I was recently asked to write a guest post about our experience using a doula for Tate’s birth. Here’s a taste of our story, then visit Extra(Hour)dinary Parenting for the rest. This site is a great resource- the name comes from being “Pregnancy and Parenting Information so organized, it will add an extra hour to your day!” That’s something we could all use! 

Prior to my pregnancy, I had never even heard the word “doula“. In the process of researching and planning for natural childbirth (meaning without pain medications), we heard a lot of good things about them and eventually decided to use one. While some doulas specialize in postpartum care of the mother and baby, it’s most common for a doula to assist the mother during labor and childbirth as ours did.

Our doula, Dawn, works full-time at a hospital that provides doulas for their patients, and has private clients like us on the side. As first-time parents, it was very reassuring to hear her say that she’d stopped counting years ago after participating in 500 births! A lot of people who choose the “natural” route use a midwife instead of an obstetrician, or even a home birth. While we wanted the traditional OB at the hospital, I really liked the idea of having an experienced birth assistant there with us for the whole process.

In hiring our doula, I thought that her main role would be during the long hours of labor, helping me be as comfortable and relaxed as possible, so as not to impede the baby’s progress. In reality, her value lay in other areas. First was in the two prenatal visits that she made to our home, helping us feel more prepared and even recommending strategies for getting the baby into the right position for birth. Second was in the back and forth phone calls on the morning I went into labor, coaching and encouraging me through the growing realization that my labor was not going to last for many hours and might even result in the home birth we didn’t want! Third, was meeting us at the hospital and knowing the right terms to convey the urgency of my condition to the nurses.

Obviously, everything went well with Tate’s birth, and we were so thankful for the role our doula played. If you’re thinking about using a doula for your own upcoming birth, the DONA International site is a great resource. Don’t forget to read “To Doula or Not To Doula?” at Extra(Hour)dinary Parenting for more information as well.

Photo Courtesy:
kyartworks

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