https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:09:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1893662 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:17:14 +0000 catomd00 1893662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a doula could definitely be valuable with an epidural (especially if you're terrified of childbirth). That being said, I personally wouldn't have had one with my medicated birth. It was fairly quick and easy and I'm not sure where/how they could have added value for me. I also didn't have strong fears about it. But, you have no way of knowing any of that beforehand, so you have to take your chances! I have never heard someone say that they regretted having a doula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1893066 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:22:18 +0000 JoJoGirl 1893066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW, I had midwives and a doula and an epidural (even though I'd planned not to, they both recommended I get it since my labor stalled). Even with an epi, the doula was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1893000 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:00:56 +0000 blackbird 1893000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a doula even though I knew I wanted an epidural. I ended up being induced. She came to the hospital a few hours after my meds were started.....they put something in my cervix and my water started leaking around 1am, so they started me on pitocin and that's when she came. I didn't want an epidural right away--i wanted to labor through a bit to help speed things up. So she was really helpful since I didn't get an epidural until I was dilated to a 9. I labored overnight and honestly, the nurses left me alone entirely. Their job is not to sit in your room the entire time and help you. And DH obviously didn't know what to do. She moved the hospital bed up and down for me, suggested positions, and applied pressure to my back and helped DH apply heating bags or massage where needed. </p> <p>When I finally got the epidural, I distinctly remember my doula saying, "i'm so glad you did. I think you would have been in excrutiating pain with that baby sitting on your sciatic nerves the way she was". I pushed for 2.5 hours and she held one leg--DH had the other--and was really helpful in general. I had an OB in a very baby/mom friendly hospital and while they advertised that their nurses had been trained by doulas, it's not like they're with you 24/7. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892873 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:11:06 +0000 Arden 1892873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Of course everyone has a different experience, but I don't think there is any birth location or situation where a doula would not be worth it. </p> <p>I'm planning on having my next child at "The Farm", (if you've ever read Ina May Gaskin...) I'll be in a cabin with a midwife or two - it's basically a home birth just not in my own home. </p> <p>I'll still, without question, have a doula. They are so different from midwives and have such a different role, and I don't think a good doula would be overkill, ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892861 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:05:43 +0000 mamimami 1892861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @looch. Even depending on what kind of doctor your doctor is, you may not NEED a doula. </p> <p>I had one for my unmedicated birth and the one I hired couldn't get there in time for my medicated birth (my fault for not phoning her in time!!). Anyway, my doctor is extremely attentive and was very supportive of my birth choices, so I don't think I really NEEDED a doula. Even had my doctor been there earlier, she would have prevented me from having a medicated birth which is what I wanted a doula for. </p> <p>Why don't you take some childbirth classes and then see how you feel? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892766 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 07:03:31 +0000 looch 1892766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Doula services weren't even on my radar when I gave birth, largely because I delievered with midwives.</p> <p>What kind of facility will you be delivering in? Where I delivered, it was midwife attended, with an OBGYN on call. There were also LCs on staff, so a doula would have likely been overkill there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892759 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 06:58:23 +0000 JoJoGirl 1892759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird was in this exact situation and had a doula, wall her? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892620 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 23:11:46 +0000 sarac 1892620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know someone who had a doula with her planned csection, and she was very happy with it. A doula is there to help you have the birth you want, or the safest possible version of it - that's it! A good doula will support you in whatever you choose - they're not just for natural births. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892578 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:31:46 +0000 IRunForFun 1892578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realized I forgot to say, a doula would not make you feel bad about your decision for a medicated delivery! That's not something you should worry about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892541 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:47:17 +0000 lawbee11 1892541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't get one because I knew I wanted an epidural and they're expensive. With a new baby coming I had a lot of other things I needed to spend that money on! DH was a great support person and I don't feel like I missed out on anything; I had a great birth :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892529 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:34:34 +0000 Boheme 1892529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doula was a rock star. I highly recommend one no matter what kind of birth you're planning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892526 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:33:44 +0000 Rockies11 1892526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I phoned the doula agency I said "I want a doula and an epidural" lol. They said that was fine and that lots of people did that. We didn't end up hiring one because baby was breech and doula was expensive, so we wouldn't get enough bang for our buck with a c-section. I am not sure what we're doing yet with our second, but I have heard from friends mixed things - some really liked having a doula there, some thought the nurses were more than enough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892522 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:30:07 +0000 mrsjazz 1892522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just bumped into my doula tonight while she was on the way to see a client!</p> <p>I had a doula and ended up with a c-section. I was planning a natural birth in a birth center and I felt like I actually needed my doula more navigating the hospital. </p> <p>Are you going to get an epidural right away? Do you have sliding scale doulas in your area? Could you afford to hire a doula who was recently trained and needs to attend births? </p> <p>I can't say enough great things about having a doula! