https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:34:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377690 Fri, 04 Dec 2015 00:08:47 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2377690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, x 2. Didn't think it was necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377687 Fri, 04 Dec 2015 00:04:48 +0000 sarac 2377687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not either time. My second birth was natural, but I did most of it on my own. I told my husband to take a nap because I was in the zone and just wanted to be left alone. Then they woke him to fill the tub, but I asked him not to stare at me because I was still in the zone. By the time I needed him there were a lot of people around and I had all the support I needed. Pictures would have been nice, though.</p> <p>I was also delivering with midwives in the most liberal hospital in a very crunchy city, so I didn't feel like I needed anyone to advocate for my to get the birth I'd hoped for. If I were in a different place, I'd have had one for that reason. My husband is also really good at keeping me focused on my overall goals - several times I told him that I didn't know if I could do it, that maybe I wanted an epidural, and he just reminded me of how much I'd hated it the first time, how much I wanted to do without. He knows me well enough to know that while I wanted him to tell me take the epi in the moment, overall I wanted support to go natural, and that's what he did. If I hadn't known that he would keep me focused on the bigger picture like that, a doula would have been great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377640 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 23:03:10 +0000 californiadreams 2377640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought about it briefly for this pregnancy but since I already went from an OB to a midwife from first to second pregnancy, I figured I have better support as is. I didn't want to shell out any extra cost either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377494 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:56:52 +0000 Autumnmama79 2377494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just updated the other thread, yes I'll be using a doula this time. I will be trying for a vbac and want all the support I can get to achieve that!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377425 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:51:50 +0000 Finfan 2377425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, we had two babies without them. I prefer as few people in the room as possible. I also don't have very strong preferences. I did have an unplanned C-section with my second birth but she was stuck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377346 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:14:20 +0000 sapphire 2377346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, but I deliver babies so I knew what to expect and I was amongst trusted colleagues. But I do think they relieve anxiety for a lot of laboring families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377297 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 17:09:41 +0000 Torchwood 2377297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We booked one, but I went into labor unexpectedly (preterm) and LO was here so fast (less than 5 hours from "hmm, that hurts" to baby!) the doula couldn't get there. She wound up finding my mom in the waiting room though (she arrived around the time I was pushing, but couldn't get a hold of us to get permission to comeback), and I think that was really, really helpful for my mom. She also stayed with me when DH went to the nicu with LO, so I wasn't left alone. It was really nice having her there then, so I wish she could have been there for the birth. We're done, but if we were to have another baby I would absolutely have a doula (the same one if possible). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377268 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:43:31 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2377268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Planning on it. I want an advocate in the delivery room with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377261 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:40:28 +0000 MoonMoon 2377261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes and it was the best decision and the best money we could have spent. Two thumbs up, would do again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377253 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:37:11 +0000 Foodnerd81 2377253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And didn't and won't for this one, but I was on the fence. Since I couldn't decide, I went with the cheaper option of not having one! But I was already delivering with a midwife practice that was really supportive of med free birth- if I had been delivering somewhere that I felt like they wouldn't be as supportive I would have more strongly considered it. No regrets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377250 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:36:24 +0000 snowjewelz 2377250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not and most likely will not. I had a good experience and the nurses there were enough for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377243 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:34:24 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2377243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, and I will use her again next time! Worth every penny! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377210 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:04:01 +0000 lemondrop 2377210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, wasn't a necessity for us to have two great birth experiences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377205 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:02:36 +0000 mrsrain 2377205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just realized I didn't even mention her role DURING birth! Don't have time now but I'll come back later! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377204 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:02:12 +0000 DillonLion 2377204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did. We wanted an extra set of expert hands on deck during a time where we felt very unsure in a new situation. Having her there freed DH up to just support me/take care of himself while our doula was able to ease my fears and tell me what was normal/not normal and make recommendations for us throughout the process based on our previous meetings where we discussed our wishes for the birth. </p> <p>There was also a bunch of family drama going on, so she also acted as sort of the unbiased 3rd party gatekeeper. She also photographed the birth with a good camera and took copious notes and wrote up a birth story for us. She also visited post partum and helped with breastfeeding and newborn support. </p> <p>I loved our doula! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377201 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:01:46 +0000 mrsrain 2377201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did and she was invaluable! My labor didn't follow any of the usual "rules", so it was great having someone whose whole job was to be on call for us and to answer questions, listen to my frustrations, and help me make necessary decisions. She also got a lot of middle of the night calls from me throughout my pregnancy! We just hired another doula for my current pregnancy and I couldn't be happier knowing we will have that same support again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-youwill-you-use-a-doula-1#post-2377188 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 15:55:01 +0000 mediagirl 2377188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had never heard of Doulas before I found Hellobee! I found the concept very interesting but the way our health insurance is, we pay so much for just pregnancy, labor and delivery, there is no way we could afford to add one more unnecessary thing to the process. I think my husband did a fine job being my Doula. ;-)</p> <p>Did you use a Doula? How was your experience? </p>