What do nurses think about doulas?

[emde]

I have an acquaintance who is a doula, and I honestly think she is annoying. They seem to insist in natural births when they are not health care professionals. I know they are trained and can be really helpful, especially for first time parents. I could be wrong, but I think that what really matters is the health of the baby and the mother, not if the baby was delivered naturally or assisted (I had both, a lady partsl birth and a c-section).

Doulas like to attack the use of pain medications and c-sections. What do you guys think?

[mrsboots87]

Are you sure nobody said that?

If you are referring to my comment (same avatar, but different user than who you are currently quoting), then no I did not say you "hate" doulas. I said stop "hating on" doulas. As in, stop trash talking them.

You said they are annoying because they push for natural births when they are not a healthcare provider. They don't need to be because they are a laboring mothers support person and in general, natural birth mothers are the one who use a doulas services. So of course they are going to be natural birth advocates. Many of them have gone to school to become a doula and are very knowledgeable about the birth process. Many doulas use that profession as a stepping stone to gain apprenticeships to later become certified midwives. The entire profession is based on a natural approach to labor and supporting a mother as she goes through it.

Im not trying to bag on you, but your comment seemed to have come from ignorance about doulas and the various birth options outside of a medically intervened one.

[emde]

If you are referring to my comment (same avatar, but different user than who you are currently quoting), then no I did not say you "hate" doulas. I said stop "hating on" doulas. As in, stop trash talking them.

You said they are annoying because they push for natural births when they are not a healthcare provider. They don't need to be because they are a laboring mothers support person and in general, natural birth mothers are the one who use a doulas services. So of course they are going to be natural birth advocates. Many of them have gone to school to become a doula and are very knowledgeable about the birth process. Many doulas use that profession as a stepping stone to gain apprenticeships to later become certified midwives. The entire profession is based on a natural approach to labor and supporting a mother as she goes through it.

Im not trying to bag on you, but your comment seemed to have come from ignorance about doulas and the various birth options outside of a medically intervened one.

Apparently, you don't know how to read.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Someone said stop hating on doulas. Not the same thing. You asked for opinions and now you seem to be very defense about our responses. Why ask if you can't handle different opinions?

[mrsboots87]

Apparently, you don't know how to read.

And apparently you don't like when people disagree with you. Pathetic attempt at insulting me quite honestly.

You asked how people feel about doulas after you bagged on them. I gave you my opinion (which was the point of the post was it not?). If I missed the point it was not due to an inability to read, it would be your inability to convey your point properly.

[emde]

Someone said stop hating on doulas. Not the same thing. You asked for opinions and now you seem to be very defense about our responses. Why ask if you can't handle different opinions?

lol I actually liked your opinion springchick1

[emde]

Oops! wrong place to ask!! I think I'm going to ask to actual nurses. I am interested in people that can offer unbiased and professional opinion about doulas. I'm a student, too.

Some of you actually provided good insight about it. I'm not ignoring those comments!

I think the right doula is fantastic... and will hire one for my daughter when she reaches that stage in life.

Like any service provider, the key is communication and goal alignment. The same is true for a doc or a midwife... though you have less control over these choices.

[mrsboots87]

I fail to see what being a nurse vs student has to do with knowledge about doulas. But that's cool. You are likely to get a similar response as you did here about doulas. Tata

[PNW_NPstudent]

Just for the record emde, I am an 'actual nurse' that gave you an opinion. Perhaps you should ask an OB nurse. Or do a search in the OB forum.

[duskyjewel]

Imma tell you a little secret....women had babies for millions of years before medical professionals effed up the process. Most medical professionals wouldn't know a normal, physiological birth if it fell out of sky onto their face and wiggled!

I admit I may be jaded having been the victim of two completely unnecessary cesareans. Thank God for certified midwives and doulas, who helped me reclaim my birthing power and STOP being a victim of a system that told me my body was broken and could not birth my babies. I had three completely natural unmedicated births with babies as big or bigger than the ones they told me I couldn't have naturally, after my two cesareans.

You need to take off your blinders, do a little research, and see that medicalized birth in some institution's building isn't the only way, and usually, it's not even close to the best way. Google Henci Goer.

Gosh haven't we women come far. We have the right to do anything....except speak up about our own births apparently, or think we matter just as much as the baby. How dare we.

And yes, you totally bagged on doulas. Your comments were hateful, ignorant, and lumped all doulas together into one class.

I'm out.

[HelloWish, ADN, BSN]

Agreed that OPs comments are very disrespectful. As a nurse you will have to deal with peoples differing opinions with a level of professionalism lacking at this moment! "Real nurses" are likely to have biased opinions on either side since they are humans too!

[Rockrose]

Well, I'm not a nurse, I'm a CNA and doing my pre-reqs for nursing school, but I do have an opinion on doulas. I love them. I had one with each of my births and I don't know what I would have done without them. Of course, my husband was in Iraq each time so otherwise my options were my mil (not happening) or my childless bff who was of the opinion "birth? gross." My doulas were amazing. They helped me with breathing and with keeping me calm. I told my husband if we ever had more kids that even though he would be there this time I would still have a doula, because the support you get from a woman who understands and respects your wishes for you and your baby and has been through it before is just amazing. I had truly wonderful doula experiences and highly recommend them.