Doula?? - Benicia,CA

Hi C.,
I delivered my second child without any meds and no intervention from the nurses. It was an incredible experience. It was a 14 hour labor, and it was NOT pain free, but it wasn't unbearable either. This was possible because I had a wonderful doula and have been practicing pranayama (yogic breathing) for some time.
Check this web site about Doula's http://www.dona.org/ You can find a lot of valuable information on what they do, and a resource for finding one. This is where I found mine, and it turned out her daughter went to the same preschool as my older daughter. I got lucky with my first try she's now one of my best friends. I highly recommend contacting several and interviewing all of them. Find one that meshes with you and your partner. If her personality doesn't work with both of you, she won't be effective in helping you. And make sure she's on board with the type of birth you want. Some will be militant against meds, and if you want to keep that as an option, then you need a doula who will support you in that and be an advocate for you at the hospital.
Really spend some time deciding how you want your birth to go, taking into consideration everything that can go wrong, and how you would like those situations handled, and sit down and write a good birth plan. Your doula should be able to help you with this. You can probably find a sample on on the dona page, and I know ivillage has a resource for this. Make sure your ob/gyn, all the nurses who may be present at the birth and any other doctor who may be present has a copy of this birth plan. Insist that they read it. Another thing I recommend is that you know your patient bill of rights. Hospitals have policies that they follow strictly to avoid being sued for malpractice (and these policies can be at great cost to a birthing mom by increasing her fear and consequently her adrenalin, which increases pain and slows labor. This can lead to asking for an epidural that you may have been able to avoid, and possibly even a c-secion), but you have rights and you do not necessarally have to follow their policies. When I had my second child I left 4 hours after her birth. I did not want to stay in the hospital exposed to anymore germs then necessary. That was not hospital policy, but their bill of rights stated that I had the right to choose to leave if I signed a release.
With my first child I was induced, then given pitocin. I finally gave out and asked for meds, which did nothing, and then I asked for an epidural. Thankfully she came before the anesthesiologist. With all of those medical interventions I felt like someone had beat me with a lead pipe for the next week, and I didn't even have a c-section, which they kept threatening me with. With my second. I stayed home for as long as I could (I have somewhat long labors and I was close to a hospital) I stayed until I was starting to push. When I got to the hospital they could not induce, inject medicine, or saline, or strap on a belt for contractions, they couldn't even get a blood pressure cuff on. I sat upright and pushed until she started to get close to the varicosity I had. I laid on my side and pushed her out in 1/2 hour, with far less pain then the first. My labor was much friendlier without the pitocin, my birth experience was warm and loving with my doula, husband, best friend and mother. I felt safe, which made my labor smoother, and less precarious. The next day when I brought my daughter back for shots the nurses handed me a pillow to sit on insisting I had to be sore after a birth with no meds. I refused it, because I literally didn't feel like I had even given birth (a huge difference from the first. I couldn't comfortably have sex for 2 years after that one with the second I felt ready in 4 weeks!). I had no pain, no discomfort, it was wonderful! I also can say that practicing pranayama and meditation helped me to get through the hard labor and not need meds. By learning to focus on my breath I could actually stand outside of the pain and observe it and not feel it so acutely. If anyone interrupted my focus during a contraction, it would hit me like a ton of bricks, but once they learned to let me be, I could breath my way through them, and I don't mean by those silly lamaze breathing techniques. Just plain breathing in and out and staying focused on the sound and texture of that breath.
I hope this helps and I wish you lots of luck! Oh and this CD was a tremendous help to me in practicing breathing and meditation, you can get it on Amazon.com. Health Journeys: Meditations to Support A Healthy Pregnancy & Successful Childbirth (Health Journeys) (Audio CD)
by Belleruth Naparstek (Author)

I had a doula and I wanted to go natural, but in the end I did get an epidural. My doula helped me greatly though, during the time I was laboring. I got in the shower (didn't even know I could keep on my gown and they'd give me a fresh one.) She brought in a yoga ball for me, brought calming music, held my hand, told my husband what to do, and had many ideas and helpful suggestions. It was great to have someone there to cater to me. I would highly recommend my doula if you are interested. She has been through childbirth herself twice! I think that's important.
All the nurses at the hospital were even saying she was great!! She's a close friend of mine and has assisted with a few births, but is somewhat new. You'd never know it though.
Best of luck to you!

