Did You Hire A Doula?

What was your favorite thing about your doula?
What was the most helpful thing she did for you in labor?
Did you feel that she was useful and helpful?
Was she supportive of others that attended the birth (husband, mom, grandma, etc.)?
Did she teach you anything new?

Just wondering. :-)

I had one. Looking back on everything I wish I had picked a different doula. During labor she was there when I needed her, she helped try and get me comfortable. At the end of the day she was basically a photographer and babysitter since I had no one to watch my oldest so she was there. She did help get breastfeeding started. Overall I just think I picked a bad one. I think had I gone with someone else it would of been much better.

I did my last pregnancy and have this one as well.
I loved that my last doula seemed to have a very "in control" type of personality. When I labor I feel all out of control and lost.
I loved all the counter pressure she did on my back. I wouldn't have made it that long if she wasn't doing that lol.
She was very helpful and useful.
She was was super helpful with my husband. Taught him how to help with my pain management.
She didn't teach me anything new though.

Quoting Jennybananna:" I had one. Looking back on everything I wish I had picked a different doula. During labor she was there ... [snip!] ... started. Overall I just think I picked a bad one. I think had I gone with someone else it would of been much better."

Did you have your baby at the hospital? What could she have done to improve things?

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Did you have your baby at the hospital? What could she have done to improve things?"

Yes I was in the hospital. My first issue was she constantly rescheduled my pre-natal meetings. Usually last minute. This should of been my first sign that I needed to find someone new. She was having a family issue and assured me that when it was time for the birth she would be there. Which she was. We stayed in contact and when I was admitted at like 3am she headed to the hospital. We walked and she bought an exercise ball. Which was helpful. My labor from water breaking to delivery was not even 2 hours so there wasnt a lot to do. My post partum care was horrible. He agreement said we would meet within 2 weeks of the birth. I didnt see her until after 6 weeks. I had issues breastfeeding and was constantly emailing her asking for help and tips. She was supposed to write my birth story it wasn't even a paragraph and it was all very technical almost like doctors notes. Honestly the best part of everything was that I got use her TENS unit for the last month of my pregnancy and that thing was amazing. Far more helpful than she was other than the babysitting part.

Quoting Jennybananna:" Yes I was in the hospital. My first issue was she constantly rescheduled my pre-natal meetings. Usually ... [snip!] ... for the last month of my pregnancy and that thing was amazing. Far more helpful than she was other than the babysitting part."

Oh wow, she doesn't sound like she was very prepared!
Just out of curiosity - what was her name?

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Oh wow, she doesn't sound like she was very prepared! Just out of curiosity - what was her name?"

I'm not being totally weird, but I used to live out that way..

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Oh wow, she doesn't sound like she was very prepared! Just out of curiosity - what was her name?"

Michelle

Quoting Jennybananna:" Michelle "

Ah. I had a doula out there who was awesome and was my main support person. I would so love to reunite, that's probably weird though lol. Her name was Jen and it was forever ago so I don't even think she's a doula anymore.

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Ah. I had a doula out there who was awesome and was my main support person. I would so love to reunite, ... [snip!] ... that's probably weird though lol. Her name was Jen and it was forever ago so I don't even think she's a doula anymore. "

Yea i actually interviewed two and I wish I would of gone with the other one. Our initial meeting with Michelle was amazing. She was right on board with what we wanted. She was great with my older daughter and we seemed to connect. I think what hurt the most was around 6 months I emailed her like an update and she never replied. I didnt want a new best friend but I thought she might of enjoyed to know how breastfeeding turned out since we had so many issues and she a few pics. I was hurt when I didnt even get a "Im glad it worked out and she is cute" sentence. Ah live and learn. If we ever another one I really really want to do a birthing center and a water birth.

Quoting Jennybananna:" Yea i actually interviewed two and I wish I would of gone with the other one. Our initial meeting with ... [snip!] ... is cute" sentence. Ah live and learn. If we ever another one I really really want to do a birthing center and a water birth. "

I went to Sutter Health in Santa Cruz and it was amazing. i know that's like 40 miles away but it was perfect. I felt like I was at a fancy hotel. ;-)

And that's not cool at all. She should have at least sent a few lines to say she's proud.

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" I went to Sutter Health in Santa Cruz and it was amazing. i know that's like 40 miles away but it ... [snip!] ... like I was at a fancy hotel. ;-) And that's not cool at all. She should have at least sent a few lines to say she's proud."

We were even friends on FB so it was just odd to me. I had Katy at Kaiser in Santa Clara and hospital wise it was decent enough. I checked into triage at 11pm because she wasnt moving and i was bleeding. They checked me I was 4.5cm (nothing new) and pushed on her head some to get her to perk up. Which she did. Contractions were the usual 2-3 minutes apart very painful and lasting 60-90 seconds. When they checked me again around 1am I wasnt progressing. They wanted to do a fluid check on the ultrasound then another cervix check. Around 2:30am they did the ultrasound and another check I was a hard 5cm. Contractions were the same but more intense. They gave the option of going home or being admitted to see what happened. My 6am contractions had stopped but my doula,husband, and daughter were there. My FIL was at the airport getting ready to come out and rescue my oldest. She said go home or I break your water. I let her break my water contractions immediately came back and I was 7cm by time she was done letting the water gush out. 1.5 hours later we had a baby.

Quoting Jennybananna:" We were even friends on FB so it was just odd to me. I had Katy at Kaiser in Santa Clara and hospital ... [snip!] ... immediately came back and I was 7cm by time she was done letting the water gush out. 1.5 hours later we had a baby."

Oh wow, that's quick. Was that your second baby then?

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Oh wow, that's quick. Was that your second baby then?"

Yes she was my second. With both pregnancies I was dilated to 3cm and 80-100% by 35 weeks. I have 8-10 hours of regular contractions then they go away for a day or two then come back. Its a never ending pattern from 35 weeks on. With my first I had a membrane sweep at 37weeks 6 days went into labor in the middle of the night (water broke) from water breaking to birth was 16 hours. I wasnt allowed to move around and honestly had no idea what I was doing or that I had rights so I did what I was told to by the nurses. She was sideways and I pushed for two hours.

I'm meeting with one today, hopefully we click because she's the only one in my area in our price range!