getting things done re: pregnancy

[cassidyrose]

We hired a doula today. After worrying we weren't going to find one this close to our due date (note: doulas working in the Berkeley area book up FAST!) we found one that has everything I really wanted. She has roughly ten years of experience, she is a CMT, she has done many, may births at our hospital and with our midwife, she has attended numerous VBACS, and she is the right personality-type for me. Added bonus is that she actually used to work as a midwife. As our doula she does not provide any medical care, but her midwifery knowledge is there. Attempting the VBAC we wanted to be sure we assembled the most knowledgeable and VBAC-friendly birth team possible. To this end we are traveling thirty miles to a hospital that is equipped and willing to do VBACs and that does them on a regular basis, we are using a midwife rather than an OB (she does have two surgical back ups at the hospital), and we are using an experienced doula. We are anticipating a long labor given how our birth with S. went so having someone who can help manage that with us is key. The only downside is the doula we chose costs more than some of the others and it is not like we have a ton of extra money lying around, but I feel like she's the best choice and I feel very comfortable with her and it is hard to put a price on that. We had a consultation today, then next week we have a two hour meeting with her, then we have another meeting with her in the following weeks to help prepare the birth plan/preferences and work on labor support stuff.

Only seven more weeks to go. Yikes!

Comments

[loracs.livejournal.com]

Good news on the doula front.

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We are happy with our choice and happy that we have one more thing in place for the birth.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Excellent news on the birth team front! *good thoughts*

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[marea93.livejournal.com]

You're right; having a doula who's a good fit is more important than saving a few bucks. It must be a great relief to have that piece of the puzzle in place. You are very brave to take on a VBAC. I like to think I would make the same choice in your place. There is nothing like feeling a human being spurt out of you. With a good, supportive team and good luck you have a strong chance for success. I can't believe you still have 7 weeks - you look ready to go tomorrow (but don't).

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we had the same though re: the money vs. fit. She's what we really wanted and her personality really gelled with mine which, really, at the end of the day, if I am going to spend perhaps one of most 24-48 hours of my life with someone is what I want.

Thanks re: the VBAC. We are hoping nothing goes wrong, of course, but the even if it does we know how it will be managed and the hospital is set-up to deal with it. The risks of surgery are bigger for us. There are many things that could preclude the VBAC (e.g, breech baby, unmanageable fetal distress) and we know we could still have a c-section, but we feel really good about trying for the vaginal birth.

As for seven weeks, it suddenly doesn't feel like *nearly* enough time. But, yeah, I am feeling kind of over being pregnant.

[deepspring.livejournal.com]

Seems like I'm always learning something new from you. Never had a baby, so I thought a midwife did everything. I'm glad you have assembled everyone you need to have the baby the way you both want! It's amazing you know so much about this kind of thing, I wouldn't know where to start!

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

A doula is considered a "professional labor assistant" which means she is basically a hired support person. Doulas do not provide medical care, but they provide emotional support, comfort measures (like massage), record keeping, etc. while you are in labor. For a hospital birth, the midwife is only present intermittently while at the hospital (more present than an OB typically is, but it is not full-time). A doula typically will come to your home for as long as you labor at home then be in the hospital room with you for the whole birth and stay for a couple hours afterwards. Doulas can help provide relief for the partners of birthing moms as well--Peter got sleep during my labor with S. while the doula stayed awake with me. They can help make sure everyone has food and drinks. They take detailed notes so you have continuity of care--they will typically note when and what drugs were administered, what times cervical checks were done and the results, contraction progress, etc. This really helps since you may have several nurses during the course of your labor. They can also help discuss intervention options with the mother and her partner as well as suggest things to try if labor is not progressing. A doula can also help navigate the particular hospital system you are in--the one we hired has done many, many births at our hospital so she will be able to help us re: protocols, staff, and small things like where/how to get food after hours, etc.

[deepspring.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that excellent definition! I see now why a doula is indispensable and I'm happy you have one, what a relief.