doulas?

[fernie3]

does anyone have experience of having a doula?
I am looking into it and wondered if they are generally a help! also what exactly do they do?

Hi Fernie - I am a doula and I provide antenatal, birth and postnatal support for women and their families before, during and after the birth of their baby.
Some doulas provide only one service, such as postnatal help at home, whilst other provide all three.
Support could include, infant feeding information, information about types of births, birth plan guidance, physical help through the birth, with or without your partner, and practical help in your home following the birth. The latter could include helping to prepare simple meals and snacks, looking after siblings whilst you bond with the new baby, showing practical help bathing the baby etc. A good doula will listen and support you and give a non-biased, non judgemental opinion.
You should interview a potential doula to check whether you'd be happy to be spend, what is often quite a while, with this person; she might also decide whether she could work with you.
Unlike a nanny or a private midwife, the doula is mainly there to support the mother, although in doing that she's providing support to the whole family. She should have had thorough training (although this isn't a requirement by law) and be confident in supporting you in whatever way you feel would help you most.