Are you using a doula?

[noodleoo]

The person who teaches my prenatal yoga class is a doula and she's so nice. I never really considered hiring one. Is anyone here using one? Any idea how much it costs?

[kellsbelles]

I am! I figured the only way I'll have a prayer of getting through med free birth with my low pain tolerance is with one. My midwives recommended her and she has done like 300 births so I am 100% confident with her. She was super expensive but I live in a hcol area and she was the best out there. I want to say her package was like 2k but that includes unlimited private in home prep classes with her before the birth, her at the labor and several hours of a postpartum doula afterwards. She also took me registry shopping and helped me research all the products and what I need and want.

I know there are a variety of options as well as doulas in training who charge way less. I think of it as $ well spent no matter what though. My friend made it through a 50+ hour induction med free and credits her doula!

[achi]

Yes, I've hired one. In my area the average cost is $500-800. Mine came in at $600.

[centralsquare]

Yep.

[Deleted]

No. I was not especially interested in a med-free birth. And after I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension, there was no way. I could barely roll over during labor, let alone move more than that to help laboring.

I was very pleased with my choice to have an epidural and with the care the doctors and nurses provided. I also felt emotionally fine with the process.

[imimahoney]

In Mass. I found the range to be around 600 to 900 for an experienced doula, with some as high as 1200. I really wanted one since I'm going for a vbac but it wasn't in the budget with newborn pics.

There's a doula search engine you can use to help find one. There are a ton in our area.

[imimahoney]

noodleoo, here is it.

Doulamatch.net

[Velar Fricative]

I had one for my first L&D and while she was fine, I felt it was a waste of money (she cost a lot of money). I had to be induced and never went into labor on my own, never felt a single contraction, etc. I expected it all to happen au naturel and that's why I wanted a doula, but ultimately nothing went as planned. She was helpful when she could be but I just didn't feel I got my money's worth even though none of that was her fault. DD had her own plans! But I feel like if I did have that spontaneous labor experience, it would have been worth it. I'm not hiring a doula this time so of course I will go into spontaneous labor.

[bina]

I'm on the app so this popped up on the unread thing, but I figured I would share as well. I LOVED my doula. I hired her wanting a med free birth but that wasn't possible and I was so grateful she was there. She helped explain things and stayed with me during my csection while my H went to the nicu with DS. She stayed with me after and helped shoo away the unwanted visitors. She was such such a huge help and blessing. That's why I always say go for it with a doula, if things don't go how you hope they're a priceless resource. Good luck.

[pooh8402]

Noooope. I'm fully planning on an epidural, with my mom as my coach (and DH, but he don't know what he's doing). My nurses are also my coworkers, so I'll have a lot of support that I trust.

[lillaguma]

I really considered it, but it wasn't in the budget for us this time around.

[achi]

Mar 6, 2015 5:58:07 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

noodleoo, here is it.

Doulamatch.net

This is how I found mine!

[lynn07]

The hospital I am delivering at has a doula program in house that was much more affordable than hiring an independent doula, so I went that route. I'm really hoping to go med free this time (if I ever go into labor - my due date was yesterday with baby #3!), and I knew I'd need the extra support. Really hoping and praying I don't have to be induced so that I can try this route with the doula.

[runblondie26]

I'm happy I don't have to labor at all. I <3 scheduled c-sections.

I realize i have nothing of value to add to L&D posts.

[hainesherway]

No. At this point it's looking more and more likely I'll have a scheduled c-section. I have complete placenta previa and an ultrasound yesterday found that it hadn't moved at all. There's still a chance it might move and I may be cleared for a vaginal birth. In that case I'm getting an epidural.

[ebeth]

Yeah. I haven't started looking seriously but a cursory search tells me a birth doula runs in the 1k range around here. Which is pretty reasonable when you think in terms of how many hours she'll be with you.

I think if you know you want a med free birth a doula is a good idea. There's data that says you're more likely to be successful going med free with a doula.

ETA: if cost is a barrier you might want to look into a student doula. Their services tend to be lower cost or free.

