doula service

[crazysimi]

If you used one pro's con's of having a doula? Cost?

[blksabbath]

My wife and I had a doula for the birth of our first little girl. We are NOT hippies or anything...just of the mindset that your body is designed to do certain things...a woman can safely give birth to a completely healthy child without drugs. The doula was very helpful in keeping my wife focused and coaching her through it all. My wife gave birth to our daughter naturally with no drugs aside from some tums afterwords. We were at a regular hospital with a regular doctor and all that stuff. The doctor and nurses were all down and stoked to see my wife's determination to do it on her own. Pretty amazing. Afterwords, my wife said one of the key things is to focus on the baby getting out, not the pain. She described it as a good pain...if that makes sense. The cost was $600.

We are having our second child in August, and decided not to have a doula this time simply because we know what to expect and are comfortable with the whole process. Again, she intends to give birth naturally.

That all being said, if there was any danger to my wife or the baby, we had no problem with the doctor getting involved to move things along.

good luck!

[Tornado2dr]

My wife and I had a doula for the birth of our first little girl. We are NOT hippies or anything...just of the mindset that your body is designed to do certain things...a woman can safely give birth to a completely healthy child without drugs. The doula was very helpful in keeping my wife focused and coaching her through it all. My wife gave birth to our daughter naturally with no drugs aside from some tums afterwords. We were at a regular hospital with a regular doctor and all that stuff. The doctor and nurses were all down and stoked to see my wife's determination to do it on her own. Pretty amazing. Afterwords, my wife said one of the key things is to focus on the baby getting out, not the pain. She described it as a good pain...if that makes sense. The cost was $600.

We are having our second child in August, and decided not to have a doula this time simply because we know what to expect and are comfortable with the whole process. Again, she intends to give birth naturally.

That all being said, if there was any danger to my wife or the baby, we had no problem with the doctor getting involved to move things along.

good luck!

I think that is super impressive. to your wife.

I bolded those parts because I get really annoyed at over-the-top natural "home birth" proponents. I'm for doing whatever the hell you want as far as painkillers, etc - but for doing that with a bit of logic and common sense on your side.
You don't have to look too far back in history to find a time when childbirth was a major cause of death for either(or both) mother and child. Modern Medicine makes it pretty unlikely that you will go home from the hospital without your wife or newborn.

We had friends who used a doula and liked the experience. My wife says she wouldn't change a thing about getting the epidural and being in a hospital. Hell, she was having sucha good time at the first one that she basically invited all of the available interns and nursing students(5 extra people in the room) to get an education and look at her bits while she pushed a baby out.

[Papa Dras]

Yeah, I think it's cool if some women choose to go the natural route, but drugs are there for a reason and they are great!

[smittyATL]

I think the doula's main job is to keep first time parents from freaking out.

[Papa Dras]

My wife's best friend who already had kids was her doula. She was with us in the room (we used a mid-wife) and just hung out helping my wife. I tried to help, but my wife liked someone that actually knew what was going on helping. I did grab a leg when the time came, though!

[firefighterjunkie]

I used a free standing birth center for the birth of our daughter. We didn't hire a doula, because I was comfortable with the midwives and my husband, but I did consider it. A doula is like "moral support" for the woman. We are a military family and if my husband is deployed when it comes time for baby #2, I would definitely hire a doula. A lot of the time, they do more than just attend the birth - they follow up with you at home, check in on mom and baby, etc.

I've seen the pricing go from $200 - $600.

I would not hire a doula for a hospital birth, pesonally. I wouldn't find it necessary. I think they make more sense for natural birthing. But again, I had a 10lb 8.5oz baby without drugs or doula...so really I'd say it's just what the woman wants.

[Papa Dras]

that still makes me laugh. You are such a freaking stud in a girly way, ffj.

[firefighterjunkie]

[Tornado2dr]

I used a free standing birth center for the birth of our daughter. We didn't hire a doula, because I was comfortable with the midwives and my husband, but I did consider it. A doula is like "moral support" for the woman. We are a military family and if my husband is deployed when it comes time for baby #2, I would definitely hire a doula. A lot of the time, they do more than just attend the birth - they follow up with you at home, check in on mom and baby, etc.

I've seen the pricing go from $200 - $600.

I would not hire a doula for a hospital birth, pesonally. I wouldn't find it necessary. I think they make more sense for natural birthing. But again, I had a 10lb 8.5oz baby without drugs or doula...so really I'd say it's just what the woman wants.

I told this to my wife and got the "**** that ****" face in reply

[ModestGirl]

I wish I had had a doula for both babies. And the sad thing is I have a few friends who are doulas. I think weather you plan to go natural at home or have a scheduled c-section, having someone there who knows what is going on, and is paid to stay calm and awake is invaluable. Every plan I had made for my last baby went out the window one by one, and that made everything harder for me and my husband. He was awesome, but after nearly 30 hours of labor he couldn't deal with much else. I would recommend it. And, as others have said, they are not just there for the birth. They are there before hand to help you get ready (weeks before) and will come afterwards to make sure you are getting adjusted ok and help with any lactation issues or post-partum stuff. If you have a teaching hospital near you they may have nursing students who doula for free.

Good luck!

[ModestGirl]

I had a 10lb 8.5oz baby without drugs or doula...so really I'd say it's just what the woman wants.

You are my freakin hero. That is amazing.

[smittyATL]

But again, I had a 10lb 8.5oz baby without drugs or doula...so really I'd say it's just what the woman wants.

Makes me think of this:

[Papa Dras]

where's the teet, mom?!!

[GreenWagen]

What the hell's a doula?