Do Doulas do childcare?

[rubles]

I mean, be primarily responsible for sibling(s) during the labour at a home birth, while dp supported me. Or would this annoy them because they seem themselves as direct supporters of women in labour (rather than indirectly).
I would imagine wanting one to take care of dd - bring her to me if she wanted me, explain things, then take her away if she wants to go and do something else or if she is being distracting. I would also want her to be a back up in case I had to transfer to hospital.

Oh Rubles are you pregnant?

Dont know if you remember me from due in august 06 thread?

I bel;ieve so yes.

MArslady may inform you on this in more details but yes I believe they would look afte the sibling if that was your request.

best way to find out is to contact doulas in your area and discuss your needs with them !

a doula is primarily there to provide one to one emotional support to the mother during labour, but then making sure her children are ok is a way of doing that... i guess each doula would have her own answer for that

if you really need someone primarily to look after your children , and sit with them if you need to transfer, then you might be better looking into an emergency nanny or sitter through an agency?

doula uk site

Lulumama - I want someone who is not going to freak at seeing a woman groaning and grunting in labour and maybe react negatively as a consequence of that. I imagine that a doula might be able to be positive about the whole event and explain it positively to dd as she would have seen it all before.
I know, I should ask around, I am just having a dig around on here first. Would you do it?

NBG - oh yes I remember you, you were yellowfeathers weren't you. How are you doing with your lo?

Lulumama - in theory, I mean. You are not in London so that was not a serious request.

A good Doula will do anything you require, shopping, childcare, cooking, cleaning!

LOL ! if i was in london, of course i would ! !

bit far for me to come !

Big congratulations to you.

Ds is fine thanks.

I don't believe that a Doula's function is to be a childminder in labour and would suggest that Gran/friends/trustworthy neighbours would fulfill that role and should be arranged in advance. However, if it becomes necessary at certain times within the labour then that would be OK. As a mum, if I was to transfer into hospital, that is the time when a Doula for me becomes especially important as it is even harder then for mum and dad to hold strong against hospital protocols etc. As a Doula, I would be extremely frustrated at being left behind, However, it is ultimately what the labouring woman wants. So as Lulu says, you will need to discuss this with any potential Doulas.

how old is your dd? Have you considered a book to go over birth with her beforehand?
Runa's Birth (a homebirth), a book to read to, and discuss with, your older child or Hello Baby by Jenni Overend You may feel better prepared for her seeing you in labour if you have already discussed it all over a book, assuming you haven't already done this!

Rubles,

A doula may well be happy to do that, however as she would be 'on call' for you - as you wont know when labour will start this may be tricky. you could however call a few and ask them how they would go about this.

i was a doula for a homebirth, supported the mum, also chkd on the other children etc.

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