What experiences have you had with a doula?

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i'm a retired rn working as a hospital-based doula. 99% of nurses i work under have been extremely supportive and friendly. but i hear some horror stories online sometimes about "nazi-doulas"....meaning they come in and tell everyone; including the patient what they are allowed to do. i would love to hear comments good and bad about your experiences with doulas.

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Specializes in DOU.

My husband hired one for a week for me after I gave birth to my second baby (C-section). I had never heard of one before (and I haven't really heard anything about them since), but she was great. She came in and cooked for me and took my wild 2 year old to the park.

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I didn't know of any around here but an internet friend was one when I was pregnant. She wasn't able to come to help me but she gave me some great advice on things to do/not do while in labor and delivering.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

We were just talking about Doulas last night at work---we live in a small rural area and if anything see Amish midwives more than Doulas---but we have had one in before--that I know of. From what I was told she was on the bossy side towards the nurses. As far as wanting mom to sit on the ball now!! or wanting mom to get in the shower ... NOW. I think she was more irritated that the nurses also had other patients and couldnt get to her mom as fast as she was wanting. But that is a small thing to complain about.

I love the idea about Doulas and hope this is a field that grows and grows---also I went to an AWHON meeting in a larger city near us that had two post partum Doulas, never heard of such a thing--just like the other poster said they are wonderful---kind of like the sister you dont have.

So now a question to you, what sort of training or education do you have to call yourself a Doula? Is there a cert course you must take? I am assuming your independently employed? How about insurance you carry on yourself? I think the whole thing is wonderful and would like to learn more.

Happy to say though I personally will never be in need of any Doulas services---4 is enough for me!!

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I've had pleasant experience with birth doulas, but I find they are absolutely shocked to find out that I know something (A LOT) about normal birth and am very supportive of women who want a natural birth. It turns out that many of the nurses where I work are former doulas, have had natural births themselves, or are midwives in training. Imagine that. :D

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

The doulas I have seen at our hospital have been great.

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We were just talking about Doulas last night at work---we live in a small rural area and if anything see Amish midwives more than Doulas---but we have had one in before--that I know of. From what I was told she was on the bossy side towards the nurses. As far as wanting mom to sit on the ball now!! or wanting mom to get in the shower ... NOW. I think she was more irritated that the nurses also had other patients and couldnt get to her mom as fast as she was wanting. But that is a small thing to complain about.

I love the idea about Doulas and hope this is a field that grows and grows---also I went to an AWHON meeting in a larger city near us that had two post partum Doulas, never heard of such a thing--just like the other poster said they are wonderful---kind of like the sister you dont have.

So now a question to you, what sort of training or education do you have to call yourself a Doula? Is there a cert course you must take? I am assuming your independently employed? How about insurance you carry on yourself? I think the whole thing is wonderful and would like to learn more.

Happy to say though I personally will never be in need of any Doulas services---4 is enough for me!!

So glad you asked!:redpinkhe I am a DONA certified birth doula. I took a weekend workshop, completed the required readings and attended a childbirth class series. In order to become DONA certified, I had to attend 3 births as the birth doula, get good evaluations from 3 different doctors, 3 different nurses and 3 different clients. In addition, I was required to write three birth stories along with providing the basics of the birth; ie: times, results of exams, how the mother reacted to the childbirth experience and to my suggestions. Then, I wrote a short paper on the purpose and value of labor support. I work as a hospital-based doula, so I got my 3 births in 2 short days! I take 12 hour call shifts with 10 other doulas. I don't carry insurance on myself as I don't perform any medical interventions or suggest anything until I clear it with my client's nurse. She has the last word. If you would like to learn more visit http://www.dona.org

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Specializes in CCU, OB, Home Health.

I've met some terrific doulas, seen the benefits of having a good doula at the bedside, and I wish more women had doulas at their births.

However, there are a few individual doulas in our community with hidden agendas, and they make these clear by bullying their clients - for example, if you get an epidural then I'm going to leave because doulas ONLY do ALL NATURAL births, or if you choose any type of pharmacological/medical intervention (pain management, labor augmentation) then that means you are WEAK and DO NOT RESPECT NATURE. But that is a matter of personality and only reflects on the individual who chooses doula work in a misguided way, often to heal her own psychological trauma from a birth she experienced.

Most of them are great.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

However, there are a few individual doulas in our community with hidden agendas, and they make these clear by bullying their clients - for example, if you get an epidural then I'm going to leave because doulas ONLY do ALL NATURAL births, or if you choose any type of pharmacological/medical intervention (pain management, labor augmentation) then that means you are WEAK and DO NOT RESPECT NATURE. But that is a matter of personality and only reflects on the individual who chooses doula work in a misguided way, often to heal her own psychological trauma from a birth she experienced.

Very well said. Individual bad experiences shouldn't cast a bad light on doulas as a whole. People who are like that would be like that no matter what they did for a living (or as volunteers).

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Hi there....I am only mildly familiar with a doula. In general terms, what services do they provide? Are they a patient advocate? Post-partem support?

Also...how are they paid or contracted? Hourly, weekly, per birth, per service level etc.

Seems very cool. My best friend had a precious little baby boy 3 months ago and she hired a doula around gestasional month 5...then later she found out she would need a C-section due to spina bifida:( (he's fine though...an absolute miracle baby!)

Anyways...it didn't really seem like the doula was all that involved (though she was VERY nice and knowledgable) she attended the baby shower, visted in NICU once and then brought about 6 reheatable meals over about 3 weeks. Maybe my friend contracted for limited services? I'm just not sure about what a doula is "supposed" to do.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer! :up:

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Hi there....I am only mildly familiar with a doula. In general terms, what services do they provide? Are they a patient advocate? Post-partem support?

Also...how are they paid or contracted? Hourly, weekly, per birth, per service level etc.

Seems very cool. My best friend had a precious little baby boy 3 months ago and she hired a doula around gestasional month 5...then later she found out she would need a C-section due to spina bifida:( (he's fine though...an absolute miracle baby!)

Anyways...it didn't really seem like the doula was all that involved (though she was VERY nice and knowledgable) she attended the baby shower, visted in NICU once and then brought about 6 reheatable meals over about 3 weeks. Maybe my friend contracted for limited services? I'm just not sure about what a doula is "supposed" to do.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer! :up:

As an experienced doula, allow me to answer that. A BIRTH doula is a woman trained in childbirth who provides emotional support for the whole family during labor and a few hours post-partum to help with breastfeeding if so desired. She suggests comfort measures such as different positions to try, massage, talking and breathing with mom during her contractions. And thirdly, she provides INFORMATION so the couple can make informed decisions. A doula does NOT make decisions FOR them or speak for them!

A woman facing a scheduled OR an emergent Cesearean birth needs a doula too! Same with moms who get epidurals. We are there to help mom get the birth she wants, not to brow beat her into having a natural birth. Although inductions increase the number of interventions and complications, I never try to push my agenda on them! Personally, I have given birth to three children and all three births were different. No hidden agenda here. I have experienced labor with IV demerol only, non-medicated and epidural. I also had a cesearean birth with my last, so I can relate to almost every birth through personal experience.

A POST PARTUM Doula takes care of mom after birth when she goes home by providing meals, doing laundry, generally freeing up mom to take care of herself and her baby. I hope this answers your questions.

A final note: There are hospital-based doulas who are employed by the hospital and there are private doulas who find their own clients. Both are great!

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That was a postpartum doula.

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