How do midwives feel about the presence of doulas at the birth?

[naturelover]

Am looking into doulas at the moment. Was wondering if anyone had encountered conflict between doulas and midwives. Obviously their roles are pretty different, but I wondered if midwives ever felt that doulas were invading their territory.

This is my first baby so please excuse my naivety.

I'm hoping for a homebirth and I like the idea that a doula would be there from early stage labour onwards, right until the end, whereas I've been told the midwife will only arrive later on.

Also, anyone had a doula and regretted it?

Hi,

I'm not a midwife anymore but I would not have felt threatened by the presence of a doula. TBH midwives are so pressured to make sure their notes are perfect that this was always the biggest conflict of interest for me. The Mum in pain and me wanting to do more in the way of support but having to concentrate on notes too. A doula would have taken away some of that pressure because I would have known that the Mum was getting really good support.
I say go for it.

I had a homebirth for my firt LO 6 months ago with an NHS mw and a doula and my mw was DELIGHTED that i had a doula! She was very positive about it and they got on very well and were an incredible team actually. I had a long labour so i think the mw was glad she could leave me for periods of time, knowing that the doula would get in touch when things moved along (my dh not being an expert in such matters!)
My mw did say beforehand however, that if i ended up with a different mw they may feel threatened by having a doula around - and my doula herself said that she often had to tread a fine line, but probably any doula you have will be used to this and know how to handle it. all the best to you

god no- it would be wonderful to work with a doula- we are in a bit of a primative area so i've never birthed a woman with a doula present but would love it- like someone else said it means that i would be able to get on with the medical monitoring snd record keeping whilst someone else was focusing purely on the woman in labour!

naturelover, I am not a midwife and am not answering your original question, but wanted to let you know that I wish I had a doula first time around, I don't think anyone could regret the brilliant support they offer. I did it second time around instead. Was worried people (like midwives) would think me odd if I did it first time, but in retrospect should have done it anyway to have someone 'shouting my corner'. Wishing you luck.

hi,

im a doula, and was booked to be with a client at a homebirth. i got there when things were starting to get going, then the mw arrived, we chatted, she was fab.

i helped her just by passing things, keeping a towel warm, supporting my client and her husband, and their other children.

when the baby was born i passed mw the towel, i then passed baby to mum. it was amazing.

i then ran a bath for my client, made tea etc and got mum and family settled whislt both mw;s wrote their notes etc.

i saw her again at a postnatal visit and she said it had been great knowing i was also supporting the mum.

ive done mostly hospital births, and only once come across a mw who didnt like that fact there was a doula there.

i later went back to this hospital to spk to the head of midwfiery - as i felt i needed to ask about there view of doulas etc - all was well and i found out the mw who was with my client was very new and didnt really know what a doula was.

all was well.

good luck.

cx

I agree, never had a problem as a doula with midwives. I know some OB's are a bit iffy about doulas but you'd be unlikely to have an OB at your homebirth anyway! Yes you are right a doula can be with you in the earlier stages of labour, perhaps when you don't feel ready to call your midwife yet but are feeling like you need some additional support.