At what point in my pregnancy should I contact a Doula?
Doulas can be hired as early as the first trimester and as late as the ninth month of pregnancy. As long as there is time to meet at least once before the labor and birth.
Should I take childbirth classes if I am hiring a Doula?
Yes! Often we fit the pregnancy in around work and family, read a book or two, then hope for a great birth. There is a direct correlation between the amount of preparation a woman does during her pregnancy and the kind of birth and post-natal experience she has. A Doula will come alongside to help a birthing woman carry out the plans she made in her time of preparation, not tell her how it should be done.
I am giving birth at the hospital, why do I need a Doula?
Hospital births need a Doula’s help even more than home births. Staff can be very busy and may not have extra time to spend helping every birthing mother. A Doula can give the constant care she needs.
Do dads feel left out?
No! Doulas do not replace the father in any way. A Doula is there to enhance the relationships between the hospital staff, the laboring woman's partner and others present. Studies show higher rates of father/partner participation when a Doula is present.
What does a Doula offer that a dad does not?
Most men want to help their partners, but often feel uncomfortable witnessing a loved one endure one of life's hardest but finest moments. He may forget what they learned in childbirth class and the Doula can help remind him. Doulas allow the fathers to participate at their own level of comfort. As one reluctant father remarked after their Doula assisted birth, "Dude, hire a Doula, it's the best thing I ever did!".
If I have a Doula, can I still have pain medication?
One if the biggest misconceptions is that Doulas only promote non-medicated deliveries. The true role of a Doula is to support a woman’s decision concerning her birth, regardless of the type or method of delivery.
What if I really want an epidural?
An epidural is not usually offered until a woman is in active labor. A
Doula will help in coping with labor until an epidural is even possible.
When it comes time to push, more hands may be needed if there is an epidural
in place. A Doula by your side can bring you ice, encourage you, explain
what may happen next, and reassure you of your changing feelings and
emotions.