Natalieboo

As a doula for the past three years, I am ecstatic to see the responses here! It makes me feel very proud that our training is respected and sought out by others in the birth community, ESPECIALLY nurses. Why not open the door to the birthing world and experience it from another point of view? Experiencing birth as a doula for a few births, and NOT as a nurse (NO clinical duties or paperwork) would EMPOWER you as a nurse and I definately think it would give you a huge advantage with your patients! I know there are things EVERY nurse will learn at a doula training. Don't get me wrong--I LOVE you OB nurses, and you know SO much! There are just so many tips and tricks that may help you in the delivery room. In fact, at a recent birth I attended, we had a fabulous nurse who had been in L&D 5 years, however had never heard of "tug of war" pushing! I was shocked at first, but then I realized.. if she had never seen it or was shown it by a coworker, how else would she have found out? It's not a huge thing, but I'm trying to use it as an example of one of the things I learned at doula training. Oh, and ALACE is good. There are a few certifying doula organizations. DONA, CAPPA, ALACE and GBI (Global Birth Institute) are the most popular, IMO. ALACE is reputable and based in Boston, MA. Also, you DO NOT have to become certified as a doula to attend births as a doula. Doulas usually start attending births after they have completed their training with one of the organizations. Certification is merely a choice, doulas are not regulated or governed, because they don't do anything clinical or wouldn't be in a position of liability. Yikes, sorry for that long post. Hope I was helpful in some way. -Tiffany

I have a serious and honest question and really hope it doesn't get taken the wrong way. Have you considered trying for a birth with NO painkillers? Then you won't have to worry about any of that. I mean, what if you go into labor and things work out well for you and you can handle it... it just seems from your post you are absolutely sure you are going to need something and may even have a c-section. IMO you doom yourself if you think about it like that. I'm commenting because I did the same thing. When I had my first baby I was convinced I was going to the hospital and getting an epidural.. and I did. I had a very bad experience and later became a birth doula to educate myself as much as I could about birth. My next baby, I went for the support of a midwife and doula and had a natural childbirth. Truthfully, it was 100% better than the first, faster recovery, everything. I know you are trying to get everything organized regarding anesthia but for your sake, I really hope you don't end up needing anything! Seems like it would just be easier. :) EDIT: CRIPES! I totally missed your reply to Kevin. TOTALLY! So, you are planning for a natural birth and are just getting prepared in case things go awry. Preparation is great! However, may I please suggest you find a doula in your city to HELP you achieve this natural childbirth? If money is an option there are LOTS that will volunteer and help you. And no, doulas are not anti-med nazi's. Find one that is kind, gentle, and very accepting to your plans.

A doula provides emotional and physical support to a woman in labor. I could seriously go on and on about a doula, so PM me if that definition does not suffice.

I get enough crap BECAUSE I'm a doula (from nurses too ) this is why I am afraid to become a nurse. I worry I may be too sensitive for the job. It's funny because I think of myself as a very "nurse and doc friendly" doula. I'm not "out there" like some of them. It's not even anything I do, just the looks and attitude I get when I introduce myself as the doula. I would have thought about how the docs were rude to me all day and think about what I could have done differently or what I could have said to them after. How do you get thick skin?!

Is a PSW here in Ontario comparable to a CNA in the States? I am American and have been in Canada for 3 years. Just recently, I received my Canadian Permanent Residence and am now able to work and study here. The BSN program offered here is extremely competitive to get into and I was thinking of becoming a PSW until I can get in. I've also been in contact with the two hospitals in my area about volunteering. I'm trying to get a feel for what kinds of things you can do as a volunteer as well. Years ago in Massachusetts, I used to volunteer at the local hospital and I did things like answer patient call bells, bring them water, their food trays, record the "ins", restock linens, gloves and other supplies, and record vitals into charts. Do you do stuff like that as a PSW? Do hospitals hire PSWs? Thanks for any info! :)

I completely understand where you guys are coming from in that you have duties you need to perform without cameras getting in your way. However, coming from the other end here, I am SO greatful my husband caught my last birth on video! We actually just watched it together last week because our daughter turned 6 months old. It was very exciting to relive those few moments so vividly and I totally cried. My first daughter came 4 weeks early and we were SO unorganized that we FORGOT our camera when we went to the hospital. Thankfully, MIL came in with hers shortly after delivery and got to take those first moments pictures. They were nice, but I sort of wish I had video because I would have LOVED to compare my births now. Anyways, my last delivery was at home with a midwife. I am the last person on earth who would have had a homebirth (but that is for another thread). I am so glad I did, and so glad we got it on video. If I was ever told in the hospital that we couldn't video the birth, I am quite certain I would be so upset that someone could deny me being able to watch my own baby coming out of my body. Sure you have your own memories, but to watch it after and see it from another point of view is absolutely amazing. There is nothing like it and I don't think ANYONE should have the authority to deny someone that.

