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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Hiring a doula - opinions please!

13 replies

Phoebebaby · 19/04/2007 12:37

I'm thinking about booking a birth doula as I'm getting very anxious about the impending arrival of our first baby in 4 weeks. Has anyone got any opinions - I feel a bit pathetic not wanting to cope with labour on my own (well dh will be in attendance but he's a novice as well) - but I'd rather feel calm and pathetic than terrified! Has anyone found a doula really helpful?

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morningpaper · 19/04/2007 12:44

Marslady and Lulumama are doulas and very knowledgable

They will be around soon enough....

Original poster

Phoebebaby · 19/04/2007 16:40

Anyone?

OP posts:

MamaG · 19/04/2007 16:41

I think lulumama has a link to her website on her profile?

PeckaRolloverAgain · 19/04/2007 16:42

Hi there and congratulations on your pregnancy!

It is not pathetic at all to hire a doula - not in the slightest!

Whereabouts are you?

Have you looked at the htttp://www.doula.org.ukDoula UK Website to read a bit more about what a doula does? They also have a "find a doula" service

PeckaRolloverAgain · 19/04/2007 16:43

Oops! Sorry that link didnt work

Doula UK

Oh and I'm a doula too and have just found out I am pregnant and will be hiring a doula for myself

lulumama · 19/04/2007 16:44

hi Phoebe !

didn;t reply sooner, because as a trainee doula myself, i feel that i can only give you one side of the story !!

i know there are mumsnetters who have had doulas, and all seem pleased with the experience.....

i personally cannot see a negative !! you get someone who supports you and is there for you unequivocally, you will not be alone during labour, you have unconditional support !

having a baby is such an important experience, so why not get all the support you can ?

hertsnessex · 19/04/2007 21:43

Hi Phoebebaby!

I'm a doula.

Dont feel 'pathetic' that is really not the case, its about securing your birth experience and enabling it to be one of the most empowering experiences of your life. For some women (and men) having the support of a doula with you really enables this to happen.

Look on doula uk, search under your postcode.

There are a list of questions on there to ask the doulas you interview.

1mth is very close, so id get onto it now!

If you want to know anymore please feel free to CAT me or chk out my profile, details on there.

GOOD LUCK!

workstostaysane · 19/04/2007 22:11

do it. do it. do it

the doula i had was the single best thing i did during pregnancy. called her when i started having contractions 3 days before dd arrived and she chatted happily on the phone to me, texted regularly and came over to take me for a walk in the park to try and get the little one moving.
on the day, she arrived at 8 am, helped dd put up the pool in the kitchen and then ran around doing all the things dh would have had to do - getting water, clearing up sick, timing contractions- so that i could just lie with my head on his lap and have him stroke my forhead.
all research shows that couples who use a doula rate the experience of childbirth much better (ie easier and more satisfying) than those who don't. also, you are much less likely to have a cesarean(sp?) or any other kind of intervention, labour is usually shorter, and relations between the couple are less stressed after the event and coping with a new baby if they have used a doula either during or after childbirth.
i highly recommend.

Dinosaur · 19/04/2007 22:19

If you can book one, do. I had one for the birth of DS3 and wish I'd had one for the other two! Get in quick though as four weeks is not long and they tend to book up in advance.

incognitally · 19/04/2007 22:26

what is a doula?

Original poster

Phoebebaby · 20/04/2007 10:19

Thanks so much for the advice - I feel reassured and I've contacted a local doula in S. London (from Doula Uk - she's a trainee but that's ok I guess?) who is free and am going to chat with her at the weekend. I really want labour to be a positive experience so anything which helps achieve that has to be good.

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 20/04/2007 19:28

Thats great phoebebaby, hope it goes well, and a trainee is fine.....everyone started there!

In response to 'whats a doula'

Doula (DOO-lã) comes from the Greek meaning "in service of", it also came to mean a favoured female servant whose duties probably included attending the lady of the house at birth. Nowadays, Doula is used as a term for a person who attends and assists mothers-to-be during birth.

A Doula?s role varies greatly by what the mother/mother to be?s needs are. Essentially I view my role as a ?mother to the mother? and offer a variety of positive support, help, reassurance and care.

lulumama · 20/04/2007 19:46

great news phobebaby......hope all goes well...

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