https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:58:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1554141 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:23:06 +0000 cmomma17 1554141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a doula and honestly she was priceless! I enjoyed getting to know her before I was in labor (once during the interview, then two pre-natal appointments) and it definitely made me much more comfortable on birth day.<br /> I will absolutely go the doula route again next time. I can't recommend it enough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1554132 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:21:04 +0000 Torchwood 1554132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: I need a dating site style matchup option for doulas. Find someone who is at least likely a good match before I have to deal with meeting them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1554118 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:18:51 +0000 jetsa 1554118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: I wish I had advice on that but yea, I'm also awkward and rushed into my decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1554102 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:15:59 +0000 Torchwood 1554102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: It's not so much that the cost is a problem, so much as that DH is super cheap and I'm worried it'll be hard to help him understand why it's worth paying for. I've already started working it into conversations as just a given, like when we discussed my mom being there, saying that she wouldn't be able to anyway because of the doula. That's actually worked at times in the past to avoid an argument when it was something important, so hoping it will this time. And I'll look into that! I don't mind a rookie if they're good. :)</p> <p>@jetsa: I'm a little worried about how to find someone I get along with well. I'm super socially awkward, so I never really "click" with *anyone* at first. </p> <p>Anyone have any tips about finding someone you do well with if you struggle with meeting new people? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1553765 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 12:04:14 +0000 jetsa 1553765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the 3 above.</p> <p>I hired my doula privately and while she was great I was quick to make a decision because everyone else was booked for my month and the doula I got I didn't click with. This led me to the apathy that my DH and I both feel and I think it's because we got the wrong doula for us. I had a pain med free birth though but that was because I'm stubborn and my labor was quick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1553763 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 12:03:39 +0000 IRunForFun 1553763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you're worried about the cost factor, you could check with local doula organizations to see if there are any rookie doulas looking to attend births as part of their certification process. They will have been trained and just need to attend a certain number of births before being officially certified. They are usually free or only charge the cost of their expenses (travel or gas or whatever.) Might be worth looking into! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1553751 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 12:00:03 +0000 Torchwood 1553751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: @Arden: @spaniellove: Thanks for the responses! You pretty much affirmed everything I was thinking. Guess I'll be doing some research in the future! And working on convincing DH. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1552531 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 02:13:10 +0000 spaniellove 1552531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would hire one privately so you could go into your birth with fewer unknowns. Doulas seem to vary widely in what they charge, so if you look carefully you may be able to find someone who fits your budget. Having someone who is there for you and supports you and whom you know will show up when you're in labor makes a difference emotionally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1552523 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 01:47:13 +0000 Arden 1552523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would hire one privately, and I promise I'm not saying that just because I'm a doula. Knowing your doula, and having one on one time during your pregnancy can make such a difference. Not to mention, if a disagreement comes up between you and your provider, a private doula will advocate for you with no worry about affecting her standing with staff at the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1552470 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 23:36:57 +0000 birdofafeather 1552470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>if you're certain you want one, i would hire one that i knew. mine was invaluable to me though, not because she came to my house to help (i couldn't wait for her to get there as my labor was going quickly) but for prenatal visits and advice as well as at the hospital itself! it seems weird that you wouldn't be able to at least meet some/one of them beforehand! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/volunteer-doula-program#post-1552439 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:59:28 +0000 Torchwood 1552439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 100% certain I want to have a doula, but I'm not sure what i want to do about it. My hospital/midwife practice offers free doula services from (certified) volunteer doulas. The problem is that there are limitations. They're only there at the hospital, so I wouldn't have the help laboring at home. They also don't guarantee anyone will be available, though apparently it's pretty unlikely there wouldn't be? But I'm not sure how they handle it if there are several women in labor at the same time. And most importantly to me, you don't get to meet any of them ahead of time. Oh, and it's dumb, but they wouldn't count as one of my 2 people allowed with me, and I was hoping to use that as my reason why my mom couldn't be there. (To help keep her feelings from being hurt that I don't want her there.)</p> <p>Do you think it's worth the expense of hiring one privately, rather than risk having someone I don't like or not having one at all (and not have one at home, which I had hoped for because I'd like to labor at home as long as possible)? I *really* want to at least try my best for a non-medicated birth, and a doula would help a lot. DH will balk at the cost though, if there's one for free available, so I need to decide how strongly I feel about it, and get my reasoning straight before we discuss it. Any thoughts are welcome! </p>