Hi C.,
The first time I was induced due to preeclampsia. From what I understand, the pitocin makes the contractions incredibly strong and painful, which they were. I used fentanyl for pain relief. It certainly worked. The side effect was that it made me exhausted between contractions and a bit fuzzy. I would do this again.

The second time I was induced due to water breaking, no contractions. I opted for an epidural. (My first delivery was traumatic and involved a vacuum extraction due to large head circumference of the baby - I was so scared/anxious. Great doctor recommended epidural even though I thought it was too creepy. I'm glad I listened to her.) While the epidural lasted longer than it was supposed to on one side, it was such a pleasant birth and recovery.

There are a variety of pain medications available to "take the edge off," if needed.

As far as a doula goes, I didn't use one. As I understand it, you can hire a doula to care for you while you're in the hospital. Some providers offer doula services. The hospital staff delivers the baby. The doula is there to support YOU.

Good luck!

Hi C.,

Talk to your doc and a couple more anesthesiologists and get some help with the pain ... you don't have to be knocked out and can enjoy the birth process with a "little help". You don't get a badge of honor for going all natural or drummed out of the mommyhood if you don't.

Congratulations on your 3rd blessed event.

PS...I am about 4'9" was under 100 pounds when I became pregnant. On the date of birth I was 122 lbs...gave birth to an 8 pounder (healthy boy)...did 24 hours of labor (not too hard until the last---the chocolate cake helped)...had a little medication at the end...and all went well....weighed in at 99 pounds the next day!

Hi C.,

I wish you all the best with your plan for a natural birth.

I actually did an unmedicated VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) with my second child and I am so glad I did. It was great to be the first to hold my baby. (I was the 5th with my son, was very woozy and did not hold him for the first time till he was almost 2 hours old). He was breech, but I did not know till I went into labor. I should have been better informed and known earlier when there were still options for turning him, but I wasn't, so it ended up being C-section.
With my daughter, (who was also breech), I made sure I knew earlier, and was successful with turning her and then went on to do a non-medicated birth with my doula and husband with me.

I could not have done it without the doula. She was essential because I had not actually gone through labor fully before and so did not know what to expect, and my husband was not comfortable being my "coach", so she was there for both of us.
I also had a doula the first time, but ended up using her post-partum as there was no point in having her present for the C-section. Under the circumstances, that was great too. I really needed the help as we were unprepared and had no family here to help us.

In the area where I live, I went to a "Meet the Doula Night" which was held once a month. It was like speed dating but with doulas! You got to meet a whole bunch of doulas and were able to rotate through all of them and interview them all after they had done a mini presentation. It was actually quite fun. Maybe there is something like that in your area.

I found this through Harmony Birth Services, www.harmonybirth.com and BABI (Bay Area Birth Information) www.bayareabirthinformation.org. These may, or may not, be local to you, but they may be able to suggest a similar service in your area as a place to start. My doula only covered the South Bay and lived in Morgan Hill, so I think you would be too far away for her or I would definitely recommend her.

Good luck. Just email me back if you have more questions.
Warmly,
S.

I had a doula both times and highly recommend them. She was great for guiding me and working with the doctor and nurses to be my spokesperson and level head knowing what I wanted and understanding their concerns (I had some complications.) I'm sorry I don't know any doulas that are still practicing, but I would take some time to get to know them first and see if they fit your needs and personality.

I would also recommend checking out hypnobirthing. I have heard from a few women who did hypnobirthing that they had little to no pain and had an incredible experience (with the help of a doula guiding them.) There is a woman in Berkeley who does it at the Seventh Heaven Yoga Center. Her name is Deborah Salisby. I had the pleasure of knowing her when I worked there and will definitely be working with her when (if?) I get pregnant again.

Congrats Mom!