Is a doula worth it?

Question

I am kind of a nut and need to be walked through everything before I do it. So I think a doula would be helpful. But just wondering what are your experiences with doulas? If I have a midwife, are they worth it?

Answer

My midwife became my doula once we went to the hospital .. I was a FTM and so nervous about a home birth so this was always our plan ... I loved having her there especially when I felt like I NEEDED to push the nurse kept telling me to hold on and not push because I needed to wait for the doctor to deliver my baby it was the most uncomfortable feeling but THANKFULLY midwife (doula) was in the room and came to my side and said “if you need to push then PUSH! I’m right here and the nurses are on standby you get that baby out” so I just started pushing and it felt so much more natural to my instincts than trying to hold back! Not to mention the reassurance of knowing that my midwife was there and knew what she was doing IF for some reasons nurses or the doctor didn’t get there soon enough to deliver my baby. 10/10 would recommend a doula!

Answer

I went with a midwife with my first and skipped on a doula, I ended up transfered to an OB because I developed preeclampsia. My midwife was great and left for a bit after I was transfered but came back and still caught my baby, but a doula would have been with me the whole time regardless of the transfer of care.

I’m getting a midwife AND a doula this time around because I want the consistent person there from early until the end no matter what complications or transfers come up.

Answer

Doulas are amazing!!
As a doula I have seen first hand mamas benefit from them! I will have one even though I "know" a ton.
Incredible support for you and your partner!

Answer

You might get a better response posting this to the general pregnancy page since it has more people on it and there’s only a few of us, many of which are first time moms! ☺️

Answer

There's pretty solid evidence that having a doula results in measurable improvements in birth outcomes, not only the fuzzy "Did I have a good experience" stuff but objective measures like birth weight, need for cesarean or other intervention,  APGARs.  If you can afford it, get one.

Is a doula worth it?

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