What’s everyone thoughts on a Doula?

Question

I was provided with a Doula at 7 months. I’m thinking about letting her go because I’m almost done with my pregnancy and I don’t know her. I will be 32 weeks In two days and I have so much support from my boyfriend, family, and friends! Do I really need a extra person/stranger? 🤷🏾‍♀️ maybe if she started the pregnancy with me I would’ve felt better.

Answer

Wish my husband was cool with us having one! I am relying 100% on my husband during labor and after birth. 😬 Hoping he steps up to the plate. My mom drives me bonkers so I hope to not resort to calling her during labor. No way I’m am having my MIL even though we get along great, just weird to me. 
Doulas are more knowledgeable, have more experience and I would think be calmer because they aren’t family.
I would rather have a Doula than our mother’s being bossy and having to see them after they watched a baby come out my WhoHa. I would rather have a professional stranger watch me poop myself then a family member! 😵
Just my opinion.

Answer

I have a doula, hired her about a month ago. She’s there mostly to support my husband as he’s completely clueless how to help me during labour and will be able to coach him during that time or if he can’t then can help me herself. This is our third and our first time with a doula.

Answer

I think doulas are most helpful around due date, during birth and right after so it doesn’t mean anything that you don’t know her well yet. If you start having contractions and don’t know it this is IT, she will be able to help you. During birth she can be your advocate when you don’t have strength to talk with medical staff or you don’t understand what’s going on. Or just to assure that everything is going normal. After delivery, you will be able to ask her if your healing is going well to avoid complications after birth. I’m seriously thinking of getting a doula for all those reasons.

Answer

I was only receptive to a woman’s touch when in natural labor.. my husband would try, he really would, but I felt like he wasn’t doing anything right. I had a midwife I gravitate towards during that period that stuck with me through most of the labor. She really made my laboring better- the little things counted!

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I had one when I had my son 2 years ago and absolutely loved her she helped me get through the birth the way I wanted and made sure everyone else supported me on it too. I will have her there when I have this baby also.

Answer

I’m thinking of hiring a friend of mine as my Doula very soon. I became friends with her 5 years ago when her son was my student, then I was her daughter’s teacher 2 years later. We became really good friends, and we have discussed the whole Doula thing recently. We are going to meet up next weekend to talk about it again.  She has her business FB page and I’m always seeing the other moms she’s helped always saying nothing but positive things about her being their Doula. I already know her on a personal level, but I do still enjoy seeing what others say about her with her career. And you can tell she REALLY loves what she does.  
On top of all of that, she’s also a lactation consultant. I completely failed at breastfeeding my first daughter due to not having enough support (nurses had me bottle feed at hospital because she wasn’t latching, and the lactation consultant they gave me at the hospital was awful), and I’m determined to do it this time so she’ll be able to help assist with that, as well.

Answer

Doulas are mostly there for your birth and postpartum period. They know a ton about pain management, phases in labor, breathing techniques, positions, pressure points to relieve pain and in my experience my doula was able to explain to me what was happening when the doctors didn’t bother to explain anything to me.

Answer

I just hired a doula. I'll be 32 weeks tomorrow. My husband is a great man and father to our almost 3 year old....but he was not a good labor partner the first time. He froze and couldn't think of anything to do to help and I just needed more support (and coaching for him) this time around

Answer

Doulas can be really helpful is supporting partners and helping with guidance thru labor. I am using one for my first and haven't regretted it!

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I have a doula but I know her because we grew up as friends. I wanted the extra support in the delivery room because I love my husband but he panics and isn’t a lot of help. They know what they’re doing. You should also bring doing prenatal appointments with them.

What’s everyone thoughts on a Doula?

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