looking for a doula in central / SE london

[Maria2007]

Hi!

I'm a first timer- this is my first pregnancy, I'm currently 15 weeks, and my due date is august 4. I'm quite nervous about the idea of the birth, and I've advised that it would be great to hire a doula, for her to help with support, preparation... and just the idea of having someone constant there, who I already know, apart from my partner, is appealing.

I've also been told that I really need to start looking now, because summer births are sometimes hard when it comes to finding a suitable doula- many go on holiday at that time etc.

I live 5 minutes from waterloo, so if you have any personal recommendations about nice, warm, open- minded doulas (the open-minded bit being quite important to me!) that live reasonably close to that area (or don't mind to travel) I'd love to hear them. I've already checked the official doulas website, but most doulas are just listed by name & phone number, and a personal recommendation would be much much better.

I can recommend me. lol

www.freewebs.com/chrysalisbirths
email me on
[email protected]

Look here too, it's the doula directory. Doulas are listed by maternity hospitals and the listing is free.

You can also e-mail me via the contact page of the website and I can pin point doulas to you .
I am not taking births at the moment but I know quite a few of them!

Doula UK Find a Doula

Im to far out for you, but can recommend lisa, and mars, but i think she is too far for you. its a great idea going by recommendation though.

Cx

Thanks Herts, but I'm not free in August. I know a fair few in SE London though.

hey cheers Herts. Have emailed with this lady but we agree prob too far unless she doesn't get fixed up. x

Thanks ladies!

I've already managed to meet one very nice doula (but unfortunately the EDD is not in the end convenient for her)... and I've exchanged emails with a few more... my search continues!

Here's a further question for you though. Do you think most doulas are open to the idea of using needed pain relief, including epidurals, and providing support, information & reassurance despite that? This is going to be my first birth, and I've never been good with pain... so I'm not at all willing to try my limits & take no pain relief. However, I do get the sense that the idea of a 'natural birth' is quite big, at least from reading most doulas' websites. I'm not saying they're right or wrong... it's just that I want to be able to feel comfortable doing / saying what feels right to me. It's very important for me to have another woman there, an experienced and reassuring one... but equally, it's also important for me to not try to prove a point & to try to do what feels right to me at the time, including an epidural if needed...

What do you think? (especially those of you who are doulas yourselves). Do you think that'll be a problem, because it's something I'm concerned about.

Maria

Hi Maria

We don't make decisions for you. We listen to you and your wants and needs. It may be that on taking on a doula you discover hidden resources within yourself. Having a doula is shown to reduce the medicial interventions and the use of epidural etc.

When she visits you antenatally, indeed from that first phone call, she will talk through your concerns with you.

Fret not angel. It will come good however you decide.

Mars(Doula)

hi maria, another doula here !

a doula should not tell you how to give birth , but support you and advise you so that you feel empowered to go for the best birth for you! that might mean every drug known to man(womankind) or not!

sorry, doorbell rang so i posted halfway through !

basically, a doula should talk you through what your hopes and dreams are and your fears, and help you work through the pros and cons of what you want.

you do not have to set anything in stone.

you might want an epidural, you might not. you might be amazed how you cope without one, or want one as soon as labour is established

it must be your informed decision, and your doula will support you.

you can do your birth plan/ preferneces, and leave it open ended, and decide as and when you need to. you doula should be your advocate and supporter, not your decision maker

all the best, x

Thanks for all those who replied to my original post (about looking for a doula in SE london). And thanks particularly to those of you who are doulas themselves & gave me some very useful info! I just wanted to let you know that I've now found someone really lovely, and we've agreed to work together... I talked to her about all my concerns & she was great, so that's a relief, to have that organized.

Thanks again.
Maria

Thats great news Maria2007.

I hope all goes well.

Xx