https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:11:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986346 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:03:46 +0000 FarmWifeGina 986346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Sorta, but mostly a, "Yeah, I can do this but I'll figure out my plan when someone actually asks me to do it or I'll forget between now and then" kind of person, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986343 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:00:52 +0000 runsyellowlites 986343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Definitely alot to start researching... maybe I'm more open to the idea than I originally thought. We have a horrendous medical care here so I would be very surprised if absolutely none of the doulas we have here would be open to the option.</p> <p>Do you know where I could find laws concerning situations as such for my state (Texas)?</p> <p>@FarmWifeGina: Lol! You're the "yea lets do this!" kind. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986337 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:51:02 +0000 FarmWifeGina 986337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: This is all great info that I'm gleaning from you on this thread, thanks! I know I would probably support an unassisted birth, but I hadn't thought very much into the logistics yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986330 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:47:10 +0000 Arden 986330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Also, depending on the laws of the state, a doula *could* in theory be criminally charged if she observed and did not call 911. Some doulas get around this by calling 911 immediately after the birth ("Oops, there wasn't time!") but then you as the mother have to deal with freaked out EMT's who don't like being told "Thank you but no thank you, we're fine, run along", and potentially the fees associated with an ambulance call out.</p> <p>You would really have to talk to the doulas in your area and see. Some are (understandably) just too afraid of the potential legal issues they could face to attend UC's. I'm a wee bit of a wild child in my local doula circles. :)</p> <p>Also - look into local EMT courses for your DH. They can be completed in just weeks, don't cost all that much, and might give him a little knowledge under his belt to give him the confidence he needs to support you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986314 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:32:55 +0000 runsyellowlites 986314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: Thanks for that tidbit of info! I had no idea! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986312 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:30:45 +0000 sorrycharlie 986312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: @Arden: You can no longer "call" users to threads by way of tagging - unless they already replied in the thread somewhere :) so that would be why you didn't get a notification, it that helps at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986311 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:30:28 +0000 runsyellowlites 986311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: What a thorough response! Thank you!!! </p> <p>I was talking to DH more about it last night &amp; he said he doesn't know if he'd be comfortable with an unassisted birth..... I told him that I was more comfortable with an unassisted birth with *labor* support than having to fight an uphill battle for a vbac in our hospital (I've read birth stories where laboring moms had to do this &amp; that's just no bueno). I figure that's still quite a number of years away so that gives me time to get him on board &amp; us "know'd up" (if that was a route we actually went... fx we get another good MW servicing our area).</p> <p>sidenote: I know trying to tag from other threads can be weird sometimes so I'm not surprised you didn't get it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-986305 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:24:12 +0000 Arden 986305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Apparently I'm not getting notifications. Thanks for walling me!</p> <p>Yes. I do attend unassisted births so long as the clients understand my limitations as a doula and don't expect me to take the place of a midwife. Its part of my standard contract anyway.</p> <p>I always advise the parents to really educate themselves, including taking a class in neonatal resusitation and come up with plans for every potential alternative scenario.</p> <p>This is why I chose not to certify through DONA. I certified through CBI.</p> <p>My job as a doula is to support mothers in their decisions, not tell them what to do. Even if I don't agree. If asked, I'll give my opinion, but I'm never going to push it on someone.</p> <p>If there was a life or death situation and the parents panicked and I knew what to do, of course I would step in. I'm not going to worry about my legal risks in the moment of a potential emergency. However, I won't go into a situation knowing the parents are relying on me as the "medical authority". That's their job. </p> <p>So in short, yes. I would attend a unassisted birth provided the parents knew what they were getting into and weren't relying on me as a medical backup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983592 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:59:00 +0000 runsyellowlites 983592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FarmWifeGina: Gotcha!</p> <p>Not sure if this tag will work but @Arden: do you have any thoughts? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983465 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:14:33 +0000 FarmWifeGina 983465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: There are some doulas who choose not to pursue certification through any agency for this very reason. "Lay" doulas, so to speak. I myself haven't decided fully if I'm going the certification route. But not being certified shouldn't mean anything about knowledge or experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983450 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:59:43 +0000 runsyellowlites 983450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FarmWifeGina: That's what I was thinking too, that some may not "be able to" bc of who their certification was through.</p> <p>@Leialou: I may tag her in a bit!</p> <p>@Weagle: Thanks for the input! We really wanted &amp; want DH to catch anyways so I think DH would be comfortable with that. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983407 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:40:06 +0000 Weagle 983407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a doula, but my doula was open to it. She couldn't say outright that she would do it, but she said she would be happy to help if for some reason we "couldn't make it" to the hospital. However, DH would have to actually deliver while she gave instructions and helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983382 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:28:45 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 983382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe Arden is a doula. She may have some insight for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983379 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:27:54 +0000 FarmWifeGina 983379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would. I might require some kind of waiver saying that I'm in no way medical personnel or responsible in any way, blah, blah, blah, but yes, I believe that every woman deserves that kind of support, no matter what her birthing choices. I know not all doulas feel that way though and I think that some certifying agencies like DONA *may* have rules against it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-doulas-around-here#post-983373 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:25:19 +0000 runsyellowlites 983373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I have just found out that my MW will be moving.... before anyone freaks out for me, she said that she wouldn't be "gone gone" until her current mommas deliver so she'll still be caring for me &amp; this pregnancy BUT my question is about a future instance (b/c I'm a crazy planner &amp; can't help but think about my future pregnancies with this new news).....</p> <p>My MW is the last MW we have servicing our area SO it wouldn't be crazy to think that after this pregnancy we won't have the option of a MW attended homebirth.</p> <p>Of course our hospitals still don't allow vbacs (and don't look like they'll be changing that) and our obgyns are all horrible (really... I know more moms that had horrible births b/c things their providers did than moms that had good experiences). I know my rights &amp; know that I *could* still have a vbac at the hospital if I really wanted to push &amp; just ignore the system, but really... who wants to do that?...</p> <p>Thus I come to my question.... by the time I get to this point I would have had 3 children with 2 vbacs.... would you as a doula be willing to take on a mom as a client that was planning an unassisted birth?</p> <p>No, I'm not saying that is what I would absolutely plan... but it's also not something that would never consider, just wanted to get thoughts of doulas considering this particular situation.</p> <p>disclaimer: I am aware how most feel about unassisted births so telling me that is crazy, stupid, unsafe, etc is NOT what I'm looking for... I'm asking strictly about doulas having a client that is planning or considering an unassisted birth &amp; how that would affect your consideration of taking them on. </p>