Chicago Area Doulas/Experiences

I delivered with the same group with both of my pregnancies. My first pregnancy with with the midwives, but my second was with the docs because I had twins. In both cases, I also had a doula, Rita Dirito-Surgal. She was originally affiliated with the practice, but is now out on her own. She's a massage therapist as well and came back to the hospital to give me a massage after both births...which was amazing! If I were to have another, Rita would be the first person I called. She's awesome!

B.,

I loved my doula, Rachel Wickersham (____@____.com). She is very experienced and is familiar with many of the labor and delivery wards and midwife practices around the city and western suburbs. She's very organized and was proactive in meeting my physical and emotional needs before, during and after the birth. She's a great diplomat when it comes to tension between parties at a birth. I didn't want to be massaged during my labor so I can't tell you about that! Her price is $1,000, which she acknowleded is on the high side. Her backup was Pam Hayes, also very experienced. We only met Pam once but it was for over an hour and we both really liked her.

That said, the most important thing in hiring a doula is that you "click" with her, so as you know, no one doula is perfect for everyone.

Another place to identify doulas to interview is the DONA website http://www.dona.org/ to find doulas near you. It's one of the biggest doula organizations. That site also has a link to doula FAQs, and info how to hire a doula.

I back up Anne Marie's recommendations!
I took a pregnancy massage seminar that was co-taught by Amanda Respas and she is great, at least from a practitioner standpoint...
I was lucky enough to have my hubby as my backup with my and midwife coaching. A great doula is the next best thing. Good luck and happy birth!

I used P. Hays. She has been a doula for a long time and has attended hundreds of births. I have two children, and have had her with me both times. She is amazing. Such a calming and reassuring presence. She came to my house during my first labor, but the second one went so fast, she just met me at the hospital. I highly recommend her. Her number is: 773/392-9578. She charged $800.

I am a single mom and because I couldn' t guarantee that a friend would be with me at birth, though actually my best buddy was there, I decided to hire a doula. I used Amanda Respas and her backup Sara Mclaughlin came too. I actually preferred Sara with respect to massage as her hands are firmer. I didn't end up using them at home as my water broke at 6am and when I called the hospital, they said to come in, so I didn't really labor much at home. But if I had needed that it would have been available. I definitely liked having a doula and the massage and other techniques were nicely distracting and it was comforting to have someone there who had been at many births. It was however expensive - $1000 and for that I met with Amanda twice before and developed a birth plan. My doc was somewhat skeptical of this but the contract did spell out that doulas do not provide medical advice and so she eventually relaxed. Then she was there for the 8 hrs that I was in labor and then stayed for a bit after the birth and checked in with me during the first few days after birth. if you are interested email me and i can see if i can find contact details. good luck.

B.:

call Birthways inc... 888 506 0607

I have worked with them for a long time and mothers rave about the doulas from there.

P. RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com