KiwiMumma
02-07-2007, 10:33
Hi All,
I just wanted to share my views on using a Doula as my husband and I see-sawed as to whether to or not right up to the last few months and are we glad we did!
We had just moved over from NZ and so with no family around and the uncertainty that surrounds a first birth of how you will both react the answer to whether we would or not became very clear.
I was the kind of pregnant woman that read everything to do with preganancy and birth. Trev and I are a very tight couple so I knew he would be fantastic during the birth but the stability and support of our doula was the added bonus to make our birth the most positive it could be.
We used Jodie Greck, Grecksta on Bubhub. We had an instant comfortable click with Jodie who put us at ease and we both knew that she was the right choice for us. She was forthcoming with stacks of information for us prior to the birth and came and saw us again a few weeks prior to the big day and spent a few hours with us where we talked about our expectations for the birth and strategies we wanted to use with regards to pain relief, positions and props, as well as a big gas bag about everything else.
Like all best laid plans our little girl’s birth was not cut and dry. My waters broke 10 days early at two thirty in the morning with no follow up contractions. Jodie was in the car and coming soon after we called her.
After being told we could go home from the hospital after a checkup and to come back the next day to be induced should nothing happen Jodie was there to look after me which freed Trev up to sort out all his work details.
Jodie and I walked and walked, she came up with other techniques to start labour going, and we even made a curry. It ended up a day of work in vain as my body wasn’t ready to work but she stayed on with us at our house, gave Trev time to rest- they were tag teaming walking me around the block and up hills!
Next morning we all went to hospital and this is truly where a good birth team came to the fore. The three of us had talked through all the options and consequences of the day to come. I knew all my options through my own research but having a sounding board in Jodie who consistently gave me non-judgmental advice over the day so I could make clear and timely decisions was one of the reasons I think my birth was so positive.
I had my fore waters broken and labour started within 10 minutes…game on! I laboured with the help of Jodie and Trev walking and then in the bath until I really could not handle the pain anymore which at that stage had been about four hours. Discussion about pain relief before I was unable to think clearly meant I had a timely and measured intervention of Pethidene.
Constant comfort and care from both Jodie and Trev through the morning had meant I felt I had achieved a benchmark and felt really good about my efforts. The afternoon was hard and having two people I trusted flanking me and helping me was by far and away the best relief I could have asked for. The midwives were wonderful as well but they do leave you to your own devices so having my wonderful husband and knowing that I had a very learned friend there as well meant I needed not worry about how Trev was doing and could focus on the task at hand as Jodie was looking after him as well.
I had not progressed as far as I expected for all the effort I had expended by mid-afternoon so moving to the bed from the bath was a real effort but once I had the gas nozzle in my hand we were game on again. It was literally a few hours of work to reach full dilation and again my little team was there for every contraction cheering me on, not blushing when I through my clothes off in frustration and laboured on. Jodie and Trev were very vocal about my request not to labour or birth lying on my back and so when the time was right I climbed off the beanbag and laboured on my side.
The last part of the labour was long... not that I noticed… and two hours of pushing later I had my beautiful girl in my arms. I felt absolutely wonderful. I felt so proud and pleased with how everything had gone and you could not wipe the smile off my face for days. Infact it is still here.
Our decision to employ Jodie as our Doula was a very good one. We talked later about what she had done for us and she was just perfect. Trev and I are a great team and Jodie gauged every situation and acted accordingly. She supported us by being there and offering advice and using her references to find answers for us. She was unobtrusive and let Trev do everything he was comfortable with. She stepped in when it was needed offering advice, support and care for us both. She was there every step of the way. For us she was the perfect choice.
Jodie started our as our Doula and finished up as a valued friend. We have no hesitation in recommending employing her and her services to any expecting mums and dads.
http://www.freewebs.com/sunshinecoastdoula/index.htm
I just wanted to share my views on using a Doula as my husband and I see-sawed as to whether to or not right up to the last few months and are we glad we did!
We had just moved over from NZ and so with no family around and the uncertainty that surrounds a first birth of how you will both react the answer to whether we would or not became very clear.
I was the kind of pregnant woman that read everything to do with preganancy and birth. Trev and I are a very tight couple so I knew he would be fantastic during the birth but the stability and support of our doula was the added bonus to make our birth the most positive it could be.
We used Jodie Greck, Grecksta on Bubhub. We had an instant comfortable click with Jodie who put us at ease and we both knew that she was the right choice for us. She was forthcoming with stacks of information for us prior to the birth and came and saw us again a few weeks prior to the big day and spent a few hours with us where we talked about our expectations for the birth and strategies we wanted to use with regards to pain relief, positions and props, as well as a big gas bag about everything else.
Like all best laid plans our little girl’s birth was not cut and dry. My waters broke 10 days early at two thirty in the morning with no follow up contractions. Jodie was in the car and coming soon after we called her.
After being told we could go home from the hospital after a checkup and to come back the next day to be induced should nothing happen Jodie was there to look after me which freed Trev up to sort out all his work details.
Jodie and I walked and walked, she came up with other techniques to start labour going, and we even made a curry. It ended up a day of work in vain as my body wasn’t ready to work but she stayed on with us at our house, gave Trev time to rest- they were tag teaming walking me around the block and up hills!
Next morning we all went to hospital and this is truly where a good birth team came to the fore. The three of us had talked through all the options and consequences of the day to come. I knew all my options through my own research but having a sounding board in Jodie who consistently gave me non-judgmental advice over the day so I could make clear and timely decisions was one of the reasons I think my birth was so positive.
I had my fore waters broken and labour started within 10 minutes…game on! I laboured with the help of Jodie and Trev walking and then in the bath until I really could not handle the pain anymore which at that stage had been about four hours. Discussion about pain relief before I was unable to think clearly meant I had a timely and measured intervention of Pethidene.
Constant comfort and care from both Jodie and Trev through the morning had meant I felt I had achieved a benchmark and felt really good about my efforts. The afternoon was hard and having two people I trusted flanking me and helping me was by far and away the best relief I could have asked for. The midwives were wonderful as well but they do leave you to your own devices so having my wonderful husband and knowing that I had a very learned friend there as well meant I needed not worry about how Trev was doing and could focus on the task at hand as Jodie was looking after him as well.
I had not progressed as far as I expected for all the effort I had expended by mid-afternoon so moving to the bed from the bath was a real effort but once I had the gas nozzle in my hand we were game on again. It was literally a few hours of work to reach full dilation and again my little team was there for every contraction cheering me on, not blushing when I through my clothes off in frustration and laboured on. Jodie and Trev were very vocal about my request not to labour or birth lying on my back and so when the time was right I climbed off the beanbag and laboured on my side.
The last part of the labour was long... not that I noticed… and two hours of pushing later I had my beautiful girl in my arms. I felt absolutely wonderful. I felt so proud and pleased with how everything had gone and you could not wipe the smile off my face for days. Infact it is still here.
Our decision to employ Jodie as our Doula was a very good one. We talked later about what she had done for us and she was just perfect. Trev and I are a great team and Jodie gauged every situation and acted accordingly. She supported us by being there and offering advice and using her references to find answers for us. She was unobtrusive and let Trev do everything he was comfortable with. She stepped in when it was needed offering advice, support and care for us both. She was there every step of the way. For us she was the perfect choice.
Jodie started our as our Doula and finished up as a valued friend. We have no hesitation in recommending employing her and her services to any expecting mums and dads.
http://www.freewebs.com/sunshinecoastdoula/index.htm