Doulas - Brooklyn,NY

Hello,
I used a doula for my delivery two and half months ago because I wanted to do natural childbirth-NO EPIDURAL. My doula was SO WONDERFUL and because of her I was able to go natural all the way till the end.

Doulas also provide you with emotional support before, during and sometimes after pregnancy. It takes a HUGE load off your partner as well especially while you are delivering. My partner thought he was ready for the BIG day but he was really nervous and seriously-having a doula made ALL the difference for me and my partner the day I went into labor.

hi J., i have delivered my daughter with doulas presence. I wanted natural birth, so i thought it will be helpful to have her there to help me cope through the labor. What i did not expect is that my labor turn out to be completely different from what i expected. to make the story short - my water broke, but contractions did not start for hours and all the natural ways that we had ried were absolutely helpless, i ended up on epidural, petocin, and after 27 hours of labor and pushing - i had a C- Section. Also when i was having my contractions , i did not want anyone but my husband to be near me. i felt safe with him and she was just an outsider to me at that moment. Just keep an open mind about labor- it's unexpected experience. But one thing you need to think about is who do u most feel comfortable with and relay on in the most difficult moment. for some its easier with a stranger/doula or a doctor, for me with my partner. every experience is different . bu when u r in the hospital , the doctor and hospital of course will listen to what you essentially want, but after all they will do what ever is necessary. from my personal experience i would not recommend it.also if money is an issue (the cost of my doula was $1000) it was kind of upsetting after i felt she wasn't able to help me in any way, it's not her fault entirely, its just the way it happened. Good luck and remember no matter what it will be ok after you see you precious being.

A doula is not a replacement for a midwife, b/c a doula doesn't provide any direct medical care. She (or he) is there to support you and your partner in the birthing process, and help keep you focused, relaxed, and provide suggestions for ongoing coping mechanisms throughout the labor and delivery. She's also there to give you literature and help you make good well-informed decisions about your labor and delivery (obviously this is in an ideal world since you can never predict the course of your labor and delivery). I had a doula at a hospital and I found it extremely helpful. Doctors and nurses come in and out but she was there the entire time helping my husband and I throughout the process. I would definitely recommend having one, especially if you intend on having an completely natural/unmedicated birth. Having a doula definitely made my labor all that much more meaningful. Good Luck!

hi J.; it's great that you're looking into getting delivery support! and it's wonderful that you're using this format.

but you're a little misinformed at the moment, so let me see if i can help; a doula and a midwife are very different; one is not an alternative to the other. a doula is a labor support professional; she can accompany you and your partner in any kind of delivery; in fact many doulas stay with a mom even during a c-section. but a doula is not medically trained. she is trained through apprenticeship to other doulas to take care of the mother and her needs, and the needs of the father or other parent, during and after the delivery. a MIDWIFE however is formally, medically trained to deliver the baby. in the optimal situation, you would have a natural delivery with a midwife and the support of a doula.

there are 'direct entry' midwives who are not nurses but who are thoroughly trained to deliver babies, and in some states thier services are covered by insurance. in new york, though, i believe that only 'nurse midwives' are covered by insurance. in new york, most midwives deliver in hospitals or in birthing centers that are within hospitals. a midwife does NOT work UNDER a doctor, you would have one or the other, but a doula will attend a mother who is being cared for by either a doctor or a midwife.

check out the website metrodoula.com for more information.

i myself used the midwife Barbara Charles, a nurse midwife, who is out in Nassau County Long Island and delivers in a fabulous birthing center with a giant bathtub, at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. I had natural delivery w both my children, was in labor for less than 7 hours both times, pushed for less than 15 minutes both times, had no tearing, no interventions, and delivered perfect, large, beautiful babies. natural delivery with an experienced midwife and doula team is the safest way in a healthy pregnancy. i also was attended by the doula Helen Dresner.

if you would like to talk more about this or get information from these professionals, you can send me a message or email me directly at

____@____.com.

a midwife and a doula are very different... one is not an alternative for the other. you can chose to use a midwife instead of a doctor, but a doula has no medical training and cannot help you medically during your labor.
i used a doula and had a natural childbirth delivered by my obgyn. i was lucky and had an uncomplicated labor and delivery. it was great to have someone to massage me throughout... and it was great to have an extra set of hands, and my husband was able to sit behind me during labor, letting me squat on him.
i think it depends a lot on your personlity... i knew i would get annoyed with my husband trying to massage me and relieve my pain... i needed to have a neutral 3rd party...
it is expensive but make sure your doula includes 2-3 sessions with you before delivery and also post-partum follow-up.
you also have to make sure your doctor is ok with having a doula in the delivery suite... some dr's really do not like having them around.
my dr. was ok with it and i had told her in my birthing plan that i wanted to use accupuncture administered by my doula before other pain killers if necessary (didn't end up having to do this).
also, make sure to interview 3-4 doulas to find one whose personality you are really comfortable with so it doesn't feel strange for them to be at such an intimate event.
good luck and congrats!

I had a doula for delivery and another one for post-partum help, and it was the best decision ever. My labor was very complicated, and my doula was with me for nearly a day and a half, even when I ended up having an emergency c-section. I had intended on doing things naturally, but, as anyone will tell you, labor is anything but predictable. At each new intervention, I was comforted by having her expertise and help. She even went out and got food for my husband so he never had to leave my side! She was also the first to greet me outside of the operating room after my son was born. The post partum doula was indispensible as well, because the recovery after a c-section is really tough, besides just having to deal with your new baby. She helped me with trying to nurse, did laundy, ran errands, and taught me how to do the baby basics of diapering, bathing and learning his schedule. I used Babymoon doulas in NYC-they were great!

Hi J.,

I gave birth to my daughter at home with a midwife, two doulas, my husband and my sister in attendance. It was such a beautiful experience. I can't recommend doulas highly enough. Whether you choose a hospital, birthing center or homebirth, a doula can be with you throughout to provide physical and emotional support to you. As a first time mother, it made such a difference to have my two very experience ladies there to support me and answer any questions I had as we went along. The other ladies have given you some good advice. Definitely interview several doulas before you decide. There is a wide price range (anywhere from $200-$2000) depending on the experience of the doula. www.dona.org is another good source for finding a doula in your area. Best of luck to you and bright blessings for a magical birth!
S.