postnatal doulas

[schmee]

hi - does anyone have any experience of a postnatal doula. I'm considering hiring one, but worried about the balance of them doing household stuff and them providing advice. I.e. will I feel uneasy asking them to empty the dishwater/wash the babygros if I am also asking for their emotional and practical support in breastfeeding...

I'm also hoping to have an ELCS and am slightly worried about being judged for not trying VBAC as a lot of postnatal doulas seem to be birth doulas as well.

Any experiences?

doulas are not there to judge but to support you and your new family.

If you're not happy asking for things, leave a note including which things need to be done. Most doulas will say (or should say), what would you like me to do. Of course they will only say that if they thing you do not need them right then for emotional support and / or breastfeeding etc

When you interview them, ask them what they are happy to do in the home and outline the things that you feel you may need help with. That way once the baby is here, they should have an idea of what your expectations are.

Good luck with your search - there are some really lovely doulas out there!

Thank you - that's really helpful. I'm hoping to talk to a couple in the next few weeks.

Hi,
I am a postnatal doula....
(I have also had an emergency csec and an elective c sec (didn't try for a vbac)
Doulas aren't there to judge you and how you decide to give birth they are there to help you. A good Doula will be more than happy to empty the dishwasher and to help you establish b/feeding and will expect this...
Good luck...choose someone you like, find it easy to chat to and someone who you will be comfortable having in your home.
Jx

Thank you Jendot. I interviewed one today and the first thing she asked me was why I wasn't going to try for a VBAC. Then at the close of the interview she whipped out a pamphlet about VBAC and tried to persuade me again.

Good to know that there are doulas out there who won't be like that so I'm going to carry on looking.

schmee, where are you based?

have you looked on the doulauk website?

I'm based on the West Sussex/Surrey border. I've had a look at the doulauk website but unfortunately there don't seem to be very many (i.e. one or two) postnatal doulas in my immediate area. I'm going to try a bit further afield though.