParrotheadGator wrote:

buffettbride wrote:You can work and communicate that with your midwife just as easy as you would a doula about your pain management during childbirth. Midwives rock!!

So I can I start a service where I provide support for people you want Tattoo's but are too scared of the pain and need help coping?

Ummm. I'm not sure where you're going with this, but, um...sure???

Maybe my point didn't come across the right way, but what I was meaning to say is that the midwife can do everything a doula can and more.

And Nik, you also have a nurse that's with you most of the way that provides some of that extra support as well. Between a nurse and a midwife and Corey, I think you'd be set.

but don't forget the drugs


oh and BTW - a tat is NOTHING near giving birth painwise

YES! THE DRUGS!!!!!!! DO NOT FORGET THE DRUGS!!!

I have 3 tattoos and have given birth twice and yep, Connie's right. No comparison.