onehusbandsevenkids & BabyRN2Be: I'm a doula looking to get into nursing as well! Nice to see others here. Honestly, I can't wait to perform lady partsl examinations! Sounds funny, but I know it will be something I am good at. For me it seems to be a very intuitive skill, and I've always been great with my hands. I checked my own cervix through a lot of my last pregnancy. I was right with all of my measurements. I seem to really have a knack for everything involving pregnancy, labor and birth and would go for midwifery school but in the end I don't want to give up my life to midwifery. As a doula I've listened very closely and observed when a vag exam has been done. It may be coincidence, but I worked with one midwife twice who never could get the cervix on either of the clients and they both ended up with sections! Inside, I feel like if only I had the license could I have been any help. Remember to be compassionate, respectful and gentle to the woman. In our community I know there is a group of doulas and other Child birth professionals who teach docs how to be kinder with vag exams, especially to women who have been sexually abused. But that's a whole other ball of wax.

Oh no, that is absolutely awful! I was in a similar situation but had a much better experience. I am an American in Canada and did not have the health insurance here. I had UTIs before, but this one was probably the worst. It was 3am and I knew exactly what was wrong with me. It was so painful I couldn't stand it, so I didn't even wake hubby up. Drove myself to the ER, walked in and told the triage nurse I was sure I had a bladder infection. My urine sample of a few drops was blood red. They had me in and out in an hour! It was great. I got the pill that turns your pee orange (which is all I wanted at the time.. they don't sell it OTC in Canada!) and antibiotics and off I was back at home to sleep. I was very fortunate to be in, treated and back home within an hour. IMO that is something that warrants and ER visit especially if it's late at night and you can't get relief until the morning. edit: I meant to add I was only charged $100 for the whole thing! I was so scared it was going to be a huge bill.

As long as no medical procedures need to be done to the babies at home, I would recommend a Postpartum Doula to them. They work for about $20 an hour and do exactly what the parents sound like they are looking for. Some PP Doulas will work out an overnight package, some will come during the day and even help with light housework and preparing meals. And postpartum doulas don't have liability insurance for providing services like this, so I'm not sure why a nurse would especially if she is not performing clinical stuff and only acting as a helper. Always make the parents sign something. I'd say nurses who are interested in helping parents like this out of the hospital should absolutely take a postpartum doula course! They'll teach you about the "legal perspective" of it too. Hope that was helpful in some way.

Sorry, just a curious reader... what does MRSA stand for? Thanks! :)

As a doula, some clients like counting and some don't. It's all a personal thing and I go with their cues. Sometimes they will plan it in their birth plan (it's usually the people that say absolutely NO directed pushing), or it'll just be an in-the-moment thing. For some people it does help them keep focus.

Nevermind giving birth to it, it must have been a HUGE and uncomfortable task carrying that baby the last few weeks!! I know on my parenting board right now we've got a couple ladies around 30 weeks that are complaining about how uncomfortable they are lately, can you imagine a 13 lb fetus inside you?!?

haHA! So that's what LDRP means! I thought it was something like that, but having never seen a hospital with an LDRP unit, I wouldn't know! Thanks :)

I have been a doula at two hospitals in the area, one has 1 bed and 2 bed, where you have to pay $150 extra a night for the private rooms, and the other hospital has 1 bed, 2 bed and 4 bed wards. I was just reading a thread in the Nursing Issues/Concerns forum about nurses feelings of double rooms.. no one seems to like them and then my thought of being in a 4 bed postpartum room is just terrible! What do you think? Then I was surprised, I spoke with a friend from New England who just had her baby and this is something I have never heard of before -- when you get a birthing room that is also the room you stay in for postpartum care! You never get moved to another room or anything, I think that is SO cool (and they are all private obviously). I was just wondering what your hospital does and how common the whole private room thing is in the states or if it's just these two hospitals in ontario that have 4 bed wards in PP.

Aha! Okay I get it. Thanks very much! Yep I am wringing it out and it's being packed into the wound. I cover it with a dry 4x4 folded in half and then tape that to his butt. :chuckle Also the inner packing has been sticking to the wound pretty badly, and I have been flushing it with saline before I pull it out with the forceps, but the other morning it was terrible! I flushed and pulled, flushed and pulled and it bled pretty bad after I got it off for a few mins. So because of that I have started using DuoDERM Hydroactive Gel inside the wound first, then I put the packing in. It seems to be helping with the sticking a lot but I wonder if it can hinder healing at all, anyone know? Thanks for all the help everyone! His wound is getting smaller every day and we go back to the surgeon Tues.