Would you hire a *doula*?

[sarah733]

Thinking of becoming a doula and just wondered if there are any expectant mums out there in the pembrokeshire area who would consider hiring a doula! Dont worry i havent even done any course yet just wondered if its worth doing it!! Cheers!

Well you know you and your head!

moi!!!

get back to work you, come on, get typing....

Well its my turn to join the fan club then

Mars is amazing, beautiful,a gentle soul, full of life, stop me I could go on.(Have you figured out who I am yet Mars, although I am sure you have)

Sorry only know hertsnessex and lulumama from this and a doula forum so not meet them but love the energy I get from there messages. Perhaps one day we will meet at a study day or meeting

needahand so plsd you have a doula, tell her about your concerns of be sick, she can help and suggest somethings I am sure and keep an eye on things

Oh I'm so crap at cryptic clues!!!!!!!!!!! Sigh....

I'd love a doula for no.2 (due in October!), had one for ds, she was fab. She has moved away though, so if anyone knows a good doula in the Brighton area....

Look on the find a doula page

Can I ask about doulas too? (Hi needahand). I'm due in late June in South west London (Kingston hospital). I had a pretty awful birth last time, and when I haven't got my head in the sand about it, I'm hoping for a slightly better experience this time. And that's why I'm thinking about a doula.

Very cheeky, but I've looked on the doula websites, and there is so much choice. Marslady, do you do SW London? Or can anyone recommend any south west London doulas?

I had a fab doula for ds (St George's) - she was amazing and would recommend her if anyone is in that area....

Oooh Dinny! Would you mind telling me about her? I live in Wandsworth - half way between George's and Kingston. Why was she fab for you?

she was so calm and lovely, really really helped me as had felt alone and out of control having dd (first baby) - had such a serene and in control experience with ds

CAT me?

I've never done CAT before. Could I possibly ask you to email me in rl or would you rather not do that? [email protected]

yes, will do!

Hi Spink

I cover Brighton would love to help you so pick me, pick me LOL

Sarah,
I'm in South Wales and a Doula, so if you want to email me, please do on:
jopowell1 at yahoo dot co dot uk.

Filly, who was the Doula? The only one in cardiff I know has three children? Email me if you want too (being nosy)

Ah Spink.. I see T2M has posted. You should definitely meet her. She's one of the doulas that really inspired me and I credit her with getting me started.

jammi... you should speak to them. Sometimes people are amazed at how well they click with a trainee. She may have more experience than you think. Also, we were all trainees once.

Sometimes a trainee doula will suit you where an experienced one may not. By this I mean she'll either fit for you or she won't.

Give it a go! Some wonderful trainees out there.

upsidedown.. I don't do south London unless it's twins (I adore twins). However there are lots of lovely SW London doulas. You can email me if you like and I can recommend some to you. lovelymarslady at aol dot com.

There is a lot of choice but isn't that a wonderful thing?

Loved my lovely doula. She massaged my feet and made me feel like a princess when I felt like a drudge. When I was in labour, she just let me BE. I had the most amazing, inspired, sexy birth of DS2 (I know, I know...) and it was largely down to her calming and womanly presence.

The lovely Marslady was my doula too - how many Mumsnet babies have you seen into the world Mars? - and would heartily recommend hiring a doula if she is in any way typical. I wanted a doula because I very much wanted a VBAC but I started getting really worried that it just wasn't going to happen - but once Mars was on the scene she filled me with confidence and I knew that there was only one way that baby was coming out! It's so reassuring to have another woman around who knows what you are going through and is totally there for you and on your side. It's obviously what birth used to be like before it became to medicalised (maybe not the right word but you know what I mean!) - and so a very natural choice.

I was going to count them up the other day. Let's see if I can remember.

You and Thomcat, several who I worked out were MNers but left them to it. If they wanted to they would know who I was instantly... especially as I go by Mars in RL lol! Okay... hang on. I'm going to look at my photo album and count them!

10! And I've had to turn down a fair few

yay, I would love to meet you T2M! how can I get in touch with you (obviously I am now but I mean in a not-on-this-board kind of a way)

Hi Spink

Email me your details and I will contact you.

tum2mum at gmail dot com

I look forward to chatting to you soon

Mars - I am blushing, I may have given you wings but you were the one that flew

I had a doula for my daughter's birth in October last year and she was brilliant! She was a quiet reassuring presence, my DH was worried that she would feel intrusive but far from it. He got to read the Sunday papers while she walked the corridors with me! She thought of things that I completely forgot, like straws. Sounds so silly, but having someone be able to hold the cup and just being able to sip through a straw was such a big thing at the time! (Meant I didn't have to let go of the gas and air or the edge of the birth pool!)

Have fun training, its something I would seriously think about once I've finished having my own babies.

yes yes and yes