Doulas

Is anyone using one? They are child birth assistants. I was thinking of it but dont know if its worth it. My midwife says they are very helpful. Its just that if my midwife sees I have one will she give me as much attention if she has more than one patient the day I deliver.

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i am not PG but some friends of my parents used one when they had twins and they LOVED her - they felt that it was totally worth it.

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If you can get me names that would be so helpful. I like to go off recommendations

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A friend of mine had one, and said it was one of her best decisions. She said that her doula really helped her relax, and eased her husbands fears and concerns.

If you are worried about your midwife having another delivery around yours, it might ease your mind to know that you will have someone else there with you, who knows what they are doing

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I agree. Ron seems to think we will be fine. He says he will help me but the way I look at it the more people I trust the more calm I will be

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My yoga teacher is a doula; she just had her third baby naturally (tub birth) last week....I think she is teaching class again in like 2 weeks!

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If I was having a hospital birth I would definitely get one. I've heard good things about Helen Dressner.

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My sister had a doula for her second child. And her midwife definitely didn't pay any less attention to her then the first when she didn't have a doula.

I am also using a midwife and have considered hiring a doula. But instead I'm hiring my sister who happens to be a licensed massage therapist. I think I would feel more comfortable with her anyway.

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I'm considering hiring one too. I'm going to the stonybrook midwives too but in the Islip terrace office. You can check out their website, they have a whole list of doulas on their website.www.stonybrookmidwives.com
Good Luck!

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I just gave birth to my second and used a doula. My labor went very fast and ended up with a completely natural L&D (which I wasen't planning on it just went that fast) and my Doula was a huge help during my transitional contractions and I thank her for my labor going so fast because of her assistance.

Dh was holding my one leg so it was nice to have her up by my face also the weeks leading up to my labor she was on call and would come over and give me prenatal massages and stretches to do which I know helped my daughter to align perfectly to make my labor short.

I ended up released at 24 hours because my doula kept me under control and relaxed which allowed me not to tear at all and with a super healthy and ALERT newborn.

I had my daughter during a shift change so it was great to have a constant person assisting me as well as DH.

Also if I would have needed a Csection she would have stayed with me allowing DH to follow the baby to the nursery and she was there to support me during the afterbirth when DH was with my daughter and give me any lactation support I needed.

I'm also covered for two post partum visits by my doula.

I got one because my DS was born after 12 hours of labor 3 hours of pushing and a kiwi vac extraction so it left some bad memories and dh was deployed for alot of this pregnancy (he made it home just in time) and my parents live 12 hours away. So we felt we could have Grandparents and friends take care of DS if we needed but I needed someone for extra support in case he didn't make it home in time.

Long story short we kept her and she again was a huge help and baby and I are doing wonderful!

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I have been thinking about this, I would love the extra support, but I am not so sure how Phil would feel about this.

What is the cost?

Message edited 11/29/2007 11:46:42 PM.

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110% worth it!! Not on Long Island though so I can't make any recommendations. I honeslty don't know if I would have made it through without drugs without her.

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I have been thinking about doing this as well. I wouldn't even know where to begin looking to research good ones (except here of course) I would really love recommendations.

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I had my second at home. two of the midwives at Stonybrook asked me why I am not again and also said I still can. I am just nervous because of my age. I am thinking of changing my mind. I loved my homebirth over my hospital. It was so peaceful.

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Wow, I'd be so scared to have a home birth. Although I could totally see how it much more comfortable I'd be.

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