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892493 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:55:20 +0000 Tanjowen 1892493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't get a doula because I knew I wanted an epidural and didn't feel I needed someone to coach me through labor. However, I really wish I had someone more informed and able to assist me after labor. I was wiped out, I spiked a temp during labor and so did my LO, so they took him to the nursery to watch him. Five hours later I got him back :( It pissed me off later when I came out of my haze because all I wanted was my baby and they could have easily monitored him in our room. </p> <p>I would have loved to have one at the pushing part of labor (because my epidural failed, and there is always that possibility!) and afterward to establish breastfeeding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892491 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:53:33 +0000 78h2o 1892491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: @IRunForFun: Thank you! I think I will look into it some more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892474 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:39:08 +0000 IRunForFun 1892474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: The beauty of a doula is that once you hire them, they're available to you as soon as you want them there, and for however long you want them there! (Within reason, of course - you wouldn't call your doula to come over before you were even in labor or ask her to stay with you for 12 hours after birth). The role of a doula is seriously to support you in whatever way you feel you need it. There's no real time limit at all. It sounds like a doula could have been really beneficial as a support person for you and your husband during your long labor, even if you just needed another person to hold your hand, wipe your face, and tell you "You got this."</p> <p>ETA: Like @Arden I state in my contract that I reserve the right to call in a back-up, and have a back-up doula on call just in case, either to replace me or tag team a birth with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892470 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:33:54 +0000 Arden 1892470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I come whenever mom feels like she needs me. I've come to mamas homes in early labor and helped them through 40 hours of prodromal labor before they finally began progressing and we headed to the hospital.<br /> Typically though, I come to the house whenever labor starts getting real and we tend to head to the hospital anywhere from 1-4 hours after that, depending in how mama feels.</p> <p>My contract says that I'm there as long as you need me, but if it extends passed 18 hours I need a break to sleep for my own health. Some doulas have backups they call in, just in case. </p> <p>I've stayed with one woman for 49 hours before (I napped on her couch periodically, and in the hospital after she got her epidural). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892465 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:30:55 +0000 78h2o 1892465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: @Arden: Can you tell me when a doula usually comes to assist you? I could have used one with my first birth, and am considering one for this time around. The thing is, I was fine once I got to the hospital and got an epidural...I gave birth like 4 hours later. It was the 30 hours before that when I struggled. Contractions were very painful, about 60 secs long, and 7-5 minutes apart for the loooongest time. My husband has sleep issues and is nonfunctional without at least 8 hrs sleep, so I labored through the first night completely by myself. I would like to not have to do that again. Could a doula help with that? How many hours do they work at a time? Thanks!</p> <p>@SerenaSF: Sorry for the threadjack! I guess my answer depends on what IRunForFun and Arden have to say, but I think I might have really appreciated a doula, even though I got an epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892422 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:47:47 +0000 artsyfartsy 1892422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I wish you could have been my doula! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892419 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:43:51 +0000 LemonLong 1892419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced and had Epidurals both times. Honestly, not sure what a doula would have done for me. The nurses and doctor coached me through the pushing and the nurses and hospital lactation consultant helped with breastfeeding. When I wasn't pushing, I just slept or watched tv after I got the epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892351 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 17:43:07 +0000 ElbieKay 1892351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you planning to delay the epi or get one as soon as you get to the hospital? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892308 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 17:01:11 +0000 cmomma17 1892308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Doulas are there to support you in whatever kind of birth you want! My doula was wonderful and she also had clients getting scheduled c-sections! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892290 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:43:26 +0000 IRunForFun 1892290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full disclosure, I am a doula, so I might be little biased! But yes! Even if you 100% know you want an epidural, there are so many things a doula can support you in. Laboring prior to getting the epidural (both at home and at the hospital), figuring out the best time to go ahead with the epidural, talking through any other "interventions" that may be presented, helping with epidural-friendly labor positions, etc. Not to mention the prenatal visits before birth, and the postpartum support immediately following and in the weeks after. </p> <p>If cost is a major concern, you can check out student doulas and doulas in training! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892280 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:37:03 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1892280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an epidural and a doula! She was fantastic- I highly recommend it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892255 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:23:52 +0000 Arden 1892255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! :)</p> <p>Doulas can absolutely be beneficial to epidural mamas. I'm a doula and I have lots of clients who plan on epidurals, and I still am able to do quite a lot for them. I help them cope with early labor before they get their epidural, and then assist them in positions that are epidural-friendly that keep labor progressing quickly and smoothly.<br /> I also stay for a bit postpartum to help establish breastfeeding, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-get-a-doula-if-i-know-i-want-an-epidural#post-1892220 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:06:35 +0000 SerenaSF 1892220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To doula or not to doula! I am 95% sure that I want a doula, and I'm also 95% sure that I want a medicated birth. However, I've heard some people say that unless you are really aiming for a natural childbirth, a doula isn't really worth it. </p> <p>I think the support of a doula would be incredibly helpful to me and my husband as we navigate this overwhelming world of childbirth. Childbirth is terrifying to me, and I've heard so many horror stories about long terrible labors that I think having someone that knows me, can help me, and can be an advocate me during the birth (in addition to my husband, of course) would be extremely helpful. My husband tends to get very emotional and I think it would be easier with someone else that we trust. I want to try my best to prevent the "cascade of intervention" as much as possible, and I worry that without a doula I might feel pressured into making decisions I might not be completely comfortable with.</p> <p>However, I also am 95% sure that I want an epidural, and doulas are expensive! Should I have a relatively easy birth, I worry that I won't feel the doula was "worth it." I also worry that they might make me feel bad about my decision to have a medicated delivery. I also worry that if I need to have a scheduled c-section for some reason, I also won't feel that the cost was worth it. </p> <p>Almost everyone I know that has had a doula specifically got one because their goal was to have a natural med free childbirth (though that didn't always happen). That is not my goal, So my question is for those ladies that had a doula and also knew they wanted an epidural.... was it worth it? </p> <p>If it wasn't for the cost, I'd get a doula for sure. Would love to hear some real person stories. </p> <p>Thanks! </p>