Would you hire a Doula for a freebirth?

[QTB]

I love the idea of a freebirth, and although 'legally' am not allowed to attend one, there is ways around it... im just wondering though, would you actually hire a doula for a freebirth? I know some people would and do, and some dont, just as some Doulas will attend and some wont...

What are your thoughts?

[shed]

No, I wouldn't.

I am planning on having one at my homebirth though, so there would be me, DP, doula and midwife.

One more loyal subject at my beck and call, tee hee.

[westerner]

Wouldn't it somewhat cancel out it being a free birth..?? Even though a doula is a support person and not a medical person they still have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field..

I thought it would defeat the purpose somewhat..

To answer the question no i wouldn't but that is because i would never free birth.. (unless i was trapped in the jungle and had no choice in the matter.. )

[QTB]

I dont think it would? my thoughts (as a doula and future freebirther) that a doula is there to support mum and dad in their choices, to provide comfort measures for mum not as a medical person (even if i attended a freebirth i wouldnt do anything medical, 1. because i legally cant 2. because mum doesnt want that!) if something major happened i would call in ambo... i wouldnt take on a freebirth in they wouldnt allow an ambo to be called in an emergancy.

I am planning on having a doula at my future freebirth! lol thats why im asking

[Freya]

i definately would

[Rainbowbrite]

I would, purely as "support" which is what you are there for Your not medically trained, therefore in my opinion it would still be a freebirth

[SassyMummy]

I dunno. I don't think I'd have a doula at a freebirth... if I wanted it to be a free birth, I'd want for it to be JUST me and my partner (and any children we had) and nobody else at all.

[AM]

I don't think i would.

I was interested to read this in your post though "if something major happened i would call in ambo" See to me that would be completely overstepping the bounds, if an ambo was going to be called, I would be the one making the call as the birthing woman.

And this "i wouldnt take on a freebirth in they wouldnt allow an ambo to be called in an emergancy" I totally agree there would need to be discussion about this, but ultimately it would be the birthing couples decision, and their assessment of an emergency may be very different to yours, and as a doula, you would need to know that it would not be your decision, and if that did not sit well with you, perhaps attending freebirth is not for you.

Essentially calling the ambos is a medical decision, not part of a doulas job.

I think the definition of a freebirth is that there is an absence of any birth professionals, so if you hired a doula, then it would most probably just be classed as a homebirth.

[QTB]

hmm good points....

by emergancy i mean if mum 'couldnt' deside for herself and dad agreed. it would be completely up to them... i would just make the call...

"you would need to know that it would not be your decision"

Absolutly! it wouldnt be my decision. it would be up to the mum and dad... i wouldnt want to have to make that decision.

All points would definatly be sorted out with mum and dad before the birth...

The only reason i would not support a woman wanting a freebirth if she didnt want an ambo called in an emergancy is because i simply could not watch a mum die in childbirth and not be able to do anything. Unlikely to happen, but there is always a chance...

Does that make sence?

Thanks heaps for your imput, it definatly gives me things to think about... freebirthing is such an amazing thing....!

[AM]

hehe - totally agree watching someone die in childbirth would be the pits! However, I think (luckily) there would be very very very few people around who would have such an aversion to getting help.