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For me, it was great to have somewhere there the day of. She did some amaaaaaaazing massage moves on my back. That really helped me with pain management or else I probably would have asked for the drugs!

I had a doula and I recommend it! The thing she most helped me with was just to focus and not to get nervous and overwhelmed. I think that would be especially helpful with a twin delivery.

@Sugar.Biscuit: i used doulamatch.net to find ones in my area. I interviewed two and really liked one. then i called her references, which were all stellar, so then i was sold!

Loved our doula. Both the midwife and the OB ended up missing the birth (10 minutes of pushing, long story), so I was SO grateful that our doula was there. She was great at advocating for me, and asking questions when I couldn't/didn't want to. She was also a fantastic coach through labour, and had some great coping strategies. Her home visits after the birth were super helpful as well!

A birth doula should be standard for every woman, IMO. so incredibly helpful!

It's just not my personality to have/want one. my ob practice has the choice between doctors and midwifes, and I was talking to a midwife about the differences. She said one difference is that midwifes spend a lot more time with you both in apts and they spend the entire labor, where I only saw my doctor for like 5 minutes when lo started crowning. But I liked my experience with lo, I had a nurse there when needed and didn't feel like I needed or wanted any more attention. I actually had a student observing too and that just made me feel pressure to have a good childbirth experience... I think I just do better with less people around.

I loved having a doula. She was awesome! She coached me through labor and knew exactly what to do and say to get me through it. She was great at advocating for me at the hospital. I will not give birth now with out one.

@looch: that's a really good point. No one has any way I k knowing how they're labor will go. If everything had been super smooth for me I wouldn't have missed a doula, but I was so glad she was there in case. For me, a med free birth was important to me and I know without her that wouldn't have happened. I'd always at her had be option of one and not need it than not have the option at all. I know plenty of couples who do great without one and never missed the option.

The major things our doula did:
-encouraged us to request tr smarts possible dose of pitocin when I was induced rather than the standard increases very 30 min
-reminded me lovingly and gently my birth preferences when she could see I was wavering
-suggested effective labor positions for me and my husband that we were too overwhelmed to think of ourselves
-offered counter pressure on y hips while DH offered face today's emotional support--to have two people, one offering physical and the other emotional, was so so important for me
-was there for me the one time my husband had to leave to use the bathroom (I was in transition!)
--took photographs (with permission ahead of time) within minutes of his birth of us as a new family. I will cherish those pictures as long as a live
-stayed with me while I ate a meal and rehydrated while DH and LO went to get cleaned off
-helped get us settled in our postpartum room

She became like family to us. I am a petty private person and bared all in front of her without a second thought.