Pregnancy psychiatrist to act as doula?

[Milliegirl25]

I'm currently seeing a pregnancy psychiatrist as I have severe anxiety which led me to have an abortion last year.
I regret this choice everyday and am doing everything in my power to ensure my next pregnancy is as successful as possible.
I'm eating better, exercising,
putting aside money every week for my future child and seeing a pregnancy counsellor on a regular basis for talk therapy and medication.
She is such a great doctor and has bought be so much comfort and reasurrance already.
My partner and I are planning on trying for a baby at the end of 2023.
My psychiatrist has assured me I can have a planned c section (please don't judge, I have a severe phobia of vaginal delivery), and I was wondering whether it would be possible to ask her to be present at the c section and act as a doula? As her emotional support would make such a huge difference to me.

Is this possible? Has anyone had their therapist/psychiatrist present at their birth? Especially if they specialise in pregnancy?
I will be asking her during my next session, but worried it may be a strange request.

You can have who you like in the delivery room with you. You probably can't call her a doula for insurance reasons.

It's worth checking with your hospital on how many people you can have with you during delivery. Mostly it's just 1.

We only allow one person in with the patient for a c section so in our trust it would be either her or your partner present for the birth

There's a big difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist. Do you have an obstetrician as well? Perhaps you could arrange a doctor to doctor talk about delivery day? If they are in the same geographical area it's likely they will know of each other.

What is her actual role? Is she a psychiatrist? If so, I assume you're paying privately? I work in this area and personally don't know any psychiatrists that would do this and would feel comfortable. It would also cost ££££.

Or a psychologist, that makes a bit more sense?

Personally I would go with someone with actual experience of supporting someone through a birth, keep with the therapy but then get to know an actual doula.

She's a psychiatrist who specialises in pre conception, pregnancy and post natal.
I just thought it would be helpful for my anxiety as she would have been there for my whole journey, and she really does ease my anxiety. Might have to look into someone else. Thanks for the reply!

She also offers cbt. So I guess a psychologist too?

It would be very unusual to have more than 1 birth partner present for an operative delivery. Can’t imagine a psychiatrist agreeing to this either. It sounds like speaking to an obstetrician might be helpful if you haven’t already to explore more about the practicalities of c-sections.

Where is this woman based? I need her!

This makes no sense. A one hour assessment with a private psychiatrist is a minimum of £350. They wouldn't be a psychologist as well... if you're having a C-Section, you must have an obstetrician. How long do you want your psychiatrist with you? Surely if you're paying that much for the psychiatrist, you can ask for, pay for, and get what you want in your delivery room?

In Australia it's around $120 a session which I guess equates to a little over 200 pounds.
She also offers talk therapy too, therefore both psychiatry and psychology services.
I always assumed psychiatrists were purely for medication too until I started seeing her.

I just thought it would be helpful for my anxiety having a professional who specialises in pregnancy and anxiety to support me during the procedure. Especially as she has been there every step of the way from pre pregnancy to post.
Anyway as I said in my initial post. I realise it's an odd request, hence why I posted here first before asking her.
I will look into other options for a doula.

Some psychiatrists do also offer talking therapies such as CBT.

You could ask her about it, whether she'd be willing, and see what the practicalities would be. Number 1 potential issue is that it is extremely rare to be allowed two birth partners present in a Caesarean, so it might mean your partner being left out

1 I would be gobsmacked if she would entertain this idea. It’s not remotely in her job description
2 this sounds like a very unhealthy reliance on her

I work with psychiatrists and this would be a no go and crossing professional boundaries.

120$ Aus is £70 so psychiatry must be much cheaper over there which is helpful.

I think you have a lot more work to do on your anxiety before planning the birth of your non conceived child. A lot of work.

Worth talking to her about it not to make it actually happen but because she needs to know you are feeling so anxious about it you want her there. Then she can work on that with you and about ways that you can feel safer. She may not do it but her knowing you had the thought can still be helpful. Very best of luck with the birth.

Well she is specifically a pregnancy psychiatrist who works with women planning to concieve and who are pregnant with a mental health condition, hence why I thought it could be a possibility.
As mentioned earlier it was only a thought and I have now realised it's not a possibility and will not be asking her, therefore I am looking into other options for a doula.

So you’re in Australia? Just curious as I’m an nhs doctor, and it’s not a service here anyone would touch with a barge pole.

I am a doula and have had clients who have worked with psychiatrists. We work in parallel and it has worked very well for my clients. I am not in the UK but have attended c section births alongside the birth partner.