[centralsquare]

One of the things I didn't realize is how little the OB or midwives would be with you during labor. The person on call has to split time between all laboring moms, as well as emergencies and taking calls.

I like the idea of having a doula because we will have support the entire time. She can relieve DH in case of a long labor, and vice versa. She knows massage and breathing techniques. Our doula has attended over 900 births and has an excellent reputation with the midwives we are working with. Since we are planning on a med free birth, I want as much support as possible.

[lynn07]

Mar 6, 2015 9:36:12 GMT -5 lynn07 said:

The hospital I am delivering at has a doula program in house that was much more affordable than hiring an independent doula, so I went that route. I'm really hoping to go med free this time (if I ever go into labor - my due date was yesterday with baby #3!), and I knew I'd need the extra support. Really hoping and praying I don't have to be induced so that I can try this route with the doula.

ETA: The cost through the hospital program is only $350. Most independent doulas around here ran $800-1000 when I was doing my research.

[centralsquare]

Mar 6, 2015 13:11:10 GMT -5 neener said:

Mar 6, 2015 10:54:45 GMT -5 centralsquare said:

One of the things I didn't realize is how little the OB or midwives would be with you during labor. The person on call has to split time between all laboring moms, as well as emergencies and taking calls.

I like the idea of having a doula because we will have support the entire time. She can relieve DH in case of a long labor, and vice versa. She knows massage and breathing techniques. Our doula has attended over 900 births and has an excellent reputation with the midwives we are working with. Since we are planning on a med free birth, I want as much support as possible.

It really varies with midwives. There are only 6 birthing rooms total in my hospital, so there is a really low likelihood of another patient needing the midwife at the same time as I will. No one on my hospital tour used the same practice as I do.

My hospital is small and the L&D nurses are very pro natural childbirth. It's the only hospital in my state that does water births, which is what I'm hoping for and they are very supportive. They also have one of the lowest c-section rates. So I decided the doula just isn't necessary in my case.

Like you say, it varies. My hospital is also very pro natural childbirth (both OBs and midwives) and has a low c-section rate. That doesn't necessarily mean on the night I happen to be there, the midwife on call will have a lot of time for me personally. It's really going to depend on the day and the complexity of the other cases there, so it's worth it to me to have the extra support for our first child. 

What matters most is that we're as comfortable as possible going into the experience, so to anyone considering a doula, I'd say to do your research and make a choice based on your priorities, finances, etc. 

ETA: another reason to consider a doula is that she is there to advocate for you. For example, my midwives are pretty anti-epidural, and I am hoping to avoid one. But given that I have a history of severe back pain and a back surgery, I know myself well and know what pain I can tolerate, so I will consider one if it's needed. I've spoken at length with my doula about it. She will advocate for me if that's what I need. She knows all the L&D nurses and the midwives well. It makes me feel better to have a more objective professional there to help get my needs met, rather than relying on DH to navigate that in the middle of an intense time when I'd rather he be available to support me.

[centralsquare]

Mar 7, 2015 14:54:59 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

I'm surprised at the number of people citing since they plan to have an epidural they are not using a doula. The doula is there to advocate for you regardless of a medicated or unmediated birth. My birth experience was with very "natural birth" midwives who were horrible when it came to actual labor. I ended up with a csection but I do think if I had utilized a doula my experience could have been vastly different (even if the end result still was a csection).

Exactly. I have a friend who planned to use an epi, but it didn't take. Another who planned an epi, but the baby came too fast. Unfortunately, birth isn't predictable for most people.

[statlerwaldorf]

I didn't have one, but sometimes I wonder if my first child's birth would've gone differently if I had someone helping me advocate for myself a little more. I was unprepared for how much I would be by myself and had major anxiety issues with that pregnancy. I also needed more support with breastfeeding after delivery and the nurses at that hospital were overworked and not very helpful.

I didn't feel like I needed one with my second pregnancy. This pregnancy has to be a scheduled c-section, so I don't plan on having one. The nurses at the local hospital are amazing. It's a smaller hospital and they spend more time with you. All of the pp nurses are trained to help with lactation.

[jsillyfun]

I hired one and it will be 700. I didn't last time bc we were in LA and most were around 1500.