Do hospital midwives generally disapprove of doulas?

[Greensleeves]

I mean, is there generally a tension there? Just interested

I'm sure a midwife will be along soon with more up to date info, but when I did my med student time in obstetrics (before doulas were well known of) all the orthodox Jewish women had them. There was no tension at all between them and the midwives. There was no overlap of roles, and in fact they got to know the midwives as they were in so often. I saw the same doula there for 2 different women in one week!

I reckon that if your doula is any good, she'll do her best to avoid there being any tension as that is not condusive to labouring! And if the midwife is that ratty that she makes it a problem you'll be glad you had her along anyway so win-win as far as I can see.

that was what I was wondering really, whether there was a perceived overlap in territory

and how that would work for the woman in labour

I think if I had had a doula the midwives who delivered me would have been quite pissed off

but my experience wasn't good

I think it is inevitable that a lot of it depends on the personalities involved. Just as you find that some healthcare professionals (not necessarily thinking of antenatal or obs) get a bit sniffy if they are faced with a patient or a relative who they consider to be "too well informed". In my case, I have made it clear from the beginning that I'll be having a doula there as well as DH and have been met with positive feedback from everyone. One of the MWs I saw asked who it was, I told her and she replied, "Oh great! She's really good!". Mine came with me to my birthing centre assessment at 36 weeks and the MW seemed absolutely OK with it. I think it is becoming much more commonplace for women to have doulas and hopefully MWs etc can see that having an extra person around the place who knows what's going on can only help to try to keep things as calm and as relaxed as possible.

Depends on the doula. 9 times out of 10 I personally would be very happy that there is someone there who can give the support and encouragement that I would love to have the time to give but unfortunately am not always able to. I don't feel so guilty about not being able to be there 100% of the time if I know they have good support.

And there shouldn't be an overlap in territory. A doula shouldn't be any different than an informed, supportive birth partner. If the doula starts trying to give medical advice that they're not qualified to give then thats when it could get a bit tricky but they really should not be doing that.

i sat on a maternity services committee and got to know the matron, head of midwifery and consultant midwife and other useful people via the NCT BEFORE i set foot on labour ward, i think that helped enormously, as it was not a 'tehm and us situation'

I am also extremely careful to NEVER undermine either the MW or my client, i don't make decisions and i ensure i am always respectful no matter the situation.

i have only ever had positive responses and feedback and got a client sent to me by the clinical lead obstetetrician , so i reckon i have done ok

i have been greeeted with hugs and kisses by midwives who i've worked alongside and get many cups of tea. i've had a lot of MWs insist i do midwifery training, which means i am doing something right !!

one birth i was at recently, it was lunchtime, and the shift leader brought me 3 lunches that were left over!

never had tension or disapproval, but heard of sitations where it had occurred, 9 times out of 10 it is because the doula has tried to make decisions for the woman or force her hand or tried to demonstrate she knows better than the clinically trained people