Did anyone use a doula?

ELF4321 · November 2011

We really want to try for a natural birth and not get pushed into medication, etc. if I don't need it, but I know during labor I may not be thinking clearly or able to advocate for my preferences. I would love to say that DH will step-up and make sure things go the way we want, but quite frankly, he tends to crack under pressure and just wants someone else to make decisions for him and tell him what to do.

Talking to the doctors ahead of time only does so much, because there are three of them at my practice plus two from another practice I've never met that could end up delivering.

I definitely want to give birth at the hospital, just in case of complications, but I'm wondering about hiring a doula to be there with us and take the burden off DH. Has anyone else done this or know of any in the area?

lisa5ny · November 2011

No advice on a Doula, but I'm looking into the Bradley Method for myself. There's a good chance I won't be able to get an Epi this time again, and the Bradley Method is supposed to be great. However, I don't know anyone who has studied it and the classes are expensive from what I'm told. I'm going to start by checking out a book from the library on it and go from there.

mrsredmoose · November 2011

I took the Bradley series up in Wappingers Falls, but ended up with a section

I found Dr. Bradley's book helpful. There is a more modern one by Susan McCutcheon (sp?) Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. My favorite is Ina Garten's Guide to Childbirth- loaded with positive birth stories.

We considered a doula, but didn't b/c of cost. Where are you giving birth? Here's a link to find section/episiotomy/anesthesia rates for each hospital- quite interesting http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/facilities/hospital/maternity/

lisa5ny · November 2011

mrsredmoose:

I took the Bradley series up in Wappingers Falls, but ended up with a section

I found Dr. Bradley's book helpful. There is a more modern one by Susan McCutcheon (sp?) Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. My favorite is Ina Garten's Guide to Childbirth- loaded with positive birth stories.

We considered a doula, but didn't b/c of cost. Where are you giving birth? Here's a link to find section/episiotomy/anesthesia rates for each hospital- quite interesting http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/facilities/hospital/maternity/

Thanks for the book rec's....I'll see if I can get my hands on either one of those. I'm also worried I'll end up with a section and that's one of the reason's I'm hesitant to take the classes. I still have PP, and If I still have it once I'm full term it's an automatic c/s.

Augustbride · November 2011

I'm not sure where you will deliver but I didn't really want an epi this time. I told the staff when I came in. They did not pressure me at all to get any kind of pain relief. I ultimately got an epi and it didn't work so I had to get another one. I had strong back contractions and I had to lay in the bed so they could monitor the baby with an internal monitor. I couldn't do anything but breath through them. If I could have moved I probably would have made it. The plus side is I was kind of stuck at 5 and after the epi worked I made it to 10 in an hour without it I was so tense I was working against my body.

Huzzy · November 2011

mrsredmoose:
I took the Bradley series up in Wappingers Falls, but ended up with a section

I found Dr. Bradley's book helpful. There is a more modern one by Susan McCutcheon (sp?) Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. My favorite is Ina Garten's Guide to Childbirth- loaded with positive birth stories.

We considered a doula, but didn't b/c of cost. Where are you giving birth? Here's a link to find section/episiotomy/anesthesia rates for each hospital- quite interesting http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/facilities/hospital/maternity/

Ha! The hospital I'm delivering at up here has delivered only 600 babies last year! And this is the big hospital up here!

Did anyone use a doula?

Re: Did anyone use a doula?

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