Last week, I saw a request on a forum that I use regularly from a student doula in my area looking for pregnant ladies willing to use her services as part of her qualification process. After a few emails back and forth, I met up with her last night and have booked in! She seems lovely - she's had 3 babies at the same hospital that I am going to, including 2 water births which I am really hoping to have.
For anyone not familar with a doula - here is an explaination of what it is, including:
What Are The Proven Benefits Of A Doula?
50% less caesarean sectionsReduction in the use of forceps by 40%
60% less requests for epidurals
40% reduction in the use of synthetic oxytocin for inductions or augmentations
30% reduction in use of pain medication
25% reduction in labour length
Increased rates of breastfeeding at 6 weeks post-partum (51% vs 29%)
Higher self-esteem (74% vs 59%), less anxiety (28% vs 40%) and less depression (10% vs 23%) at 6 weeks post-partum
I will have 4 appointments with her before the birth to get to know her, discuss my previous labour, fears expectations & hopes for my upcoming labour etc etc. We will also discuss hubby's role and how he will be involved in the whole process. She has resources (books, dvds etc) that I will have access to for more information as I need/want it. She will then be on call for my labour and will either come to my home at the start of labour, or meet us at the hospital, whichever we decide that we would prefer. She will stay throughout the whole labour for support, and for as long as we need after the birth. We then have a follow up appointment after the birth to discuss the labour and anything else to do with the baby.
I'm really excited about this plan, I think it will really help to have another support person there - particularly someone who has done it all before. There's only so much weight my hubby's reassurance can be when I know that he doesn't know what I'm going through!
4 comments:
Oh Kath, am so happy for you. I cannot recommend the doula I used highly enough and I hope that you have found someone as wonderful. My DH says over and over that he is so pleased we had here there and he was so hesitant about the whole idea. I truly believe that her presence made the whole thing so much calmer and kept us both focused and ...well I know it is not totally in your hands, but I look back on Sam's birth and it was the most amazing and wonderful thing...yes it hurt but I just focused on each contraction one at a time...I trusted my doula and she went and got snacks for DH and helped him know what to do to help me....
Would love to know which hospital you are going to - you sound very pleased with it...PM me sometime. Not that I would be using that one as I still live in same place...but just curious.
Would love to see a comparison shot for the same stage in your last pregnancy..if you still have those photos handy...:) I think you look bigger this time but maybe I am wrong.
Can't believe only 103 days to go. Hope you are not too uncomfy.
Our doula was with us afterwards for ages - Sam was in Intensive Care Nursery but she helped me shower off and escorted us to the ICU etc and made sure I was all settled in my room. I didn't get to breastfeed straight away because Sam was premmie & in the nursery but she called me regularly afterwards, came to visit while I was in hospital and at home, sent a card etc, and even sent us a card for Sam's 1st birthday. She cooked us a lovely lasagne too! We only got to have the initial meeting to meet her and then one more meeting and I borrowed some books from her on active birth etc but then I went into labour early so we missed the other visits...she laughed at my stressing over a birth plan because in the end I didn't get to write one and it all went ok...but she knew our preferences etc.
Fantastic news about the doula! Wow your ticker/pregnancy has really sped along xoxo
Sounds fantastic Kath. This is what I'm planing for my second birth too...Looking forward to seeing it all work perfectly for you...like I know it will!
I'm getting super excited for you!!
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